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Seepage Vs. Terrace Density in Reclaimed Mineland Soil
Author(s) -
Prunty Lyle,
Kirkham Don
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1980.00472425000900020022x
Subject(s) - terrace (agriculture) , overburden , geology , saturation (graph theory) , geotechnical engineering , geomorphology , mathematics , archaeology , combinatorics , history
The seepage pattern of infiltrated water through hillside mine overburden materials is of concern because of the possible pollution hazard presented by leachates. Here detailed seepage patterns as found by Gram‐Schmidt analysis are presented for (i) a uniform‐slope topography, (ii) a four‐terrace topography, and (iii) a one‐terrace topography. The aspect ratio (depth/width of the mine pit) of 1:40 and average slope of 5% are the same for each topography and correspond approximately to the aspect ratio and slope of an actual research coal mine. The volume of overburden is also the same for each topography. Saturation of the overburden is assumed. The results, therefore, depict the maximum possible seepage condition for each topography, not average or normally expected conditions. A plot of the total relative seepage rate as a function of the reciprocal of the terrace density (number of terraces) is presented. The total seepage rate for the four‐terrace topography is 10 times greater than for the uniform‐slope topography.