• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 1999

The tailings stocked at two tailing piles in Sangdong aea have raised collapse hazards and various environmental problems. A trial for effective utilization of tailings as fine aggregates for polymer concrete has been performed along with mineralogical and physical characterization of tailings. The tailings from the Sangdong mine, mainly composed of quartz, orthoclase, amphiboles and muscovite, are alkaline and tailings at the new tailing pile are generally finer in grain size than those at the old tailing pile. In case of using New Tailings as fine aggregates, cement mortar with equivalent amounts of tailings and sands shows the highest compressive strength. Cement mortars containing tailings show lower values of compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength than those not-containing tailings. Mixture of polymers such as SBR and EVA in cement mortars raises strengths of cement mortars effectively, which shows potential possiblity to utilize the tailings in Sangdong area as fine aggregates for polymer concretes.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.222-231
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• 2005

Most of the tailings have been left without any management in abandoned metalliferous mines and have become the main source of heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils and crops in the these areas. To compare of environmental assessment of heavy metals in tailings derived from various 25-metalliferous mines in Korea, 3 different analysis methods such as water soluble, 0.1 M-HCl extractable, and total acid digestion method (aqua regia) were used. The chemical composition of water soluble in mine tailing were in the order ${SO_4}^{2-}>Ca^{2+}>Mn^{2+},\;Na^+,\;Al^{3+}>Mg^{2+},\;Fe^{3+}>Cl^-$. Specially, pH, EC, ${SO_4}^{2-},\;and\;Ca^{2+}$ concentrations in tailing varied considerably among the different mines. The average total concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As in tailing were 31.8, 708, 4,961, 2,275 and 3,235 mg/kg, respectively. Specially, the contents of Cd, Zn and As were higher than those of countermeasure values for soil contamination (Cd : 4, Zn : 700 and As : 15 mg/kg in soil) by Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea. The rates of water soluble heavy metals to total contents in tailings were in the order Cd > Zn > Cu > Pb > As. The rates of 0.1M-HCl extractable Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As (1M-HCl) to total content were 17.4, 10.2, 6.5, 6.8 and 11.4% respectively. The enrichment factor of heavy metals in tailings were in the order As > Pb > Cd > Cu > Zn. The pollution index in tailing Au-Ag mine tailing were higher than those of other mine tailing. As a results of enrichment factor and pollution index for heavy metal contaminations in mine tailing of metalliferous mines, the main contaminants are mine waste materials including tailings.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.6 s.181
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• pp.699-710
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• 2006

Batch scale experiments to investigate the efficiency of the solidification process for metal mine tailing treatment were performed. Portland and MSG (micro silica pouting) cements were used as solidifier and three kinds of mine tailings (located at Gishi, Daeryang, and Aujeon mine) were mixed with cements to paste solidified matrices. Single axis com-pressible strengths of solidified matrices were measured and their heavy metal extraction ratios were calculated to investigate the solidification efficiency of solidified matrices created in experiments. Solidified matrices ($5cm{\times}5cm{\times}5cm$) were molded from the paste of tailing and cements at various conditions such as different tailing/cement ratio, cement/water ratio, and different cement or tailing types. Compressible strengths of solidified matrices after 7, 14, and 28 day cementation were measured and their strengths ranged from 1 to $2kgf/mm^2$, which were higher than Korean limit of compressible strength for the inside wall of the isolated landfill facility ($0.21kgf/mm^2$). Heavy metal extractions from intact tailings and powdered matrices by using the weak acidic solution were performed. As concentration of extraction solution for the powdered solidified matrix (Portland cement + Gishi tailing at 1:1 w.t. ratio) decreased down to 9.7 mg/L, which was one fifth of As extraction concentration for intact Gishi tailings. Pb extraction concentration of the solidified matrix also decreased to lower than one fourth of intact tailing extraction concentration. Heavy metal extraction batch experiments by using various pH conditions of solution were also performed to investigate the solidification efficiency reducing heavy metal extraction rate from the solidified matrix. With pH 1 and 13 of solution, Zn and Pb concentration of solution were over the groundwater tolerance limit, but at pH $1{\sim}13$ of solution, heavy metal concentrations dramatically decreased and were lower than the groundwater tolerance limit. While the solidified matrix was immerged Into very acidic or basic solution (pH 1 and 13), pH of solution changed to $9{\sim}10$ because of the buffering effect of the matrix. It was suggested that the continuous extraction of heavy metals from the solidified matrix is limited even in the extremely high or low pH of contact water. Results of experiments suggested that the solidification process by using Portland and MSG cements has a great possibility to treat heavy metal contaminated mine tailing.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.217-226
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• 1993

