Comparing FDM, FVM, and FEM for Coupled Flow-Transport in a Guinean Bauxite Mining Aquifer

Michel Faya Kamano; Mouhamadou Nassirou Diallo; Mariama Ndiaye; Aboubakary Dinakhaby

doi:doi:10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12

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Comparing FDM, FVM, and FEM for Coupled Flow-Transport in a Guinean Bauxite Mining Aquifer

Michel Faya Kamano, Mouhamadou Nassirou Diallo, Mariama Ndiaye

, Aboubakary Dinakhaby^*

Published in Mathematics and Computer Science (Volume 11, Issue 4)

Received: 31 May 2026 Accepted: 10 June 2026 Published: 11 August 2026

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Abstract

Bauxite mining in Guinea, particularly in the Boke region, generates significant risks of groundwater contamination by metals and acidification. This paper develops a deterministic coupled groundwater flow and reactive solute transport model applied to the N'Dangara and Boundou Wande bauxite plateaus (CBG concession, Sangaredi, Guinea). The steady-state flow equation and the transient advection-dispersion-reaction equation are discretised using three numerical methods: finite differences (FDM), finite volumes (FVM), and finite elements (FEM). Model parameters are taken from three field campaigns that provided piezometric measurements and physico-chemical analyses. The field data show dispersed flow directions controlled by topography and water table depths between 1.09 m and 17.39 m. Water quality analyses indicate acidic groundwater with pH values as low as 4.84--5.13. Numerical results show that FVM gives the best mass conservation (error < 0.1 \%) and sharpest fronts, FEM is most accurate on irregular geometries, and FDM is fastest but suffers from numerical dispersion. The calibrated model predictions agree well with field observations. This work offers a validated deterministic framework for groundwater risk assessment in Guinean bauxite mining and provides practical guidance for method selection in data-sparse regions.

Published in	Mathematics and Computer Science (Volume 11, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12
Page(s)	71-77
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Groundwater Flow, Contaminant Transport, Finite Differences, Finite Volumes, Finite Elements, Bauxite Mining, Guinea, Boke, Acid Mine Drainage

References

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APA Style

Kamano, M. F., Diallo, M. N., Ndiaye, M., Dinakhaby, A. (2026). Comparing FDM, FVM, and FEM for Coupled Flow-Transport in a Guinean Bauxite Mining Aquifer. Mathematics and Computer Science, 11(4), 71-77. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12

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ACS Style

Kamano, M. F.; Diallo, M. N.; Ndiaye, M.; Dinakhaby, A. Comparing FDM, FVM, and FEM for Coupled Flow-Transport in a Guinean Bauxite Mining Aquifer. Math. Comput. Sci. 2026, 11(4), 71-77. doi: 10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12

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AMA Style

Kamano MF, Diallo MN, Ndiaye M, Dinakhaby A. Comparing FDM, FVM, and FEM for Coupled Flow-Transport in a Guinean Bauxite Mining Aquifer. Math Comput Sci. 2026;11(4):71-77. doi: 10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12

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@article{10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12,
  author = {Michel Faya Kamano and Mouhamadou Nassirou Diallo and Mariama Ndiaye and Aboubakary Dinakhaby},
  title = {Comparing FDM, FVM, and FEM for Coupled Flow-Transport in a Guinean Bauxite Mining Aquifer},
  journal = {Mathematics and Computer Science},
  volume = {11},
  number = {4},
  pages = {71-77},
  doi = {10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.mcs.20261104.12},
  abstract = {Bauxite mining in Guinea, particularly in the Boke region, generates significant risks of groundwater contamination by metals and acidification. This paper develops a deterministic coupled groundwater flow and reactive solute transport model applied to the N'Dangara and Boundou Wande bauxite plateaus (CBG concession, Sangaredi, Guinea). The steady-state flow equation and the transient advection-dispersion-reaction equation are discretised using three numerical methods: finite differences (FDM), finite volumes (FVM), and finite elements (FEM). Model parameters are taken from three field campaigns that provided piezometric measurements and physico-chemical analyses. The field data show dispersed flow directions controlled by topography and water table depths between 1.09 m and 17.39 m. Water quality analyses indicate acidic groundwater with pH values as low as 4.84--5.13. Numerical results show that FVM gives the best mass conservation (error < 0.1 \%) and sharpest fronts, FEM is most accurate on irregular geometries, and FDM is fastest but suffers from numerical dispersion. The calibrated model predictions agree well with field observations. This work offers a validated deterministic framework for groundwater risk assessment in Guinean bauxite mining and provides practical guidance for method selection in data-sparse regions.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Comparing FDM, FVM, and FEM for Coupled Flow-Transport in a Guinean Bauxite Mining Aquifer
AU  - Michel Faya Kamano
AU  - Mouhamadou Nassirou Diallo
AU  - Mariama Ndiaye
AU  - Aboubakary Dinakhaby
Y1  - 2026/08/11
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12
T2  - Mathematics and Computer Science
JF  - Mathematics and Computer Science
JO  - Mathematics and Computer Science
SP  - 71
EP  - 77
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-6028
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12
AB  - Bauxite mining in Guinea, particularly in the Boke region, generates significant risks of groundwater contamination by metals and acidification. This paper develops a deterministic coupled groundwater flow and reactive solute transport model applied to the N'Dangara and Boundou Wande bauxite plateaus (CBG concession, Sangaredi, Guinea). The steady-state flow equation and the transient advection-dispersion-reaction equation are discretised using three numerical methods: finite differences (FDM), finite volumes (FVM), and finite elements (FEM). Model parameters are taken from three field campaigns that provided piezometric measurements and physico-chemical analyses. The field data show dispersed flow directions controlled by topography and water table depths between 1.09 m and 17.39 m. Water quality analyses indicate acidic groundwater with pH values as low as 4.84--5.13. Numerical results show that FVM gives the best mass conservation (error < 0.1 \%) and sharpest fronts, FEM is most accurate on irregular geometries, and FDM is fastest but suffers from numerical dispersion. The calibrated model predictions agree well with field observations. This work offers a validated deterministic framework for groundwater risk assessment in Guinean bauxite mining and provides practical guidance for method selection in data-sparse regions.
VL  - 11
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Michel Faya Kamano

