Cryohydrogeology as a key factor in water disposal system design: A case-study of kimberlite pipes in Western Yakutia

Mining of large kimberlite pipes in Western Yakutia is carried out using the opencast and underground methods with advanced water drawdown and flooding protection. Absolutely all pipes feature the presence of reservoir rocks in the cross-section, which hold much brine and produce drain water of higher salinity from 120 to 410 g/l. The volume and salinification of natural brines depend on the cryo-hydro-geological conditions of a certain deposit. Today, the rate of the total brine inflow per all deposits is 9000 m3/day. As the depth of mining grows, the inflow rate increases and is forecasted to reach the peak value of ~121 000 m3/day by 2050. At the present time, all drain water without any chemical treatment is pumped into reservoirs in permafrost or in regional aquifers. An additional factor of the drain water generation is atmospheric fallout in the area of an open pit mine, and meteoric water. The article offers a brief characteristic of cryohydrogeology in kimberlite mine fields in operation. The hydrogeological modeling provides a forecast of change in natural brine inflow per deposits. On the assumption of the actual volume of fresh atmospheric precipitation, the important factor of selecting between the separate and centralized water collection is the forecasted inflow of natural brines and its change with depth. The centralized water collection is selected when the forecasted inflow can balance the atmospheric fallout, which ensures a slight total change in salinity of drain water. In case that the forecasted inflow is deficient to generate drain water of standard quality, a technology-intensive separate water disposal system is to be designed.

Yannikov A. M., Zyryanov I. V., Korepanov A. Yu. Cryohydrogeology as a key factor in water disposal system design: A case-study of kimberlite pipes in Western Yakutia. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2023;(5):112-129. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2023_ 5_0_112.

A.M. Yannikov¹, Cand. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), Head of Laboratory, e-mail: YannikovAM@alrosa.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2169-123Х,
I.V. Zyrianov, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Head of Chair, Mirny Polytechnic Institute, Branch of Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University, Mirny, Russia, e-mail: ZyryanovIV@alrosa.ru,
A.Yu. Korepanov¹, Head of Hydrogeological Research Sector, e-mail: KorepanovAYu@ alrosa.ru,
¹ Yakutniproalmaz Institute, AK «ALROSA», Mirny, Russia.

A.M. Yannikov, e-mail: yannikov90@mail.ru.

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