• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2001

With reducing coal mining industry the number of coal mine sites between 1988 and 1998 was dropped from 347 to 12. Since the abandoned coal mine sites have been kept without any cares, they have raised various environmental and safety problems. Then, Korean government initiated a special law in 1995 for enhancing economic conditions and solving environmental problems with promoting developmental projects in the abandoned mining sites. As a result, casino business in Chungsun area has been opened to publics, and other large-scale developments such as ski slopes and resorts are planned. In addition, Boryung area in Chungchung province also will launch a large-scale project building golf courses. Based on this developmental trend, it is expected that lots of large-scale developments in other places will be taken place. In general, the large-scale developments have caused various environmental problems, and, thus, environmental aspects should be considered in a decision-making process. This paper examine the status of the abandoned mine sites in Korea and U.S. and suggests the alternatives of its utilization.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.35-48
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• 2004

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of geochemical approaches for investigating and assessing heavy metal contamination in abandoned mine sites. Major sources of contaminants at the abandoned mine sites are mine water, waste rocks, tailings, and chemicals used in beneficiation and mineral processing. Soil, sediment, surface and ground water, and ecological system can be contaminated by heavy metals, which are transported due to erosion of mine waste piles, discharge of acid mine drainage and processed water, and dispersion of dust from waste rocks and tailings. The abandoned mine sites should be characterized using various methods including chemical analysis, mineralogical analysis, acid generation prediction tests, leaching/extraction tests, and field tests. Potential and practical environmental impacts from the abandoned mines should be assessed based on the site characterization.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.93-108
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• 2013

This study is aimed to prepare the effective detail survey methods(Phase II) of abandoned metal mines through the contamination assessment for mine types and facilities in the abandoned metal mine areas. The study sites of 12 abandoned mines are located in Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do and those were chosen among 310 sites that the Phase II survey was conducted from 2007 to 2009 after considering the results of Phase I for abandoned mines scattered all over the country. 12 study sites were classified into four types; Type I sites only have pit mouth. Type II sites have pit mouth and mine-waste field. Type III sites have pit mouth and tailing sorting field. Type IV sites have pit mouth, tailing sorting field and concentrator(s). In forest land, paddy soil and farm land of Type I, As and Cd were showed average concentration, and Cu and Pb were high on the pit mouth area in one mines where the pit mouth was developed within 500 m. In the mines of Type II, Cu and Pb were showed average concentration too, but As and Cd were slightly high in pit mouth and mine-waste field. The mines of Type III which had grinding particle process through physical separation milling or hitting showed similar tendency with Type II. However, mines of Type IV pit mouth, mine-waste field and showed various results depending on defining the contamination sources. For example, if contamination source was pit mouth, the mixed results of Type I, II, II were showed. In tailing sorting field which was regarded as the most important source and having high mobility, however, if there were no facilities or it was difficult to access directly, field sampling was missed occasionally during phase I and phase II survey. For that reason, the assessment for tailing sorting field is missed and it leads to completely different results. In the areas of Type I mines, the concentration of heavy metals exceeded precautionary standards of soil contamination or not within 1,000 meters of pit mouth. Nickel(Ni) was the largest factor of the heavy metal contamination in this type. The heavy metals except Arsenic(As) were shown high levels of concentration in Type II areas, where pit mouth and mine-waste field were operated for making powder in upriver region; therefore, to the areas in the vicinity of midstream and downstream, the high content of heavy metals were shown. The tendency of high level of heavy metals and toxic materials contained in flotation agent used during sorting process were found in soil around sorting and tailing field. In the abandoned-pit-mouth area, drygrinding area and tailing sorting field area, the content of Cupper(Cu) and Zinc(Zn) were higher than other areas. Also, the contaminated area were larger than mine reclamation area(2,000 m) and the location of tailing sorting field was one of the important factors to estimate contaminated area.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.733-737
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• 2012

