Integrated method of RS and GPR for monitoring the changes in the soil moisture and groundwater environment due to underground coal mining

Mining affects the environment in different ways depending on the physical context in which the mining occurs. In mining areas with an arid environment, mining affects plants’ growth by changing the amount of available water. This paper discusses the effects of mining on two important determinants of plant growth—soil moisture and groundwater table (GWT)—which were investigated using an integrated approach involving a field sampling investigation with remote sensing (RS) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR). To calculate and map the distribution of soil moisture for a target area, we initially analyzed four models for regression analysis between soil moisture and apparent thermal inertia and finally selected a linear model for modeling the soil moisture at a depth 10 cm; the relative error of the modeled soil moisture was about 6.3% and correlation coefficient 0.7794. A comparison of mined and unmined areas based on the results of limited field sampling tests or RS monitoring of Landsat 5-thermatic mapping (TM) data indicated that soil moisture did not undergo remarkable changes following mining. This result indicates that mining does not have an effect on soil moisture in the Shendong coal mining area. The coverage of vegetation in 2005 was compared with that in 1995 by means of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) deduced from TM data, and the results showed that the coverage of vegetation in Shendong coal mining area has improved greatly since 1995 because of policy input RMB￥0.4 per ton coal production by Shendong Coal Mining Company. The factor most affected by coal mining was GWT, which dropped from a depth of 35.41 m before mining to a depth of 43.38 m after mining at the Bulianta Coal Mine based on water well measurements. Ground-penetrating radar at frequencies of 25 and 50 MHz revealed that the deepest GWT was at about 43.4 m. There was a weak water linkage between the unsaturated zone and groundwater, and the decline of water table primarily resulted from the well pumping for mining safety rather than the movement of cracking strata. This result is in agreement with the measurements of the water wells. The roots of nine typical plants in the study area were investigated. Populus was found to have the deepest root system with a depth of about 26 m. Based on an assessment of plant growth demands and the effect of mining on environmental factors, we concluded that mining will have less of an effect on plant growth at those sites where the primary GWT depth before mining was deep enough to be unavailable to plants. If the primary GWT was available for plant growth before mining, especially to those plants with deeper roots, mining will have a significant effect on the growth of plants and the mechanism of this effect will include the loss of water to roots and damage to the root system.     

Sediment characteristics and mineralogy of salt mounds linked to underground spring activity in the Lop Nor playa,Western China

Salt mounds are commonly distributed along playa margins and typically comprise alternating layers of loose fine sand and slightly hard halite-rich sediments as a result of long-term underground spring activity. A model of salt mound development was constructed for this study. It suggests that wind-blown sand supply and upward recharge of underground springs are two important factors in salt mound construction. Furthermore, it proposes that salt mound height is mainly controlled by the vertical transport range of underground springs and the thickness of the capillary fringe. A 1.5 m representative profile dug from the center of salt mound LP1 in the Lop Nor playa revealed a fairly complicated mineral assemblage including halite, gypsum, anhydrite, glauberite, epsomite, anhydrite, calcite, bischofite, polyhalite, schoenite, kieserite and carnallite. This matches closely with the assemblage predicted by the EQL/EVP model. The groundwater in the area is highly concentrated brine rich in Cl⁻ and Na⁺ and poor in Ca²⁺, displaying low alkalinity, and containing considerable amounts of SO₄²⁻, Mg²⁺ and K⁺. Chemical analysis of groundwater revealed considerable variation in the salinity and chemical composition of groundwater over time. The Cs-137 technique was used to measure the accumulated ages of the salt mounds. This method may prove useful in the research of relatively young playa environments where carbon dating techniques are unworkable because of an absence of carbon-rich materials in recent saline sediments.     

Integrated geoelectrical resistivity,hydrochemical and soil property analysis methods to study shallow groundwater in the agriculture area,Machang, Malaysia

