Abstract
The identification of water sources and hydraulic connectivity in different aquifers within coal mines is crucial for effective groundwater management and has important implications for mine safety, water resource conservation, and regional ecological protection. The Dongming opencast coal mine in Hailar City, Inner Mongolia, China, is threatened by groundwater leakage. However, the hydrochemical mechanisms, water sources, and hydraulic connectivity of the different aquifers in this area are still not well understood. In this study, we collected 24 samples from various water sources, including pore water in the Quaternary aquifer (QGW), pore-fissure water in the coal-bearing aquifer (CGW), drainage sump water from the mine pit (DSW), Morigele river water (MRW), and nearby snow water (SNW). These samples were analyzed for major and trace elements, as well as hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and boron (B) isotope compositions. The results showed that the QGW and MRW hydrochemistry were similar, while the CGW and DSW had comparable characteristics. The H and O isotope analyses revealed that all of the groundwater samples originated from river water, while the B isotope analyses indicated the heterogeneous hydraulic connectivity between the different aquifers and the river. The research findings indicate that mining companies should continuously strengthen the monitoring of surface water and groundwater levels, further investigate the velocity and direction of groundwater flow, and gradually conduct quantitative research on hydraulic connections between surface water and different aquifers. This will provide more scientific basis for the prevention and control of groundwater leakage in mining areas. In this study, a combination of hydrochemical and non-traditional stable isotope geochemical methods was used to investigate the origin of groundwater in open-pit coal mines and its relationship with different water bodies. This represents a new exploration of research ideas and methods. This work has important implications for the study of the origin of groundwater and the measures for leakage prevention and control in open-pit coal mines and underground coal mines worldwide.
摘要
分析确定煤矿不同含水层的水源和它们之间的水力联系对地下水的高效开发管理有关键作用，并对煤矿安全、水资源保护以及区域生态保护有重要意义。本次研究采用水化学和非传统稳定同位素相结合的方法，对**内蒙古海拉尔市东明露天煤矿的地下水来源进行了调查研究。从不同的水源中采集了24个水样，包括第四系孔隙水(QGW)、含煤含水层孔隙裂隙水(CGW)、矿井排水(DSW)、地表莫日格勒河水(MRW)以及附**的冰雪融水(SNW)。分析了水样的主量元素和微量元素，以及氢(H)、氧(O)以及硼(B)的同位素组成。结果显示QGW和MRW有相似的水化学特征，CGW和DSW同样具有相似的水化学特征。氢氧同位素分析结果显示所有的地下水样的水源均为河水，而硼同位素分析结果显示不同的含水层和河水之间的水力联系各不相同。结果表明，应加**对地表水和地下水位的监测，进一步研究地下水的流速和流向，并对地表水与不同含水层之间的水力联系进行定量研究。这将有助于预防和控制地下水的渗漏.
Resumen
La identificación de las fuentes de agua y la conectividad hidráulica en diferentes acuíferos dentro de las minas de carbón es crucial para una gestión eficaz de las aguas subterráneas y tiene importantes implicaciones para la seguridad de las minas, la conservación de los recursos hídricos y la protección ecológica regional. En este estudio se utilizó una combinación de métodos hidroquímicos y métodos geoquímicos de isótopos estables no convencionales para investigar el origen de las aguas subterráneas en la mina de carbón a cielo abierto de Dongming, en la ciudad de Hailar, Mongolia Interior (China). Se recogieron 24 muestras de diversas fuentes de agua: Agua de poro del acuífero cuaternario (QGW), agua de poro-fisura del acuífero carbonífero (CGW), agua de drenaje de mina (DSW), agua del río Morigele (MRW) y agua de nieve cercana (SNW). En estas muestras se analizaron los elementos mayoritarios y los traza, así como las composiciones isotópicas de hidrógeno (H), oxígeno (O) y boro (B). Los resultados mostraron que la hidroquímica de QGW y MRW era similar, mientras que CGW y DSW tenían características comparables. Los análisis de isótopos de H y O revelaron que todas las muestras de aguas subterráneas procedían de aguas fluviales, mientras que los análisis de isótopos de B mostraron la heterogeneidad de la conectividad hidráulica entre los distintos acuíferos y el río. Los resultados indican que debe reforzarse la monitorización de los niveles de las aguas superficiales