Abstract #93876(GSA SLC 2005) Password 714265

Mapping the Upper Freeport Coal Seam and

Mining HYDROGEOLOGY in Northern WV

DONOVAN, Joe, MORRIS, Annie, THEIS, Jane, and RHOADS, Christina

HydrogeologyResearchCenter

West VirginiaUniversity

Morgantown, WV

FEDORKO, Nick, Jones, David, and Bell, Taryn

West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey

Coal-Bed Mapping Program

Cheat Lake, WV

PITZER, Keith, FERRIS, Doug, and ZAMIAS, Jess

Friends of Cheat

Kingwood, WV

CHRIST, Martin

Friends of Deckers Creek

Morgantown, WV

LYONS, Constance A., MILLS, Joseph E., and HOOKER, Alan V.

Maryland Department of the Environment

Mining Program – Bureau of Mines

Frostburg, MD

SCHAER, Nick, VUKOVICH, Sheila, ZAMBELLI, Joe, SECKMAN, Jim, and SHEEHAN, Mike

WV Department of Environmental Protection

Charleston, WV

The Upper Freeport seam is one of the most extensive acid-producing seams in the northern Appalachian region. Nonetheless, the distribution of mines and its mining hydrogeology have never been systematically assembled. In this project, we have assembled available primary and secondary underground mine mapping within a study area primarily in WV and MD, including watersheds in the Cheat, Monongahela, Youghiogheny, and Potomac river basins. Most of these mines are closed and many are largely or wholly above surface drainage. Key objectives in the mapping were to (a) create a consistent base of geological information (coal outcrop location and structure contour elevations of the base of the coal); (b) to georeference mine maps as accurately as possible within that framework; and (c) to cross-reference mapped mine locations with discharges to surface watersheds originating from underground mines. Methodologies to accomplish these objectives vary somewhat from case to case, but fall within a range of alternatives. The absolute accuracy of such mine mapping is affected most fundamentally by quality and amenability to georeferencing for available mine maps, and is a level lower than that which may be obtained for accurately-surveyed workings. However, the mine mapping plus geological information allows (a) discrimination between surface- and deep-mine discharges, (b) screening of high-volume discharges from sparse field measurements, and (c) creation of a framework to present as well as interpret field data. The process of assembling underground mine hydrogeology is in fact an iterative, interactive process involving consideration of both mine mapping information and relevant field data (flows and water chemistry). The mine mapping process can be a valuable precursor to identification and planning of reclamation activities.