Mine dewatering is the action of taking unwanted water from any type of mine using different techniques.
Contents
History
The act of taking water from a mine that is being operated has been done since Neolithic times, when the Man was gathering rocks for usage. This task was done by miners in a very rudimentary work. Where no dewatering techniques were available the mine had to be shut down, becoming inoperative. During a long period of the human history the dewatering techniques have been based on manual water haulage and by recurring to buckets and leather buckets mounted on water wheels
It was only in the 15th and 16th centuries that mine dewatering techniques had some technical advancements as work-efficient pumps made available. First, in the German mine of Rammelsberg/Goslar, in the 15th century, and then in the also German mine of Ehrenfriedersdorf/Erzgebirge, in the 16th century.
The machina pyraulica, invented by Thomas Newcomen, is considered the first water-independent dewatering machine - in the year 1712. It is also the first usable steam engine to operate in a mine. Then, the first reliable metal pump, that was created by Joseph Hell in the Schemitz mine, was made available in 1749. Almost 40 years later, in 1788, appears the first water-independent system that uses a metal pump. It was installed in the German lead and zinc mine of Tarnowitz.
In the current days the dewatering techniques and systems are so advanced and well defined for each type of mine - open pit or underground - that even mines with thousands of meters deep can be successfully dewatered, if and when needed.
Problems with mine dewatering
Dewatering a totally or partially flooded mine, or even as a normal procedure in normal mine activity, may carry an amount of problems, most of which are environmentally related. This can happen in open pit mines as well as in underground mines.
The most relevant concerns with mine dewatering are related to acid mine drainage and the dispersal of contaminated water into other water fonts and the general environment becoming a serious source of pollution.
Types of dewatering techniques and systems
Dewatering open pit mines and underground mines is different. Each method relies in different apparel and techniques.
For dewatering open mines the following are used:
In the other hand, in underground these methods are used: