Hydrochemical Evolution of the filling of the Mining Lake of As Pontes (Spain)

Juncosa, Ricardo; Delgado, J.; Cereijo, José Luis; Muñóz, A.

doi:10.1007/s10230-019-00612-6

Cited by 8 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 17 publications

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“…In this context, both dissimilatory microbial sulphate reduction and discharge of neutral or net-alkaline (river) water have been investigated in terms of their potential as a tool to manage water quality in acidic pit lakes (e.g. Delgado-Martin et al 2013;Fyson et al 2006;Geller et al 2009;Juncosa et al 2019;Schultze et al 2005Schultze et al , 2009), yet no stable and self-sustaining system based solely on sulphate reduction has been discovered or created so far. Various laboratory experiments and field-scale studies, especially in the lignite fields of eastern Germany, have tried to determine and/or reproduce the environmental conditions necessary for natural in-lake neutralisation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of Self-Neutralisation Rates in a Lignite Pit Lake

Opitz

Alte²,

Bauer³

et al. 2020

Mine Water Environ

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Natural anaerobic biogeochemical processes used for passive treatment of AMD were observed in the extensive shallow water zone of a polymictic pit lake in the former German lignite district of Upper Palatinate. Although continuously fed by acidic metalliferous groundwater, lake-pH increased from 3.5 to circumneutral over a little more than 10 years. The natural attenuation processes were studied and quantified using a regional surface-and groundwater flow model linked with hydrochemical monitoring datasets to establish a simple mass balance. The acidity inflow was estimated at ≈ 5900 kmol over the period 2014-2018, which corresponds to an average inflow of ≈ 1190 kmol/a. This estimate is in very good accordance with an acidity inflow rate for the period 2000-2014 estimated from acidity deposition in the sediment based on sediment core analyses plus the calculated cumulative acidity outflow based on extrapolation of pre-neutralisation acidity levels in the pit lake, together yielding a total acidity of ≈ 15,000 kmol, which corresponds to an inflow rate of ≈ 960 kmol/a. The results strongly indicate that the pit lake self-neutralised due to beneficial environmental and ecological conditions, amplified and potentially initialised by the circumneutral discharge from a chemical mine water treatment plant, and that well-known biogeochemical mechanisms such as natural microbial sulfate reduction were the driving force. The results give rise to perspectives concerning the potential development of pit lakes if ecological considerations are considered.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%