Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publisher
IMWA
Faculty
Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science
School
School of Natural Sciences / Mine Water and Environment Research Centre
RAS ID
18421
Abstract
Pit lakes are similar to natural lakes formed by faulting, glacial action, volcanic action and asteroid collisions. These natural lakes have, after thousands of years, developed into environmentally significant ecosystems. As artificial constructs, pit lakes can be modified prior to filling to enhance lake attributes, such as modification of catchment size, creation of littoral zones and addition of organic matter. Significant advances could be made in successful closure and relinquishment of pit lakes, by 1) choosing appropriate model lakes, 2) understanding successional processes, 3) designing pit lakes to enhance ecological values, and 4) recognizing that it will take time to develop desired characteristics.
Access Rights
free_to_read
Comments
This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of: Lund, M. A., & Blanchette, M. L. (2014). Are we approaching pit lake closure from the wrong perspective?. Proceedings of International Mine Water Association Symposium. (pp. 720-724). Xuzhou, China. IMWA. Available here