• Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.538-545
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• 2018

It is necessary to develop systematic mine reclamation technology according to mid- and long-term road maps to effectively promote mine reclamation projects. Evaluating the main achievements of the mine reclamation technology according to the first and second-stage roadmaps revealed the necessity of sharing the R&D achievements. In this study, by reviewing the key issues of the third-stage roadmap and considering the major technical needs of in-and-out customers, the strategic development direction of sustainable mine reclamation technology through expanded sharing of R&D achievement was examined.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.357-365
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• 2017

The mine subsidence prevention technology has been promoted based on the field test for design, construction, automation measurement and monitoring optimized for investigation, design and mine-filling efficiency customized in Korean mining environment. Based on the R&D roadmap ('07~'16) of the 1st and 2nd stage, mine reclamation technology development has been focused on developing method of evaluating subsidence stability, development of filling material and optimum filling technology, and development of measuring instrument. In the future, in order to systematic management for the subsidence risk areas, we intend to enhance technological capabilities and strengthen the technological infrastructure for business promotion in parallel with the discovery and introduction of new technology to prevent subsidence in the 4th Industrial Revolution era.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.546-552
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• 2018

Although there are differences in the history of mining development by country, geographical conditions, and economic status, there are various problems such as water pollution caused by acid mine drainage from past mine development, soil and water pollution caused by mine tailing, and landslides caused by slope failure. Thus, human life is threatened by ground subsidence caused by collapses. Some countries have technology and legal systems that are different from those of others. In countries where mine reclamation is underway, or has to begin, there is a need for institutional arrangements and technical support. Countries trying to start mine reclamation require help from the international community. Technically and institutionally advanced nations need to recover from mine reclamation through cooperation with countries that are beginning to undertake reclamation.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.408-416
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• 2015

The collapse of the underground cavities and voids, which were made for developing mineral resources, can cause the subsidence of the ground surface in the residential areas. During the Japanese colonial era and the 1960's mining boom period, lots of mines had been developed indiscriminately in Korea. Due to complicated geological conditions and mining methods, many of dangerous underground mine cavities with steep slopes had been generated at the shallow surface. Due to such conditions, it is difficult to directly apply valid foreign reclamation practice for the cavities in Korea environments. It is necessary to develop the efficient ground stabilization technologies for the Korea underground mine conditions to solve abandoned mine reclamation properly. Therefore, MIRECO and Korea government have been carrying out practical researches and technical developments together with other academic researchers and reclamation business partners, and various practical solutions such as surveying and exploration methods, proper cavity filling materials and reinforcement methods have been developed with application in the mine field. In this article, up to date technologies and R&D trends in the field of mine subsidence prevention technology are broadly reviewed to establish the future direction of a research and development.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.287-296
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• 2020

Mine Reclamation Project is being carried out with the aim of ensuring a sustainable green living and helping to develop eco-friendly mines by analyzing, removing and preventing the harmful factors. Mines developed during the japanese colonial period and mining boom period are still not repaired throughout the country, and from these scattered risks, public safety is worth pursuing as a top priority. The project that is close to public safety in the mine recalmation project is an emergency treatment, and the most widely used method is a filling method similar to the ground subsidence prevention. If dangerous mine cavity or tunnels are located in the mountains, charging with existing materials may not be possible, or unreasonable cases may occur, and new methods of technological development are required. Emergency actions should be carried out safely and efficiently to prevent the loss of precious people's lives on the hiking paths adjacent to dangerous mining sites. In these field conditions, urethane foam materials may be an alternative. In this study, the applicability of urethane foam materials in mining was reviewed through overseas cases. It was also tested on the appropriate depth of top soil for the protection of urethane foam materials through forest fire simulation test. The test result show that approximately 15cm of soil covering (recommended 20cm over) was suitable for maintaining the function of foam materials from forest fires.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2006

Attempts were made to analyze the national policy of soil contamination prevention and management of inactive or abandoned metal (IAM) mines in Korea. This approach focused on legal systems and legislation, remediation technology development, and the arrangement or distribution of budgets pertaining to national policy since the mid 1990's. Prevention of Mining Damage and Recovery Act enacted. Defines the roles, responsibility and budget of the government when recovering mine damages. However, in 2005 there still remains to improve the national policy of soil contamination prevention and management of IAM mines. Analysis of national and industrialized foreign countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands suggest the following improvements: i) arranging distinct regulations between strict and non-strict liability criteria for potentially responsible parties; limiting innocent and non-strict liability depending on the period of incurred mining activity, ii) enhancing participation of local communities by enforcing law and legislation, iii) establishing a national database system of (potentially) IAM contaminated sites based on the Website-Geographic Information System, iv) carrying out site-specific risk assessments and remediation of IAM contaminated sites, v) preparation and distribution of clean-up fund at mine sites adequately, and vi) technology development for the cleaning of IAM contaminated sites; awarding positive incentives of a legal nature for participants applying newly developed technology in IAM mines.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.387-399
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• 2018

