• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.2 s.171
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• pp.101-111
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• 2005

The objectives of this study we to assess the extent and degree of environmental contamination and to draw general conclusions on the fate of toxic elements derived from mining activities in Korea. 인t abandoned mines with four base-metal mines and four Au-Ag mines were selected and the results of environmental surveys in those areas were discussed. In the base-metal mining areas, the Sambo Pb-Zn-barite, the Shinyemi Pb-Zn-Fe, the Geodo Cu-Fe and the Shiheung Cu-Pb-Zn mine, significant levels of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were found in mine dump soils developed over mine waste materials, tailings and slag. Furthermore, agricultural soils, stream sediments and stream water near the mines were severely contaminated by the metals mainly due to the continuing dispersion downstream and downslope from the sites, which was controlled by the feature of geography, prevailing wind directions and the distance from the mine. In e Au-Ag mining areas, the Kubong, the Samkwang, the Keumwang and the Kilkok mines, elevated levels of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were found in tailings and mine dump soils. These levels may have caused increased concentrations of those elements in stream sediments and waters due to direct dis-charge downstream from tailings and mine dumps. In the Au-Ag mines, As would be the most characteristic contaminant in the nearby environment. Arsenic and heavy metals were found to be mainly associated with sulfide gangue minerals, and mobility of these metals would be enhanced by the effect of oxidation. According to sequential extraction of metals in soils, most heavy metals were identified as non-residual chemical forms, and those are very susceptible to the change of ambient conditions of a nearby environment. As application of pollution index (PI), giving data on multi-element contamination in soils, over 1.0 value of the PI was found in soils sampled at and around the mining areas.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.5 s.72
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• pp.826-833
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• 2005

This study was conducted to inform basic data for management of abandoned mine that was based on soil heavy metal concentration of the non-rearing and the rearing sites in Guundong Mine which had been completed of improve contamination soils, and examined into standard plant which had tolerances about pollution that analyzed into its accumulated heavy metals contents in the wild plant of naked soil. Consider form the result of contents by depth of soils heavy metals in the non-rearing sites, S1 point judged by contaminated to heavy metals of tailing leach after weathering caused by rainfall and permeate in S1 point soils when restored rest of tailing in 1996 restoration project. Lead of S2 point was not contaminated seriously by restoration and S3 point considered that heavy metals which leach by rainfall in the contaminated soils in mine vicinity accumulated in the abandoned paddy through river When heavy metals of rearing sites soils were examined from the view point of upside of mine point (SP1, SP2, and SP3) of same above the sea level, zinc (537.5 mg/kg) content of SP1 point was highest, and copper (535 mg/kg) and lead (141.5 mg/kg) in the SP3 point were high. To considered as orderly plenty of heavy metals in the plant were respectively in order, Perilla frutescens var. cauta KUDO (SP1 and SP4) >Artemisia princeps PAMPAN (SP2) > Miscanthus sinensis ANDERSSON(SP5) > Vicia angustifolia var. segetilis (THUILL.) K. KOCH. (SP2). Especially, there were plenty of heavy metals in P. frutescens var. acuta, so it judged as a standard plant which have tolerances about heavy metals pollution sites. Therefore, we need more study about the heavy metals accumulate ability of P frutescens var. acuta in future.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.24-35
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• 2019

In this study, a hotspot analysis was conducted to suggest a new method for interpreting soil heavy-metal contamination data of abandoned metal mines according to statistical significance level. The spatial autocorrelation of the data was analyzed using the Getis-Ord $Gi{\ast}$ statistic in order to check whether soil heavy metal contamination data showing abnormal values appeared concentrated or dispersed in a specific space. As a result, the statistically significant data showing abnormal values in the mine area could be classified as follows: (1) the contamination degree and the hotspot value (z-score) were both high, (2) the contamination degree was high but the z-score was low, (3) the contamination degree was low but the z-score was high and (4) the contamination degree and the z-score were both low. The proposed method can be used to interpret the soil heavy metal contamination data according to the statistical significance level and to support a rational decision for soil contamination management in abandoned mines.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.129-143
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• 2009

