| The objectives of this thesis are to collect baseline data on meteorological and hydrological processes and the geometry and hydrogeological characteristics of the fracture network, in order to improve the knowledge for the development of a site-specific conceptual model of deep groundwater flow systems in British Columbia's mountainous terrain.; To reach the objectives of this project, a monitoring network consisting of surface and underground equipment was installed in the Price Mine area, which is located on the Price Hillside of the east flank of Mount Myra, Vancouver Island. Rainfall, air temperature, atmospheric pressure, hydraulic heads in surface and underground drillholes and discharge from mine drifts were measured from August 1994 to June 1997. Also, as part of the project, a structural and hydrogeological mapping of major structural features within Mount Myra's underground workings was carried out to obtain an estimate of the hydrological importance of each geological structure in the Price Mine.; The results have demonstrated the large impact of the rainy season on the hydrogeological system on the Price Hillside. Water levels in drillholes, along with discharge, increase drastically at the beginning of the first severe storms during the fall and maintain high levels until the end of the spring. The correlation and spectral analyses of the hydraulic data have shown the fast response of the hydraulic system following rainfall events and indicate that a substantial part of the Price Mine outflow is associated with water circulating in the fracture network intersected by the drillholes located in the fault area. The water levels in drillholes located in more-fractured rocks, near large faults, fluctuated more and showed a strong stormflow component as opposed to water in drillholes located in more-massive rock. In the fault areas in particular, the groundwater flow system adjusts to the rainy season by the upgradient displacement of the hinge point, which is the limit between recharge and discharge areas, in order to cope with this substantial increase in winter recharge. Since the change in groundwater flow appears to occur only in the most fractured areas this observation suggests that the fault zones act as the major flow channels that may control the entire groundwater flow on the Price Hillside.; A conceptual model of the hydrogeological system of the Price Hillside was therefore developed on the basis of the observations made during the course of this project. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
