Development of a Mine and its Groundwater

Abstract

The relations between a mine and groundwater include many problems. The most urgent thing of them for mining engineers or geologists is how to procure ore dressing water or drinking water, that is to say, how to develop groundwater at a virgin area, where a mine is to be developed.
The first step to develop groundwater in the area are collection and arrangement of the existing literatures, and data of topographical and geological surveying, geophysical prospecting, and so on. Nevertheless, they are not sufficient without deep drilling.
Until now, the rope drilling machine has been widely used for drilling water-wells for number of years. The rotary-type drilling machine is, however, more efficient in deep drilling in a short period.
As a rule, mud-water is necessary for the rotary drilling method, therefore, in drilling at an arid area where drilling water is not available, dry drilling (air drilling) should be carried out at first till sufficient quantity of mud-water for the rotary drilling machine is available.