• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.331-339
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• 2008

In the upstream of Nakdong river in Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, certain areas of riverside were found to be covered by weathered mine tailings which were assumed to be migrated and deposited by flood. This study was conducted to investigate the formation and characteristics of the secondary minerals from tailings and related leaching behavior of heavy metals in the severely weathered tailing deposits by river waters. Quartz, feldspar, micas, chlorite, hornblende, talc, pyroxene (johannsenite), pyrite, and calcite were identified as primary minerals by XRD. Kaolinite can be formed by the weathering of tailings, but considering the short period of weathering time, kaolinite in the deposits is considered to be from unweathered tailings or moved from soils. The secondary minerals such as goethite, gypsum, basanite, and jarosite were also identified. The formation of the secondary minerals was affected by the species of primary minerals and pH conditions. The weathering of pyrite produced sulfate minerals such as gypsum, basanite, jarosite, and also goethite. Mn oxide was also identified by SEM, coated on the primary minerals such as quartz. This Mn oxide was poorly crystalline and thought to be the weathering product of johannsenite (Mn-pyroxene). The Fe and Mn oxides are the main minerals determining the brown/red and black colors of weathered tailings. EDS results showed that those oxides contain high concentrations of Pb, Zn, and As, indicating that, in the river, the formation of Fe and Mn oxides can control the behavior and leaching of heavy metals by co-precipitation or adsorption.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.27-38
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• 2003

Arsenic contamination around Au-Ag mining areas occurs mainly from the oxidation of arsenopyrite which is frequently contained in mine tailings. In weathered tailings, oxidation of sulfide minerals typically results in the formation of abundant ferric (oxy)hydroxides or (oxy)hydroxysulfates near the tailings surface, and arsenic may be associated with these secondary precipitates. In this study, solid phases of arsenic in weathered tailings of some Au-Ag mines were investigated through the SEM/EDS and sequential extraction analyses. The stability of As solid phases and the leaching potential were assessed with the variation of pH and Eh conditions. Oxidation of sulfides in the tailings samples was indicated by depletion of S molar concentrations compared to As and heavy metals. Under XRD examinations, jarosite as an Fe-oxyhydroxysulfate was found in the tailings of Deokeum, Dongil and Dadeok, and scorodite as an As-bearing crystalline mineral was identified from Dadeok which has the highest concentration of As (4.36 wt.%). Beudantite-like phases and some Pb-arsenates were also found under SEM/EDS analysis, and most of As phases were associated with Fe-(oxy)hydroxides and (oxy)hydroxysulfates despite a few arsenopyrite from Samgwang and Gubong. Sequential extraction analysis also showed that As was present predominantly as coprecipitated with Fe hydroxides from Dongil, Dadeok and Myungbong (72∼99%), and as sulfides (58%) and Fe hydroxide-associated forms (40%) from Samgwang and Gubong. In the tailings leaching experiment, As was released with high amounts by the dissolution of As-bearing Fe(oxy)hydroxysulfates in the lowest pH (2.7) conditions of Deokeum, and by desorption under alkaline conditions of Samgwang and Gubong. Higher leaching rates of arsenite(+3) were found under acidic conditions, which pose a higher risk to water quality. Changes in pH and Eh conditions coupled with microbial processes could influence the stabilities of the As solid phases, and thus, time amendments or landfilling of weathered tailings may result in enhanced As mobilization.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.33-34
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• 2001

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.125-139
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• 2010

