HYDROLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS AND POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF SURFACE MINING IN THE NORTHWESTERN PART OF WEST BRANCH ANTELOPE CREEK BASIN, MERCER COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA

摘要

Lignite beds and abundant discontinuous sandstone beds of the Paleocene Sentinel Butte Member of the Fort Union Formation and sand and gravel beds in the Quaternary glaciotluvial deposits (Antelope Creek aquifer) are the most important aquifers in the West Branch Antelope Creek basin. In the Beulah-Zap lignite, ground water moves from highland area in the west toward the Antelope Creek aquifer. Water levels in the basal Sentinel Butte sandstone appear to be controlled by the level of Lade Sakakawea.nLarge water-level declines in wells completed in the lignite and shallower aquifers could be expected with mining. The effects probably would be limited to witain 1 to 2 miles of an active mine.