Field experimental cells to evaluate the hydrogeological behaviour of oxygen barriers made of silty materials

Abstract

An in situ study was initiated to evaluate the efficiency of silts as moisture-retaining material in covers with capillary barrier effects (CCBEs) that aim at controlling the production of acid mine drainage (AMD). This investigation included the construction of four experimental cells covered by different layered cover configurations. Each CCBE was instrumented to monitor its hydrogeological behaviour. The degree of saturation (Sr) in the moisture-retaining (silty) materials was usually maintained above 85%, while Sr in the two sand layers placed above and below the silts was generally lower than 30%–50% (typical hydrogeological behaviour of efficient CCBEs). Suction measurements in the different layers of the four CCBEs were consistent with the observed Sr measurements during the four years of monitoring. The suctions measured in the moisture-retaining materials were lower than their respective air-entry values (AEV), while suctions largely exceeded the AEV of the sand in the capillary break layers. The oxygen flux calculations confirm that in each of the four CCBEs the flux through the CCBEs remained low for the entire duration of the experiment, hence limiting the generation of AMD. This study also confirmed the ability of silty materials to act as moisture retaining in a CCBE. Key words: cover with capillary barrier effects, acid mine drainage, experimental cells, in situ monitoring, unsaturated flow, diffusion, oxygen flux.