• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 1996

The Dalsung copper-tungsten mine in the Taegu area, Korea was closed in 1975 and may be the sources of the heavy metal contamination in the tributary system and soil-plant system due to the mine drainage derived from the mine wastes and tailings. To examine the degree and extent of heavy metal contamination in the vicinity of Dalsung mine area, stream water and soil samples were taken and analyzed for heavy metals by ICP-AES and AAS. Highly contaminated soils are found near the Lower Tunnel No.0 ranging up to $1760{\mu}g/g$ As, $2060{\mu}g/g$ Cu, $1120{\mu}g/g$ Pb and 346 ${\mu}g/g$ Zn. From the results of the sequential extraction methods for the metal speciation, the heavy metals in soils may be derived from soil parent materials and acid mine drainage. With the processes for the heavy metal removal, most of the heavy metal ions in the acid mine drainage are removed by being exchanged with Ca ions held by the bentonite, hydroxyapatite and calcium hydoxide.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.265-273
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• 2011

Bacterial diversity based on the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene sequences was determined for soil samples from two abandoned mine sites and the corresponding enrichment cultures using soil sample as key inoculum. Sequencing analysis of DGGE bands obtained from both the soil samples matched mostly with sequences of uncultured and newly described organisms, or organisms recently associated with the acid mine drainage environment. However, the enrichment of soil samples in ferrous sulfate and elemental sulfur media yielded sequences that were consistent with well-known iron- and sulfur-oxidizing acidophilic bacteria. Analysis of enrichment cultures of soil samples from Dalsung mine revealed abundant ${\gamma}$-$Proteobacteria$, whereas that of Gubong mine sample displayed acidophilic groups of ${\gamma}$-$Proteobacteria$, ${\alpha}$-$Proteobacteria$, $Actinobacteria$ and $Firmicutes$. Chemical elemental analysis of the mine samples indicated that the Dalsung site contained more iron and sulfate along with other toxic components as compared with those of the Gubong site. Biogeochemistry was believed to be the primary control on the acidophilic bacterial group in the enrichment samples.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.189-195
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• 1973

With the gradual expansion of copper demands, the utilization of enormous tonnages of waste copper mineral containig up to 0.5% copper becomes available. In order to investigate the possibilities on the application of bacterial leaching method to waste dumps or abandoned mines, the authors had carried out microbial leaching of copper minerals by F.ferrooxidans isolated from the Dalsung copper mine water. The results obtained were as follows : 1. The copper extraction rate from the Dalsung chalcopyrite has been a little accerelated by using flasks in place of percolators. 2. The percentage of copper extracted from the Dalsung chalcopyrite sample was 100% in 30 days in the presence of iron-oxidizing bacteria F.ferrooxidans while 9.27% in the absence of bacteria. 3. F.ferroxidans was capable of producing sufficient quantities of ferric sulfate and sulfuric acid from ferrous iron to bring about the dissolution of 100% of copper from the Dalsung chalcopyrite.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.23-35
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• 1974

Dalsung Mine, located in Kyungsang puk-do, Korea, is well known as one of the typical breccia pipe filling hydrothermal W-Cu deposit. By homogenization temperature with fluid inclusions in quartz crystals (330 samples were dealt with) by heating stage microscope, two temperature ranges were figured out, one is $154^{\circ}{\sim}267^{\circ}C$ (average $210^{\circ}C$), and the other is $283^{\circ}{\sim}335^{\circ}C$ (average $309^{\circ}C$). Regarding to mineral paragenesis, mineralization of the deposit were thought that former, mesothermal stage, W-Cu mineralization processed through out the ore body and later mineralization were limitted under -4level as katathermal solution with Cu minerals.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.305-313
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• 1996

In order to investigate the extent and degree of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn contamination affected by mining activities of the Dalsung Cu~W mine, sampling of stream sediments and waters has been undertaken up to 1.5 km downstream from the mine at 50~150 meter intervals. Analysis of the samples was carried out using ICP-AES for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. Physical and chemical properties of sediments (pH, organic matter contents, cation exchange capacity) and waters (pH, Eh and temperature) were also measured. The properties of the sediment samples were characterized by low pH (3.0~5.5), low organic matter contents (2~5%) and a moderate degree of cation exchange capacity (7~15 meq/100 g) with a high proportion of sand fraction. The pH values of water samples ranged from 3.0 to 5.0 and the Eh levels were in the range of 350~530 mV. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the sediments averaged 3.2 mg/kg, 1,390 mg/kg, 451 mg/kg and 262 mg/kg with the range of 0.6~11.4 mg/kg, 15~3,800 mg/kg, 14~1,330 mg/kg and 63~1,060 mg/kg, respectively. Significant levels of the heavy metals were also found in the water samples with the range of $10{\sim}170{\mu}gCd/l$, $300{\sim}41,600{\mu}gCu/l$, $10{\sim}80{\mu}gPb/l$ and $700{\sim}15,400{\mu}gZn/l$. These elevated concentrations in the sediments and waters may be caused by the weathering of mine waste materials and their high solubilities under acidic and/or oxidizing conditions. Although metal concentrations in the samples decrease with the distance from the mine, heavy metal contamination of sediments and waters were also found at the 1.5 km downstream due to the mobile conditions of the heavy metals, with particular reference to Cd and Zn in stream waters.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 1997

