• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.297-302
• /
• 2011

Acid drainage generated by pyrite oxidation has caused the acidification of soil and surface water, the heavy metal contamination and the corrosion of structures in abandoned mine and construction sites. The applicability of Na-acetate (Na-OAc) buffer and/or Na-silicate solution was tested for suppressing pyrite oxidation by reacting pyrite containing rock and treating solution and by analyzing solution chemistry after the reaction. A finely ground Mesozoic andesite containing 10.99% of pyrite and four types of reacting solutions were used in the applicability test: 1) $H_2O_2$, 2) $H_2O_2$ and Na-silicate, 3) $H_2O_2$ and 0.01M Na-OAc buffer at pH 6.0, and 4) $H_2O_2$, Na-silicate and 0.01M Na-OAc buffer at pH 6.0. The pH in the solution after the reaction with the andesite sample and the solutions was decreased with increasing the initial $H_2O_2$ concentration but the concentrations of Fe and $SO_4^{2-}$ were increased 10 - 20 times. However, the pH of the solution after the reaction increased and the concentrations of Fe and $SO_4^{2-}$ decreased in the presence of Na-acetate buffer and with increasing Na-silicate concentration at the same $H_2O_2$ concentration. The solution chemistry indicates that Na-OAc buffer and Na-silicate suppress the oxidation of pyrite due to the formation of Fe-hydroxide and Fe-silicate complex and their coating on the pyrite surface. The effect of Na-OAc buffer and Na-silicate on reduction of pyrite oxidation was also confirmed with the surface examination of pyrite using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The result of this study implies that the treatment of pyrite containing material with the Na-OAc buffer and Na-silicate solution reduces the generation of acid drainage.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.41-54
• /
• 1993

The Ulsan Fe-W deposit, which can be classified as a calcareous skarn deposit, is represented by ore pipe consisting principally of magnetite and lesser amounts of scheelite with minor sulphides, sulphosaits, arsenides, sulpharsenides, etc. At Ulsan mine, metasomatic processes of skarn growth may be divided broadly into two stages based on the paragenetic sequence of calc-silicate minerals and their chemical composition; early and late skarn stages. Early stage has started with the formation of highly calcic assemblages of wollastonite, diopsidic clinopyroxene and nearly pure grossular, which are followed by the formation of clinopyroxenes with salite to ferrosalite composition and grandite garnets with intermediate composition. Based on these calc-silicate assemblages, the temperatures of early skarn formations have been in the ranges of $550^{\circ}$ to $450^{\circ}$. The calc-silicate assemblages formed during the earlier half period of late skarn stage show the enrichment of notable iron and slight manganese, and the depletion of magnesium; clinopyroxenes are hedenbergitic, and grandite garnets are andraditic. The formation temperatures during this skarn stage are inferred to have been in the range of $430^{\circ}$ to $470^{\circ}C$ at low $X_{CO_2}$ by data from fluid inclusions of late andraditic garnets. The later half period of late skarn stage is characterized by the hydrous alteration of pre-existing minerals and the formation of hydrous silicates. The main iron-tungsten mineralization representing prominent deposition of magnetite immediately followed by minor scheelite impregnation has taken place at the middle of early skarn stage, while complex polymetallic mineralization has proceeded during and after the late skarn stage. Various metals and semimetals of Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Ag, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Pb and Bi have been in various states such as native metal, sulphides, arsenides, sulphosaits, sulpharsenides and tellurides.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.209-220
• /
• 2004

Adsorption behavior of Cu onto Hwangto, from Pankok-ri, Kosung-gun, suspension was studied using Cu batch adsorftion experiment and computer program MINTEQA2 and FITEQL 3.2. The sorption of copper was investigated as a function of pH, copper concentration and $NaNO_3$ background concentration (0.01 and 0.1 M). The concentration of copper was analyzed using ICP-AES. The sorption of copper onto Hwangto suspension increased with increasing pH and copper concentration. The adsorption percentage of copper drastically increased from pH 5.5 to 6.5, and reached nearly 100% at pH 7.5. Because the amount of copper solution and the ionic strength of background electrolyte may not affect the sorption of copper onto Hwangto, the copper ion may be combined at the surface of Hwangto as an inner-sphere complex. Using the MINTEQA2 program, the speciation of copper was calculated as a function of pH and copper concentration. The concentration of $Cu^{2+}$ decreased and that of $Cu(OH)_2$ increased with increasing pH. The uptake of copper in the Hwangto suspension was simulated by FITEQL3.2 program using two sites-three pKas model, which is composed of silicate reaction site and Fe oxide reaction site. The copper absorption reaction constants were calculated in the case of 2～6 mL of copper solution. The Fe oxide reaction site rapidly adsorbs copper ion between pH 4.5～6.5. Silicate reaction site adsorbs little copper ion at low copper concentration but much at high copper concentration. The removal amount of copper by precipitation was negligible in comparison with that of adsorption. The Fe oxide reaction site may has higher adsorption affinity of copper ion than silicate reaction site.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.77-95
• /
• 2022

