Water resources in australian mine pit lakes

Abstract

In Australia and worldwide, open cut mining has become increasingly common over the last few decades through changes in excavation technology and ore economics. However, such operations frequently leave a legacy of open mine pits once mining ceases. Pit lakes will then form in mine pits that extend below the water table when dewatering operations cease. Pit lake waters are typically contaminated with metals, metalloids, saline or acidic/alkaline and rarely approach natural water body chemistry. Physically, pit lakes have unique bathymetries, are often strongly wind sheltered and have very small catchments. Nevertheless, pit lake waters often constitute a vast resource but of limited beneficial use (due to water quality issues); with a potential to contaminate regional surface and ground water resources. Water in pit lakes has the potential to be useful for a range of purposes in the Australian context of characteristic hot, dry climate and relatively few natural water bodies. Consequently, pit lakes can be seen to represent either a significant liability or a water resource to mining companies and regional communities. However, the lack of knowledge on pit lakes continues to hinder their proper management. This paper summarises the limited information currently available on water quality associated with Australian pit lakes. Information on pit lake occurrence, distribution and water quantity and quality is not nationally collated and requires immediate and ongoing attention from both mining companies and regulating authorities. Lack of a readily available database for pit lake occurrence, distribution and water quality fails to realise the potential for these water resources by both mining companies and Australian communities. Lack of access to pit lake quantity and water quality data may also lead to failure to manage this significant source of mining environmental risk.

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).…”

“…Increasing the volume of retained water by creating various forms of small-scale retention can increase water resources and improve the rational management of such resources, especially from a local and regional perspective (Łabędzki 2016;Linnerooth-Bayer et al 2015; Ministry of the Environment 2013; Mioduszewski et al 2014;Szwed 2015). This is particularly important in areas with limited water resources (Ceppi et al 2014;Kumar et al 2009;Ravazzani et al 2011).…”

Water Quality Assessment of Pit-Lakes in Raniganj Coalfields Area, West Bengal, India

“…The major environmental impacts on the surrounding areas and on human health are well documented by several authors' in different times (Dhar, 1993 Pit lakes have unique physical property than other water body. Nevertheless, pit lake waters often constitute a vast resource but of limited beneficial use (due to water quality issues); with a potential to contaminate regional surface and ground water resources (Kumar et al, 2009). Their value as resources for recreation, fisheries, water supply, and wildlife habitat depends mostly on their topography, their safety.…”

Modelling a pit lake district to plan for abstraction regime changes

“…It is not known how many pit lakes exist in Australia, although, it has been estimated that there are more than 1,800 mine pits in Western Australia that could potentially form pit lakes (Johnson and Wright, 2003). These new mining pit lakes have few natural counterparts in Australia, especially in depth (Kumar et al, 2009). The mining areas also occur across a broad range of climatic regions, however, approximately one-third of Australia is arid with rainfall less than 250 mm per year and another one third is semi-arid (250-500 mm per year).…”