y subterráneas, seguir investigando la velocidad y dirección del flujo de aguas subterráneas y realizar investigaciones cuantitativas sobre las conexiones hidráulicas entre las aguas superficiales y los distintos acuíferos. Esto ayudará a prevenir y controlar las filtraciones de aguas subterráneas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A MN, Zhang FQ, Yang SF, Chen HL, Batt GE, Sun MD, Meng QA, Zhu DF, Cao RC, Li JS (2013) Early cretaceous provenance change in the southern Hailar Basin, northeastern China and its implication for basin evolution. Cretaceous Res 40:21–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2012.05.005
Appelo CAJ, Postma D (2005) Geochemistry, groundwater and pollution, 2nd edn. A. A. Balkema, Leiden
Bąbel M, Schreiber BC (2014) Geochemistry of evaporates and evolution of seawater. In: Turekian KK, Holland HD (eds) Treatise on geochemistry, 2nd edn. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 483–548
Craig H (1961) Isotopic variations in meteoric waters. Science 133:1702–1703. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.133.3465.1702
Duvert C, Raiber M, Owen DDR, Cendón DI, Batiot-Guilhe C, Cox ME (2015) Hydrochemical processes in a shallow coal seam gas aquifer and its overlying stream-alluvial system: implications for recharge and inter-aquifer connectivity. Appl Geochem 61:146–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2015.05.021
Ercolani C, Lemarchand D, Dosseto A (2019) Insights on catchment-wide weathering regimes from boron isotopes in riverine material. Geochim Cosmochim Ac 261:35–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2019.07.002
Fan QS, Ma YQ, Cheng HD, Wei HC, Yuan Q, Qin ZJ, Shan FS (2015) Boron occurrence in halite and boron isotope geochemistry of halite in the Qarhan Salt Lake, western China. Sediment Geol 322:34–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2015.03.012
Fu CC, Li XQ, Ma JF, Liu LX, Gao M, Bai ZX (2018) A hydrochemistry and multi-isotope study of groundwater origin and hydrochemical evolution in the middle reaches of the Kuye River basin. Appl Geochem 98:82–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.08.030
Gaillardet J, Dupre B, Louvat P, Allegre CJ (1999) Global silicate weathering and CO2 consumption rates deduced from the chemistry of large rivers. Chem Geol 159:3–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(99)00031-5
Gat JR (1996) Oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in the hydrologic cycle. Annu Rev Earth Planet Sci 24:225–262. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.earth.24.1.225
Ghosh S, Golding SD, Varma AK, Baublys KA (2018) Stable isotopic composition of coal bed gas and associated formation water samples from Raniganj Basin, west Bengal, India. Int J Coal Geol 191:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2018.02.019
Gibbs RJ (1970) Mechanisms controlling world water chemistry. Science 170:1088–1090. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.170.3962.1088
Gu DZ, Li JF, Cao ZG, Wu BY, Jiang BB, Yang Y, Yang J, Chen YP (2021) Technology and engineering development strategy of water protection and utilization of coal mine in China. J China Coal Soc 46(10):3079–3089 (in Chinese)
Guerra JC, Regalado CM, Ritter X, León-González M (2023) Stable isotopic composition of fog and rainfall in a Macaronesian cloud forest. J Hydrol 622:129763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129763
Guo QL, Yang YS, Han YY, Li JL, Wang XY (2019) Assessment of surface-groundwater interactions using hydrochemical and isotopic techniques in a coalmine watershed. NW China Environ Earth Sci 78:91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8053-2
Guo YG, Zhang SX, Wang S, Zhang YW, Du J, Liao L (2023) Using stable isotope (δ2H and δ18O) and hydrochemistry to understand the genesis and hydrochemical processes of groundwater in Chongming Island, Yangtze Estuary. Environ Sci Pollut. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-28401-3
Han ZM (2018) Study on hydrogen and oxygen isotope and hydrochemistry characteristic of Hulun Lake Basin. MSc Diss, Inner Mongolia Agricultural Univ (in Chinese)
