• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.391-404
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• 2000

This study investigated the geochemical characteristics of mine drainage discharged from an abandoned coal mine in the Hwasoon area. Surface water samples were collected from 23 locations along the Hancheon creek. The concentration of Zn and Cu in stream waters was highest at low pH (3.53), whereas the content of TDS and TDI was highest at high pH (7.78) due to the concentration of Ca, $HCO_3$ and $SO_4$. At the upstream site, the Ba, Fe, Mn, Zn, and $SO_4$ contents were relatively high but decreased significantly with the distance from the coal mine. On the contrary, the Na and $NO_3$ contents were low at the upstream site but increased downstream. Yellow precipitate material collected in the Hancheon consisted mainly of iron and LOI. This yellow precipitate was heated from 100 to $900^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour. With increasing temperature, the intensity of hematite peaks were sharply produced in X-ray pattern and the absorption band Fe-O of hematite increased in IR due to dehydration and melting. The yellow to brown precipitate and evaporite materials were collected by a air-dry from the acid mine water at the laboratory. After drying, the concentration of ions in the acid water samples increased progressively in oversaturation with respect to either gypsum, ferrohexahydrite or quenstedetite. The X-ray powder diffraction studies identified that the precipitated and evaporated materials after drying were well crystallized gypsum, ferrohexahydrite and quenstedetite. Diagnostic peaks used for identification of gypsum were the 7.65, 4.28, 3.03, 2.87 and 2.48$\AA$ peaks and those for ferrohexahydrite were the 5.46, 5.12, 4.89, 4.44, 4.05, 3.62, 3.46, 3.40, 3.20, 3.03, 2.94, 2.53, 2.28, 2.07, 1.88 and 1.86${\AA} peaks. The IR spectra with OH-stretching, deformation of $H_2O$and ${SO_4}^{2-}$stretching vibration include the existence of gypsum, ferrohexahydrite and quenstedetite in the precipitated and evaporite materials. In the SEM and EDS analysis for the evaporite material, gypsum with well-crystallized, acicular, and columnar form was distinctly observed.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.322-331
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• 2007

In this study, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) were conducted to find the mineralized zone at the Geumpung mine in Dojeon-ri, Susan-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. The deviation of the inclined borehole was measured to obtain the exact positions of the electrodes for correcting apparent resistivity values from ERT. Geophysical loggings such as resistivity and natural gamma were conducted to obtain the properties of the material near the borehole. Measurements of the physical properties of the cores, such as porosity, water content, density, susceptibility, resistivity were performed to analyze the correlation between physical properties and resistivity. Grade analysis for core sample was also conducted to identify relationship between grade and resistivity. Rock property analysis shows that the resistivity is more dominated by susceptibility and grade than by porosity and water content in the mineralized zone. The results of ERT are well consistent with geophysical logging data and geologic column. So ERT is powerful method to identify conductive mineralized zone.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.2 s.52
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• pp.115-124
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• 2007

Electrum-sulfide mineralization of the Youngbogari mine area occurred in two stages of massive quartz veins that fill the fractures along the fault/shear zones in the Precambrian gneiss. Ore mineralogy is simple, consisting of arsenopyrite $(31.4{\sim}33.4atom.%As)$, pyrite, sphalerite $(4.1{\sim}17.6mole%FeS)$, galena, chalcopyrite, argentite, and electrum. Electrum $(60.3{\sim}87.6atom.%Ag)$ is associated with galena, chalcopyrite and late sphalerite infilling the fractures in quartz and sulfides. Fluid inclusion data show that ore mineralization was formed from $H_2O-CO_2-CH_4-NaCl$ fluids $(X_{CO2+CH4}=0.0\;to\;0.2)$ with low salinities (0 to 10wt.% eq. NaCl) at temperatures between $200^{\circ}\;and\;370^{\circ}C$. Gold-silver mineralization occurred later than the base-metal sulfide deposition, at temperatures near $250^{\circ}C$ and was probably a result of cooling and decreasing sulfur fugacity caused by sulfide precipitation and/or $H_2S$ loss through fluid unmixing.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.413-428
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• 2010

The Gukjeon Pb-Zn mine was recognized as skarn deposits which replaced the limestone layer of the Jeongkansan Formation by intrusion of biotite granite in late Cretaceous. The Jeongkansan Formation is mainly composed of tuffaceous shale, and interlayers of sandstone, andesitic tuff, limestone, and conglomerate. The limestone layer is located in the lower part of the Jeongkansan Formation with 6~8 m in thickness and about 500 m in length. The Gukjeon deposits are divided into the Jukgang ore bodies once mined underground and the eastern ore bodies. Main ores are sphalerite and galena, in association with small amounts of chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, and pyrrhotite, etc. Skarns mainly consist of clinopyroxenes and Ca-garnets, associated with actinolite, chlorite, axinite, and calcite, etc. The Jukgang ore bodies show symmetrical distribution of zoning outward, representing clinopyroxene (hedenbergite) zone, clinopyroxene-garnet (grossular) zone, garnet (andradite) zone, and alteration zone of hornfels. $Fe^{2+}$ contents in clinopyroxenes increase with decreasing sphalerite grade. Sphalerite ores are found in all zones and $Fe^{2+}$ contents in sphalerite increase in the same way as those in clinopyroxenes, implying that clinopyroxene and sphalerite are closely related each other. It is concluded that the Gukjeon ores occurred in the ore rich zone of high grade sphalerite with less pyrite in assoication with clinopyroxene.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 1985

