Vertical and horizontal gradients in groundwater level elevations

Groundwater level elevations within the mine workings (indicated by the red dotted lines) and within crystalline bedrock outside the mine workings (indicated by the blue dotted lines) are substantially different from one another. These vertical and horizontal gradients in groundwater level elevations indicates that the hydrologic system is highly compartmentalized and that there is little connectivity between the mine water and nearby groundwater. Although the water levels increased substantially following closure of the bulkhead (in May 2018) there was still little communication between the adjacent groundwater and the mine water.



Figure from Environmental Earth Sciences Journal Article, Hydrologic compartmentalization and analytic-element groundwater-flow simulations for a draining mine tunnel.