2. Features of MINEDW

MINEDW provides specialized features that facilitate 3D simulation of dewatering operations in open-pit and underground mines. This section describes the comprehensive capabilities designed for mining hydrogeology applications and the key features that enable accurate simulation of groundwater flow systems in complex mining environments.

2.1. Modeling Capabilities

MINEDW accurately simulates progressive excavation of open pits by dynamically changing node elevations affected by mining over time. This enables:

  • Realistic representation of evolving mining operations

  • Time-dependent groundwater response to excavation

  • Accurate prediction of dewatering requirements at each mining phase

MINEDW simulates groundwater flow problems using combined saturated-unsaturated flow analysis. Key advantages include:

  • Fixed finite-element mesh with adaptive capability for excavation modeling

  • Dynamic saturated flow domain adjustment with water table changes

  • Accurate representation of spatial hydrogeologic variability

  • Stable numerical solution throughout dewatering operations

MINEDW efficiently simulates formation and evolution of zones of relaxation around excavations. Features include:

  • Time-dependent Zone of Relaxation (ZOR) development around pit excavations

  • Underground mining operation effects

  • Schedule-based simulation following actual mining plans

  • Altered hydraulic properties in disturbed rock zones

2.2. Visualizations

MINEDW provides comprehensive 3D visualizations for complete model understanding:

  • Geology and model domain - Detailed geological structure representation

  • Pit geometry - Accurate excavation boundaries and surfaces

  • Groundwater heads and flux - Flow patterns and hydraulic gradients

  • Recharge and evaporation zones - Surface water interaction areas

  • Particle tracking pathways - Groundwater flow paths and travel times

  • Pore pressure distributions - Critical data for slope stability analysis in Itasca’s geomechanical software

2.3. Geotechnical Integration

MINEDW seamlessly integrates with geomechanical analysis:

  • Direct export of pore-pressure distributions

  • Compatible with 2D and 3D geomechanical models

  • Optimized for Itasca’s geomechanical software suite

  • Supports comprehensive slope stability analysis workflows

2.4. Boundary Conditions

Flexible head boundary condition implementation:

  • Time-invariant - Constant head values throughout simulation

  • Time-variant - Dynamic boundary heads using hydrograph tables

  • Temporal variations - Precise control of boundary head changes

  • Multiple boundary types - Different conditions on different boundaries

Advanced flux boundary condition capabilities:

  • Flexible data sets - Customizable boundary flux definitions

  • Internal source-sink terms - Wells, drains, and injection points

  • Time-step configurations - Different flux patterns for each time step

  • Combined conditions - Multiple boundary types in single model

Advanced boundary conditions extend model capabilities:

  • Time-variant fluxes - Dynamic response to changing boundary heads

  • Infinite domain simulation - Extends finite model domain to infinity

  • Analytical coupling - Semi-infinite, linear aquifer solutions

  • Enhanced accuracy - Eliminates artificial boundary effects (Carslaw and Jaeger, 1959 [2])

2.5. Surface Water Interactions

Comprehensive stream-groundwater interaction modeling:

  • Interconnected river networks - Main channels and tributary systems

  • Dynamic water exchange - Bidirectional stream-groundwater flow

  • Streamflow accounting - Depletions and additions tracking

  • Realistic representation - Complex river network behavior

Sophisticated surface water loss simulation:

  • Vegetated areas - Evapotranspiration from plant communities

  • Bare soil surfaces - Direct evaporation modeling

  • Depth-dependent rates - Inverse relationship with water table depth

  • Physical constraints - Maximum rates and extinction depth limits

Advanced precipitation simulation capabilities:

  • Spatial variations - Different precipitation rates across model domain

  • Temporal variations - Time-varying precipitation patterns

  • Orographic effects - Topographically controlled precipitation

2.6. Mining-Specific Operations

Complete pit lifecycle simulation capabilities:

  • Open-pit excavation - Progressive mining simulation with time-dependent geometry

  • Open-pit backfilling - Waste placement and consolidation modeling

  • Pit-lake formation - Post-mining water accumulation and evolution

  • Integrated workflow - Seamless transition between operational phases