• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.371-377
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• 1997

This paper presents the geophysical applications to the environmenml problem in an abandoned mine area. We would like to focus our attention on the mapping of the soil contamination and the detection of the buried mine tailings. For mapping the soil contamination. measurements of both in-situ magnetic susceptibility (k) and terrain conductivity were carried out. In-situ magnetic susceptibilities of the contaminated soil due to the acid mine drainage show higher values than those of the uncontaminated area. However. those data do not show the correlation with the degree of the soil contamination observed on the surface. The least-squares fitted formula obtained with the measured insitu magnetic susceptibilities is $k=4.8207{\times}W^{0.6332}$, where W is the $Fe^{+2}$ weight percentage. This weight gives most effect to magnetic susceptibility of the soil. Lateral variations of the soil contamination in the shallow subsurface can be detected by the electrical conductivity distributions from EM induction survey. TDIP (Time Domain Induced Polarization) and EM induction surveys were conducted to detect the buried mine tailings. From the results of TDIP, the spatial zone, which shows high chargeability-low resistivity, is interpreted as the buried mine tailings. Therefore, it is concluded that it is possible to discriminate the spatial zone from the uncontaminated ground.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.19-21
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• 2001

The Shiheung mine was closed in 1972 and has been abandoned since then. Although some restoration work has been done, there still remain mine failings in and around the mine, posing a potential environmental hazard. Mine tailings and the porewater extracted from the tailing were investigated to see any evidence of elemental release and migration to adjacent groundwater and soil in the field. The pHs of the tailing range from 6.24 to 7.23. Calcite in the studied area seems to influence on such neutral pH range. Depth profile of mine tailing demonstrate elements have been leached and removed as a consequence of weathering during disposal. This is also supported by the findings from porewater analysis, corresponding the trends in the mine tailings. The concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn in the tailing porewater exceed the standard value of EPA for drinking water and this implies groundwater can be contaminated through infiltration of the porewaters, which ultimately will be discharged as leachate from the mine tailing. Groundwater samples collected near the mine area do not show high metal concentrations, except for Fe, which were detected over drinking water standard.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.461-470
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• 2001

The Shihung mine was restored in the early 90's after abandonment for 20 yews since 1973. Although disposed mine tailings were removed and the site was replaced by an incineration plant, still some residual mine tailings remain in the places including the old mine tailing ditposal area and the adjacent agricultural area. These residual mine tailings are prone to impose an adverse impact on the soil and groundwater and needs investigation for the potential contamination. Mine tailing samples were collected from the old tailing disposal area and the iii paddy. The porewater from the mine tailing were extracted and analysed to investigate chemical changes along the reaction path. Batch leaching tests were also carried out in the laboratory to find any supporting evidence found in the field analysis. Evidence of elemental leaching was confirmed both by the mine tailing and the porewater chemistry in them. The element concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn in the porewater exceed the standard for drinking water of Korean government and US EPA. Leaching of heavy metals from the mine tailing seem to be responsible for the contamination. In batch leaching test. heavy metals were either continuous1y released or declined rapidly. Combining the information with porewater variation with depths and the geochemical meodeling results, most of elements are controlled by dissolution and/or precipitation processes, with some solubility controlling solid phases (Cu, Pb, Fe and Zn). Batch leaching test conducted at fixed pH 4 showed much higher releases for the heavy metals up to 400 times (Zn) and this area is becoming more vulnerable to soil and groundwater pollution as precipitation pH shifts to acidic condition.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.10-16
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• 2007

The slug test by adding water to well and measuring falling head was conducted to investigate the hydrogeological property of unsaturated or partially saturated mine tailings in the Imgi abandoned mine in Busan. In case that wells were installed with a full screen through two layers with different hydraulic properties, Bouwer and Rice method was useful to estimate the hydraulic conductivity and the depth of mine tailings. In particular, when groundwater dried out in the dry season, the slug test performed by adding water into well to form artificial water table and then conducting falling head test produced the reasonable hydraulic conductivity values. The slug test using falling head test can be an alternative to investigate the hydrogeological property of abandoned mine tailings.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.16 no.3 s.81
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• pp.383-390
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• 2004

