Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.3390/min10020133
Lizenz creative commons licence
Titel (primär) Realizing beneficial end uses from abandoned pit lakes
Autor McCullough, C.D.; Schultze, M.; Vandenberg, J.
Quelle Minerals
Erscheinungsjahr 2020
Department SEEFO
Band/Volume 10
Heft 2
Seite von art. 133
Sprache englisch
Keywords mine lake; pit lake; closure; planning; repurposing; end use; water quality
Abstract Pit lakes can represent significant liabilities at mine closure. However, depending upon certain characteristics of which water quality is key, pit lakes often also present opportunities to provide significant regional benefit and address residual closure risks of both their own and overall project closure and even offset the environmental costs of mining by creating new end uses. These opportunities are widely dependent on water quality, slope stability, and safety issues. Unfortunately, many pit lakes have continued to be abandoned without repurposing for an end use. We reviewed published pit lake repurposing case studies of abandoned mine pit lakes. Beneficial end use type and outcome varied depending upon climate and commodity, but equally important were social and political dynamics that manifest as mining company commitments or regulatory requirements. Many end uses have been realized: passive and active recreation, nature conservation, fishery and aquaculture, drinking and industrial water storage, greenhouse carbon fixation, flood protection and waterway remediation, disposal of mine and other waste, mine water treatment and containment, and education and research. Common attributes and reasons that led to successful repurposing of abandoned pit lakes as beneficial end uses are discussed. Recommendations are given for all stages of mine closure planning to prevent pit lake abandonment and to achieve successful pit lake closure with beneficial end uses.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=22742
McCullough, C.D., Schultze, M., Vandenberg, J. (2020):
Realizing beneficial end uses from abandoned pit lakes
Minerals 10 (2), art. 133 10.3390/min10020133