A framework for assessing hazards related to pit lakes – application on European case studies

Abstract

Abstract The number of abandoned mines is continuously increasing in the word. The sustainable exploitation of these abandoned mines is a top priority globally. Open-pit lakes created in the abandoned mining site provide benefits and present risks for the mining region. The paper presents a methodology to assess the hazards (mining and natural). The proposed methodology framework is based on well-established and internationally accepted risk management standards and allows the assessment of the long-term stability of pit lakes. Ground movement, water pollution, fire hazards are presented, and their impact evaluated based on feedback and international experiences. The methodology was applied for 13 European open-pit lakes created in former European coal and lignite mines. A risk assessment of Most lake, using qualitative and a weighted probabilistic approach that considers the overall and the individual effect of identified mining and natural hazards, shown that the main potential hazards are the ground movement and the flooding.