Stream sediment samples were collected in the vicinity of the Sambo Pb-Zn-barite mine in order to investigate dispersion patterns and pollution levels of heavy metals, and to find out their mode of occurrences. Those samples were analyzed for Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, and Mn by using partial extraction and sequential extraction methods. Stream sediments of this studied area has been contaminated severely by Pb, Zn, and Cd. Dispersion patterns of heavy metals in those sediments are different according to their pollution source and sampling distance from the mine. The stream sediment pH is generally neutral in control area, and is slightly acidic in the lower part of tailing dam. The main pollution source of stream sediments was confirmed as tailing and mine drainage. Their pollution level depends mainly on inflowed water and distance from the mine. The tolerance index ranges from -0.9 to 0.7. The mode of occurrances of heavy metals in polluted stream sediment are identified as Fe-Mn oxides, organic bounded and carbonate-bounded compound which show high potential of bioavailablity.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the applicability of tailing in the ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ mine as a grout material. For the purpose, XRD analysis was performed for mineralogical properties of tailing. In addition, flow, velocity, and uniaxial compressive strength tests were carried out for physical and mechanical properties of a grout material with the mixing ratio of cement and tailing and curing periods. By the result of XRD analysis, tailing of the mine was found to mostly consist of quartz, galena, and pyrite. The flow observed by the flow test showed decreasing tendency with increasing the mixing ratio of tailing. The velocity was also lowered with increasing the mixing ratio of tailing regardless of curing periods. The uniaxial compressive strength as well as Young's modulus also show a tendency to decrease with increasing the mixing ratio of tailing independently on the curing periods. Considering only the physical and mechanical properties of a grout material with tailing, the results are considered to be sufficiently used as a grout material. However, since metallic minerals such as galena and pyrite in tailing contents and these are causing environmental contamination, countermeasures should be considered for this problem in future.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2004

The soil samples were collected from the paddy field near the mine tailing dumps in the abandoned Duckum mine in Korea. In the laboratory, the soil solution was extracted from the soil using centrifuge, and analysed for the chemical composition. Physical and chemical soil properties were also analysed. Kaolinite is the main clay minerals in the paddy soil and the CEC value is therefore relatively low. Nearly all soil samples show enrichment in their trace elemental concentrations(Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) compared with natural background level. Some soil samples exceed the soil remediation intervention values for Cd, Pb and Zn and target value for Cu, when compared with Dutch standard, whereas As, Ni and Cr are in normal range. Lead concentrations in some samples near the mine tailing dumps also exceed the standard for remediation act for agricultural area set by Korean soil conservation law. The trace elemental concentrations are higher in the paddy soil nearer the mine tailing dumps and lower for the samples from distance. Similar trend with distance is found for the soil solution chemistry but the decrease with distance from the mine tailing dumps are sharper than the changes in soil chemistry. Cadmium, Cu and Pb concentrations in the soil solution are very low, ranging from a tenth and hundredths to a maximum of several mg/l, whereas their concentrations in soils are highly enriched for natural background. Most of the trace elements are thought to be either removed by reduced iron sulphides or iron oxides, depending on the redox changes. Geochemical equilibrium modelling indicate the presence of solubility controlling solid phases for Cd and Pb, whereas Zn and Cu might have been controlled by adsorption/desorption processes. Although pollutants migration through solution phase are thought to be limited by adsorption onto various Fe, Mn solid phases, the pollutants exist as easily releasable fractions such as exchangeable site. In this case, the paddy soil would act as pollutant pool, which will supply to plants in situ. whenever the geochemical conditions favour.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2003