Soil samples collected from paddy field adjacent to zinc-mining sites were sequentially extracted to assess chemical fractions of Cd, Zn, Cu and Pb. The purpose of this study was two fold; (i) to examine the chemical forms of heavy metal in soils by sequential extraction. and (ii) to determine relationships between the chemical distribution of heavy metal in the soil and the heavy metal content of the brown rice. The results are summarized as follows. The content of exchangeable, organically bound and carbonate Cd and residual Zn was 73.9% and 63.8% of total Cd and Zn in the soil, respectively. The content of exchangeable Cd, Zn and Pb in soil showed highly negative correlations with pH, organically bound Cd, carbonate Cd, sulfide Cd, Zn and Pb in soil showed highly positive correlations with pH. The content of organically bound Cd, Zn, Pb and carbonate Cu in soil showed highly positive correlations with organic matter content, while the content of sulfide Cu and residual Cd in soil showed highly negative correlation with organic matter content. The content of carbonate Cd, Zn, Pb and residual Cu in soil showed highly positive correlations with CEC, but the content of exchangeable Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb and organically bound Cu in soil showed highly negative correlations with CEC. The content of total, organically bound, carbonate, sulfide and residual Cd in soil were highly correlated with that of Cd in brown rice. The content of any Pb fractions in soil were not correlated with that of Pb in brown rice. The content of water soluble and exchangeable Zn in soil were highly correlated with that of Zn in brown rice.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.345-358
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• 2018

In this study, we have performed electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA), X-ray differaction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP), Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy (FT-Raman), far-infrared (FIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and pH-DO Analyses for characterizing medicinal mineralogy aspect of the black tourmaline (Shantung, china), black and pink tourmaline (Minas Geraris, Brazil), black touemaline (Daeyu mine, Korea). In addition, heating effects of the tourmaline sauna as well as the effects of tourmaline powder-added soap on skin troubles have been investigated. It has been revealed that chemical composition of the tourmaline is either high in Fe-, Al-, B-rich types. Ratio of the K-Ca, Na-K, and Fe-B reflects the component change property of solid solution. $CaO/CaO+Na_2O$ and MgO/FeO+MgO ratio show high positive correlation. When tourmaline reacts with distilled water, extended reaction time DO values approximately decrease and it stabilizes at DO = 10. Otherwise, pH values increase until 6 hours and it stabilizes at pH = 8 after 24 hours. Distilled water changes to alkaline when it reacts with tourmaline powder and particles. Tourmaline showed lower absorption spectrum strength and transmittance at short wave, where absorption spectrum wavelength and strength were determined by the content of the composition elements and characteristics of crystallography. Increase of the Fe content has been confirmed to be the cause for the reduction of irradiation. For the chemical composition and spectral property of the tourmaline particle samples, it has been found that Si and Fe contents show positive correlation with Far-Infrared irradiation, while Al and Mg contents show negative correlation. For tourmaline powder, it has been confirmed that $^{17}O-NMR$ FWHM (full width at half maximum) decreases when reacts with distilled water. Tourmaline sauna (approximately $100^{\circ}C$) was found to increase $0.5-1.5^{\circ}C$ of body temperature, average of 12 heartbeat, and 10mg Hg of blood pressure. Tourmaline soap had very good aesthetic effect to skin and was confirmed to have above the average improvements to skin troubles (e.g., allergy or atopy).

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.315-323
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• 2023

This study is to quantify α-quartz, cristobalite and kaolinite using by FTIR in respirable dust generated in the mining workplace. Various minerals in mines can interfere with peaks when quantifying respirable crystalline silica by FTIR. Therefore, for accurate quantification, it is necessary to remove interfering substances or correct the peaks that cause interference. To confirm the peaks occurring in α-quartz, cristobalite and kaolinite, each standard material was diluted with KBr and scanned in the range of 400 cm^-1 to 4000 cm^-1 using by FTIR. As a result of scanning the analytes, it was decided to use the peaks of 797.66 cm^-1 and 695.25 cm^-1 for α-quartz, 621.58 cm^-1 for cristobalite, and 3696.47 cm^-1 for kaolinite. When the above materials are mixed, interference occurs at the peak for quantification, which is corrected by the calculation formula. The analysis of the mixture of α-quartz and cristobalite shows the average bias (%) of 2.64 (corrected) at α-quartz (797.66 cm^-1), 5.61 (uncorrected) at α-quartz (695.25 cm^-1) and 1.51 (uncorrected) at cristobalite (621.58 cm^-1). The analysis of the mixture of α-quartz and kaolinite shows the average bias(%) of 1.79(corrected) at α-quartz (797.66 cm^-1), 3.92 (corrected) at α-quartz (695.25 cm^-1) and 2.58 (uncorrected) at kaolinite (3696.47 cm^-1). The analysis of the mixture of cristobalite and kaolinite shows the average bias (%) of 2.15 (corrected) at cristobalite (621.58 cm^-1), 4.32 (uncorrected) at kaolinite (3696.47 cm^-1). The analysis of the mixture of αquartz and cristobalite and kaolinite shows the average bias (%) of 1.93(corrected) at α-quartz (797.66 cm^-1), 6.47 (corrected) at α-quartz (695.25 cm^-1) and 1.77 (corrected) at cristobalite (621.58 cm^-1) and 2.61 (uncorrected) at kaolinite (3696.47 cm^-1). The experimental results showed that the deviation caused by peak interference by two or three substances could be corrected to less than 6 % of the average deviation. This study showed the possibility of correcting and quantifying when various interfering substances that are difficult to remove are mixed.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.12-18
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• 2023

