Slide Show on Hierarchical Systems Analysis in Karst Terrains: Part - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Slide Show on Hierarchical Systems Analysis in Karst Terrains: Part - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OPEN-FILE REPORT 00-429-B Slide Show on Hierarchical Systems Analysis in Karst Terrains: Part B - Analysis of Environmental Impacts of Aggregate Mining By William H. Langer 1 and Kenneth E. Kolm 2 This report is

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Slide Show on Hierarchical Systems Analysis in Karst Terrains: Part B - Analysis of Environmental Impacts of Aggregate Mining By William H. Langer1 and Kenneth E. Kolm2

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OPEN-FILE REPORT 00-429-B This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards or with the North American Stratigraphic Code. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

1U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado, USA 2Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, USA

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Hierarchical Systems Analysis in Karst Terrains:

Part B Analysis of Environmental Impacts

  • f Aggregate Mining

William H. Langer

U.S. Geological Survey

and Kenneth E. Kolm

Colorado School of Mines

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SLIDE 3

Purpose of Presentation

  • Describe how the hierarchical

systems analysis (HSA) can be used to analyze environmental impacts (for example from the mining process).

  • Describe selected environmental

impacts from mining aggregate in karst terrain.

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Why Mine Carbonate Rocks?

Carbonates are fourth in terms of value in worldwide production

  • f non-fuel

mineral resources.

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Why Mine Carbonate Rocks?

  • Carbonates are only acceptable source of stone for some

construction, agricultural, metallurgical, industrial, and environmental uses.

Limestone Dolomite

Aggregate Aggregate Special Uses Special Uses 54.9% 69% 31% 45.1%

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Goal

Provide a continuing supply of high quality carbonate rocks while sustaining environmental quality.

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Why Use Hierarchical Systems Analysis?

 Landscape or site is mosaic of dynamic

systems that operate through complex, interrelated processes.

  • Impacts to those systems occurs through complex,

interrelated processes.

 Stepwise approach breaks complicated issues

into smaller, easier to understand, components.

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Hierarchical Systems Analysis

  • Land surface
  • Climate
  • Topography
  • Surface Water
  • Geomorphology
  • Soils
  • Surficial geology & processes
  • Engineering geology
  • Geology
  • Structure
  • Stratigraphy
  • Geophysics
  • Ground water
  • Aquifer properties
  • Recharge / Discharge

Ground water system Subsurface system Geomorphic system Land surface system

Noise Dust Habitat Storm water Flood Erosion / Sed. Fluvial Landslide Karst Earthquake Vibration model Water table

Char Complete? Primary Maps & Databases Examples Systems (Interp. & Models) Environmental Impacts Examples Integrate with mining

No Yes

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Hierarchical Systems Analysis

Identify Initiating Events How system changed by mining (Consequences) How system will respond to changes (Responses) Evaluate impacts (Risk assessment) Are Impacts Acceptable? Final mine design EMS Yes No Characterize Land Use (Mining method)

Citizen input

ISO 14000

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Mining Method

  • Quarry or underground mine
  • Aggregate or dimension stone
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Uncertainties

  • Knowledge
  • Mining involves development in only partially defined physical,

chemical, biological, or human environment.

  • Very little published information about the impacts of extraction of

construction materials in karst terrains.

  • Engineering / geologic state-of-the-art.
  • Predictability
  • Environmental damage often occurs far from the point of impact.
  • Most of the hydrologic processes operate underground.
  • Some natural phenomenon are unpredictable.
  • Change
  • The natural system is in a state of change due to natural and human

activity.

  • Performance – People make mistakes.
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Risk commonly is expressed in terms of consequences and the likelihood of the consequences being realized. Initiating events make risks become consequences.

Uncertainties => Environmental Risks

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Environmental Risk Assessment

(Borrow from process)

  • I. Familiarization

and description

  • II. Potential impact

identification

  • III. Identify risk

contributors

  • IV. Opportunities

for risk reduction

  • V. Sensitivity

Analysis

Identify consequences Analyse consequences

II B. Risk characterization II A. Identify initiating events

Likelihood analysis

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Hierarchical Systems Analysis

Identify Initiating Events How system changed by mining (Consequences) How system will respond to changes (Analysis) Evaluate impacts (Risk assessment) Consider mitigation techniques Are Impacts Acceptable? Final mine design EMS Yes No Mining method

Citizen input

ISO 14000

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Initiating Events

? Initiating Event Consequence One to many Combination Choice of outcome

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Initiating Events

One to Many

? Initiating Event Consequence

Blast Noise Dust Air Concussion Ground Vibration

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Clear land surface Rainfall Surface erosion

Initiating Events

Combination

? Initiating Event Consequence

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Initiating Events

Choice of Outcome

Do nothing Wash away Fuel Spill

?

