The law of gravity dictates that the creation of an open-pit mine — essentially, a giant funnel cut into the earth through layers of rock — will channel and collect water. No matter the scale of an operation, it is inevitable that the excavation will intercept groundwater flows at some point, and depending upon the local conditions, surface water or run-off is also likely to pool in certain areas. Effective dewatering benefits every function within an operation, from mine design and slope stability to blasting and haulage. Yet the impact of a good strategy, prepared and executed well in advance with the consultation of experts and reviewed regularly is often underestimated. A lack of understanding across the workforce surrounding the role of dewatering and associated infrastructure can lead to mines losing sight of dewatering targets, lack of sufficient resources, and, if left unchecked, a major safety incident. So, E&MJ asked experts from two leading consultancies to help enhance our collective understanding.
SRK contributors: Goktug Evin, Cristian Pereira, and Dan Mackie
