GIS modeling in the Little Conemaugh River watershed work towards treating multiple mine-pool discharges for acid mine drainage.

1. Little Conemaugh
Watershed Modeling
PA AMR- State College PA, Lukus Monette

2. Background
• OSMRE (ARO) at request of PADEP has been assisting the with
the development of a Geographic Information Science (GIS) for
the Little Conemaugh River watershed.
• The geographic region covers approximately 125 miles of
southwestern Pennsylvania.
• Contains 4 coal bed seams (B,C,D,E seams) that have been mined
extensively.
• The underground coal mining techniques in the local area
include: room & pillar, longwall (later), remining (retreat) & strip
(surface) which can cause discharges of AMD.
• Mining began as early as 1870 in most of the watershed coal mine
have long been close or abandoned.
• The coal seams in the watershed appear to be connected
vertically & horizontally allowing some flow of the water to travel
between them

3. Objectives
Treating multiple mine pool discharges for acid mine
drainage (AMD) with-in the watershed.
• Determine treatment options such as:
• Mixing of the mine pools underground?
• Treating them individually?
• Moving the water into lower mine workings?
• An all in one treatment solution placed further
downstream?
By treating the discharges, both PADEP and OSM
hope to see improvement in the watershed
ecology to a level that could maintain aquatic life
and allow recreational use.

4. Objectives
What questions could a complete and complex GIS
model assist in calculating or displaying?
• Constructing an overall water budget for the mine-
pool complex including discharge rates and estimated
ground water storage.
• Estimate ground water flow between individual
mines in the complex.
• Evaluation of water quality to estimate overall
treatment needs and techniques.
• Model and evaluate black coal fines discharge from
Sonman Mine.

5. Little Conemaugh Watershed
Mining in four coal seams of the Allegheny Group:
Upper Freeport or “ E ” Seam
Lower Freeport or “ D ” Seam
Upper Kittanning or “ C’ ” Seam
Lower Kittanning or “ B “ Seam
All 4 Seams mined
concurrently starting in
the late 1800’s.
Upper

6. DataData Source Data Type Data Name Data Usage Notes
ESRI Service Topo Base mapping Georeferencing & Display
ESRI Service Imagery Base mapping Georeferencing & Display
ESRI Service Street Map Base mapping Georeferencing & Display
PASDA Raster LiDAR Base mapping Surface Analysis
DCNR/USGS Raster Geologic Map Base mapping Geologic Analysis
NMMR Raster Mine Maps Base mapping Data extraction
NMMR Raster Drill Logs Base mapping Data extraction
PADEP Raster Drill Logs Base mapping Data extraction
PADEP Raster Mine Maps Base mapping Data extraction
NOAA Spreadsheet Rain Data Base mapping Analysis with Mine Pool data, Ebensburg Station
BAMR Spreadsheet Mine Pool Monitoring Base mapping Analysis with Rain data, Sonman
GPS PADEP Injection Well Locations Point Base mapping Survey Grade
GPS OSMRE Discharge Locations Point Base mapping WAAS enabled, 10ft+- accuracy
Data Product Derived from Data Type Use Notes
Mine Workings Mine Map Polygon Acrerage ArcMAP/ArcScene, EarthVIsion
Barriers Mine Map Polygon Mine connectivity ArcMAP/ArcScene, EarthVIsion
Faults Mine Map Polygon Permiabilty ArcMAP/ArcScene, EarthVIsion
Coal Spots Mine Map & Drill Logs Point Coal Seam Elevation Minimum Tension Surface Bottom of Seam
Coal Contours Mine Map Line Coal Seam Elevation Minimum Tension Surface Bottom of Seam
Slopes Mine Map Polygon/Point Mine Entry/Conectivity Tubes
Coal Bed Thickness Mine Map & Drill Logs Point Volumes Minimum Tension Surface Top of Seam
Outcrops Mine Map Line Seep potential Display
Boreholes Mine Map & Drill Logs Point Mine Conectivity/Elevations Tubes, interpulate data gaps
Shafts Mine Map Point Mine Conectivity/Elevations Tubes, interpulate data gaps
Surface Coal Elevation Grid/Raster Analyis Cullmination of elevation extract per seam
Pool Surface Well Data Grid/Raster Analyis Constant
Mystery Discharge Injecction Well Point Location for Analysis Buffer 4400ft

7. Data Quality
• Limited by the source.
• Older mine maps can vary in accuracy as well as
newer workings that based their source off older data
sources.