Researches were carried out to investigate the characteristics and concentration of heavy metal elements of stream water through Dongmyoung abandoned metal mine and soil adjacent to the mine. The pH range of water was 5.9∼7.1 that implies the water environment was acidic to neutral. The contents and distribution aspects of heavy metals in water samples varied with geochemical characteristics of element, but the concentration of heavy metals has the tendency of increase closer to the mine in general. The results of soil analysis show that total heavy metal concentration of agricultural soil near mine was far lower than those of ore tailing and dumping site. Therefore, the effects of the abandoned mine on stream water and agricultural products were supposed to be insignificant, particularly because the portion of absorbed carbonates and reducible fractions among total heavy metal concentration was relatively lower than the other. Since, however total heavy metal concentrations of mining site were relatively higher than those of adjacent region, there is a possibility of heavy metal difussion when the chemical environment of the site changes due to migration of surface and underground water. It is suggested that the preventive measures for water and soil pollution by the heavy metals would be considered around the region.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.173-185
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• 2015

Janggun mine (longitude $129^{\circ}$ 03'38.91" Latitude $36^{\circ}$ 51'31.59") had been operated as an underground mine for last few decades. As the part of the remediation process, the surface of tailing dump was covered with uncontaminated soil about 20 cm in depth and acacia trees were planted. Heavy metal uptake of acacia from tailing soil has continued for the past 15 years. Heavy metal concentration ranges of tailing soil that contaminated with As (66.43-9325.34 mg/kg), Cd (0.96-1.09 mg/kg), Cu (16.90-57.60 mg/kg), Pb (57.33-945.67 mg/kg), and Zn (154.48-278.61 mg/kg) have higher than those of control soil As (38.98 mg/kg), Cd (0.42 mg/kg), Cu (10.26 mg/kg), Pb (8.21 mg/kg), Zn (46.74 mg/kg). The As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations of leaf of acacia in highly contaminated tailing dump were 165.95, 0.04, 10.68, 3.18, 48.11 mg/kg, respectively. The metal contents of leaf of acacia tree that obtained from uncontaminated control soil are 1.31 of As, 3.90 of Cu, 0.22 of Pb and 11.01 mg/kg of Zn. It was investigated that in the acacia tree, heavy metals such as As, Cu, Pb and Zn tend to be more highly concentrated in bark and leaf, compared with sapwood and heartwood.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.6-12
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• 2007

Feasibility of laboratory-synthesized zerovalent iron was investigated to remove arsenic from leachates of tailings taken from an Au-Ag abandoned mine. The tailings were seriously contaminated with arsenic, and its potential adverse effect on the ecosystems around the mine seems to be significantly high. Long-term column experiments were conducted for about 3.5 months to evaluate the effectiveness of the synthesized zerovalent iron for removal of arsenic. Over than 95% removal efficiency of As was observed in the zerovalent iron mediated tests. In addition, the XRD data suggest that the corrosion products of ZVI were identified magnetite, maghemite, goethite, and lepidocrocite, all of which support Fe(II) oxidation as an intermediate step in the zerovalent iron corrosion process. The results indicate that arsenic can be removed from the tailing-leachate by the mechanism of coprecipitation and/or adsorption onto those iron oxides formed from ZVI corrosion.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.29 no.A
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• pp.55-60
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• 2009

Stabilization treatment is one of processes for wastes and their components to reduce their toxicity and migration rates to surroundings. Inorganic binders such as calcium hydroxide, blast furnace slag and red mud were tested for their potential applicability to in-situ stabilization of heavy metal contaminated tailings in the abandoned metal mines. Columns(150mm dia. ${\times}$ 450mm length) filled with mixtures of inorganic binders and tailing from the Geumjang mine with various mixing ratios of binders to tailings, 5%, 7% and 9% were applied artificial rainfall tests for 28 days. Effluents from columns filled with calcium hydroxide and tailing showed high pH's of ~12.5 and a increasing trend of concentration in Pb and Zn with a significant decrease in permeability in terms of elapsed days. Those with burning slag and tailing showed pH's of ~8.5 and significantly low concentrations in heavy metals with a stable permeability. In case of red mud, effluents showed significantly low concentrations in heavy metals but a decreased permeability with pH's of ~10.5. Conclusively, this basic study suggests burning furnace slag be a potential stabilizer for effective treatment of heavy metal contaminated mine tailings.