• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Resources Recycling Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.139-143
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• 2003

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.2 s.171
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• pp.101-111
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• 2005

The objectives of this study we to assess the extent and degree of environmental contamination and to draw general conclusions on the fate of toxic elements derived from mining activities in Korea. 인t abandoned mines with four base-metal mines and four Au-Ag mines were selected and the results of environmental surveys in those areas were discussed. In the base-metal mining areas, the Sambo Pb-Zn-barite, the Shinyemi Pb-Zn-Fe, the Geodo Cu-Fe and the Shiheung Cu-Pb-Zn mine, significant levels of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were found in mine dump soils developed over mine waste materials, tailings and slag. Furthermore, agricultural soils, stream sediments and stream water near the mines were severely contaminated by the metals mainly due to the continuing dispersion downstream and downslope from the sites, which was controlled by the feature of geography, prevailing wind directions and the distance from the mine. In e Au-Ag mining areas, the Kubong, the Samkwang, the Keumwang and the Kilkok mines, elevated levels of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were found in tailings and mine dump soils. These levels may have caused increased concentrations of those elements in stream sediments and waters due to direct dis-charge downstream from tailings and mine dumps. In the Au-Ag mines, As would be the most characteristic contaminant in the nearby environment. Arsenic and heavy metals were found to be mainly associated with sulfide gangue minerals, and mobility of these metals would be enhanced by the effect of oxidation. According to sequential extraction of metals in soils, most heavy metals were identified as non-residual chemical forms, and those are very susceptible to the change of ambient conditions of a nearby environment. As application of pollution index (PI), giving data on multi-element contamination in soils, over 1.0 value of the PI was found in soils sampled at and around the mining areas.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.325-330
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• 2001

Shizhuyuan W-Mo-Bi-Ca $F_2$polymetallic ore is classified to the refractory one due to its complex property, fine dissemination and close association of minerals. Through several years of researches, in line with GY new mineral processing technology developed by Guangzhou Research Institute of Nonferrous Metals, in sulfide flotation circuit, an iso-flotability flowsheet is used to replace original overall bulk flotation flowsheet, and in tungsten flotation circuit, a new chelating type-GY reagent and a special pulp-conditioning system and a new technology of wolframite slime flotation are used to replace the traditional "Caustic Soda Method"$_{［1］}$, the metallurgical performance is greatly improved. Besides, GY New Method has created a favorable condition for comprehensive recovery of fluoride from tungsten flotation tailings. Notable economic benefit has been achieved.d.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.1 s.50
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• pp.143-150
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• 2007

AMD (Acid mine drainage) from disused mines is one or the most significant pollutant problems to make harmful effect to human health. We demonstrated the mechanism of resolution and adsorption reaction for arsenic, manganese and zink from the soil and mine tailings which were located in the vicinity of a disused mine in Kyoungnam area. The resolution experiments were carried with a column test f3r 45 days continuously. Metal chemical forms in water were changed with the condition of solution pH and ORP (oxidation-reduction potential). Metal chemical forms affected on the reaction of resolution and adsorption of metals in water environments. Even though the sampling was carried in very closed location, there was significant different results of pollution level and ORP changes in terms of column operations. Hence It was important to note the pH and ORP in AMD to evaluate a risk assessment and a soil management using monitoring metals. When we operate AMD management with the mechanism of resolution and adsorption it can be achieved better economic solution.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.56-60
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• 2015

Fine particle classification was performed using products obtained from primary classification process after flotation for efficient application of tailing. The cut size increased with decreasing input pressure from 0.1 MPa to 0.3 MPa and increasing pulp density from 5% to 15% using 2-inch hydrocyclone. The median sizes of overflow and underflow were $6.56{\mu}m$ and $55.45{\mu}m$, respectively at 0.3 MPa with 5% pulp density. The imperfection became closed to ideal separation with increasing the pulp density and decreasing the input pressure. The water content decreased with increasing the pulp density, but the effect of input pressure could be ignored. The water content of underflow was 27.9% at 0.3 MPa with 15% pulp density.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.21-33
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• 2004

