Mining and Hydrogeology

Mining and Hydrogeology are related studies, which are part of the industry of modern mining. They go through certain investigations which are required for mine planning, permitting and financing. Mining is the term known as the extraction of valuable minerals or other minerals on the Earth. The materials that are recovered by mining are the following: Coal, diamonds, precious metals, uranium, rock salt, etc. Mining is a term that also includes the removal of soil. Nowadays modern mining involves prospecting for ore bodies. The practice of mining in a wider sense involves the extraction of re renewable resources such as: Water, petroleum, natural gas, etc.

Hydrogeology is the scientific study, which investigates the effects, distribution, and occurrence of ground water. This study belongs to the area of Geology and basically deals with the movement and distribution of the water on the rocks and soil of the aquifers known as Earth crust. An aquifer is the underground wet layer of permeable rock in water or other materials like sand, silt or gravel. The aquifers are known to be very important for agriculture and human habitat. Geology is the scientific study of the Earth's structure, history and origin. This scientific study provides evidence of the evolution and history of the Earth. Nowadays Geology is important for hydrocarbon, mineral exploration and for evaluation of water resources. A hydrologist or an engineer is the individual, which belongs to the Geology area. The word Hydrogeology has two meanings which are: Hydro means: water and Geology means: study of the Earth.

Hydrogeology provides the necessary information for baseline conditions, effects of surface, effects of ground water due to mining process and the potential impact of mining. Nowadays the usage of Hydrogeology in mining has increase, due to the emphasis that mining companies have put on the environmental management. Mining and Hydrogeology are both associated with the method of investigating and extracting from the groundwater.