In South Korea, Mine industries were encouraged to obtain the natural resource from 1960 to 1980. However, the depletion of natural resource and decreasing price have been caused by the voluntary closure of non-economical mines and a cut of their production since 1990. Harmful wastewater containing such heavy metals as iron, aluminum, arsenic, and cadmium are being discharged from abandoned pits and waste stone and tailing dumping sites following the closure of mines. Therefore, the objective of this paper suggests a policy of mine hazard prevention(PMHP) and method that allows the combination of new spatial data and as well as collected data on resources for the sustainable mine reclamation and management using EGIS/MGIS technique to develop an integrated plan and management techniques.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.119-127
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• 2022

In recent years, the intensity of typhoons has increased due to climate change. It is presumed that the tailings and waste rock in the mining area harm the environment owing to flood damage. The Gangneung area has been affected by the largest typhoons in Korea, including No. 3,693 (1936), Rusa (2002), Maemi (2003), and Megi (2004). This study was based on a case in which high concentrations of arsenic were detected in the surroundings along a stream after floods caused by typhoons. Although the environmental damage-related law clarifies the responsibility of polluters, careful implementation is required in potential natural disaster areas. The pollutants from abandoned mines can be widely exposed due to typhoons as artificial causes may be mixed. To minimize the impact of natural disasters in these areas, it is necessary to improve and link relevant laws. This study is expected to help cope with mixed pollutants in downstream areas.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 2003

Geophysical surveys(electrical resistivity, self-potential, seismic refraction, GPR) were conducted to investigate the physical properties of the subsurface, and to delineate the flow channel of leachate from a AMD(acid mine drainage), buried rock wastes and tailings, and drainage pipes at an abandoned mine(Kwangyang mine). Especially in rainy season the sites appear to be abundant in AMD leachate, characterized by electrical conductivities of 0.98-1.10 ms/S. Electrical resistivity sections indicate that the leachate flows running in two directions at southern part rise up through the narrow fracture zones at the central part and contaminates the surrounding soil and stream. Such schematic features at the anomalous zone are well correlated with negative peaks in self-potential data, the limited penetration depth in GPR data and low velocity zone in seismic refraction data. Shallow high-resistivity zone is associated with the buried rock wastes which cause the diffractions in GPR image. In addition, the events at depth of approximately 1-1.25 m in GPR sections must be the metal pipes through which AMD is drained off to the inner bay.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.201-210
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• 2008

The mixing treatment process using lime (CaO) and limestone ($CaCO_3$) as the immobilization amendments was applied for heavy metal contaminated filmland soils around Goro abandoned Zn-mine, Korea in the batch and pilot scale continuous column experiments. For the batch experiments, with the addition of 0.5 wt.% commercialized lime or limestone, leaching concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn from the contaminated filmland soil decreased by 70, 77, 94, and 95 %, respectively, compared to those without amendments. For the continuous pilot scale column experiments, the acryl column (30 cm in length and 20 cm in diameter) was designed and granulated lime and limestone were used. From the results of column experiments, with only 2 wt.% of granulated lime, As, Cd, and Zn leaching concentrations decreased by 63%, 97%, and 98%, respectively. With 2 wt.% of granulated limestone, As leaching concentration reduced from 135.6 to 30.2 ${\mu}g/L$ within 5 months and maintained mostly below 10 ${\mu}g/L$, representing that more than 46% diminution of leaching concentration compared to that without the amendment mixing. For Cd and Zn, their leaching concentrations with only 2 wt.% of limestone mixing decreased by 97%, respectively compared to that without amendment mixing, suggesting that the capability of limestone to immobilize heavy metals in the filmland soil was outstanding and similar to that of lime. From the column experiments, it was investigated that if the efficiency of limestone to immobilize heavy metals from the soil was similar to that of lime, the limestone could be more available to immobilize heavy metals from the soil than lime because of low pH increase and thus less harmful side effect.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.3-7
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• 1998

