Mine Closure Planning Issues and

Strategies in Neyveli Mines by Using

Open Source Software

Author- Atun RoyChoudhury & Dr. V Arutchelvan

M.E. (Environmental Engg)

OCTOBER, 2016
Outline...

 Overview.
 What is mine closure.
 Traditional closing approaches.
 How we did it differently.
 What makes for good practice.
 Real time modelling on NLC India Limited.
 Conclusion.
Overview...

 Mines only have a limited life

span.
 Upon end of life, operations must
be consolidated and closed.
 Include all matters regarding
structures, wastes, residue
deposits, water management,
community relation etc.
 The physical activities that are
needed to close down a mine are
relatively straight forward- Greater
challenge today involves leaving a
social & environmental legacy.
What is mine closure...

 Planning for mine closure should start before

mining commences.
 It should continue throughout the life of the mine
until final closure and relinquishment.
 A mature discipline, complete with higher level
management process, continuing growth in
technical fields enhances mine closure techniques.
 New interests in stakeholders and sustainability
issues makes mine closure planning more
complicated
Traditional closing approaches...
Comparative study of mine closure policy
in Australia, Canada and India.
Study area...

 Neyveli is located in Tamilnadu, approximately lies with latitude

11.5927°N and 79.4713°E. The township covers 53 Km2
provide around 18000 houses for the employees.
UTM co-ordinates of the area of
interest.
Guidelines for preparation of
mine closure plan in India.
 The Central Government vide Notification No. GSR
329 (E) dated 10.04.2003 and No. GSR 330 (E) dated
10.04.2003 amended the Mineral Concession Rules,
1960 and Mineral Conservation and Development
Rules, 1988 respectively.

 As per these amendments all the existing mining

lessees are required to submit the "Progressive Mine
Closure Plan" along with prescribed financial sureties
within 180 days from date of notification.
Salient features of Neyveli Mines...
Probable closure reasons of
Neyveli mines...
 Closure due to resource
depletion.
 Closure due to
economic reasons.
 Closure due to
cessation of open pit or
underground workings.
 Closure due to
geological or
Geotechnical reasons.
 Closure due to flooding.
Table shows basic reason of mine closure.

*Reference; David Laurence, 2006

Prevailing geological conditions.
Ground water aquifer...
 A huge reservoir of ground water occurs below
the entire lignite bed, exerting an upward
pressure of 6 to 8 kgf/cm2.
 Ground water pumping from mines takes place
at the rate of 110 Mm3 / annum.
 45 numbers of 1000 GPM pumps (20” dia) has
generally been used for successful execution of
the work
 The quantity of water pumped out has been
reduced from 50,000 GPM to 32,000 GPM.
Vertical cross section of
NLC soil profile...
Prevailing climatic condition

 The Mine is mainly located in a monsoon and

cyclonic area.

 The average rainfall in a year comes to about

1200 mm.

 The wind velocity goes up to 160 KM per

hour.
Ground water control operations...

 Ever since July 1961, the pressure surface is

being controlled through pumping from large
diameter wells (Drilling: 36
inches/Casing:20inches) strategically located at
pre-determined places.

 Effective pressure control is achieved from the

upper confined confined aquifer alone,
constituting the first 30 to 40 m of the aquifer
zone immediately below lignite.
Storm water control operations...

 The pumps are of varying capacities Viz.

1000, 2000, 4000, and 5000GPM are used
for dewatering the storm water and
seepage water.

 Storm water control pumps are generally

placed in Floating pontoons for achieving
better results.
Ground & storm water removal
arrangements...
Contouring to ensure drainage.
 Digital elevation
modelling contains all
the 3D information
about the terrain.

 It is possible to calculate
a hillshade, which is a
raster, that maps the
terrain using light and
shadow to create a 3D-
looking image.
Contouring on Chrome window (offline
module).
 Contouring has been done by using terrain data collected from Open
Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo) website.
 It has been generated at an interval of 10m.
Drainage path according to relief...
Design drainage...

 Here the drainage facility has been designed by using QGIS

software with existing ground conditions and available
hydraulic gradient.
When things go wrong...

 Four separate mines in

closure proximity in
klerksdrop, Orkney,
Stilfontein and
hartebeesfontein (KOSH
area).

 Dispute arose over

responsibility for pumping
of underground water after
mine closure
Results...

 In case of confined aquifer, it exerts 50-100

tonnes/m2 on the existing upper lignite base
stratum.

 It’s absolute to results in flooding of both the

mine.

 Study shows this mine could be closed after a

flood carried away the peat resource
downstream.
Caution of flooding due to artesian
phenomenon...
Final catastrophe, leads to mine
closure...
Conclusion...

 The analysis of Neyveli mines was performed

with the aim of extracting useful information for
planning interventions towards the
improvement of the existing pressure relief
system.
 In this paper, the complete workflow has been
discussed, starting from the generation of
contours to the designing of appropriate
drainage pathway.
 OSM and Google satellite has been used to bring
the model into reality.
References
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136.

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 Butler, A.R. and Wagambie, D., (2012), The integration of indigenous knowledge into mine site rehabilitation and closure
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 Waggit, P.W. and Zapantis, A., (2000), Improving rehabilitation standards to meet changing community concerns: A history of
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 Zobaidul, S.M.K., Fazle, R., Mamta, B.C. and Delwar, A., (2015), A Review of Mine Closure Planning and Practice in Canada
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Thank you one and all for your kind
listening...

Time for some questions