ABSTRACT
Surface and underground mining activities can have direct and indirect impacts on the quantity, quality, and usability of groundwater supplies. The nature of the mining activity, geological substrata, and redistribution of surface and subsurface materials will determine to a large degree how groundwater supplies will be impacted. As waters interact and alter the disturbed geologic materials, constituents such as salts, metals, trace elements, and/or organic compounds become mobilized.[1,2] Once mobilized, the dissolved substances can leach into deep aquifers, resulting in groundwater quality impacts. In addition to concerns due to naturally occurring contaminants, mining activities may also contribute to groundwater pollution from leaking underground storage tanks, improper disposal of lubricants and solvents, contaminant spills as well as others.