Contain & pick up ? Initiating Event Consequence

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Cascading Initiating Events

Initiating Event Consequence Initiating Event Consequence

Blast Ground Vibrations

?

Increase fractures Rock fall

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Cascading Initiating Events

Blasting Vibration Wash away Fuel spill

? Initiating Event Consequence

G.W. Pollution Increase fractures Rock falls

Initiating Event Consequence Initiating Event Consequence

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Initiating Events - Examples

Human

  • Mining
  • Drilling
  • Blasting
  • Excavating
  • Dewatering
  • In-pit transportation
  • Fuel spills
  • Processing
  • Crushing
  • Screening
  • Washing
  • Stockpiling
  • Transportation to

market

  • Reclamation
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Initiating Events - Examples

Natural

  • Climate / weather
  • Droughts
  • Heavy rain events
  • Precipitation during

critical periods

  • Ground-water level

changes

  • Thresholds
  • River downcutting
  • Karstification
  • Tectonics
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Hierarchical Systems Analysis

Identify Initiating Events How system changed by mining (Consequences) How system will respond to changes (Analysis) Evaluate impacts (Risk assessment) Consider mitigation techniques Are Impacts Acceptable? Final mine design EMS Yes No Mining method

Citizen input

ISO 14000

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Consequence Analysis

  • Consequences can be analyzed and expressed in

quantitative or qualitative terms including:

  • Timing of the impact
  • Duration of the impact
  • Range of the impact
  • Magnitude of the impact.
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Potential Consequences – Example

Aquifer characteristics Conduit & diffuse flow High storage Variable Recharge

One of Many Possible Outcomes

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Potential Consequences – Example

Excavation In Unsaturated Zone

One of Many Possible Outcomes

Quarrying in the unsaturated zone in karst terrain is likely to result in relatively local impacts .

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Potential Consequences – Example

Excavation In Unsaturated Zone

Removal of protective cap rock and unsaturated material No filter for contaminated surface water Contaminated spring discharge Reduction of ground-water storage Destruction of habitat Blasting - noise, dust, vibrations Erosion, sedimentation Visual Engineering Impacts Dynamic (geologic) impacts

One of Many Possible Outcomes

Filling of small voids Reduction of porosity and ground-water flow Alteration of bacterial action Decrease in biodiversity Reduction of biotic environment

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Potential Consequences – Example

Shallow Excavation In Saturated Zone

Extraction Intercept conduit Dewater mine Lower water table Spring desiccation Wetland & habitat destruction Alter ground-water flow Flood quarry Karstification Loss of buoyancy Sinkhole collapse Redefine drainage divide All engineering impacts plus:

One of Many Possible Outcomes

Change pH Alter mesoscale and microscale habitat Destroy karst inhabitants

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Potential Consequences – Example

Deep Excavation In Saturated Zone

All impacts of previous SZ quarry scenario plus… Change to losing stream Broad regional impacts to g.w. flow Further habitat degradation

One of Many Possible Outcomes

Karstification

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Potential Consequences – Example

Deep Excavation In Saturated Zone - Reclamation

Create new springs Fill quarry with water Exceed (fail to meet) previous level Raise water table Rejuvenate springs Modify ground-water flow paths Susceptible to surface water contamination Susceptible to ground water contamination Redefine drainage divide

One of Many Possible Outcomes

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Potential Consequences – Example

Deep Excavation In Saturated Zone Different Climate or Conductivity

Another Possible Outcome

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Hierarchical Systems Analysis

Identify Initiating Events How system changed by mining (Consequences) How system will respond to changes Evaluate impacts (Risk assessment) Consider mitigation techniques Are Impacts Acceptable? Final mine design EMS Yes No Mining method

Citizen input

ISO 14000

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Summary

  • We use large amounts of

carbonate rocks.

  • There is no substitute material

for the majority of uses.

  • We need to continue to mine

carbonate rocks.

  • Aggregate mining will create

environmental impacts.

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Summary

  • Numerous possible impacts
  • Cascading impacts
  • Numerous possible outcomes
  • Dependent on natural and human conditions.

GOAL: Provide a continuing supply of high quality carbonate rocks while sustaining environmental quality.

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Hierarchical Systems Analysis

One method to accomplish this goal.