Flooding of WISMUT's uranium mines after closure - Key findings and unexpected effects

摘要

The closure of five underground uranium mines is a central issue of the WISMUT project.Based on extensive investigations, controlled mine flooding was identified to be the mostenvironmentally friendly, the technically safest, and hence the most appropriate low-costoption for long term water management. Differing boundary conditions in terms of geology,hydrogeology, and the former mining technology required individual flooding strategies andtechnological arrangements at the various sites. Comprehensive monitoring programs havebeen implemented. By 2008 more than 90 % of the underground workings were flooded, anda number of general findings regarding flood water rise, water quality and stratification in theflood water column, as well as geo-mechanical stability of the surface have been made. Bymeans of selected examples, those findings, but also unexpected effects are described anddiscussed regarding long term challenges.