The remaining gap occupies approx. 19 ha, has an elevation at the bottom between +145 and +152 m, has a length of 950 m, a maximum width of 220 m, the elevation of the water level being at approx. +165 m (maximum depth, of about 20 m, being reached in the central-eastern part). In the excessively dry years, the water level dropped to approx. +160 m.
As can be seen from, over time, the lake formed in the remaining gap has not undergone significant changes in terms of size and morphology. This is mainly due to factors related to the evolution of vegetation spontaneously installed on the final slopes of the open-pit and the inner dump and the arrangements existing since the active period of lignite exploitation:
Author(s) Details:
Florin Faur
Department of Environmental Engineering and Geology, University of Petrosani, University Street, No. 20, 332006, Petrosani, Romania.
Izabela-Maria Apostu
Department of Environmental Engineering and Geology, University of Petrosani, University Street, No. 20, 332006, Petrosani, Romania.
Maria Lazăr
Department of Environmental Engineering and Geology, University of Petrosani, University Street, No. 20, 332006, Petrosani, Romania.
Recent global research developments in Morphology and Stability of Urdari Open-Pit Lake Over Time
Background: Open-pit lakes are created when former mining pits fill with water, resulting in aquatic ecosystems. In the Oltenia Mining Region of Romania, where lignite deposits were extracted through open-pit mining, this practice has become increasingly common. The process of flooding the remaining gaps in the open-pits occurs naturally, with water coming from underground sources (phreatic and pressurized aquifers) and precipitation runoff from the surrounding terrain [1].
Urdari Lake:
- Urdari Lake is a case study within this context. It formed in the remaining gap of the Urdari open-pit.
- The lake’s morphology and stability have been of interest to researchers.
- Preliminary investigations indicate that Urdari Lake has not undergone significant changes in size and morphology over time.
- Factors contributing to this stability include the evolution of vegetation spontaneously growing on the final slopes of the open-pit and the inner dump [1]
- Although this study provides data on the existing biotope and biocenoses (species identification), detailed investigations related to populations, ecosystem production, energy flows, and matter cycles are planned for future stages of research [1].
Ecological Significance:
- Open-pit lakes like Urdari play a crucial role in ecological reconstruction, transforming former exploitation areas into functional ecosystems.
- Similar practices have been applied worldwide, including in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Spain, the USA, and Australia [2].
For more in-depth information, you can refer to the research papers:
- “Consideration Regarding the Aquatic Ecosystems Developed in the Open Pit Lakes from Oltenia Mining Region”
- “Preliminary Results of Investigations Related to the Ecology of Urdari Open-Pit Lake” [2]
References
1. Faur, F., Apostu, I. M., & Lazăr, M. (2022). Consideration regarding the aquatic ecosystems developed in the open pit lakes from Oltenia Mining Region. Górnictwo Odkrywkowe, 63.
2. Faur, F., Apostu, I. M., & Lazăr, M. (2022). Preliminary results of investigations related to the ecology of Urdari open-pit lake. In MATEC Web of Conferences (Vol. 354, p. 00060). EDP Sciences.
