Water Hazard Control and Performance Assessment in Karst Water-Filled Mines of Southern China

Karst mining regions frequently encounter ecological and geological challenges during extraction, especially the increased water inflow into mine pits, water contamination, and karst collapse due to dewatering activities. These challenges not only threaten the safety of mineral resource extraction but also escalate operational expenses. To address these concerns, this study offers a detailed examination of the geohydrological conditions in a karst mining area. It integrates multiple data sources, such as the dynamics of groundwater, mine dewatering activities, and precipitation patterns, to identify the primary sources of water ingress into the mines. The result reveals that the primary water inflow of the mine pits is directly recharged by atmospheric precipitation through runoff zones. Additionally, the key factors leading to karst collapses are the decrease in groundwater levels due to dewatering and the stability of surrounding rock. Consequently, this paper presents a set of innovative methods for water hazard prevention and control. Utilizing the GMS (Groundwater Modeling System), the groundwater numerical model is built to estimate water consumption in mining operations, and also to validate the efficacy of these methods. The model reveals that application of these techniques can reduce groundwater inflow of the mine by 34.3%. The set of methods not only substantially lowers the risk of water inrush incidents but also avoids the contamination of groundwater. Consequently, it ensures the safety of mine production, especially in the wet season.