Hao CH, Huang Y, He PY, Sun W (2019) Isotope drift characteristics in Ordovician limestone karst water caused by coal mining in northern China. Mine Water Environ 38:507–516. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-019-00606-4
He MY, **ao YK, ** ZD, Ma YQ, **ao J, Zhang YL, Luo CG, Zhang F (2013) Accurate and precise determination of boron isotopic ratios at low concentration by positive thermal ionization mass spectrometry using static multicollection of Cs2BO2+ ions. Anal Chem 85:6248–6253. https://doi.org/10.1021/ac400066r
Hu HY, Wei RF, Zerizghi T, Du CJ, Zhao CQ, Wang ZT, Zhang J, Tan QY, Guo QJ (2023) Control mechanism of water chemistry based on long-term analyses of the Yangtze River. Sci Total Environ 892:164713. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164713
Huang XM, Zhang Y, Wang MX, Teng QS, Li GZ (2022) Key technical progress of water cutoff curtain technology in open-pit coal mines in China. Coal Geol Explor 50(7):1–9 (in Chinese)
Hughes CE, Crawford J (2012) A new precipitation weighted method for determining the meteoric water line for hydrological applications demonstrated using Australian and global GNIP data. J Hydrol 464–465:344–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.07.029
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (1996) Lithologic stratigraphy of inner mongolia autonomous region. University of Geosciencs Press, Bei**g (in Chinese)
Ji Z, Meng QA, Wan CB, Zhu DF, Ge WC, Zhang YL, Yang H, Dong Y, **g Y (2019) Generation of late Mesozoic felsic volcanic rocks in the Hailar Basin, northeastern China in response to overprinting of multiple tectonic regimes. Sci Rep 9:15854. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-52181-x
Jia R, Liu B, Fu XF, Gong L, Liu ZD (2019) Transformaiton mechanism of a fault and its associated microstructures in low-porosity rocks: a case study of the Tanan depression in the Hailar-Tamtsag Basin. J Mar Sci Eng 7:286. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse7090286
Lemarchand E, Schott J, Gaillardet J (2007) How surface complexes impact boron isotope fractionation: evidence from Fe and Mn oxides sorption experiments. Earth Planet Sci Lett 260:277–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2007.05.039
Li PY, Wu JH, Tian R, He S, He XD, Xue CY, Zhang K (2018) Geochemistry, hydraulic connectivity and quality appraisal of multiayered groundwater in the Hongdunzi coal mine, northwest China. Mine Water Environ 37:222–237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-017-0507-8
Li SQ, Hegner E, Yang YZ, Wu JD, Chen FK (2014) Age constraints on late Mesozoic lithospheric extension and origin of bimodal volcanic rocks from the Hailar basin, NE China. Lithos 190–191:204–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2013.12.009
Liang LE, Li CY, Shi XH, Sun B, Wang JJ, Zhou J (2017) Characteristics of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of surface and ground water and the analysis of source of lake water in Hulun Lake Basin. Inner Mongolia Wetl Sci 15(3):387–390 (in Chinese)
Liu F, Zhao ZP, Yang LH, Ma YX, Xu YC, Gong L, Liu HY (2020) Geochemical characterization of shallow groundwater using multivariate statistical analysis and geochemical modeling in an irrigated region along the upper Yellow River, northwestern China. J Geochem Explor 215:106565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2020.106565
Mahlknecht J, Merchán D, Rosner M, Meixner A, Ledesma-Ruiz R (2017) Assessing seawater intrusion in an arid coastal aquifer under high anthropogenic influence using major constituents, Sr and B isotopes in groundwater. Sci Total Environ 587–588:282–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.02.137
Mao CP, Tan HB, Song YX, Rao WB (2020) Evolution of groundwater chemistry in coastal aquifers of the Jiangsu, east China: insights from a multi-isotope (δ2H, δ18O, 87Sr/86Sr, and δ11B) approach. J Contam Hydrol 235:103730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2020.103730
Mao HR, Liu CQ, Zhao ZD (2019) Source and evolution of dissolved boron in rivers: insights from boron isotope signatures of end-members and model of boron isotopes during weathering processes. Earth-Sci Rev 190:439–459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.01.016
