Environmental Assessment
Volume B-3.7
Mine
Hydrogeology
Ambatovy Project
80
January 2006
3.7
HYDROGEOLOGY
3.7.1
Introduction
This section presents the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the effects of the
mine on hydrogeology, as per the Ambatovy Project (the project) Terms of
Reference.
3.7.2
Study Area
The mine Local Study Area (LSA) for hydrogeology is the area included in the
numerical model by GCS (Pty) Ltd., as shown on Drawing No. 3.1.3 included in
Volume I, Appendix 7.2. It is a 100 square kilometer area centred on the
Ambatovy and Analamay ore deposits and includes river systems that feed that
Mokaranana and Torotorofotsy wetlands.
3.7.3
Baseline Summary
3.7.3.1 Introduction
Baseline conditions in the mine area were characterized by carrying out a
hydrogeologic site investigation. Details can be found in Volume I,
Appendix 7.1.
3.7.3.2 Methods
Groundwater Consulting Services (GCS) (Pty) Ltd. was contracted to perform a
hydrogeological investigation at the mine site. An initial study was completed in
December 2004 during the dry season, with additional aquifer tests completed
during the rainy season (April 2005).
The aim of the investigation was to characterize the hydrogeological environment
and to predict the potential influence of the proposed mining activities on the
groundwater regime. The hydrogeological investigation included:
•
Drilling and installation of groundwater monitoring wells;
•
Hydrocensus to measure the groundwater levels in boreholes;
•
Aquifer testing on the test pumping boreholes; and
•
Data analysis.
