Vilyuisk Exploration Service, ALROSA (Mirny, Russia)1 ; Platov South-Russian State Polytechnic University (NPI) (Novocherkassk, Russia)2
N. Dabu, Hydrogeologist1, Post-Graduate Student2
Vilyuisk Exploration Service, ALROSA (Mirny, Russia)
A. V. Ilin, Manager of Projects Portfolio
Hydrogeological and Geoecological Company GIDEK (Moscow, Russia)1 ; Sergo Ordzhonikidze Russian State University for Geological Prospecting (Moscow, Russia)2
V. Yu. Abramov, Chief Specialist–Hydrogeochemist1, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, Professor2, abramov@hydec.ru
The article examines the impact of reinjection of mine drainage water from the “Mir” (Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)) open pit and underground mine on the hydrogeological and hydrochemical conditions of the Metegero-Ichersky aquifer complex (MIAC), located within the Mirny kimberlite field (Republic of Sakha, Yakutia). Particular attention is paid to the transformation of groundwater chemistry under the influence of long-term operation of the dewatering and reinjection system. The geological structure and stratigraphy of MIAC are described, emphasizing its role as the main source of groundwater inflow into the deposit. It is shown that intensive operation leads to the formation of a complex piezometric pattern with overlapping depression and repression cones, associated with mine dewatering and brine reinjection. The groundwater is dominated by chloride-sodium brines with total mineralization ranging from 90–130 g/L, occasionally exceeding 320 g/L. Long-term monitoring data indicate an increase in mineralization in areas directly affected by reinjection, particularly in the southern part of the site, while northern zones exhibit minimal change due to natural flow direction. On a regional scale, no significant alteration of the hydrochemical regime has been identified. Thus, reinjection of drainage water causes local changes in groundwater mineralization without leading to critical regional-scale transformations.
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