Hydrogeological Modeling and Pore Pressure Assessment for Safe Tailings Dam Management
CLIENT
Mineração Morro do Ipê
LOCATION
Brumadinho, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
TIMEFRAME
2020-2023
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Challenges
Morro do Ipê Mining, which produces iron ore in the Serra Azul region of Minas Gerais, aimed to better understand the correlation between groundwater level variations around two of its dams and the hydrogeological variables of the foundation, dam structure, and reservoir.
Solution
Data compilation and analysis were conducted using available monitoring data, including hydrogeological/hydrological monitoring of the area, rainfall, flow rates, piezometry, and water levels. A numerical hydrogeological model of the dams was developed, representing the main subsurface flows in the dam areas. Using the calibrated model, different hydrogeological scenarios were assessed, such as the decommissioning of one of the dams (without aquifer recharge) and an intense rainfall event.
Results
The results revealed that the dam structure and most of the deposited tailings are above the water table, minimizing significant interference between the structure and the underlying shallow aquifer. Simulations of additional scenarios showed that recharge does not significantly impact the water level in the hydrogeological model, and the water table does not reach the dam structure.