Ground water conditions are frequently overlooked when placing surface materials in a mine reclamation scheme. The purpose of this paper is to outline the interaction between the surface materials and ground water conditions at a mine site. By careful selection and placement of surface materials, it may be possible to minimize adverse impacts on the ground-water regime. Similarly the chances of successful replacement of surface materials may be enhanced by consideration of ground water conditions.
Effects on the ground-water regime will depend upon the placement of surface materials within the ground-water flow system.
Surface materials placed over recharge zones may alter the rate and quality of water infiltrating to the water table. In turn these effects may be reflected in changes in flow and water quality in springs and streams.
The effects of placing surface materials over ground water discharge areas are generally not so widespread. Medium and high permeability surface materials will generally allow ground water discharge to reach the ground surface. Soluble salts may be precipitated if the concentration in the ground water is high enough. These conditions may restrict the type of vegetation which could grow on the surface materials.
Placing low-permeability materials over a discharge area could result in quicking conditions or unstable slopes if the discharge zone occurs on a hillside.
By evaluating ground-water conditions before placing surface materials, it is possible to avoid may of the problems outlined above.