Assessment of groundwater ingress into mine workings from the deep-seated fractured rock aquifer in the Bushveld Igneous Complex at Dishaba mine

Abstract

Dishaba Mine is reported to experience approximately 16 ML of groundwater ingress daily. The water ingresses occur across the mine, from off-reef haulages to mostly Merensky reef stopes. The water enters the mine workings through fractures, boreholes, and open mining excavations, and poses a risk in terms of mine safety. However, the water entering the mine also presents an opportunity for the mine to reduce its reliance on potable water and potentially use groundwater to meet day to day water requirements for mining and ore processing.