PREDICTION OF GROUNDWATER TABLE LOWERING FOR LIGNITE OPEN-CAST MINING IN A KARSTIC TERRAIN IN WESTERN MACEDONIA, GREECE

KAVVADAS, MJ; MARINOS, PG

dc.contributor.author	KAVVADAS, MJ	en
dc.contributor.author	MARINOS, PG	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T01:10:08Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T01:10:08Z
dc.date.issued	1994	en
dc.identifier.issn	0481-2085	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/11320
dc.subject	Macedonia	en
dc.subject.classification	Engineering, Geological	en
dc.subject.classification	Geosciences, Multidisciplinary	en
dc.title	PREDICTION OF GROUNDWATER TABLE LOWERING FOR LIGNITE OPEN-CAST MINING IN A KARSTIC TERRAIN IN WESTERN MACEDONIA, GREECE	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.identifier.primary	10.1144/GSL.QJEGH.1993.027.0S.06	en
heal.identifier.secondary	http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/GSL.QJEGH.1993.027.0S.06	en
heal.language	English	en
heal.publicationDate	1994	en
heal.abstract	Planning for the development of new lignite mines in the Ptolemais basin in western Macedonia, Greece, required the investigation of the hydrogeological characteristics of the adjacent karstic aquifer, since open-cast exploitation involves extensive and sustained groundwater table lowering (up to 260 metres). Review and evaluation of existing hydrological-hydrogeological data, in conjunction with the results of recent measurements, shows that groundwater flow is to the southeast in a single highly transitive karstified marble aquifer. An analytical regional flow model based on the finite element method is developed and used to assess the feasibility of the required groundwater table lowering and its effects on the hydrological budget of lake Vegoritis, nine kilometres from the mines and in hydraulic continuity with the karstic aquifer. Model predictions show that the required ground water table lowering is not economically feasible at present and that any sustained large-scale dewatering scheme will significantly increase lake losses within a period done to two years. It is thus concluded that exploitation of the new lignite-bearing horizons should not reach the karstic marbles at the boundary of the basin, but a zone of the relatively impermeable alluvium should be left to act as a seal. This scheme should be combined with partial lowering of the groundwater table to relieve the hydrostatic pressures on the seal, thus increasing the margin of safety against piping and slope failure.	en
heal.publisher	GEOLOGICAL SOC PUBL HOUSE	en
heal.journalName	QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1144/GSL.QJEGH.1993.027.0S.06	en
dc.identifier.isi	ISI:A1994PE19500006	en
dc.identifier.volume	27	en
dc.identifier.spage	S41	en
dc.identifier.epage	S55	en