8. Methods
Phase I. Compile all known mine maps & georeference each.
• Most data will need to be collected from scanned historical mine
maps.
• Currently 90% of all the historic maps needed are georeferenced.
• Georeferencing historical coal maps is more art than science.
• Georeferencing these maps can be difficult since in most cases
there are limited ground references are on the map or existing
reference is gone or unreliable.
• The draftsman could have placed his efforts in the accuracy of
the mines scale and direction versus area and shape.
In total there was over 50 maps georeferenced and placed
on the server organized by seam.

9. Phase I - Mine Map Analysis
Mine name/owner were
found on sheet 5.
information regarding
the general location,
(near Wilmore,
Summerhill Twp,
Cambria County)
The Abandoned Date of
12/12/1961 is also noted
on the map.
Id which seam a map or group of map sheets belong to.

10. Phase I - Mine Map Analysis
• Examination of each sheet revealed few distinguishable
surface features for use in georeferencing.
• This bumps the level of difficulty in referencing
• this mine up a bit. There are, however, references
• to neighboring mines.

11. Phase I - Mine Map Analysis
In this instance a regional B seam map depicting the topologic
relationship of a number of mines in the area does exist
(unusual and not at all the “norm”).
Referring to the regional map, the Sonman Shaft mine is located
near Wilmore as well. Another mine is visible on the regional
map in the vicinity.

12. Phase I - Mine Map Analysis
Zooming in on that mine reveals some faint
writing; zoom in a bit closer and eureka! The
Maryland No. 2 Shaft footprint is found

13. Phase I - Mine Map Analysis
The next step is to pin it to the Earth. Analysis of
the map reveals the barrier configuration
between the Sonman Shaft and the MD no. 2
Shaft. This will serve as a starting point for
georeferencing the sheet

14. Phase I - Mine Map Analysis
Visual interpretation reveals another location on the sheet
with a unique haulage way configuration that is also
vaguely identifiable on the regional footprint map.

15. Phase I - Mine Map Analysis
• Several more control points will need to be added and
then edited.
• Each control point is evaluated as to whether or not
they improve or degrade the overall “fit” of the map
sheet with the referenced base.
• Nine more map sheets needed to be referenced to
complete the Maryland No. 2 Shaft mine.
• Survey points of the drill holes where available for
numerous sheets and used to improve results.

16. Phase II. Data Attribution:
Once georeferencing is completed, the coal map had all the
pertinent information extracted or digitized.
• To facilitate data extraction, a geodatabase was created to
hold the needed data for each seam. This included a Raster
Catalog of all georeferenced maps per seam and feature
classes for all geometry collected. information extracted or
digitized.

17. Phase II. Data Attribution:
There is a lot of information on the maps, and this information
can easily be confused.
One example:
Distinguishing elevation points
from other numeric annotation,
such as survey station numbers.

18. Phase II. Data Attribution:
Each map must be diligently examined for other pertinent
information such as Dams

19. Phase II. Data Attribution:
Each map must be diligently examined for other pertinent
information such as Barrier Pillars

20. Phase II. Data Attribution:
Each map must be diligently examined for other pertinent
information such as hydrologic conduits

21. Phase III. Compile all known
drill hole logs:
Some of the mine maps have detailed elevations of the mined
coal bed seam associated with them and were collected in
Phase II.
• Drill hole logs were compiled and will be used to develop
stratagraphic mapping for missing locations
• Over 500 point locations
• Points were placed in database containing; X,Y,Z,Z1,Z2,Z3,Z4,
ect… as well as thicknesses.
• Used to refine map referencing.
• Used to supplement and refine known data extracted in Phase
II.

22. Phase III. Compile all known
drill hole logs:

23. Phase IV. Compile all Mine
Pool data
Some of the mine pools in this area are monitored.
• These measurements from two different seams can tell in
some cases if the pools are interconnected.
1570
1580
1590
1600
1610
1620
1630
1640
1650
Sonman Mine-pool "B" and "E" Seam Head Measured Near
Portage PA
B Seam Head
E Seam Head

24. Phase IV. Compile all Mine
Pool data
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Head Difference B-E MInes
Head Difference B-
E MInes
0.926332

25. Phase IV. Compile all Mine
Pool data
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
1570.00
1580.00
1590.00
1600.00
1610.00
1620.00
1630.00
1640.00
1650.00
06/30/08
08/31/08
10/31/08
12/31/08
02/28/09
04/30/09
06/30/09
08/31/09
10/31/09
12/31/09
02/28/10
04/30/10
06/30/10
08/31/10
10/31/10
12/31/10
02/28/11
04/30/11
06/30/11
08/31/11
10/31/11
12/31/11
02/29/12
04/30/12
Rainfall(in)
Feet
Mine Pool Elevation/Rain Event Comparison
B Seam Head
E Seam Head
Rain
Further analysis on the climate data shows how much influence rain and snow
melt events have on elevation changes in the two seams. This was done by
plotting the rain over seam head; it shows a tread that the mine pools are could
be closely linked vertically.