The objectives of this study were to investigate soil chemical properties for forest rehabilitation and suggest design and management in abandoned coal mine areas in Mungyeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Total study sites were 10 sites, and soil analysis particular were soil pH, TOC, total-N, C/N ratio, A.v. $P_2O_5$, and CEC. Because most of study sites showed soil pH from 5.0 to 7.0, it seems that soil pH does not affect growth of vegetation. But soil pH in Danbong1 was acidic (pH 4.6), so it is needed to improve with ameliorant such as limestone. Most of study sites is necessary to manage for organic matter and Nitrogen, because there sites showed lower value of TOC and total-N than general forest. The values of A.v. $P_2O_5$ and CEC were good in most of study sites, so it seems that they do not have effect on vegetation growth. All of soil factors has no regression according to elapsed time after rehabilitation. TOC, total-N and A.v. $P_2O_5$ among soil properties have positive relationship between each other. It is necessary to fertilizer for organic matter and Nitroge because of value in TOC, total-N and C/N ratio. The results of this study were analyzed only one time. So, long-term monitoring for soil properties is important for the correct forest rehabilitation and management.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.744-750
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• 2015

The objectives of this study were to investigate soil chemical characteristics for forest rehabilitation and suggest management in abandoned coal mine areas in Boryeong City, Chungcheongnam-do. Total study sites were seven sites, and soil properties analyzed were soil pH, total organic carbon (TOC), total-N, C/N ratio, and available $P_2O_5$ (A.v. P). Average soil pH (range) was 5.9 (4.5~7.0). Three study sites (Samgwang, Shinsung1, and Shimwon1) showed lower soil pH than standard (pH 5.6~7.3) of Korea Industrial Standards (KS) for abandoned coal mine forest rehabilitation. Average contents of TOC, and total-N were 1.5% (0.1~4.7%), and 0.10% (0.03~0.23%), respectively. Five study sites where the collapsed time was less than 10 years (Wangjashingang, Wonpoong, Samgwang, Shinsung1, and Shinsung2) showed lower TOC level than standard of KS (more than 1.2%). Wangjashingang, Wonpoong, Samgwang, and Shinsung1 showed lower level of total-N than standard of KS (more than 0.09%). C/N ratio of six study sites except Shimwon1 was out of proper range (15:1~30:1). Average A.v. P (range) was $20.7mgkg^{-1}$ (4.8~63.1), less than other abandoned coal mine fores rehabilitation areas in Mungyong City, and Hwasun-gun. TOC, total N and A.v. P increased with elapsed time from forest rehabilitation, while other soil properties did not show distinct pattern. Betula platyphylla was planted in Samkwang and Sinsung where soil pH was less than KS standard. Because the growth of Betula platyphylla can be limited in acid soil, it is necessary to neutralize soil pH to proper level with some soil amendment such as lime or shell of oyster. Furthermore, TOC, total-N and A.v. P in early stage of forest rehabilitation showed lower level than proper to vegetation growth. Therefore it needs continuous monitoring of soil characteristics and fertilization for vegetation growth and influx from surrounding forest in early stage of rehabilitation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.43-51
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• 2000

This study was carried out to develop technologies of restoration and revegetation through monitoring the change of vegetation after setting up 3 type experimental sites on abandoned coal-mine lands. According to the results of 7 month's monitoring, sown species and a variety of invading species appeared at experimental sites. Moreover, the number of species, individuals and the ratio of coverage increased as time passed on. After 5 months, each experiment sites showed the result of successful revegetation. The most effective sites was treated by overspreading 1 cm loam soil on coal minesoil. As a result of this study, it is considered that the revegetation of abandoned coal-mine lands can be achieved effectively by making the minimum of foundation layer and improving the efficiency through mechanized construction. Besides, it is recommended to use native and early stage-succession species adapting themselves to coal minesoil, such as Gramineae, Leguminosae, Compositae and etc.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.197-204
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• 1999