Integrated geoelectrical resistivity, hydrochemical and soil property analysis methods were used to study the groundwater characteristics of sandy soils within a shallow aquifer in the agriculture area, Machang. A pilot test investigation was done prior to the main investigation. The area was divided into two sites. Test-Site 1 is non-fertilized; Test-Site 2 is the former regularly fertilized site. From the surface to depths of 75 cm, a lower average resistivity was obtained in Test-Site 2 (around 0.37 less than in Test-Site 1). The presence of nitrate and chloride contents in pore water reduced the resistivity values despite the low moisture content. The pH values for the whole area range from 4.11 to 6.88, indicating that the groundwater is moderately to slightly acidic. In the southern region, concentration of nitrate is considered to be high (>20 mg/l), while it is nearly zero in the northern region. In the south, the soil properties are similar. However, the geoelectrical model shows lower resistivity values (around 18 Ω m) at the sites with relatively high nitrate concentration in the groundwater (>20 mg/l). Conversely, the sites with low nitrate concentration reveal the resistivity values to be higher (>35 Ω m). Basement and groundwater potential maps are generated from the interpolation of an interpreted resistivity model. The areas that possibly have nitrate-contaminated groundwater have been mapped along with groundwater flow patterns. The northern part of the area has an east to west groundwater flow pattern, making it impossible for contaminated water from the southern region to enter, despite the northern area having a lower elevation.     

Geophysical and tracer studies to detect subsurface chromium contamination and suitable site for waste disposal in Ranipet,Vellore district,Tamil Nadu,India

A chemical factory near Ranipet town in Vellore district, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India produced chromium-based inorganic chemicals. The factory area in granite gnessic terrain receives an average annual rainfall of 1,000 mm. About 1.5 lakh tons of solid wastes rich in hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺), spreading over an area of 14,000 m² (about 3.5 acres), having about 4 m thickness, is accumulated in an open yard within the factory premises. The soil and groundwater in and around the factory area are contaminated with Cr⁶⁺ leached from dump site. Cr⁶⁺ is carcinogenic in nature and when leached in water can lead to respiratory disorders. Resistivity surveys comprising vertical electrical sounding, multielectrode resistivity imaging, drilling of bore wells, chemical analysis of soil, formation and groundwater samples and bore hole tracer studies were carried out within the factory and adjoining areas to decipher subsurface geology, hydraulic behavior of dyke as natural barrier and lateral and vertical extent of pollution zone in and around the chromium dump site. The data obtained were integrated and interpreted for understanding the pollution migration and its impact on environment. Remedial measures are suggested for containing the contamination.     

基于不同开采方式的煤矿涌水量预测及其环境影响分析

煤矿开采不当会对水资源与水环境造成破坏,尤其在生态环境相对脆弱地区更是如此。针对目前矿井涌水量预测大多以单一工作面或煤矿为评价单元,对沟域内煤矿群同时长期开采的地下水环境影响重视不够。选择头道河则沟域为研究区,以地下水勘查、井田勘探资料为依据,构建了头道河则完整沟域的地下水三维非稳定流数值模型,根据地下水、地表水监测数据和煤矿群开采涌水量的长观资料进行模型的识别与验证,以9#煤矿为典型矿区,分析综采和条带充填2种不同开采方式下矿井涌水量及其对水环境的影响。研究结果表明：(1)综采状态下,矿井涌水量增加0.70×10⁴ m³/d,导致地下水溢出量减少0.20×10⁴ m³/d,引发矿区及区域地下水水位下降0.21～17.92 m;条带充填开采状态下,矿井涌水量增加0.11×10⁴ m³/d,导致地下水溢出量减少0.04×10⁴ m³/d,引发矿区及区域地下水水位下降0.01～0.44 m。(2)煤矿按综采方式开采,...     

Multiple drivers of Holocene lake level changes at a lowland lake in northeastern Germany

Many German lakes experienced significant water level declines in recent decades that are not fully understood due to the short observation period. At a typical northeastern German groundwater‐fed lake with a complex basin morphology, an acoustic sub‐bottom profile was analysed together with a transect of five sediment cores, which were correlated using multiple proxies (sediment facies, μ‐XRF, macrofossils, subfossil Cladocera). Shifts in the boundary between sand and mud deposition were controlled by lake level changes, and hence, allowed the quantification of an absolute lake level amplitude of ~8 m for the Holocene. This clearly exceeded observed modern fluctuations of 1.3 m (AD 1973–2010). Past lake level changes were traced continuously using the calcium‐record. During high lake levels, massive organic muds were deposited in the deepest lake basin, whereas lower lake levels isolated the sub‐basins and allowed carbonate deposition. During the beginning of the Holocene (>9700 cal. a BP), lake levels were high, probably due to final melting of permafrost and dead‐ice remains. The establishment of water‐use intensive Pinus forests caused generally low (3–4 m below modern) but fluctuating lake levels (9700–6400 cal. a BP). Afterwards, the lake showed an increasing trend and reached a short‐term highstand at c. 5000 cal. a BP (4 m above modern). At the transition towards a cooler and wetter late Holocene, forests dominated by Quercus and Fagus and initial human impact probably contributed more positively to groundwater recharge. Lake levels remained high between 3800 and 800 cal. a BP, but the lake system was not sensitive enough to record short‐term fluctuations during this period. Lake level changes were recorded again when humans profoundly affected the drainage system, land cover and lake trophy. Hence, local Holocene water level changes reflect feedbacks between catchment and vegetation characteristics and human impact superimposed by climate change at multiple temporal scales.     