26. Operations in the B Seam

27. Upper Little Conemaugh Watershed “B” Seam Mining

28. Upper Little Conemaugh Watershed “B” Seam Mining

29. Upper Little Conemaugh Watershed “B” Seam Mining
10 mines of interest, 8 mines referenced – 2
remain, 3 mines attributed – 7 remain (not all will
be needed.

30. Upper Little Conemaugh Watershed “B” Seam Mining

31. Operations in the C’ Seam

32. Upper Little Conemaugh Watershed “ C’ “Seam Mining

33. Upper Little Conemaugh Watershed “ C’ “Seam Mining
6 mines of interest, 6 mines referenced, 6
mines attributed

34. Operations in the D Seam
5 mines of interest, 5 mines referenced, 3
mines attributed

35. Operations in the E Seam
9 mines of interest, 9 mines referenced, 9
mines attributed

36. Phase V. Modeling and Analysis
• The Sonman mine complex was abandoned in 1949
• Mining in the C and D seams was limited many years earlier.
• The E and B seams were where the focus on the mining was
since the coal bed was thicker and more profitable.
• The Sonman mine discharge is one of the main contributors to
the overall poor water quality in the watershed.
• Currently there is only 2 known instances of the black coal
fines discharging.
• First known coal fine discharge was in 2008 from a previously
unknown /unsealed borehole 4400ft from the injection well
(that was sealed shortly after).
• It discharged 7000 feet west of a processing facility, into the
Little Conemaugh River.

37. Phase V. Modeling and Analysis

38. Phase V. Modeling and Analysis

39. Phase V. Modeling and Analysis

40. Phase V. Modeling and Analysis

41. Phase V. Modeling and Analysis

42. Phase V. Modeling and Analysis

43. Phase V. Modeling and Analysis
• Modeling shows that the Sonman mine is connected vertically
from the E to the B seams.
• Boreholes and unmapped workings on the C and D seams
provide little restriction in flow between the E and B workings.
• Additionally, the injection site floor is upslope from the
drainage holes on both seams.
• Both injection sites run along a main with an approximate
slope of three degrees from east to west.
• Perpendicular to the Main, the company mined slightly
upwards to allow water to drain away from workers. This gives
the coal fines an easy and direct transport route or a channel.
• Pressure events (storm event, rain, snow melt, injection, or
unplanned subsidence) could increase the hydrostatic
pressure and eventually cause the mine water to pick-up and
transport the coal fines.

44. Questions?

45. Acknowledgments
• Tom Mastrorocco
• PADEP/BAMR
• NMMR Staff
• TSD Hydrologists Eric Perry & Jay Hawkins
• Mike Dunn
• Anyone else I forgot!

46. WORKSCITED
AMFIRE Mining Co. (August 13 2008). Plan for Refuse Slurry Injection into the Sonman E Seam Mine.
Portage.
Appalachian Regional Office. (2013). NORTH BRANCH POTOMAC RIVER MINE POOL ASSESSMENT STUDY.
Pittsburgh.
DCNR, P. (2014). PAGEODE. Retrieved from Pennsylvania GEOlogic Data Exploration:
http://www.gis.dcnr.state.pa.us/geology/index.html
Gary E. Stinchcomba, R. M. (October 2013). Using event stratigraphy to map the Anthropocene – An
example from the historic coal mining region in eastern Pennsylvania, USA. Anthropocene, 42-
50.
Jay W. Hawkins2, E. F. (2005). Hydrologic Characterization of a Large Underground Mine Pool in Central
PA.
Julian, R. J. (2014, Spring). GIS and Genealogy. ArcUser, pp. 58-63.
Mastrorocco, T. (2013). Georeferencing Report. Pittsburgh.
USGS. (1980). Mineral Resources On-Line Spatial Data. Retrieved from USGS.gov:
http://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/sgmc-unit.php?unit=PAPAa%3B6