Mine reclamation project is closely related to human's past mining activities and the current human's living environment. It is a reason for the national management. In order to efficiently carry out mine reclamation projects, a precise investigation and analysis of the underground space of the abandoned mine is required. Korea MINE RECLAMATION Corp. is developing a practical technology that is effective in investigating and actually measuring underground cavities. MIRECO EYE system is an exploration equipment for 3D digitization and figuration of underground cavities. As combining a laser, sonar and image acquisition technology, it enables access to information about inaccessible underground cavities and effective management of subsidence risk of mined area. and currently it is also utilized for various purposes in related areas such as investigating urban sinkholes. This article is precise numerical and geometric information analysis obtained through MIRECO EYE system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.553-563
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• 2018

In this study, the location conditions and optimal technologies required for creating urban municipalities that can utilize the space in an abandoned mine area, where there is no infrastructure related to recycling wastes and valuable metals, are investigated. The urban mining industry deals with mineral resources through the processing of high value-added industrial by-products and wastes, and it is a useful linkage industry for the development of mineral resources and prevention of mining hazards. Urban mining technologies targeted at the abandoned mine area constitute screening, extraction, and smelting for recycling waste products. By analyzing the technologies available, an industrial network can be developed for recycling waste batteries and catalysts, which are promising raw materials. It is also important to establish an appropriate location for related industries that can generate value-added resources, rather than the resource supply and demand conditions seen in general urban mines. In order to overcome the accessibility and infrastructure limitations, the economic foundation of the abandoned mine area should consider the linkage of raw material supply, key technologies for recycling useful mineral resources that are derived from urban mines, spatial and site conditions, and industrial characteristics.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.455-465
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• 2016

The collapse of underground mine development void for mineral resources can cause the subsidence of ground surface. In order to prevent the subsidence of ground, data such as maps or pictures of past mining site is important information for current mine reclamation works. In particular, mine subsidence management was based on mining maps and pictures. The process of the mining area surveys, safety evaluation, and ground reinforcement are normally possible with information such as maps and pictures in past mining. During the Japanese colonial period and 1960's, a lot of mines were developed in Korea indiscriminately. However, mining information at that time is limited to use. In the future, mining information will become even more rare. MIRECO intends to establish a realistic alternative solution. In this study, the basic numerical information of developed mine tunnels in Korea is statistically reviewed, and advanced underground cavity measuring technology was studied. 4,473 mine tunnel opening data of 1,784 abandoned mines in korea were collected and sorted. As a result of the analysis, the average value of small mine tunnel openings in Korea was 1.982 m in height and 1.959 m in width. The mean value of shape factor was analyzed as 0.485. The summary of these numerical mine data will be helpful for understanding and researching Korean abandoned mines. Therefore, the development of measurement technology for abandoned mine cavities and tunnels is expected to facilitate more effective mine subsidence management works in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 2016

There have been found mine tailings, wastes, and mining drainage scattered in the area of Nakdong River due to the improper maintenance of the abandoned mines. These contaminants can flow into rivers during the heavy rain periods in summer. Along the study area beginning Seokpo-myeon, Bonghwa-gun of Gyeongsangbuk-do untill Dosan-myeon, Andong-si, there are one hundred five mines including sixty metalliferous mines and forty-five nonmetal mines, which can adversely affect the adjacent rivers. To verify the contamination, we collected sediments, seepage water and surface water for a year both in rainy season and dry season. This study found that sediments, containing high concentrations of heavy metals caused by mining activities, are dispersed throughout the entire river basin (68 sample points with pollution index, based on the concentration of trace element, (PI) >10 among the total of 101 samples). The results of river water analysis indicated the increased concentrations of arsenic and cadmium at branches from Seungbu, Sambo, Okbang and Janggun mine, which concerns that the river water may be contaminated by mining drainage and tailing sediments. However, it is difficult to sort out the exact sources of contamination in sediments and waters only by using the chemical compositions. Thus the control of mining pollution is challenging. To prevent water from being contaminated by mining activities, we should be able to divide inflow rates from each origin of the mines. Therefore, there should be a continued study about how to trace the source of contaminants from mining activities by analyzing stable isotopes.