Assessment of the impact of industrial effluents on water quality in Patancheru and environs, Medak district, Andhra Pradesh, India

The effects of multiple industrial-pollutant sources on the groundwater system were evaluated in the Industrial Development Areas (IDAs) of Medak district, Andhra Pradesh (AP), India. The quality of groundwater in the region has been affected negatively due to the discharge of effluents on open land and into ponds, tanks, and streams. Water samples from surface-water bodies, dug wells,and bore wells were analyzed for their major ion concentrations. The high values of electrical conductivity (EC) and concentrations of Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl^–, and HCO₃ ^– indicate the impact of industrial effluents. Based on the hydrochemistry, the groundwater is classified into various types, such as sodium-chloride, sodium-bicarbonate, calcium-chloride, and magnesium-chloride, and its suitability for drinking and irrigation has been assessed. The present studies made it possible to demarcate areas of contaminated groundwater and those prone to contamination in the near future. Water in the area has deteriorated all along Nakka Vagu up to a maximum distance of 500–700 m from the eastern bank. The groundwater quality in and around Patancheru (to a depth of 30 m) has become hazardous. Some possible remedial measures are suggested. Electronic Publication     

Delineation of saltwater intrusion into the freshwater aquifer of Lekki Peninsula,Lagos, Nigeria

Recently, the deterioration of water quality in the coastal zones of Lekki Peninsula area of Lagos due to saltwater infiltration into the freshwater aquifer has become a major concern. With the aim of providing valuable information on the hydrogeologic system of the aquifers, the subsurface lithology and delineating the groundwater salinity, vertical electrical resistivity (VES) sounding survey was carried out utilizing surface Schlumberger electrode arrays, and electrode spacing varying between 1 and 150 m. The DC resistivity surveys revealed significant variations in subsurface resistivity. Also, the VES resistivity curves showed a dominant trend of decreasing resistivity with depth (thus increasing salinity). In general, the presence of four distinct resistivity zones were delineated viz.: the unconsolidated dry sand (A) having resistivity values ranging between 125 and 1,028 Ωm represent the first layer; the fresh water-saturated soil (zone B) having resistivity values which correspond to 32–256 Ωm is the second layer; the third layer (zone C) is interpreted as the mixing (transition) zone of fresh with brackish groundwater. The resistivity of this layer ranges from 4 to 32 Ωm; while layer four (zone D) is characterized with resistivities values generally below 4 Ωm reflecting an aquifer possibly containing brine. The rock matrix, salinity and water saturation are the major factors controlling the resistivity of the formation. Moreover, this investigation shows that saline water intrusion into the aquifers can be accurately mapped using surface DC resistivity method.     

Groundwater investigation of the artesian wells on the palaeochannels in parts of the Great Rann of Kachchh,Gujarat, India,using remote sensing and geophysical techniques

The Great Rann of Kachchh (GRK) in Gujarat, India, is the largest salt desert in the world, which is usually filled with seawater ingression during high tide from the Arabian Sea. As a result, the soil gets saturated with saline water that has percolated down for several meters. Groundwater exploration in Rann area is a challenging task due to the prevailing hostile environment. For this purpose, multisensor satellite data have been used to delineate the palaeochannels in search of an alternate source of drinking water. In GRK, palaeochannels represent the zone of elevated fluvial sediments with respect to the surroundings. Evolutionary history of the palaeochannels indicates upliftment of GRK area during Allah Bund faulting. For assessing the groundwater potential of the palaeochannels, high-resolution electrical resistivity tomography (HERT) surveys have been carried out with the pole-dipole method. Electrical resistivity tomograms along 710 m traverses to a depth of 250 m in Dharmsala and Gainda area show higher-resistivity zones (medium to coarse sand with brackish water) below a thick low-resistivity layer (clay with saline water). A few exploratory drillings in the area confirm the existence of the palaeochannels, which act as a confined aquifer below 100 m depth. The artesian condition of the two drilled wells at Gainda and Khardoi along the northern boundary of GRK may be attributed to hydraulic gradient along the confined layers from the Tharparkar region in Pakistan. Thus, HERT is found to be a faster and more cost-effective geophysical survey technique for study of the deep aquifer.

