The former lead and zinc district of Eastern Belgium and the calaminarian grasslands after the end of exploitations

Eastern Belgium's former lead and zinc mining district, once a pivotal European mining region during the Middle Ages and Industrial Revolution, has left behind unique calaminarian grasslands as the most visible remnants of its past exploitations. These grasslands host an anomalous metallophyte flora, forming remarkable ecosystems now under special protection. The study highlights the ecological significance of these post-mining landscapes, which have largely disappeared from the region's contemporary landscape. While the mining heritage has been overlooked in post-closure research, this work sheds light on its enduring environmental impact and the preservation of these distinctive ecosystems.

Dejonghe, L. (2020). L’ancien district plombo-zincifère de l’Est de la Belgique et les pelouses calaminaires après la fin des exploitations. Annales de La Société Géologique Du Nord, (27), 55–60. https://doi.org/10.54563/asgn.255