Geochemical and Limnological Characterization of the Corta Atalaya Pit Lake (Riotinto Mines, Spain)
This study examines some relevant limnological and hydrogeochemical characteristics of the most emblematic pit lake of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB). Corta Atalaya (CA) open pit mine is known for its large size and for being one of the most important exploitations of copper in Europe. Despite its hi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Materials Proceedings |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4605/15/1/66 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850167395897835520 |
|---|---|
| author | Esther Santofimia Blanca Rincón-Tomás Enrique López-Pamo Francisco Javier González Ricardo Amils |
| author_facet | Esther Santofimia Blanca Rincón-Tomás Enrique López-Pamo Francisco Javier González Ricardo Amils |
| author_sort | Esther Santofimia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines some relevant limnological and hydrogeochemical characteristics of the most emblematic pit lake of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB). Corta Atalaya (CA) open pit mine is known for its large size and for being one of the most important exploitations of copper in Europe. Despite its historical importance, little is known about the lake formed in this open pit. During this study, the pit lake presented a surface area of 16 ha, a maximum depth of 106 m, and a 5.8 hm<sup>3</sup> volume of acid and metal-enriched water. CA pit lake shows permanent chemical stratification (meromictic lake), where three layers with different density and chemical composition can be differentiated: (i) a superficial layer of 5 ± 2 m water depth, with electric conductivity (EC) between 5.4–6.64 mS/cm, and oxygenated and Fe(III)-rich mixolimnion; (ii) an intermediate layer (between 5–30 m, chemocline), exhibiting strong vertical changes in parameters such as temperature (T) and EC, which show an increase with depth; and (iii) a thick bottom layer from 30 m to 106 m depth, with anoxic, elevated EC (47 mS/cm) and T (32 °C) values, and a concentration of Fe as Fe(II) (monimolimnion).The characterization of the water column is essential to know the potential sources of strategic and critical raw materials, and to evaluate their possible recuperation, thereby activating a circular economy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8356aef17c2d4439824b79b089fef8eb |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-4605 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials Proceedings |
| spelling | doaj-art-8356aef17c2d4439824b79b089fef8eb2025-08-20T02:21:13ZengMDPI AGMaterials Proceedings2673-46052023-12-011516610.3390/materproc2023015066Geochemical and Limnological Characterization of the Corta Atalaya Pit Lake (Riotinto Mines, Spain)Esther Santofimia0Blanca Rincón-Tomás1Enrique López-Pamo2Francisco Javier González3Ricardo Amils4Geological Survey of Spain, Spanish National Research Council (IGME-CSIC) Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid, SpainGeological Survey of Spain, Spanish National Research Council (IGME-CSIC) Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid, SpainGeological Survey of Spain, Spanish National Research Council (IGME-CSIC) Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid, SpainGeological Survey of Spain, Spanish National Research Council (IGME-CSIC) Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid, SpainCentro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, SpainThis study examines some relevant limnological and hydrogeochemical characteristics of the most emblematic pit lake of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB). Corta Atalaya (CA) open pit mine is known for its large size and for being one of the most important exploitations of copper in Europe. Despite its historical importance, little is known about the lake formed in this open pit. During this study, the pit lake presented a surface area of 16 ha, a maximum depth of 106 m, and a 5.8 hm<sup>3</sup> volume of acid and metal-enriched water. CA pit lake shows permanent chemical stratification (meromictic lake), where three layers with different density and chemical composition can be differentiated: (i) a superficial layer of 5 ± 2 m water depth, with electric conductivity (EC) between 5.4–6.64 mS/cm, and oxygenated and Fe(III)-rich mixolimnion; (ii) an intermediate layer (between 5–30 m, chemocline), exhibiting strong vertical changes in parameters such as temperature (T) and EC, which show an increase with depth; and (iii) a thick bottom layer from 30 m to 106 m depth, with anoxic, elevated EC (47 mS/cm) and T (32 °C) values, and a concentration of Fe as Fe(II) (monimolimnion).The characterization of the water column is essential to know the potential sources of strategic and critical raw materials, and to evaluate their possible recuperation, thereby activating a circular economy.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4605/15/1/66acid pit lakeIberian Pyrite Beltraw materialsheavy metalslimnology |
| spellingShingle | Esther Santofimia Blanca Rincón-Tomás Enrique López-Pamo Francisco Javier González Ricardo Amils Geochemical and Limnological Characterization of the Corta Atalaya Pit Lake (Riotinto Mines, Spain) Materials Proceedings acid pit lake Iberian Pyrite Belt raw materials heavy metals limnology |
| title | Geochemical and Limnological Characterization of the Corta Atalaya Pit Lake (Riotinto Mines, Spain) |
| title_full | Geochemical and Limnological Characterization of the Corta Atalaya Pit Lake (Riotinto Mines, Spain) |
| title_fullStr | Geochemical and Limnological Characterization of the Corta Atalaya Pit Lake (Riotinto Mines, Spain) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geochemical and Limnological Characterization of the Corta Atalaya Pit Lake (Riotinto Mines, Spain) |
| title_short | Geochemical and Limnological Characterization of the Corta Atalaya Pit Lake (Riotinto Mines, Spain) |
| title_sort | geochemical and limnological characterization of the corta atalaya pit lake riotinto mines spain |
| topic | acid pit lake Iberian Pyrite Belt raw materials heavy metals limnology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4605/15/1/66 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT esthersantofimia geochemicalandlimnologicalcharacterizationofthecortaatalayapitlakeriotintominesspain AT blancarincontomas geochemicalandlimnologicalcharacterizationofthecortaatalayapitlakeriotintominesspain AT enriquelopezpamo geochemicalandlimnologicalcharacterizationofthecortaatalayapitlakeriotintominesspain AT franciscojaviergonzalez geochemicalandlimnologicalcharacterizationofthecortaatalayapitlakeriotintominesspain AT ricardoamils geochemicalandlimnologicalcharacterizationofthecortaatalayapitlakeriotintominesspain |