This study has focused on the possibility for recycling tailings from the Sangdong tungsten mine as admixture for concrete. The XRD(X-ray diffraction analysis) and PSA(Particle size analysis) were performed to find mineralogical characteristics. As a result of XRD analysis, the tailings from the Sangdong tungsten fine were composed of quartz, chlorite, anorthite and cordierite etc. As a result of KSLT for cement mortar mixed with tailings from the Sangdong tungsten mine, most of heavy metals were determined as below the guide line for waste material. In addition, the setting time and compressive strength of cement mortar mixed with tailings from the Sangdong tungsten mine were investigated. It was indicated that the initial and final set were retarded according to increasing replacement of tailings from the Sangdong tungsten mine. The compressive strength of mortar was decreased with increasing replacement of failings from the Sangdong tungsten mine.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 1999

This geochemical study was carried out to find out the distribution of metals and cyanide in the soils around the Keum-Jung abandoned mine. Chemical analysis showed that extractable As contents in the soils near the mine exceeded 15mg/kg, Korean standard of soil contamination for farm land. The Results suggests that As contamination is due to input of tailings in the soils. According to total decomposition of tailings, As was highly concentrated in tailings. The water in a tailings impoundment was changed to acidic and contaminated by metals and sulfate which were released through oxidation of impoundment. Acid mine drainage from the tailings impoundment distribution channels directed to the paddy soils. The proper measures are required to prevent contamination of the soil and water in the vicinity of the Keum-Jung mine.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.69-80
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• 1997

This investigation was conducted to provide information for characteristics of environmental pollution by the heavy metals from the abandoned gold mine in order to characterize the distribution patterns and environmental damages of the contaminants to the surrounding environment. Through analysis of CN, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Cr, and Hg in a mine tailings, paddy soils, and stream sediments, the physico-chemical properties of the mine tailings and paddy soils were measured. The pH's were 5.4, 8.4 for the paddy soil and mine tailing, respectively. The maximum contents of CN, Pb, Cd, and As the in mine tailing were 99.98, 1,752.72, 31.88, and 298.50 mg/kg, respectively. The amounts of these ions were higher than the standard level of industrial area in Korea. The average content of CN and heavy metals in the paddy soils were higher than the background level of heavy metals in the unpolluted paddy soils around the mine. Especially, the contents of heavy metals in the paddy soils along the adjacent stream were higher compared to the paddy soil that was not influenced by the mine tailings. The contents of CN and heavy metals in the stream sediment close to the mine area were similar to those of the mine tailings, but decreased along the distance of the stream farther away from the tailings that was the source of these pollutants.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.53-61
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• 2011

This study examined evaluation on stabilization of major and trace elements in tailings by various surface water-preventing materials. Six columns were filled with tailings of the Sinlim mine, then covered with tailings only, compacted soils, clay, soil-bentonite mixture, pozzolan and bentonite mat. After injection of artificial rain water, the leachate was sampled with times (3, 6, 9 and 12 pore volume) and analysed for major (Ca, Na, Mg, K) and trace elements (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) by ICP-AES. With exception to pozzolan type, the pH values of leachate from the other types became stabilized from 5.5 to 7.5, and EC (electric conductivity) of leachate from them decreased with times. For the pozzolan type, however, the pH and EC of leachate increased with time due to its alkalinity producing system. Concentrations of most major and trace elements in leachate decreased and stabilized with time. Consequently, soil-bentonite mixed cover shows the best ability of water-preventing and reducing mobility of elements in tailings site.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.195-205
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• 2015

Barricade failures generally occur at the early times of paste backfill when it is fresh in the stopes. The backfill strength increases and need for barricading pressure decreases as a result of the hydration reactions. In this study, paste backfill barricades of Cayeli copper mine were investigated to design cemented mineral processing plant tailings as barricade body concrete. Paste backfill in sub-level caving stopes of the mine needs to be barricaded for only four or five days. Therefore, short term strength and workability tests were applied on several cemented tailings material designs. Barricade failure mechanisms, important points of barricade designing and details of the new concrete material are explained in this work. According to the results obtained with this experimental study, the tailings were assessed to be used in concrete applied as temporary supports such as cemented paste backfill barricades.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.41-44
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to evaluate the stabilization of As and heavy metals in tailings from the Samkwang Au-Ag mine with $Ca(OH)_2$. In order to evaluate the stabilization ability of As and heavy metals in the tailings, column test was implemented with various conditions as 1) particle size of $Ca(OH)_2$, 2) mixing method and 3) flow rate of eluents during 60 days. The results showed that addition with 5% of $Ca(OH)_2$ in 1kg of the tailings had the most effective ability of stabilization up to 95%. In addition, stabilization ability of As and heavy metals in tailings was enhanced using a fine powder of $Ca(OH)_2$. Therefore, stabilization technology can be used as a remediation of As and heavy metals in mine wastes including tailings and a nearby soils from abandoned metal mines.