Coal mine flooding in the Lorraine-Saar basin: experience from the French mines

摘要

Coal mining in the Lorraine-Saar basin started in the nineteenth century. The coal deposit was mined both in France and in Germany. On the French side, mining ceased in 2004 after 150 years of activity, and as a consequence, the French coal mines got progressively flooded. This study presents the results of the entire monitoring plan for the different mine water reservoirs of the Lorraine coal basin. The actual speed of mine flooding is compared to prediction studies, mine water quality is detailed and content evolution of iron, manganese and suspended solids is discussed for the different mine reservoirs.