Case Studies and Regional Surveys

Abstract

This chapter consist of regional surveys of pit lakes, their history, water quality and management from Australia, Germany, Poland, and the Iberian Pyrite Belt. It also includes detailed case studies of two of the world’s best investigated pit lakes: the copper-mine Berkeley Pit Lake in Montana and the lignite Mining Lake 111 in Lusatia, Germany. Biological approaches that have been and could potentially be used to eliminate toxic metals from lake water are thoroughly discussed, and an innovative way to assess the economics of pit lake remediation is presented.