Layered saline soils containing weakly permeable interlayers exhibit restricted infiltration, surface salt accumulation, and limited deep salt discharge. This study investigated how weakly permeable interlayer thickness, hydraulic-parameter scenario, hole diameter, hole spacing, and irrigation salinity affect soil water redistribution, salt leaching, and profile desalination under vertical-hole treatment. Pilot-scale soil-box experiments were used for model calibration and validation, and HYDRUS-3D simulations were then used for controlled-condition scenario analysis and preliminary layout screening. The weakly permeable interlayer reduced hydraulic connectivity, increased water retention above the interface, and intensified surface salt enrichment, with stronger effects at greater thickness. Vertical holes improved hydraulic continuity and promoted downward percolation and salt leaching, but their effectiveness depended on layout. At a spacing of 30 cm, increasing hole diameter from 5 to 10 cm increased the mean desalination rate from 7.07% to 13.44% in the surface layer and from 4.06% to 18.61% in the deep layer. Irrigation salinity had little effect on water content but increased soil salt accumulation. Under the assumed conceptual cost–performance framework, the 10 cm diameter and 30 cm spacing combination showed the highest composite performance within the tested parameter range. These findings provide a mechanistic basis and preliminary layout-screening reference for vertical-hole treatment in layered saline soils with weakly permeable interlayers.

To characterize spatial differences in mine-water inflow conditions across the Baiyanghe coal mining area in Xinjiang, eight indicators were selected to represent water-bearing media, external recharge, the potential for water transmission, and roof-rock response to water. Gini and independence weights, derived from variation among evaluation units and multiple correlations among indicators, respectively, were combined using equal coefficients (0.5:0.5) to form Gini–Independence Weighting (GIW) for evaluation and zoning using a geographic information system (GIS). The individual methods assigned markedly different weights to some indicators. The medium-high and high zones delineated by GIW occupied 40.81% of the area, forming discontinuous patches mainly in its western and central parts. Comparison with 43 sites with historical records of abnormal inflow showed that the medium-high and high zones delineated by Gini, independence, and GIW covered 33, 31, and 36 sites, respectively. GIW achieved 83.72% coverage and included every site covered by either individual scheme. Covering 80% of the recorded sites required 37.04% of the area under GIW, less than under either individual scheme. The areas under the coverage curves (AUCs) were similar for Gini, independence, and GIW (0.7851, 0.7659, and 0.7816, respectively). GIW integrated complementary spatial patterns from the two weighting criteria while retaining their main priority areas. The resulting zones represent relative differences in inflow conditions across the mining area; individual abnormal inflows also depend on local water sources, flow pathways, and mining conditions.