     

Dual impact on the groundwater aquifer in the Kazan Plain (Ankara, Turkey): sand–gravel mining and over-abstraction

This study explains the impact of sand–gravel mining and over-abstraction, and the response of the groundwater system in the Kazan Plain, Turkey. The plain used to be known for its fresh groundwater potential, valuable agricultural lands and natural beauty until the 1980s. According to the estimation in 1975, there was 15.5 million m³ annual useable freshwater in the Quaternary sand–gravel aquifer. Groundwater level ranged between 0 and 5 m from the surface of the plain in the 1970s. Because of the large and deep excavations by the sand–gravel pits during the past 25–30 years, the aquifer has thinned and removed entirely in some places. In addition, over-abstraction has accelerated the decline of the groundwater level, particularly in the middle and the upper part of the plain in recent years. As of 2009, about 12% of the total volume of the aquifer area removed by the pits and groundwater table has been reduced to between 5 and 20 m. The decline of the water table reaches 15–20 m in the regions where over-abstraction has taken place. To reduce the hazards to the groundwater system, the sand–gravel pits have to be banned immediately, a reclamation project applied and abstraction must be reduced.     

Arsenic-rich groundwater in an urban area experiencing drought and increasing population density,Perth, Australia

Groundwater in the Gwelup groundwater management area in Perth, Western Australia has been enriched in As due to the exposure of pyritic sediments caused by reduced rainfall, increased groundwater abstraction for irrigation and water supply, and prolonged dewatering carried out during urban construction activities. Groundwater near the watertable in a 25–60 m thick unconfined sandy aquifer has become acidic and has affected shallow wells used for garden irrigation. Arsenic concentrations up to 7000 μg/L were measured in shallow groundwater, triggering concerns about possible health effects if residents were to use water from household wells as a drinking water source. Deep production wells used for public water supply are not affected by acidity, but trends of progressively increasing concentrations of Fe, SO₄ and Ca over a 30-a period indicate that pyrite oxidation products extend to the base of the unconfined aquifer. Falling Eh values are triggering the release of As from the reduction of Fe(III) oxyhydroxide minerals near the base of the unconfined aquifer, increasing the risk that groundwater used as a drinking water source will also become contaminated with high concentrations of As.     

卡休他他矿床地下水纳米微粒特征及意义

采集内蒙古卡休他他矿区附近的地下水微粒进行相关分析,同时也采集远离矿区的井水微粒作为对照,利用高分辨率透射电镜对这些微粒进行单颗粒纳米微粒分析,研究表明:卡休他他矿床地下水中的异常金属微粒主要为含Fe、Cu、Zn微粒,含Zn、Cu微粒原子百分含量分别可达80.3%、22.7%,而背景区井水样品中无Ag、Cu微粒,且矿区地下水中与成矿相关的金属元素含量大大高于井水;含金属微粒与深部矿体成分（磁铁矿、黄铁矿、闪锌矿、黄铜矿等）具有很好的对应性,表明了矿区地下水含金属微粒来自于深部矿体,能携带深部矿体的信息,这为深部隐伏矿体的勘探提供了思路,也能为今后同类型的矿床勘探提供一定的参考.此外,本次研究还表明矿区附近的地下水可能受到了成矿微粒的影响,这可能也会影响到地下饮用水的品质,地下水含金属微粒研究方法也可用于检测地下饮用水的污染.关键字:卡休他他矿床;地下水;含金属微粒;单微粒分析;饮用水污染;环境地质.      