Marandi A, Shand P (2018) Groundwater chemistry and the Gibbs diagram. Appl Geochem 97:209–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.07.009
Marschall H, Foster G (2018) Boron isotopes the fifth element. Springer Nature, Switzerland
Meng QA, Wan CB, Zhu DF, Zhang YL, Ge WC, Wu FY (2013) Age assignment and geological significance of the “Budate Group” in the Hailar Basin. Sci China Earth Sci 56:970–979. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-013-4614-5
Palmer MR, London D, Morgan VIGB, Babb HA (1992) Experimental determination of fractionation of 11B/10B between tourmaline and aqueous vapor: a temperature-and pressure-dependent isotopic system. Chem Geol 101:123–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(92)90209-N
Qian JZ, Tong Y, Ma L, Zhao WD, Zhang RG, He XR (2017) Hydrochemical characteristics and groundwater source identification of a multiple aquifer system in a coal mine. Int J Mine Water 37:528–540. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-017-0493-x
Qin WJ, Han DM, Song XF, Liu SH (2021) Environmental isotope (δ18O, δ2H, 222Rn) and hydrochemical evidence for understanding rainfall-surface water-groundwater transformations in a polluted karst area. J Hydrology 592:125748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125748
Ruhl LS, Dwyer GS, Hsu-Kim H, Hower JC, Vengosh A (2014) Boron and strontium isotopic characterization of coal combustion residuals: Validation of new environmental tracers. Environ Sci Technol 48:14790–14798. https://doi.org/10.1021/es503746v
Shan JJ, Zhong XY, Wang XQ, Fan QS, Du YS, Qin ZJ, Shan FS (2018) Research on interpretation for underground water bearing structure of coal mine by transient electromagnetic method: a case study in Dongming open coal mine in Inner Mongolia. J Salt Lake Sci 26(4):27–33 (in Chinese)
Silva TR, Lima MMC (2023) Water quality assessment and hydrogeochemistry of a sedimentary basin in a semi-arid area under increasing exploitation: insights from multivariate statistical analyses, GIS, and modeling. Appl Geochem 150:105593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2023.105593
Sun CJ, Zhou SJ, **g ZW (2023) Variability of precipitation-stable isotopes and moisture sources of two typical landforms in the eastern Loess Plateau. China J Hydrol Reg Stud 46:101349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2023.101349
Tarasenko I, Kholodov AS, Zin’kov A, Chkryzhov I (2022) Chemical composition of groundwater in abandoned coal mines: evidence of hydrogeochemical evolution. Appl Geochem 137:105210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105210
Terzer-Wassmuth S, Wassenaar LI, Welker JM, Araguás-Araguás L (2021) Improved high-resolution global and regionalized isoscapes of δ18O, δ2H and d-excess in precipitation. Hydrol Process 35:e14254. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14254
Vengosh A, Starinsky A, Kolodny Y, Chivas AR, Raab M (1992) Boron isotope variations during fractional evaporation of sea water: new constraints on the marine versus nonmarine debate. Geology 20:799–802. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1992)020%3c0799:BIVDFE%3e2.3.CO;2
Wan CB (2006) Cretaceous palynological flora in Hailar Basin. Jilin Univ (in Chinese), PhD Diss
Williams LB, Hervig RL (2004) Boron isotope composition of coals: a potential tracer of organic contaminated fluids. Appl Geochem 19:1625–1636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2004.02.007
Wu Q, Mu WP, **ng Y, Qian C, Shen JJ, Wang Y, Zhao DK (2017) Source discrimination of mine water inrush using multiple methods: a case study from the Beiyangzhuang Mine, northern China. B Eng Geol Environ 3:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-017-1194-1