The Gonamsan gabbroic complex in the Pocheon area, northwestern region of South Korea consists of a variety types of gabbroic rocks and associated Fe-Ti oxide deposits caused by magmatic differentiation. Post-magmatic intrusions (i.e., gabbroic pegmatite and pyroxene-apatite-zircon rocks) partly intruded into the gabbroic rocks. The gabbroic pegmatite occurs in monzodiorite and oxide gabbro of the complex, intimately and spatially associated with high-grade lenticular Fe-Ti oxide mineralization. The pegmatite can be subdivided into plagioclase-amphibole and pyroxene-olivine pegmatite, in which the contact surface is sharp. The plagioclase-amphibole pegmatite comprises plagioclase and amphibole, with lesser amount of pyroxene, ilmenite, sphene, apatite, and biotite. The pegmatite shows plagioclase-amphibole intergranular texture, in which the open space formed by large plagioclase laths (An_2-26Ab_72-98Or_0-2) are infilled by amphibole. The pyroxene-olivine pegmatite is dark gray to black in color and also contains magnetite, ilmenite, spinel, apatite, and calcite as a minor component. The pyroxene (En_35-36Fs_8-9Wo₅₅) and olivine (Fo_84-85Fa_15-16) partly show a poikilitic texture defined by smaller euhedral olivine enclosed by coarser clinopyroxene. Fe-Ti oxide minerals consist mainly of magnetite and ilmenite that are found interstitially to earlier formed silicates. Subsequently, they are encompassed by reaction rim (almost of amphibole and biotite) along the boundary with surrounding silicate minerals. Under the microscope, magnetite contains a lot of oxyexsolved ilmenite (trellis type) and spinel, and thereby is weakly enriched in magnetite-compatible elements such as Ti, Al, Mg, and V. The structure and textures at the contact zone as well as mineralogical disequilibrium between gabbroic pegmatite and the host gabbroic rocks suggest that the pegmatite may form as a result of accumulation from Fe-rich melt (or liquid) that occurred somewhere rather than in situ form from the host gabbroic rock during the magmatic differentiation. Consequently, the preliminary study suggests that further study on the post-magmatic activities can not only help us improve our understanding on magmatic fractionation but also provide critical information on Fe-Ti oxide mineralization in gabbroic rocks resulting from the magmatic differentiation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.385-398
• /
• 1999

The Narim gold mine is located approimately 200km southeast of Seoul within the Muju mineralized district of the Sobaegsan gneiss complex, Korea. Environmental geochemistry were undertaken for various kinds of water (surface, ground and mine water) collected of April, September and November in 1998 from the narim mine creek. Hydrogeochemical compositions of water samples are characterized by the relatively significant enrichment of Na+K, alkali ions, $HCO_{3}$, $NO_{3}$, Cl and F in groundwater, wheras the mine and surface waters are relatively enriched in Ca+Mg, hea표 metals and $SO_{4}$. Therefore, the groundwaters belong to the (Na+Ca)-( $HCO_{3}+SO_{4}$) type, respectively. The pH and EC values of the non-mining creek surfers are relatively lower compared with those of the surface water of the mine and ore dump area. The d values ($\delta$D-8$\delta^{18}$O) of all kinds of water from the Narim mine creek are 5.8 to 13.1 The range of $\delta$D and $\delta^{18}$O values (relative to SMOW) are shown in distinct two groups as follows: for the April waters of -64.8 to -67.8$\textperthousand$ and -9.6 to -10.0$\textperthousand$(d value=10.1 to 13.1), and for the November waters of -65.9 to -70.2$\textperthousand$ and -9.3 to -9.6$\textperthousand$ (d value=5.8 to 7.9), respectively. This range variation indicates that two group water were composed of distinct waters with seasonal difference. Geochemical modeling showed that mostly toxic metals (As, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) may exist largery in the from of metal $(M2^+)$ and metal-sulfate $(MSO_4\;^{2-$\mid$),\; and \;SO_4^{2-$\mid$}$ concentration influenced the speciation of heavy metals in the meteoric water. These metals in the groundwater could be formed of $CO_3 \;and \;(OH)_3$ complex ions. Using computer program, saturation index of albite, calcite, dolomite in meteoric water show undersaturated and progreddively evolved toward the saturation state, however, ground and mine water are nearly saturated. The gibbsited water-mineral reaction and stabilities suggest that the weathering of silicate minerals may be stable kaolinite, illite and Nasmectite. The clay minerals will be transformed to more stable kaolinite owing to the contiunous reaction.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.611-631
• /
• 1999