Effects of historical mining activities on surface water and groundwater - an example from northwest Arizona

 The focus of this research was to determine the impact of abandoned mines on surface water and groundwater in the historical mining districts of the Cerbat Mountains, Arizona. The surface water in the mining areas was found to be contaminated by various combinations and concentrations of heavy metals. Elevated arsenic, cadmium, and iron concentrations were detected in most surface-water samples, while lead, copper, and zinc contamination differed from region to region, depending on the ore mined. The groundwater was seriously polluted by arsenic, cadmium, lead, zinc, iron, and manganese in the immediate vicinity of mines that processed ore on the site, such as the Tennessee Mine near Chloride. Chloride's groundwater, however, showed no evidence of contamination. Three possible explanations are discussed: immobilization of the heavy metals in the soil by chemical reactions and adsorption, dilution effects due to the rainy season in spring, or the existence of different groundwater systems. Received: 17 September 1996 · Accepted: 14 May 1997     

纳林河矿区某大型矿井地下水环境影响数值模拟研究

矿井采煤对地下水环境的影响主要为对具有供水意义的含水层水位及水量产生影响,确定采煤引起地下水水位降及漏失量是煤矿地下水环境影响评价的关键。以纳林河矿区某大型矿井为例,运用Visual MODFLOW建立模拟区地下水流数值模型,利用实测流场和长观孔的动态观测资料识别和验证数值模型,利用模型来预测采煤对第四系-白垩系含水层水位及水量的影响。模拟结果显示:前25年采煤引起地下水最大水位降为3.6 m,引起地下水的漏失量最大为141.87万m^3/a,占矿井涌水量的29.88%;利用矿化度法确定的越流量占矿井涌水量的6.39%~34.89%,模拟结果基本合理,可作为矿井采煤对地下水环境影响的研究依据。     

Effects of variations in hydrogeological parameters on water-table mounding in sandy loam and loamy sand soils beneath stormwater infiltration basins

The two-dimensional variably-saturated numerical model HYDRUS-2D, previously calibrated to recharge events from an infiltration basin, was used to predict water-table mounding under hypothetical basin design scenarios, and the primary factors that affect water-table mounding were evaluated. Infiltration basins are often utilized in urban environments to recharge stormwater to the aquifer. As a result of localized recharge beneath these basins, mound formation may reduce the thickness of the unsaturated zone available to filter pollutants and may reduce the infiltration rate of the basin. Understanding the effects of various physical factors on water-table mound formation is important for infiltration basin siting. For sandy loam and loamy sand subsurface materials, mound heights increased as the thickness of both the unsaturated and saturated zones decreased. Mound heights increased as the initial soil moisture, basin size and ponding depth increased. A thin sedimentation layer on the basin floor delayed mound formation, but only slightly decreased the maximum mound height. This analysis could be used in future selection of infiltration basin locations; however, the analysis is limited to conditions that represent only a select range of basin design conditions and parameters typical of a glacial till environment in Wisconsin, USA.     

Hydrogeochemical processes of thallium in a rural area of Southwest Guizhou, China

The water system in a rural area of Lanmuchang in Southwest Guizhou is facing a risk of thallium (Tl) contamination due to Tl mineralization around the area. The major trace elements and Tl in the water system are studied to understand the hydrogeochemical processes of Tl constrained by Tl mineralization. The results showed that the dispersion pattern of Tl follows a descending order in concentration from mine groundwater (deep groundwater) →stream water→shallow groundwater→background water, reflecting the impact of Tl mineralization on the hydrogeochemical composition. Tl concentrations in stream water in both regimes are remarkably higher (2-30 fold) downstream than up- and mid-streams, probably caused by the unidentified discharge of deep groundwater. Low Tl levels are detected in the current drinking water, however, the highly elevated Tl in stream water and ground water may pose a potential environmental risk through daily washing and agricultural irrigation. This study suggests that human activities, such as agricultural irrigation, could intensify the environmental risk of Tl.     

Joint use of TEM and MRS methods in a complex geological setting

Transient Electromagnetic (TEM), known also as Time Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) and Magnetic Resonance Sounding (MRS) methods were applied jointly to investigate variations in lithology and groundwater salinity in the Nahal Hever South area (Dead Sea coast of Israel). The subsurface in this area is highly heterogeneous and composed of intercalated sand and clay layers over a salt formation, which is partly karstified. Groundwater is very saline, with a chloride concentration of 100–225 g/l. TEM is known as an efficient tool for investigating electrically conductive targets like saline water, but it is sensitive to both the salinity of groundwater and the porosity of rocks. MRS, however, is sensitive primarily to groundwater volume, but it also allows delineating of lithological variations in water-saturated formations. MRS is much less sensitive to variations in groundwater salinity in comparison with TEM. We show that MRS enables us to resolve the fundamental uncertainty in TEM interpretation caused by the equivalence between groundwater resistivity and lithology. Combining TEM and MRS, we found that the sandy Dead Sea aquifer filled with Dead Sea brine is characterized by a bulk resistivity of ρ_x > 0.4 Ωm, whereas zones with silt and clay in the subsurface are characterized by a bulk resistivity of ρ_x < 0.4 Ωm. These observations are confirmed by calibration of the TEM method performed near 18 boreholes.     

