Electrical Resistivity Imaging Applied to Mining Legacy Site
A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 1434
Special Issue Editors
Interests: applications of electrical, seismic, and electromagnetic techniques focused on near-surface characterization in environmental, mining, and hydrogeological research
Interests: applications of electrical, seismic, and electromagnetic techniques focused on near-surface characterization in environmental, mining, and hydrogeological research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: multi-source data fusion integrating earth observation, airborne-, and ground-based geophysics in mining environments
Interests: applications of electrical, magnetic, and electromagnetic techniques focused on near-surface characterization in environmental, mining, and hydrogeological research
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) is a non-destructive geophysical technique used to measure and map the distribution electrical resistivity of different materials in the subsurface. Thus, ERI can delineate zones in the subsurface with distinctive electrical resistivity values, and this capability has been used extensively in several applications across industries.
This field of application has increasingly been applied for the past 30 years for mapping the subsurface of mining legacy sites or so-called abandoned mines. The subsurface of mining areas can host minerals that are prone to other physical and chemical processes by which the structure and properties of the ground, pore water, and groundwater can be altered. The result of this interaction can lead to geochemical reactions increasing the acidity and salinity at specific zones of the subsurface which can be determined using a proxy measurement such as electrical resistivity.
In most cases, ERI was applied in mining waste and tailings (e.g., for mapping the structure of embankments and seepage pathways), which are often associated with environmental and human health concerns due to the potential for contaminant release. ERI has also been used in mining legacy sites in conjunction with other geophysical techniques (e.g., IP, SP, electromagnetic induction, active and seismic imaging, and ground penetrating radar) to interpret other processes related to the stratigraphy, geochemistry, and hydrogeology of the subsurface.
There are several advantages in using ERI in mining legacy sites. ERI is non-invasive technique that does not require drilling or excavation, making it a cost-effective and safe method with only a few hours to complete field data acquisition. It can provide high-resolution imagery and therefore detailed mapping of the subsurface. It is flexible as it can be applied in a variety of environments including land and water. In addition, ERI is a low-impact geophysical technique as it does not cause significant noise or disturb the environment, making it a preferred option for sensitive environments.
As for assisting the monitoring and management of mining legacy sites, ERI can offer a wide range of applications such as environmental site assessments, identifying the extent of contaminated land areas, phreatic water, and groundwater, allowing for a better targeting of remediation efforts. ERI can be used to monitor the effectiveness of remediation by mapping changes in subsurface electrical resistivity over time, allowing for the identification of changes in the distribution of contaminants. ERI can also be used to assess the stability of mining waste deposits by identifying areas of low electrical resistivity associated with the presence of saturated materials or zones of weakness. Other ERI applications can include mapping geochemical processes and, potentially, mineral exploration in mining secondary resources.
Dr. Marcos Antonio Martínez-Segura
Prof. Dr. Pedro Martínez-Pagán
Dr. Raul Mollehuara Canales
Dr. Rosendo Mendoza Vílchez
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- electrical resistivity imaging
- tailing dam
- orphan mines, derelict mines, mining legacy sites, abandoned mines
- environmental contamination
- environmental remediation
- geotechnical stability
- potential mineral exploration
- mining secondary resources
