A quarry lake, also known as a pit lake, is a lake that is formed after a quarry has been dug through a mining operation.
A quarry lake, also known as a pit lake, is a lake that is formed after a quarry has been dug through a mining operation.
During the mining process, water must be emptied. But after the mining operation has been abandoned, groundwater is allowed to seep in, and rainwater collects in the quarry. The depth of a quarry lake is dependent upon rainfall in the region. [1]
Water-filled quarries can be very deep, often 50 ft (15 m) or more, and surprisingly cold, so swimming in quarry lakes is generally not recommended. Unexpectedly cold water [2] can cause a swimmer's muscles to suddenly weaken; it can also cause shock, cold water shock [2] and even hypothermia. [3] Though quarry water is often very clear, submerged quarry stones and abandoned equipment make diving and jumping into these quarries extremely dangerous. Several people drown in quarries each year. [4] [2] Water-filled quarries can have dangerous electric currents in them that can be deadly under water. [5] The extraction operations that create quarry lakes leave large amounts of minerals dissolved in the water, especially limestone, silica (including asbestos), granite powder, and heavy metals. This makes it highly acidic and poisonous.
Geology.com cites Mine Safety and Health Administration data in saying that between 2001 and 2017, there were 201 drowning deaths in abandoned mines in the United States, or around twelve per year; [2] statistics from the Centers for Disease Control indicate that each year there are 3,960 drowning deaths. [6]
Quarry lakes, even lakes within active quarries, can provide important habitats for animals. [7]
Environmental geology, like hydrogeology, is an applied science concerned with the practical application of the principles of geology in the solving of environmental problems created by man. It is a multidisciplinary field that is closely related to engineering geology and, to a lesser extent, to environmental geography. Each of these fields involves the study of the interaction of humans with the geologic environment, including the biosphere, the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, and to some extent the atmosphere. In other words, environmental geology is the application of geological information to solve conflicts, minimizing possible adverse environmental degradation, or maximizing possible advantageous conditions resulting from the use of natural and modified environment. With an increasing world population and industrialization, the natural environment and resources are under high strain which puts them at the forefront of world issues. Environmental geology is on the rise with these issues as solutions are found by utilizing it.
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some jurisdictions to manage their safety risks and reduce their environmental impact.
Open-pit mining, also known as open-cast or open-cut mining and in larger contexts mega-mining, is a surface mining technique that extracts rock or minerals from the earth.
A gravel pit is an open-pit mine for the extraction of gravel.
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The Rummu quarry is a submerged limestone quarry located in Rummu, Vasalemma Parish, Estonia, Europe. Much of the natural area of the quarry is under a lake formed by groundwater, and is situated next to a spoil tip. The quarry is close to two former prisons, the nearest being the former Rummu prison.
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