Publication Details |
| Category | Text Publication |
| Reference Category | Book chapters |
| Title (Primary) | Realising beneficial end uses for pit lakes |
| Title (Secondary) | Mine Closure 2018 : Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Mine Closure, 3 – 7 September 2018, Leipzig, Germany |
| Author | McCullough, C.M.; Schultze, M.; Vandenberg, J. |
| Publisher | Drebenstedt, C.; von Bismarck, F.; Fourie, A.; Tibbett, M. |
| Year | 2018 |
| Department | SEEFO |
| Page From | 487 |
| Page To | 494 |
| Language | englisch |
| Keywords | pit lake; closure; planning, end use |
| UFZ inventory | Magdeburg, Bibliothek, 00526951, 18-0604 MA Wa 40 |
| Abstract | There is growing recognition that pit lakes can represent significant liabilities at mine closure. With over ½ century of open cut mining demonstrated in most countries, pit lake legacies have been shown to present long‐term and significant health, safety and environmental risks difficult to resolve. However, pit lakes also present opportunities to provide significant regional benefit and even address residual closure risks of both their own and overall project closure, and, if properly planned, can offset the environmental costs of mining by creating new end uses. The following end uses have been realised: 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. We reviewed published pit lake closure studies (both successful and not) combined with our own collective experiences to determine what lessons might be gleaned to improve closure practice. As with many mine closure outcomes, examples of end use development as a closure strategy are rarely published; and even more so when they are not successful. We found beneficial end use type and outcome varied dependent upon climate and commodity; but equally important social and political dynamics that manifest as mining company commitments or regulatory requirements. We also found that initial optimism about likelihood of end uses being successfully realised often failed to meet stakeholder expectations. Common attributes and reasons that led to successful closure outcomes as end use developments are discussed. Recommendations are given for all stages of mine closure planning to realise successful pit lake closure with beneficial end uses. |
| Persistent UFZ Identifier | https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=20871 |
| McCullough, C.M., Schultze, M., Vandenberg, J. (2018): Realising beneficial end uses for pit lakes In: Drebenstedt, C., von Bismarck, F., Fourie, A., Tibbett, M. (eds.) Mine Closure 2018 : Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Mine Closure, 3 – 7 September 2018, Leipzig, Germany TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, p. 487 - 494 |
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