Behavior of heavy metals and arsenic in the tailings of Songcheon Au-Ag mine was characterized via both mineralogical and geochemical methods. Mineral composition of the tailings was investigated by X-ray diffractometry, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA) and total concentrations of heavy metals and arsenic and their chemical forms were analyzed by total digestion of aqua regia and sequential extraction method, respectively. The results of mineralogical study indicate that the tailings included mineral particles of resinous shape mainly consisting of galena, sphalerite, pyrite, quartz, and scorodite, and specifically socordite was identified in the form of matrix. EPMA quantitative analyses were performed to evaluate the weatherability of each mineral, and the results suggest that it decreased in the sequence of arsenopyrite > galena > sphalerite > pyrite. The weathering pattern of galena was observed to show distinctive zonal structure consisting of secondary minerals such as anglesite and beudantite. In addition, almost all of arsenopyrite has been altered to scorodite existing asmatrix and galena, sphalerite, and pyrite which have lower weatherability than arsenopyrite were identified within the matrix of scorodite. During the process of alteration of arsenopyrite into scorodite, it is likely that a portion of arsenic was lixiviated and caused a great deal of detrimental effects to surrounding environment. The results of EPMA quantitative analyses verify that the stability of scorodite was relatively high and this stable scorodite has restrained the weathering of other primary minerals within tailings as a result of its coating of mineral surfaces. For this reason, Songcheon tailings show the characteristics of the first weathering stage, although they have been exposed to the surface environment for a long time. Based on the overall results of mineralogical and geochemical studies undertaken in this research, if the tailings are kept to be exposed to the surface environment and the weathering process is continuous, not only hazardous heavy metals, such as lead and arsenic seem to be significantly leached out because their larger portions are being partitioned in weakly-bound (highly-mobile) fractions, but the potential of arsenic leaching is likely to be high as the stability of scorodite is gradually decreased. Consequently, it is speculated that the environmental hazard of Songcheon mine is significantly high.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.137-148
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• 2010

The Myoungbong mine located in Boseong-gun, Jellanamdo consists of Au-Ag bearing quartz veins which filled the fissures of Bulguksa granitic rocks of Cretaceous. The tailings obtained from the Myungbong mine were used to investigate the effects of various processes, such as oxidation of primary sulfides and formation(alteration) of secondary and/or tertiary minerals, on arsenic immobilization in tailings. This study was conducted via both mineralogical and chemical methods. Mineralogical methods used included gravity and magnetic separation, ultrasonic cleaning, and instrumental analyses(X-ray diffractometry, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and electron probe microanalyzer) and aqua regia extraction technique for soils was applied to determine the elemental concentrations in the tailings. Iron (oxy)hydroxides formed as a result of oxidation of tailings were identified as three specific forms. The first form filled in rims and fissures of primary pyrites. The second one precipitated and coated the surfaces of gangue minerals and the final form was altered into yukonites. Initially, large amounts of acid-generating minerals, such as pyrite and arsenopyrite, might make the rapid progress of oxidation reactions, and lots of secondary minerals including iron (oxy)hydroxides and scorodite were formed. The rate of pH decrease in tailings diminished, in addition, as the exposure time of tailings to oxidation environments was prolonged and the acid-generating minerals were depleted. Rather, it is speculated that the pH of tailings increased, as the contribution of pH neutralization reactions by calcite contained in surrounding parental rocks became larger. The stability of secondary minerals, such as scorodite, were deteriorated due to the increase in pH, and finally arsenic might be leached out. Subsequently, calcimn and arsenic ions dissociated from calcites and scorodites were locally concentrated, and yukonite could be grown tertiarily. It is confirmed that this tertiary yukonite which is one of arsenate minerals and contains arsenic in high level plays a crucial role in immobilizing arsenic in tailings. In addition to immobilization of arsenic in yukonites, the results indicate that a huge amount of iron (oxy)hydroxides formed by weathering of pyrite which is one of typical primary minerals in tailings can strongly control arsenic behavior as well. Consequently, this study elucidates that through a sequence of various processes, arsenic which was leached out as a result of weathering of primary minerals, such as arsenopyrite, and/or redissolved from secondary minerals, such as scorodite, might be immobilized by various sorption reactions including adsorption, coprecipiation, and absorption.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.297-305
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• 2008

Tailings piled up at Okdong mine in Euiseong consists of fine powder, and are mainly composed of pyrite, sphalerite, chlorite, illite, plagioclase, smectite, gypsum, etc. Smectite is concentrated in the upper part of tailings and chlorite is downwardly increased. Gypsum is generally observed on the surface of the mine tailings, suggesting that it was formed by the reaction of Ca and $SO_4$ in leachate after evaporation. Through the electron microscope study of sphalerite within the tailings, it was observed that there is significant weathering both on surface and in the inner part of the sphalerite, suggesting that the reaction of the failings with groundwater for long period of time contributed a significant addition of Zn and $SO_4$ into the leachate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.182-185
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• 2005

