Simulating inflows to open pits is a critical task in mining hydrogeology, as it enables the estimation of drainage rates, the design of dewatering systems, and the assessment of the impact of extractive operations on the surrounding environment. Using a Voronoi mesh improves the geometric accuracy of the pit representation and allows for optimization of computational resources.

This applied case presents a step-by-step methodology to simulate groundwater inflow into an open pit using MODFLOW 6—the groundwater flow modeling engine developed by the USGS—in combination with mv6Voronoi, a tool that generates Voronoi meshes.