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260-5 Evaluating the Applicability of Soil Moisture Estimation Algorithms to Mine Tailings Impoundments

Session: Advances in Geospatial Applications for Environmental and Engineering Geology (Posters)

Poster Booth No.: 55

Presenting Author:

Arden Pierce

Authors:

Pierce, Arden¹, Ismail Medhat, Noha², Marlor, Kathryn³, Oommen, Thomas⁴, Paheding, Sidike⁵

(1) Geology and Geological Engineering, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA, (2) Geology and Geological Engineering, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA, (3) Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA, (4) Geology and Geological Engineering, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA, (5) Computer Science and Engineering, Fairfield University, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA,

Abstract:

Mine tailings impoundments are structures that are built to contain the chemical and sediment byproducts generated by ore extraction activities. In this standard method of mining waste storage, the tailings can be pumped into containment ponds and held behind earthen embankments to prevent the release of dangerous substances into the surrounding environment. The ability to monitor environmental factors that influence the structural stability of tailings impoundments, in both active and inactive mines, is necessary to identify areas at risk of failure. Soil moisture is a factor that has the potential to impact the stability of the mine tailings impoundment structures. In this study, four soil moisture estimation algorithms were used to estimate moisture levels at a tailing’s impoundment. Data from SMAP, Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and Landsat-8 satellites were analyzed from 2017 to 2021, based on their temporal coverage and spatial resolution, along a small section of active tailings impoundment. The Sentinel-1 Dual-Polarization soil moisture estimation technique and Sentinel-2 optical trapezoid model (OPTRAM) have 10 m spatial resolution. However, the Sentinel-1 satellite had roughly 4 times the number of data points for the given area, demonstrating much higher temporal resolution. The 9 km resolution SMAP and 30 m resolution Landsat-8 thermal-optical trapezoid model (TOTRAM) are coarser resolution estimation techniques that resulted in 4 to 20 times fewer data points, making them inaccurate for fine-scale soil moisture estimation at tailings impoundments. From these calculations, it was determined that the Sentinel-1 model provides the highest spatial and temporal resolution for the small geographic region surrounding an impoundment structure.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-11165

Evaluating the Applicability of Soil Moisture Estimation Algorithms to Mine Tailings Impoundments

Description

Session Format: Poster

Presentation Date: 10/22/2025

Presentation Room: HBGCC, Hall 1

Poster Booth No.: 55

Author Availability: 9:00–11:00 a.m.

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