울산광산 내 지표수와 토양 중의 공극수에 함유되어 있는 비소의 오염현황을 파악하고, pH와 산화-환원 전위 값의 변화에 따른 자연저감 능력을 평가하였다. 유비철석을 비롯한 비소함유 광물은 높은 산화-환원 전위 값과 낮은 pH 조건에서 해리되며, 이후 지하수의 진화과정에서 pH가 상승함에 따라 주로 5가의 비소형태로 존재하게 된다. 울산광산지역 지하수의 비소농도는 Eh가 높은 비포화대와 포화대 지하수의 경계부에서 높은 경향을 나타내며, 포화대의 상부에서는 Eh가 비교적 일정하나 비소 농도는 다양한 분포양상을 보인다. 포화대 하부에서 비소의 함량은 매우 낮으며, Eh 감소에 따라 비소 함량이 비례적으로 감소한다. 반응경로 과정에서 비소농도는 Eh<-0.1(V)인 지하수 포화대에서 가장 낮으며, pH가 상대적으로 낮고 산화-환원 전위값이 높은 비포화대에서 증가되는 경향을 보인다. 풍화 반응 정도가 높은 광미와 토양에서 비소농도 높으나, 용출실험에서 비소가 기준치 이하로 용출되는 것은 풍화반응과 토양에 의한 비소의 자연저감이 진행되고 있음을 반영한다. RMB를 이용한 중금속 제거능력 평가 실내실험에서, 산성과 알칼리 조건 모두에서 제거율이 높은 것으로 나타났다. 인회석과 철산화물질로 구성된 RMB는 친환경적이고 2차 오염문제를 극복할 수 있는 물질로서, 비소의 자연저감 능력을 향상시킬 수 있는 정화처리제로 활용이 가능할 것으로 판단된다.

• 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.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.2 s.171
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• pp.135-142
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• 2005

In order to investigate the contamination level and seasonal variation of heavy metals and evaluate the bioavailability of toxic elements, environmental geochemical survey was undertaken at the Dogok Au-Ag-Cu mine area. The main pollution sources in the area were suggested as tailings, mine waste materials and mine water. Elevated levels of $140{\cal}mg/{\cal}kg{\;}As,{\;}107{\cal}mg/{\cal}kg{\;}Cd,{\;} 3017{\cal}mg/{\cal}kg{\;}Cu,{\;}12926{\cal}mg/{\cal}kg{\;}Pb,{\;}9094{\cal}mg/{\cal}kg$ Zn(before rainy season) were found in mine tailings. Concentrations of heavy metals in farmland soils exceeded normal level in nature soil (Bowen, 1979). The highest level of heavy metals was found in water samples near the mine tailing dumps regarded as a main pollution source of toxic elements in the area. These concentrations decreased to downstream due to the effect of dilution. From the results of sequential extraction analyses for tailings and soils, non-residual forms of heavy metals were found, which indicate the contamination to be progressing by continuing weathering and oxidation. Cadmium and Zn would be of the highest mobility in all samples. The bioavailability of Cd, Cu, Zn and As using SBET analysis from paddy soils was $53.3{\%},{\;}46.5{\%},{\;}41.0{\%}$ and $37.0\%$, respectively. The farmland soil sample(S3) showed the highest total concentration and bioavailability of heavy metals.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.48-52
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• 2003

폐광된 금속광산의 폐광석 적치장, 선광시설, 광미장 등에는 폐광석과 황화광물의 분말이 그대로 방치되어 있어, 풍화작용에 기인된 황화광물의 산화과정에서 용해된 유해 중금속의 이동과 확산이 심각한 중금속 오염문제를 발생시키고 있다 그러므로, 황화광물의 산화작용에 의해 형성된 2차 광물에 대한 광물학적 연구는 유해 중금속의 물리$\cdot$화학적인 거동, 오염물질의 확산 등을 규제하고 있는 지구화학적 메카니즘 규명에 매우 중요한 자료가 되며, 폐광석 및 광미에 대한 복원 결정을 내리는데 있어 결정적인 판단 자료가 될 수 있다 (강민주, 2003). (중략)