The extent of heavy metal pollution in agricultural in soils near the abandoned mine land site was investigated using their concentrations from the 47 sampling sites in B mine. Samples were prepared using 0.1N HCI - Korean Standard Methods - and then analysed for Cd, Cu, Pb, As and Cr by Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometer. In addition, soil and mine tailing samples were sequentially extracted to investigate the chemical speciation of heavy metals in them. The soils in the vicinity of mining area are highly contaminated by heavy metals ranging up to 5.96mg Cd/kg, 253.3mg Cu/kg, 76.7mg Pb/kg, and 15.45 mg As/kg, according to the analysis of Korean Standard Methods. The heavy metal levels by the sequential extraction are much higher than its level by Korean Standard Methods, and little correlated with each other. Based on the results, it is suggested that the As pollution in agricultural soils near the AMLS should be dealt as of prior significance in establishing reclamation strategies for the area.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1451-1462
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• 2007

Heavy metal concentrations in the soil were investigated for the abandoned Samkwang metal mine, Cheongyang-Gun, Chungnam Province, Korea. The concentrations of heavy metal(As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) were determined in mine soils collected at the abandoned mine sites to obtain a general classification and specification of the pollution in this highly polluted region. The results estimated with the normal test and basis statistic on the central tendency and variation showed that the distribution of heavy metal concentration had significantly different at the range of all locations. The range of spatial distribution on the relationship of heavy metal concentration and pH was $4.8{\sim}8.8$ and heavy metal concentration on the type of land use was highest in forest land, and also Ni and Zn in farm and rice field showed the high concentration. The distribution of heavy metal concentration on the depth of a soil showed that the metal concentrations in subsoil were higher than of those in surface soil, while the concentration of Cu and Ni had no significant difference on the depth of soil. Results from the correlation analysis using the data except the extreme and unusual data revel that Zn-Cd(r=0.867), Zn-As(r=0.797), Zn-Pb(r=0.764), Cu-Cd(r=0.673), Cu-As(r=0.614) and Zn-Ni(r=0.605) were the most important parameters in assessing variations of heavy metal in soil. To discriminate pattern differences and similarities among samples, principal factor analysis(PFA) and cluster analysis(CF) were performed using a correlation matrix. This study suggests that PFA and CF techniques are useful tools for identification of important heavy metal and parameters. This study presents the necessity and usefulness of multivariate statistical assessment of complex databases in order to get better information about the quality of soil and gives the basis information to clean up the abandoned mine sites.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.258-261
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• 2000

Geophysical surveys (electrical resistivity, self-potential, and magnetic methods) and streamwater sample analysis have been carried out at a site of tailings of waste deposits in an abandoned mine, Jangpoong, which is situated in Kowesan-Gun, Chungbuk-Do. The research was aimed at investigating the suitability of the various geophysical methods for detection of AMD (acid mine drainage) paths, and ultimately mapping of preferred AMD flow channels by incorporating the water sample analysis. Electrical resistivity section from the dipole-dipole line represents the low-resistivity zone trending northwest toward the stream nearby. The positions of the resistivity anomalies for AMD channels are well correlated to the ones from the various geophysical surveys. In addition they correspond to the sites of the higher peaks for the pH, EC, heavy metal content for the water sample data.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1010-1015
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• 2011

The objectives of this study were to investigate soil chemical characteristics for forest rehabilitation and suggest management in abandoned coal mine areas in Hwasun-gun, South Jeolla Province. Total study sites were 8 sites, and soil analysis particular were soil pH, TOC, total-N, C/N ratio, Avail. $P_2O_5$, and CEC. Average soil pH was 5.8 (4.7~6.4). Average contents of TOC, total-N and C/N ratio were 1.1% (0.2~2.0%), 0.08% (0.02~0.13%) and 15.0 (7.9~31.4), respectively. Average Avail. $P_2O_5$ was $8.3mg\;kg^{-1}$ (2.7~15.0) and Average CEC was $13.7cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$ ($9.9{\sim}18.5cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$). Soil pH was decreased according to elapsed time from forest rehabilitation, while TOC, total N and CEC were increased. Av. $P_2O_5$ did not show any relationship with elapsed time. Soil pH was stable comparing with general forest soil in South Jeolla Province (5.1), while contents of TOC and total N were lower than general forest soil in South Jeolla Province (4.9% and 0.18%, respectively). Therefore, sustainable managements such as fertilization for TOC and total N are necessary for good rooting and growth of vegetation.