The objective of this study is to review of environmental assessment of heavy metals derived from various metalliferous mines in Korea. As a results of national wide research for heavy metal contaminations in the vicinity of metalleferous mines, the main contaminants are mine waste materials including tailings. From the materials, toxic elements including As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn can be dispersed into downstream through wind and water. Thus, soils around the mines contain elevated levels of those elements, which are over the guide values for environmental regulation of soils in Korea. Arsenic is one of the most important elements contaminated by mining activities, to a less extent, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. In spite of remediation works for some metal mines by the government, there are still lots of abandoned mines which are necessary for reclamation of mining sites. This study also includes that metal concentrations in soils and tailings can be varied upon various decomposition methods including 0.1N HC1 and aqua regia and sequential extraction scheme, with differences in each element, too. This may be due to geochemical characteristics of the elements, such as solubility, mobility and chemical forms in the geochemical environment. Finally, it is suggested that a certain organization should be runned by Korean government for management of abandoned mines.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.455-467
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• 1995

In order to investigate the dispersion patterns and speciations of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd in soils, stream sediments and stream waters, geochemical studies of soil, stream sediment and stream water samples collected in the vicinity of the Shi-Heung Cu-Pb-Zn mine was carried out Cation exchange capacity measurement, size analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis and batch test were performed to select applicable soil for adsorption treatment The average content of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd in soils collected from tailings and ore dressing plant is 1084 ppm, 2292 ppm, 3512 ppm and 29.2 ppm, respectively, and therefore, tailings and ore dressing plant site may be the major contamination sources in this study area. The mean content of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd in stream sediments is extremely high up to 794 ppm, 1633 ppm, 2946 ppm and 25.2 ppm, respectively. Tailing particles and heavy metal ions are dispersed along the tributary system. Results from the sequential extraction analysis indicate; (1) most of Cu is bound to organic matters and sulphides, (2) fraction of Pb is mainly bound to Fe and Mn oxides. Most of Zn is largely bound to Fe and Mn oxides and residual fraction. Ion exchangeable fraction of Cd is relatively higher than those of Cu, Pb and Zn. Batch test on soils collected from the kaolinite and/or pyrophyllite mines and from the control areas was carried out to select an applicable soil samples for adsorption treatment The sample, S10, collected from the control area 2 (clay content 33.2%) shows the highest $K_d$ (distribution coefficient). Organic content in soils and several clay minerals shows relatively good correlation with $K_d$. It means that applicable soils for adsorption treatment of heavy metals show high organic and clay content.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.1B
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• pp.91-96
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• 2009

Layered double hydroxide is synthesized and used in the arsenate adsorption experiments. The shapes of two materials analyzed by TEM showed that unheated material is amorphous in shape, micro-sized while heat treated material showed more crystallized in shape and nano-sized. X-ray diffraction showed this result more obvious. $N_2$ adsorption-desorption results showed that the materials are mesoporous and the specific surface area of the heated material is more than two times larger than the unheated material. Adsorption of As(V) is expected to be more in the heated material than the unheated material. Kinetic test of arsenate adsorption showed very fast reaction. The reactivity of Fe with As(V) might be the main factor for this result. The reaction kinetic of the heated and the unheated materials were similar and even the adsorption isotherms showed similar results for both materials. Both materials are found to be useful in remediation of soil and groundwater polluted by waste mine tailings consist of high concentration of As(V).

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2001

Enormous volumes of mining wastes from the abandoned and closed mines are disposed without a proper treatment in the upper Okdong River basin at Southeastern part of Kangwon Province. Erosion of these wastes contaminates soil, surface water, and sediments with heavy metals. Objectives of this research were to fractionate heavy metals in the mine tailing stored in the Sangdong Tungsten tailing dams and to assess the potential pollution index of each metal fraction. Tailing samples were collected from tailing dams at different depth and analyzed for physical and chemical properties. pH of tailings ranged from 7.3 to 7.9. Contents of total N and organic matter were in the ranges of 3.2~5.5%, and 1.3~9.1%, respectively. Heavy metals in the tailings were higher in the newly constructed tailing dam than those in the old dam. Total concentrations of metals in the tailings were in the orders of Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd, exceeded the corrective action level of the Soil Environment Conservation Law and higher than the natural abundance levels reported from uncontaminated soils. Relative distribution of heavy metal fractions was residual > organic > reducible > carbonate > adsorbed, reversing the degree of metal bioavailability. Mobile fractions of metals were relatively small compared to the total concentrations. Distribution of metals in the tailing dam profiles was metal specific. Concentrations of Cu at the surface of tailing dams were higher than those at the bottom. Pollution index (PI) values of each fraction of metals were ranged from 4.27 to 8.51 based on total concentrations. PI values of mobile fractions were lower than those of immobile fractions. Results on metal fractions and PI values of the tailing samples indicate that tailing samples were contaminated with heavy metals and had potential to cause a detrimental effects on soil and water environment in the lower part of the stream. A prompt countermeasure to prevent surface of tailings in the dams from water and wind erosions is urgently needed.