Mine void and its

Potential impact
Mine void
 Mine void

Mine void
Mine void is defined as that remaining when an open-cut
mine has ceased to be mined and is not planned to be mined
or used as access for underground mining in the near future.

Mining may cease for a number of reasons:

● the ore is exhausted,
● a lease boundary is encountered,
● changes in overburden/ore ratios, and
● price fluctuations impacting on the economic viability.
Operating mines have to run with three main issues:
● water supply,
● wastewater disposal, and
● contamination of local water resources.

In contrast, post-closure issues are related to

● aquifer recovery or re-establishment of groundwater
equilibrium,
● isolation of waste products,
● the development of pit lakes in mine voids, and
● associated long-term impacts

If the mine void is extending below the water-table, it may

create several environmental impacts. Once dewatering ceases,
the water-level recovers and the mine void fills with
groundwater, becoming a ‘window’ to the water-table.
 Potential impact of mining void

● Hydro-chemical evolution of the resultant pit lake may take

centuries, making it difficult to determine the long-term
impact of the final mine void on the surrounding
groundwater environment.

● Mine void-related impacts are a long-term concern for

Western Australia, as there are currently about 1800 existing
mine voids and more than 150 mines operating below the
water-table

● On completion of mining, water-levels in the aquifer are

expected to return to pre-mining levels within three years.
The mine void will remain open and gradually infill with
water.
● On ending of dewatering, it is anticipated that the voids
will flood with groundwater. Groundwater inflow is largely
from the fractured-rock aquifers and permeable features in
the weathering profile.

● The rate of pit inundation is expected to be slow,

particularly if the pit is located in the clayey weathering zone.

● After reaching a new equilibrium, the mine voids may act

as ‘partial through-flow’ types with some pit water flowing
into the nearby shallow aquifer.
Final void management

The aims of final void management should be:

● representation the site acceptable and safe over the long
term;
● Minimizing environmental and health risks in the vicinity of
the site;
● Maximizing to the practicable extent any potential future
usage of the site; and
● Developing a ‘walkway’ solution.

● Another consideration in final void management is-

post-mine closure usage of the pit lakes and the associated
long-term benefits to the local community.