Opportunities for Sustainable Mining Pit Lakes in Australia

Abstract

Due to operational and regulatory practicalities, pit lakes will continue to be common legacies of mine lease relinquishments. Unplanned or inappropriate management of these geographical features can lead to both short-and long-term liability to mining companies, local communities, and the nearby environment during mining operations or after lease relinquishment. However, the potential for pit lakes to provide benefit to companies, communities, and the environment is frequently unrecognised and yet may be a vital contribution to the sustainability of the open-cut mining industry. Sustainable pit lake management aims to minimise short and long term pit lake liabilities and maximise short and long term pit lake opportunities. Improved remediation technologies are offering more avenues for pit lakes resource exploitation than ever before, at the same time mining companies, local communities, and regulatory authorities are becoming more aware of the benefit these resources can offer.

Estimating Water Retention in Post-mining Excavations Using LiDAR ALS Data for the Strzelin Quarry, in Lower Silesia

“…This might contribute to the improvement of the water balance (Kowalewski 2008; Łabędzki 2016; Mosiej 2014) and mitigate the consequences of water deficits. Depending on the quality of the retained water, it may be used, among others, for irrigation purposes (the Strzelin County is an agricultural area), supplying rivers and streams in times of low water level, providing water to residents and to the industry and water recreation (Ceppi et al 2014;Doupé and Lymbery 2005;Hinwood et al 2012;Kumar et al 2009;McCullough and Lund 2006;Ravazzani et al 2011;Schultze et al 2010;Singleton et al 2013;Soni et al 2014).…”

“…The lakes thus created can have different depths, surface areas and volume, depending on the excavated raw material and the mining technology (Clews et al 2014;Kumar et al 2016;McCullough and Lund 2006;Molenda 2006;Schultze et al 2010;Singleton et al 2013). The methods of determining the geomorphological parameters of the excavation depend on its accessibility and on the depth of the water reservoir (if it exists).…”

“…Water in flooded mines can be used for various purposes, including: recreation and tourism (bathing, swimming, diving, fishing, surfing, boating, canoeing, water skiing), wildlife habitat, aquaculture and fish farming, water management (water storage, storage of high flood, addition to low-water), drinking and industrial water reservoirs, or storage of irrigation water for agriculture and horticulture (Axler et al 1996;Ceppi et al 2014;Doupé and Lymbery 2005;Jawecki 2012;McCullough 2008;McCullough and Lund 2006;Ravazzani et al 2011;Schultze et al 2010). The potential use of mine and quarry lake water depends on both water quantity and quality (Axler et al 1996;Clews et al 2014;Doupé and Lymbery 2005;Kumar et al 2016;McCullough 2008;McCullough and Lund 2006;Schultze et al 2010).…”

“…The potential use of mine and quarry lake water depends on both water quantity and quality (Axler et al 1996;Clews et al 2014;Doupé and Lymbery 2005;Kumar et al 2016;McCullough 2008;McCullough and Lund 2006;Schultze et al 2010).…”

The mining boom and Western Australia’s changing landscape: Towards sustainability or business as usual?

“…The accommodation of further growth in the sector and its increasing water requirements thus poses enormous challenges. In particular in the arid and semiarid areas of the state, such as the Pilbara region, increased water consumption has the potential to alter water tables and lead to the depletion of groundwater reservoirs as shown by McCullough & Lund (2006).…”