Simulation of manganese transport in groundwater using visual MODFLOW: a case study from Xiangtan manganese ore area in Central China

The release of metals from a mine tailings pond to groundwater is an important pathway to assess the environmental impact of mining residues and implications for wider environmental risk. We research the impact of manganese ore area in Heling Town, Xiangtan City, Hunan Province, central China. The focus is to assess the migration of manganese (Mn) using the Visual MODFLOW model
of groundwater flow and the MT3DMS software platform to model solute transport. The modelling objective focuses on evaluating the migration of the pollution plume of manganese over a 20 year time period. The results show the sustained release and transport of Mn from the tailing pond. The concentration of Mn in the central pollution halo is 1.97 mg/L, and the maximum detectable range is at 2291 m, with the concentration range exceeding the third level of national groundwater standard is 1280 m. The result provides a basis for the development and utilization of the mining area and the pollution prediction and protection of the tailings pond.