In 2018, the demand for silver (referred to as Ag) in the electrical and electronics sector was 249 million tons. The demand stood at 81 million tons in the solar module production sector. Currently, due to the rapid increase in solar module installation, the demand for silver is increasing drastically in Korea. However, Korea's natural metal resources and reserves are insufficient in comparison to their consumption, and the domestic silver ore self-sufficiency rate was as low as 2.2% as of 2021. This implies that a recycling technology is necessary to recover valuable metal resources contained in the waste plating solution generated in the metal industry. Therefore, this study compared and analyzed, the results of the impact evaluation through life cycle assessment according to an improvement in the process of recovery of valuable metals in the waste plating solution. The process improvement resulted in reducing GWP (Global Warming Potential) and ADP(Abiotic Depletion Potential) by 50% and 67%, respectively. The GWP of electricity and industrial water was reduced by 98% and 93%, respectively, which significantly contributed to the minimization of energy and water consumption. Thus, the improvement in recycling technology has a high potential to reduce chemical and energy use and improve resource productivity in the urban mining industry.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 1996

Sulfate reduction and the precipitation of metal sulfides may have great potential to improve water quality of mine effluents in wetland treatment systems. Laboratory experiments using sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and limestone to treat effluents from the abandoned Dalsung tungsten-copper mine show that encouraging results, that have been attributed to sulfate reduction. Fe, Al, Cd, Cu and Zn are reduced to below detection limits with $99{\sim}100%$ metal removal rates, Mn is reduced by at least 90% to below 8.0 mg/l, and the pH is raised from 5.12 to 7.60 after 53 days of experiments. In the staged design, laboratory experiments are initiated to determine what would be reasonable substrate materials for remediation of the mine effluents. A substrate mixture containing 70% oak compost and 30% mushroom compost maintains $0.03{\sim}0.04mM$ of lactate, which provides good condition for the SRB granule. A downflow SRB wetland system is proposed as follows : 1) The lower part of the treatment system consists with a 25 cm thick layer of high quality (above 95% of $CaCO_3$) of limestone; 2) The geotextile (geonet) is recommended to be spread on the limestone bed to prevent clogging the limestones with the substrates; 3) The mixture of substrates with 70% oak and 30% spent mushroom composts, and SRB granules overlain on top of the geonet with 25 cm height. The sizes of the passive treatment systems are calculated according to metal loading and permeability criteria : 1) $220m^3$ ($15{\times}15{\times}1m$) for -1 level effluents; 2) $28m^3$ ($5.3{\times}5.3{\times}1m$) for -2 level; and 3) $2700m^3$ ($52{\times}52{\times}1m$) for the -3 level. The -3 level system needs to be broken down into 5 to 15 cells.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: For the heavy metal cotamination sites, it is very important to estimate the human bioavailability quotients for heavy metals in paddy soils released from mine tailings, which is a major source of contamination in Korea, and to assess the human health risks of heavy metals. METHODS AND RESULTS: This experiment was carried out to investigate the human bioavailability quotient of the heavy metals in paddy soils below part of the closed metalliferous mine. For estimating the human bioavailability quotients for heavy metals, 30 paddy soils below part of the closed mine were collected, and analyzed for Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As using simple bioavailability extraction test(SBET). The quantities of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and As extracted from paddy soils below part of the mine by using the SBET analysis were 28.1, 17.3, 34.1, 14.6 and 2.3% respectively. Specially, the maximum values of Cd, Pb and Zn were 73.3, 81.5 and 58.1% of human bioavailability quotient, respectively, and varied considerably among the sampling sites. The human bioavailability quotient of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in soils near the closed mine showed significant positive correlation among soil pH value, O.M. and Ex. Ca. contents, while it correlated negatively between soil Ex. K and Ex. Mg contents in paddy soils. Also, its of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in paddy soils showed significant positive correlation with 0.1M HCl extractable and total contents, while in soils, it correlated negatively with As content in soil near the closed mine. CONCLUSION: The results of the simple bioavailability extraction test (SBET) indicate that regular ingestion of soils by the local population could be closed a potential health threat due to long-term heavy metals exposure in these mine areas.