HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Prunty, L. Articles by Kirkham, D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Prunty, L. Articles by Kirkham, D. Agricola Articles by Prunty, L. Articles by Kirkham, D.

Seepage Vs. Terrace Density in Reclaimed Mineland Soil¹

ABSTRACT

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.

Key Words: saturated flow • mathematical modeling • potential flow • streamlines • pollutant movement

¹ Journal Paper no. J-9369 of the Iowa Agric. and Home Econ. Exp. Stn., Ames, Iowa. Project no. 2166. Research supported by SEA-EPA Grant no. 684-15-2 under the Mineland and Reclamation Research Program.

² Assistant Professor of Soils, North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, ND 58105, and Professor Emeritus, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA 50011. The senior author was formerly a postdoctoral research associate at Iowa State Univ. where the work was done.

Received for publication July 2, 1979.