Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Leaching Zones within Potash Seams Reproduced by Reactive Transport Simulations

Leaching zones within potash seams generally represent a significant risk to subsurface mining operations and the construction of technical caverns in salt rocks, but their temporal spatial formation has been investigated only rudimentarily date. To knowledge authors, current reactive transport simulation implementations are not capable address hydraulic-chemical interactions salt. For this reason, model developed complemented by an innovative approach calculate interchange minerals solution at water-rock interface. Using model, scenario analysis was carried out based on carnallite-bearing seam. The results show that evolution leaching depends mineral composition dissolution rate original rock, can be classified dimensionless parameters Péclet (Pe) Damköhler (Da). Pe > 2 Da 1, funnel-shaped zone is formed, otherwise front planar. Additionally, 1 sylvinitic flow barrier. Most scenarios hybrid forms these cases. simulated shapes mineralogies confirmed literature data used assess hazard potential.