Identification and analysis of geotechnical risks in the conditions of flooding of the remaining gaps

Abstract

Controlled flooding of the remaining gaps of former quarries (especially lignite quarries) and the formation of lakes that can take different uses is one of the ways of recovering and rehabilitating degraded mining lands which offer opportunities for sustainable development of a mining region. The advantages of such a solution are multiple, starting from the restoration of biodiversity, to economic and social benefits. Basically, several flooding techniques are known, but depending on the geological, geotechnical, hydrological and hydrogeological conditions characteristic for a particular region, these techniques must be adapted to the risks that may arise before, during and after flooding the remaining gap. Most of the times, the risks are of geotechnical nature and arise as a result of the interaction between the rocks and the mixture of loose rocks that form the final slopes and the dump with water. The paper is part of an extensive research, which is carried out under the concrete conditions of the remaining gaps in the Rovinari mining basin, and essentially aims at: identifying the main categories of geotechnical risks that can occur under the given conditions, determining the triggering factors, to produce negative geotechnical phenomena and their effects, as well as to identify the main measures to avoid them.