Source and distribution of naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater from Alberta’s Southern Oil Sands Regions

Arsenic (As) concentrations as high as 179 μg/L have been observed in shallow groundwater in the Alberta’s Southern Oil Sand Regions. The geology of this area of Alberta includes a thick cover (up to 200 m) of unconsolidated glacial deposits, with a number of regional interglacial sand and gravel aquifers, underlain by marine shale. Arsenic concentrations observed in 216 unconsolidated sediment samples ranged from 1 and 17 ppm. A survey of over 800 water wells sampled for As in the area found that 50% of the wells contained As concentrations exceeding drinking water guidelines of 10 μg/L. Higher As concentrations in groundwater were associated with reducing conditions. Measurements of As speciation from 175 groundwater samples indicate that As(III) was the dominant species in 74% of the wells. Speciation model calculations showed that the majority of groundwater samples were undersaturated with respect to ferrihydrite, suggesting that reductive dissolution of Fe-oxyhydroxides may be the source of some As in groundwater. Detailed mineralogical characterization of sediment samples collected from two formations revealed the presence of fresh framboidal pyrite in the deeper unoxidized sediments. Electron microprobe analysis employing wavelength dispersive spectrometry indicated that the framboidal pyrite had variable As content with an average As concentration of 530 ppm, reaching up to 1840 ppm. In contrast, the oxidized sediments did not contain framboidal pyrite, but exhibited spheroidal Fe-oxyhydroxide grains with elevated As concentrations. The habit and composition suggest that these Fe-oxyhydroxide grains in the oxidized sediment were an alteration product of former framboidal pyrite grains. X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) indicated that the oxidized sediments are dominated by As(V) species having spectral features similar to those of goethite or ferrihydrite with adsorbed As, suggesting that Fe-oxyhydroxides are the dominant As carriers. XANES spectra collected on unoxidized sediment samples, in contrast, indicated the presence of a reduced As species (As(−I)) characteristic of arsenopyrite and arsenian pyrite. The results of the mineralogical analyses indicate that the oxidation of framboidal pyrite during weathering may be the source of As released to shallow aquifers in this region.     

Physiological acclimation strategies of riparian plants to environment change in the delta of the Tarim River,China

The occurrence and development of riparian forests, which were mainly dominated by mesophytes species related closely with surface water. Since there was no water discharged to the lower reaches of Tarim River in the past three decade years, the riparian forests degrade severely. The groundwater table, the saline content of the groundwater, as well as the content of free proline, soluble sugars, plant endogenous hormones (abscisic acid (ABA), and cytokinins (CTK)) of the leaves and relative rates of sap flow of the Populus euphratica Oliv. (arbor species), Tamarix ramosissima Ldb. (bush species), and Apocynum venetum L. (herb species) were monitored and analyzed at the lower reaches of the Tarim River in the study area where five positions on a transect were fixed at 100 m intervals along a sampling direction from riverbank to the sand dunes before and after water release. The physiological responses and acclimation strategies of three species to variations in water and salinity stress were discussed. It was found that A. venetum population recovered to groundwater table ranging from −1.73 to −3.56 m, and when exposed to saline content of the groundwater ranging from 36.59 to 93.48 m mol/L; P. euphratica appeared to be more sensitive to the elevation of groundwater table than the A. venetum and T. ramosissima at groundwater table ranging from −5.08 to −5.80 m, and when exposed to saline content of the groundwater ranging from 42.17 to 49.55 m mol/L. T. ramosissima tended to be the best candidate species for reclamation in this hyper-arid area because it responded to groundwater table ranging from −1.73 to −7.05 m, and when exposed to saline content of the groundwater ranging from 36.59 to 93.48 m mol/L. These results explained the distribution patterns of desert vegetation in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Understanding the relationships among ecological factors variables, physiological response and acclimation strategies of plant individuals could provide guidance to sustainable management, reclamation and development of this and similar regions.     

榆神矿区的供水水源选择

矿区开发的初期用水可以利用烧变岩地下水,日供水能力约为6万~7万m3/d,中长期供水选择矿区外围的第四系萨拉乌苏组和洛河组地下水。同时,矿井水可以通过自然下渗后补给地下水,丰富地下水资源,保证矿区开发用水和保护环境。