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Hydrochemical characteristics of the natural waters associated with the flooding of the Meirama open pit (A Coruñ, NW Spain)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

J. Delgado ,
R. Juncosa ,
A. Vazquez ,
I. Falcón ,
J. Canal ,
H. Hernández ,
F. Padilla ,
P. Rodríguez-Vellando  and
J. L. Delgado
J. Delgado*
Affiliation:
Civil Engineering School, University of A Coruña, Campus de Elvinña s/n, 15192, A Coruña, Spain
R. Juncosa
Affiliation:
Civil Engineering School, University of A Coruña, Campus de Elvinña s/n, 15192, A Coruña, Spain
A. Vazquez
Affiliation:
Civil Engineering School, University of A Coruña, Campus de Elvinña s/n, 15192, A Coruña, Spain
I. Falcón
Affiliation:
Civil Engineering School, University of A Coruña, Campus de Elvinña s/n, 15192, A Coruña, Spain
J. Canal
Affiliation:
Civil Engineering School, University of A Coruña, Campus de Elvinña s/n, 15192, A Coruña, Spain
H. Hernández
Affiliation:
Civil Engineering School, University of A Coruña, Campus de Elvinña s/n, 15192, A Coruña, Spain
F. Padilla
Affiliation:
Civil Engineering School, University of A Coruña, Campus de Elvinña s/n, 15192, A Coruña, Spain
P. Rodríguez-Vellando
Affiliation:
Civil Engineering School, University of A Coruña, Campus de Elvinña s/n, 15192, A Coruña, Spain
J. L. Delgado
Affiliation:
Lignitos de Meirama S.A. Juana de Vega 2, 15003, A Coruña, Spain
*
*E-mail: jdelgado@udc.es
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Abstract

In December, 2007, after 30 years of operations, the mine of Meirama ceased extraction of brown lignite. Since then operations have begun which will lead to the formation of a big mining lake (~2 km2 surface and up to 180 m deep) after controlled flooding of the open pit. In the process of flooding, both surface and ground waters are involved, each with their own chemical signature. According to the information available, the diversion of surface waters towards the pit hole should lead to the formation of a water body of acceptable quality. However, an unassisted flooding process could eventually form an acidic lake.

Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 72 , Issue 1 , February 2008 , pp. 399 - 403
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2008

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