null
Mouhamadou Nassirou Diallo

null
Mariama Ndiaye

null

http://orcid.org/0009-0002-4410-5253
Aboubakary Dinakhaby

null

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6599-2157

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APA Style

Kamano, M. F., Diallo, M. N., Ndiaye, M., Dinakhaby, A. (2026). Comparing FDM, FVM, and FEM for Coupled Flow-Transport in a Guinean Bauxite Mining Aquifer. Mathematics and Computer Science, 11(4), 71-77. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12

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ACS Style

Kamano, M. F.; Diallo, M. N.; Ndiaye, M.; Dinakhaby, A. Comparing FDM, FVM, and FEM for Coupled Flow-Transport in a Guinean Bauxite Mining Aquifer. Math. Comput. Sci. 2026, 11(4), 71-77. doi: 10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12

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AMA Style

Kamano MF, Diallo MN, Ndiaye M, Dinakhaby A. Comparing FDM, FVM, and FEM for Coupled Flow-Transport in a Guinean Bauxite Mining Aquifer. Math Comput Sci. 2026;11(4):71-77. doi: 10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12,
  author = {Michel Faya Kamano and Mouhamadou Nassirou Diallo and Mariama Ndiaye and Aboubakary Dinakhaby},
  title = {Comparing FDM, FVM, and FEM for Coupled Flow-Transport in a Guinean Bauxite Mining Aquifer},
  journal = {Mathematics and Computer Science},
  volume = {11},
  number = {4},
  pages = {71-77},
  doi = {10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.mcs.20261104.12},
  abstract = {Bauxite mining in Guinea, particularly in the Boke region, generates significant risks of groundwater contamination by metals and acidification. This paper develops a deterministic coupled groundwater flow and reactive solute transport model applied to the N'Dangara and Boundou Wande bauxite plateaus (CBG concession, Sangaredi, Guinea). The steady-state flow equation and the transient advection-dispersion-reaction equation are discretised using three numerical methods: finite differences (FDM), finite volumes (FVM), and finite elements (FEM). Model parameters are taken from three field campaigns that provided piezometric measurements and physico-chemical analyses. The field data show dispersed flow directions controlled by topography and water table depths between 1.09 m and 17.39 m. Water quality analyses indicate acidic groundwater with pH values as low as 4.84--5.13. Numerical results show that FVM gives the best mass conservation (error < 0.1 \%) and sharpest fronts, FEM is most accurate on irregular geometries, and FDM is fastest but suffers from numerical dispersion. The calibrated model predictions agree well with field observations. This work offers a validated deterministic framework for groundwater risk assessment in Guinean bauxite mining and provides practical guidance for method selection in data-sparse regions.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Comparing FDM, FVM, and FEM for Coupled Flow-Transport in a Guinean Bauxite Mining Aquifer
AU  - Michel Faya Kamano
AU  - Mouhamadou Nassirou Diallo
AU  - Mariama Ndiaye
AU  - Aboubakary Dinakhaby
Y1  - 2026/08/11
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12
T2  - Mathematics and Computer Science
JF  - Mathematics and Computer Science
JO  - Mathematics and Computer Science
SP  - 71
EP  - 77
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-6028
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mcs.20261104.12
AB  - Bauxite mining in Guinea, particularly in the Boke region, generates significant risks of groundwater contamination by metals and acidification. This paper develops a deterministic coupled groundwater flow and reactive solute transport model applied to the N'Dangara and Boundou Wande bauxite plateaus (CBG concession, Sangaredi, Guinea). The steady-state flow equation and the transient advection-dispersion-reaction equation are discretised using three numerical methods: finite differences (FDM), finite volumes (FVM), and finite elements (FEM). Model parameters are taken from three field campaigns that provided piezometric measurements and physico-chemical analyses. The field data show dispersed flow directions controlled by topography and water table depths between 1.09 m and 17.39 m. Water quality analyses indicate acidic groundwater with pH values as low as 4.84--5.13. Numerical results show that FVM gives the best mass conservation (error < 0.1 \%) and sharpest fronts, FEM is most accurate on irregular geometries, and FDM is fastest but suffers from numerical dispersion. The calibrated model predictions agree well with field observations. This work offers a validated deterministic framework for groundwater risk assessment in Guinean bauxite mining and provides practical guidance for method selection in data-sparse regions.
VL  - 11
IS  - 4
ER  -

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