Enviromental geochemisty and heary metal contamination at the Kongjueil mine creek were underaken on the basis of physicohemical properties and mineralogy for various kinds of water (surface, mine and ground water),soil, precipitate and sediment collected of April and December in 1998. Hydrgeochemical composition of the water samples are characterized by relatively significant enricant of Ca+Na, alkiali ions $NO_3$ and Cl inground and surfore water, wheras the mine waters are relatively eneripheral water of the mining creek have the characteristics of the (Ca+Mg)-$(HCO_3+SO_4)$type. The pH of the mine water is high acidity (3.24)and high EC (613$\mu$S/cm)compared with those of surface and ground water. The range of $\delta$D and $\delta^{18}O$ values (relative to SMOW) in the waters are shpwn in -50.2 to -61.6% and -7.0 to -8.6$\textperthousand$(d value=5.8 to 8.7). Using computer program, saturation index of albite, calcite, dolomite in mine water are nearly saturated. The gibbiste, kaolinite and smectite are superaturated in the surface and ground water, respectively. Calculated water-mineral reaction and stabilities suggest that weathing of silicate minerals may be stable kaolinite owing to the continuous water-rock reaction. Geochemical modeling showed that mostly toxic heavy metals may exist larfely in the from of metal-sulfate $(MSO_4\;^2)$and free metal $(M^{2+})$ in nmine water. These metals in the ground and surface water could be formed of $CO_3$ and OH complex ions. The average enrichment indices of water samples are 2.72 of the groundwater, 2.26 of the surface water and 14.15 of the acid mine water, normalizing by surface water composition at the non-mining creek, repectively. Characteristics of some major, minor and rate earth elements (Al/Na, K/Na, V/Ni, Cr/V, Ni/Co, La/Ce, Th/Yb, $La_N/Yb_N$, Co/Th, La/Sc and Sc/Th) in soil and sediment are revealed a narrow range and homogeneous compositions may be explained by acidic to intermediate igneous rocks. And these suggested that sediment source of host granitic gneiss colud be due to rocks of high grade metamorphism originated by sedimentary rocks. Maximum concentrations of environmentally toxic elements in sediment and soil are Fe=53.80 wt.% As=660, Cd=4, Cr=175, Cu=158, Mn=1010, Pb=2933, Sb=4 and Zn=3740 ppm, and extremely high concentrations are found are found in the subsurface soil near the ore dump and precipitates. Normalizing by composition of host granitic gneiss, the average enerichment indices are 3.72 of the sediments, 3.48 of the soils, 10.40 of the precipitates of acid mine drainage and 6.25 of the soils near the main adit. The level of enerichment was very severe in mining drainage sediments, while it was not so great in the soils. mineral composition of soil and sediment near the mining area were partly variable being composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, chlorite, vermiculite, bethierin and clay minerals. reddish variable being composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, chlorite, vermiculite, bethierin and clay minerals. Reddish brown precipitation mineral in the acid mine drainage identifies by schwertmanite. From the separated mineralgy, soil and sediment are composed of some pyrite, arsenopyite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, malachite, goethite and various kinds of hydroxied minerals.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.40 no.1 s.182
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2007

The Guemseong mine is located near the southern margin of the Jurassic Jecheon granitoids collectively with the Cambro-Ordovician mixed dolostone-limestone series of the Yeongweol Group, Choseon Supergroup. Here, two spatially distinct types of skarn formation have been observed. The upper transitional skarn is the calcic Mo skarn which has the mineral assemblage of $garnet+hedenbergite+epidote{\pm}wollastonite{\pm}magnetite{\pm}hematite{\pm}amphibole{\pm}chlorite{\pm}vesuvianite$ within the calcite marble. On the other hand, the lower proximal skarn occurs as a discordant magnesian Fe skarn at the contact of Mo-bearing aplitic cupolas with unidirectional solidification texture(UST) within the dolomitic marble. The magnesian Fe skarn has the mineral assemlage $olivine+diopside+magnetite+tremolite+serpentine+talc+chlorite{\pm}phlogopite$. The formation of two different types of skarn and ore mineralization in Geumseong mine have been attributed to multistage and complex metasomatic replacements that ultimately resulted in silicate-oxide-sulfide sequence of metasomatism. An early prograde stage with anhydrous skarn minerals such as olivine, clinopyroxene and/or garnet with magnetite, formed from high temperature (about $500^{\circ}\;to\;400^{\circ}C$) at an environmental condition of low $CO_2$ fugacity ($XCO_2<0.1$) and 0.5 kbar. The later retrograde stage with hydrous silicates such as amphibole, serpentine, phlogopite, epidote and chlorite with molybdenite or hematite, termed from relatively lower temperature (about $400^{\circ}\;to\;300^{\circ}C$).