본 연구에서는 광산 인근 토양에서 산성비를 비롯한 침출수에 의한 지하 환경 오염 메카니즘을 검토하고, 오염 방지 및 교정과 대안의 효과를 정량화 하기 위한 방안을 고찰하였다. 이를 위하여 중금속인 비소의 오염도가 높은 토양을 대상으로 인위적 산성용액에 의한 비소의 용출을 실험적으로 검토하였다. 한편, 산성 침출오염수에 의한 지하 환경의 오염을 방지하기 위하여 석회석을 활용한 토양의 안정화방법의 효과를 살펴보았다. 오염된 시료토양에 포함된 비소는 pH 1 이하의 강산성 용액일수록 격렬히 용출되었으며, pH 값이 낮아질 수록 최대 용출량은 증가되는 것으로 나타났다. 석회석에 의한 토양 안정화방안은 매우 효과적이었으며, 석회석에 의한 산성용액의 중화반응 특성식은 미반응 핵 모델중에서 화학반응이 속도지배인 특성식에 잘 부합되는 것으로 보여진다.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.457-467
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• 2003

Soil Precise Investigation(SPI) for river deposits and farmland soils around Goro abandoned Zn-mine, Korea was performed to assess the pollution level of heavy metals(As. Pb, Cd, Cu) and to estimate the remediation volume for contaminated soils. Total investigation area was about 950000 $m^2$, which was divided into each section of 1500 $m^2$ corresponding to one sampling site and 545 samples for surface soil(0-10cm in depth) and 192 samples for deep soil(10-30cm in depth) from the investigation area were collected for analysis. Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb at all sample sites were shown to be lower than Soil Pollution Warning Limit(SPWL). For arsenic concentration, in surface soils, 20.5% of sample sites(104 sites) were over SPWL(6mg/kg) and 6.7%(34 sites) were over Soil Pollution Counterplan Limit(SPCL: 15mg/kg) suggesting that surface soils were broadly contaminated by As. For deep soils, 10.4% of sample sites(18 sites) were over SPWL and 0.6%(1 site) were over SPCL. Four pollution grades for sample locations were prescribed by the Law of Soil Environmental Preservation and Pollution Index(PI) for each soil sample was decided according to pollution grades(over 15.0 mg/kg, 6.00-15.00 mg/kg, 2.40-6.00 mg/kg, 1.23-6.00 mg/kg). The pollution contour map around Goro mine based on PI results was finally created to calculate the contaminated area and the remediation volume for contaminated soils. Remediation area with over SPWL concentration was about 0.3% of total area between Goro mine and a projected storage dam and 0.9% of total area was over 40% of SPWL. If the remediation target concentration was determined to over background level concentration, 1.1% of total area should be treated for remediation. Total soil volume to be treated for remediation was estimated on the assumption that the thickness of contaminated soil was 30cm. Soil volume to be remediated based on the excess of SPWL was estimated at 79,200$m^3$, soil volume exceeding 40% of SPWL was about 233,700 $m^3$, and soil volume exceeding the background level(1.23 mg/kg) was 290,760 TEX>$m^3$.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.674-683
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• 2010

The current study was performed to examine the agricultural suitability of the cultivated upland nearby abandoned mining areas in Korea using three different scientific risk assessment models of Korea, USA and UK. For this, three mining sites DM, MG and KS were selected among 687 abandoned mines through preliminary risk assessment. A wide range of parameters were obtained through analysis of both soil and crop samples from the selected areas for heavy metal concentration and questionnaires to the communities along with the selected mining sites. Heavy metal concentration in soil samples was lower than the values previously reported by the Ministry of Environment (ME, 2002). However, both As and Cd concentration in the soil samples exceeded the concern level for agricultural area of the Soil Environment Conservation Act. Judging from the contaminant criteria for the crops, only Zn level in pepper, soybean and corn from the mining area DM exceeded the criteria whereas As, Cd, $Cr^{6+}$, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb did not exceed the criteria. It was demonstrated that there would be human health risk by Pb accumulated in crops from both mining areas MG and KS when estimated by the risk assessment models of Korea and USA. Against it, results of the risk assessment model of UK showed human health risk by Pb in the crops from all study areas.