Ground uplift after the closure of water leaks in the Mina drift of the Wieliczka Salt Mine

Abstract

Po opanowanym wdarciu wód do Kopalni Soli Wieliczka przez zamknięcie wycieku w 2007 r. ustały obniżenia powierzchni i obecnie wykształcają się wypiętrzenia. W pracy przedstawiono warunki geologiczno-górnicze i hydrogeologiczne w strefie wycieku i na tle poprzednich obniżeń pokazano kształtowanie się wypiętrzeń terenu, obserwowane w pomiarach geodezyjnych niwelacją precyzyjną. Biorąc pod uwagę poprawkę na uczestniczące w przemieszczeniach terenu osiadania spowodowane wpływami kopalni, stwierdzono, że maksymalne wypiętrzenia osiągnęły 63 mm, a teren w następnych latach może się nadal wypiętrzać. Wskazano, że przyczyną wypiętrzeń jest zwiększenie ciśnienia w kawernach sufozyjnych oraz efekt wypornościowy i nawadnianie osuszonych i zdrenowanych utworów w trakcie spływu wód do kopalni.

After putting the water leaks in the Wieliczka Salt Mine under control, upon construction of dams in 2007, the ground subsidence stopped. Presently, however, ground uplifts are observed on land surface. This paper presents geological, mining, and hydro-geological conditions occurring in the leak areas. Using the examples of previous subsidence, the authors have demonstrated the shaping of ground uplifts observed in levelling surveying by precise measurement methods. With a correction relating to the subsidence caused by working convergence that also occur in ground displacements, it was found that the maximum ground uplifts reached 63 mm, with the continuing trends in the years to come. It was established that the causes of uplifting included increase of pressure in suffosion caverns and the displacement effect, with irrigation of dried and drained formations during the flow of water into the salt mine.

After putting the water leaks in the Wieliczka Salt Mine under control, upon construction of dams in 2007, the ground subsidence stopped. Presently, however, ground uplifts are observed on land surface. This paper presents geological, mining, and hydro-geological conditions occurring in the leak areas. Using the examples of previous subsidence, the authors have demonstrated the shaping of ground uplifts observed in levelling surveying by precise measurement methods. With a correction relating to the subsidence caused by working convergence that also occur in ground displacements, it was found that the maximum ground uplifts reached 63 mm, with the continuing trends in the years to come. It was established that the causes of uplifting included increase of pressure in suffosion caverns and the displacement effect, with irrigation of dried and drained formations during the flow of water into the salt mine.