**ao J, **ao YK, ** ZD, He MY, Liu CQ (2013) Boron isotope variations and its geochemical application in nature. Aust J Earth Sci 60(4):431–447. https://doi.org/10.1080/08120099.2013.813585
**ao YK, Wang L (2001) The effect of pH and temperature on the isotopic fractionation of boron between saline brine and sediments. Chem Geol 171:253–261. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(00)00251-5
Yang ZY, Huang PH, Ding FF (2020) Groundwater hydrogeochemical mechanisms and the connectivity of multilayer aquifers in a coal mining region. Mine Water Environ 39:808–822. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-020-00716-4
Zhang HT, Xu GQ, Zhan HB, Chen XQ, Liu MC, Wang MH (2020a) Identification of hydrogeochemical processes and transport paths of a multi-aquifer system in closed mining regions. J Hydrology 589:125344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125344
Zhang J, Chen HS, Fu ZY, Wang F, Wang KL (2023) Towards hydrological connectivity in the karst hillslope critical zone: insight from using water isotope signals. J Hydrology 617:128926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.128926
Zhang J, Chen LW, Chen YF, Ge RT, Ma L, Zhou KD, Shi XP (2020b) Discrimination of water-inrush source and evolution analysis of hydrochemical environment under mining in Renlou coal mine, Anhui Province, China. Environ Earth Sci 39:808–822. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8803-1
Zhang L, Chen ZY, Liu FL, Jia YK, Zhang XY, Chen L (2011) Study on methods for hydrogen and oxygen isotope analysis of water samples. Rock Miner Anal 30(2):160–163 (in Chinese)
Zhang XL, Luo X, Jiao JJ, Li HL, Lian EG, Yang SY, Kong FC, Kuang XX, Zuo JC (2021) Hydrogeochemistry and fractionation of boron isotopes in the inter-dune aquifer system of Badain Jaran Desert. China J Hydrol 595:125984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.125984
Zhang Y, Tan HB, Cong PX, Rao WB, Ta WQ, Lu SC, Shi DP (2022) Boron and lithium isotopic constraints on their origin, evolution, and enrichment processes in a river-groundwater-salt lake system in the Qaidam Basin, northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Ore Geol Rev 149:105110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2022.105110
Zhao KD, Jiang SY, Nakamura E, Moriguit T, Wei HZ (2015) A preliminary study on boron isotope fractionation of major rock-forming minerals in granite. Acta Petrol Sin 31:740–746
Zhao L, Ting R, Wang NB (2017) Groundwater impact of open cut coal mine and an assessment methodology: a case study in NSW. Int J Min Sci Techn 27:861–866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2017.07.008
Zhao X, Peng WH, Chen K, Qiu XY, Sun LH (2022) Potential hydraulic connectivity of coal mine aquifers based on statistical analysis of hydrogeochemistry. Water Sci Eng 15(4):285–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wse.2022.08.004
Zheng XY, Lv YP (1994) The natural environment of the formation of Hailar Basin. J Salt Lake Sci 2(3):10–16 (in Chinese)
Zheng XY, Lv YP (1995) Salt lakes and carbonate origin in Hailar Basin. J Salt Lake Sci 3(3):1–10 (in Chinese)
Zheng ZX, Zhang Y, Li BY (2023) Sensitivity assessment of boron isotope as indicator of contaminated groundwater for hydraulic fracturing flowback fluids produced from the Dameigou shale of the northern Qaidam Basin. Sustainability 15:5481. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065481
Acknowledgements
The anonymous reviewers are thanked for their detailed and helpful reviews that significantly improved the manuscript. This research was financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFC2902004), the lnner Mongolia Science and Technology Major Special Proiect (2020ZD0020-4), and the China National Natural Science Foundation (42072284).
Funding
This article is funded by The National Key R&D Program of China, 2021YFC2902004, Yifan Zeng, the lnner Mongolia Science and Technology Major Special Proiect (2020ZD0020-4), Yifan Zeng, The China National Natural Science Foundation, 42072284, Yifan Zeng.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Zhong, X., Wu, Q., Tang, B. et al. Hydrogeochemical Mechanisms and Hydraulic Connection of Groundwaters in the Dongming Opencast Coal Mine, Hailar, Inner Mongolia. Mine Water Environ 43, 28–40 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-023-00963-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-023-00963-1