This paper examines the influences of mining activities on the concentrations of heavy metals in soils in the vicinity of the Dalsung Cu-W mine, Korea. Geochemical surveys were undertaken in the Dalsung mine area and sampling of surface and subsurface soils was carried out. Samples were prepared using 0.1 N HCI, HNO$_3$-HClO$_4$, and aqua regia, and analyzed for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. In addition, soil samples were sequentially extracted to investigate the chemical speciation of heavy metals in soils. Heavy metals are highly contaminated in soils in the vicinity of mining area ranging up to 28 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Cd, 5000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Cu, 2390 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Pb and 930 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g Zn by the method using HNO$_3$-HClO$_4$. The pollution indices calculated with the permissible levels are up to 49 in surface and subsurface soils, which are considered sufficient to raise environmental problems. However, the heavy metal levels by the method using 0.1 N HCl are not higher than Korean standard for soil contamination. It suggests that analytical methods and soil standard should be re-examined. From the results of the sequential extraction methods for metal speciation, total Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations may be determined by analytical methods using HNO$_3$-HClO$_4$ or aqua regia, and exchangeable phase of those metals by the method using 0.1 N HCl.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.465-472
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• 1993

The heavy metal contents are more abundant in stream waters, paddy soils and rice plants in the vicinity of abandoned mines compared to the surrounding areas in the Kyungpook province. However, these contents tend to decrease with distance from mines, and show some variation under different geological and geochemical environments. The Sin-stream waters have high contents of Cu=4.9 ppm, Pb=0.1 ppm, Zn=3.5 ppm and other heavy metals (Ni, Co, Cd) at Dalsung abandoned mine and low contents of Cu=0.4 ppm, Pb=0.1 ppm, Zn=0.1 ppm and other metals= 0.002 ppm in the surrounding area. The high contents decrease in the downstream in the area of calcareous sedimentary rocks. The paddy soils have high contents of approximately Cu=51 ppm, Pb=83 ppm, Zn=211 ppm, and Cd=11.3 ppm in the vicinity of Gunwi abandoned mine but low contents of Cu=4.5 ppm, Pb=2.9 ppm, Zn=60 ppm and Cd=0.4 ppm in the surrounding area. The Dadeog abandoned mine also shows similar trends to Gunwi mine. The contents of heavy metals of rice plants are high in the roots but trends to decrease through stem+leaf and become low in brown rices.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.109-114
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• 1973

It is well known that the ornithine-containing lipids were separated and identified from the other lipids of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides, Rhodospirillum, and Thiobacillus thiooxidans. An ornithine-containing lipid that lacks phosphorus and glycerol has been observed in Ferrobacillus ferrooxidans which was isolated from dalsung copper mine in Korea. The aminolipid was extracted from F.ferrooxidans and furthr purified by thin layer chromatography, and the product was identified as an ornithine-containing lipid by paper and liquid chromatography respectively.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.30-35
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• 2008

Mixed acidophilic bacteria were approached for leaching of cobalt and lithium from wastes of lithium ion battery industries. The growth substrates for the mixed mesophilic bacteria are elemental sulfur and ferrous ion. Bioleaching of the metal was due to the protonic action of sulfate ion on the metals present in the waste. It was investigated that bioleaching of cobalt was faster than lithium. Bacterial action could leach out about 80 % of cobalt and 20 % of lithium from the solid wastes within 12 days of the experimental period. Higher solid/liquid ratio was found to be detrimental for bacterial growth due to the toxic nature of the metals. At high elemental sulfur concentration, the sulfur powder was observed to be in undissolved form and hence the leaching rate also decreased with increase of sulfur amount.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.469-477
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• 1994

Many researchers have investigated most representative sequential extraction method using various reagents for determining the chemical forms of metals in soils and sediments. In this paper, a newly modified method for sequential extraction scheme based on Tessier's method by Environmental Geochemistry Research, Centre for Environmental Technology, Imperial College, was introduced and examined. In comparison with Tessier's method, originally designed for sediment analysis by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), the sequential extraction scheme has been developed for the multi-element analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). The partitioning of particulate trace elements was classified into five fractions: (i) exchangeable, (ii) bound to carbonates or specially adsorbed, (iii) bound to Fe and Mn oxides, (iv) bound to organic matter and sulphides and (v) residuals. The experimental results of the pilot study for in-house reference material (HRM2) and certified international standard reference material (SRM2711) using the modified method showed not only reasonable precision and accuracy but also acceptable overall recovery rates. In addition, mine dump soils sampled in the Dalsung Cu-W mine, Korea were prepared and sequentially extracted using the method. Most of Cu was bound to organic matter/sulphides and residual fractions. The dominant fraction of soil Pb and Zn in the study area was found in the residuals. The fraction of Cd showed a wide variation between samples and could be found bound to the carbonates or specially adsorbed, oxides, organic fraction and residuals. The recovery rates of Cd, however, were poor due to relatively low Cd concentrations in soils. The heavy metals in these mine dumps appear to be in the more inert forms and should not be readily bioavailable. The soils, however, had very low pH values (average 4.1) and had sandy textures; consequently, rapid infiltration of rainfall may increase leaching of Zn and Cd which were found to be around 5 to 10% of the exchangeable fraction. As a result of the investigation of this study, it has been strongly recommended that these mine waste materials should still be considered a significant contaminant source and will need environmental remediation to prevent pollutants from being released into the environment.