• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2023

Variations in geochemical and mineralogical properties of the ferromanganese(Fe-Mn) crust reflect environmental changes. In the present study, geochemical and mineralogical analyses, including micro X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction, were utilized to reconstruct the paleo-ocean environment of western Pacific Magellan seamount cluster. Samples of the Fe-Mn crust were collected using an epibenthic sledge from the open seamount XX (151° 51.12' 7.2" E and 16° 8.16' 9.6" N, 1557 meters below sea level) in the Western Pacific Magellan Seamount. According to the structure and phosphating status, the Fe-Mn crust of the OSM-XX can be divided into the following: phosphatizated (L4-L5), massive non-phosphatizated (L3), and porous non-phosphatizated (L1-L2) portions. All ferromanganese layers contain vernadite, and owing to the presence of carbonate fluorapatite (CFA), the phosphatizated portion (L4-L5) is rich in Ca and P. The massive non-phosphatizated section (L3) contains high Mn, Ni, and Co, whereas the porous non-phosphatizated portion (L1-L2), which comprises detrital quartz and feldspar, is rich in Fe. Variations in properties of the Fe-Mn crust from the OSM-XX reflect changes in the nearby marine environment. The formation of this crust started at approximately 51.87 Ma, and precipitation of the CFA during the global phosphatization event that occurred at approximately 36-32 Ma highlights an elevated sea level and low temperature during the associated period. The high Mn, Ni, and Co concentrations and elevated Mn/Fe ratios of samples from the massive phosphatizated portion indicate that the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) was enhanced, and reducing conditions prevailed during the crust formation. The high Fe and low Mn/Fe ratios in the porous portion indicate a weak OMZ and dominantly oxidizing conditions. These data reflect environmental changes following the end of the Mi-1 glacial period in the Miocene-Oligocene boundary. Subsequently, Mn/Fe and Co/Mn ratios increased slightly in the outermost part of Fe-Mn crust because of the enhanced bottom current and OMZ associated with the continued cooling from approximately 9 Ma. However, the reduced carbonate dissolution rate in the Pacific Ocean from approximately 6 Ma decreased the growth rate of the Fe-Mn crust.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.3 s.184
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• pp.277-293
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• 2007

Seasonal and spatial variations in the concentrations of trace elements, pH and Eh were found in a creek watershed affected by mine drainage and leachate from several waste rock dumps within the As-Pb-rich Indae mine site. Because of mining activity dating back to about 40 years ago and rupture of the waste rock dumps, this creek was heavily contaminated. Due to the influx of leachate and mine drainage, the water quality of upstream reach in this creek was characterized by largest seasonal and spatial variations in concentrations of Zn(up to $5.830 mg/{\ell}$), Cu(up to $1.333 mg/{\ell}$), Cd(up to $0.031 mg/{\ell}$) and $SO_4^{2-}$(up to $173 mg/{\ell}$), relatively acidic pH values (3.8-5.1) and highly oxidized condition. The most abundant metals in the leachate samples were in order of Zn($0.045-13.909 mg/{\ell}$), Fe($0.017-8.730mg/{\ell}$), Cu($0.010-4.154mg/{\ell}$) and Cd($n.d.-0.077mg/{\ell}$), with low pH(3.1-6.1), and high $SO_4^{2-}$(up to $310 mg/{\ell}$). The mine drainage also contained high concentrations of Zn, Cu, Cd and $SO_4^{2-}$ and remained constantly near-neutral pH values(6.5-7.0) in all the year. While the leachate and mine drainage might not affect short-term fluctuations in flow, it may significantly influence the concentrations of chemicals in the stream. The abundance and chemistry of Fe-(oxy)hydroxide within this creek indicated that the Fe-(oxy)hydroxide formation could be responsible for some removal of trace elements from the creek waters. Spatial and seasonal variations along down-stream reach of this creek were caused largely by the influx of water from uncontaminated tributaries. In addition, the trace metal concentrations in this creek have been decreased nearly down to the background level at a short distance from the discharge points without any artificial treatments after hydrologic mixing in a tributary. The nonconservative(i.e. precipitation, adsorption, oxidation, dissolution etc.) and conservative(hydrologic mixing) reactions constituted an efficient mechanism of natural attenuation which reduces considerably the transference of trace elements to rivers.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.457-465
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• 2009

The characteristics of Holstein colostrum according to the methods that were employed in processing it were analyzed in this study to improve its industrial utilization. Colostrum samples were collected from the dairy farm of the National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS). The milk fat, protein, lactose, and SNF contents of colostrum were 4.34, 6.99, 3.37, and 11.10%, respectively. The effects of spray drying, freeze drying, freezing, acidification, and inoculation of lactic-acid bacteria on the characteristics of colostrum were then compared. The freezing of colostrum was found to be proper for long-term storage in a farm. Freeze-dried colostrum powder could not meet the processing requirements and the component standards for animal products in terms of the total bacterial and coliform bacteria counts, but spray-dried colostrum powder could meet the microbiological requirements because of its bactericidal effect during the spray-dry treatment. The inoculation of lactic-acid bacteria showed a better inhibitory effect on coliform than the acidification treatment, but protein precipitation appeared because of the low pH and the high acidity. To estimate the effects of the processing methods employed on the IgG of colostrum, the IgG contents of the milk treated by long temperature long time (LTLT) ($65^{\circ}C$, 30 min), by inoculating the lactic acid bacteria starter, by spray drying, and by freeze drying were measured. The IgG contents of the colostrum were changed significantly by the processing treatment employed, from 53.98 mg/mLto 33.28, 34.82, 21.98, and 36.89 mg/mL, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.293-305
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• 2019

In this study we investigated the effect of a floating photovoltaic (FPV) system in Cheongpung Lake on water quality. The FPV with a tilt angle of 33° covered ca. 0.04% of surface area (97 ㎢) of Chungju Lake. The water qualities of the whole lake before and after installation of FPV were first compared. DO, BOD, TOC, and Chl-a of the whole lake were increased, while conductivity decreased after installation period at the significance level of 0.05. This change was probably due to the increased influx of nutrients by 40% resulting from increased precipitation during the same period. We also measured water quality parameters on May and Nov. 2017 at the FPV center (FPVC) and nearby control sites, and compared water quality. The result showed that the FPVC and nearby sites were not significantly different (p>0.05), demonstrating that the FPV does not cause a decline of water quality. The water temperature, light intensity, and phytoplankton community were also measured. The water temperature was not different between the sites, while the light intensity decreased to 27~50%. Despite reduced light intensity at FPVC, the phytoplankton standing crops and the number of species were not significantly different (p>0.05). However, in the early November samples, standing crops was significantly higher in FPVC than control with periphytic diatoms belonging to Aulacoseira genus being dominant. This may be due to the temporal water body behavior or local retention of current by FPV system. This study may provide a measure of future installation of a FPV system.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.132-145
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• 1998

The coal-bearing siliciclastic rocks of the Lower Permian Jangseong Formation, Samcheog coalfield, represent a megacyclothem which shows cyclic repetitions of sandstone, shale, coaly shale, and coals. Petrographic, geochemical, and SEM studies for sandstone samples, and XRD analysis for clay minerals were carried out to understand diagenesis in the sandstones of the Jangseong Formation. The Jangseong sandstones are composed of 60% quartz (mainly monocrystalline quartz) and 36% clay matrix and cement with minor amounts of feldspar, lithic fragments and accessory minerals (less than 4%). Jangseong sandstones are classified mostly as quartzwackes and partly as lithic graywackes according to the scheme of Dott(1964). The textural relationships between authigenic minerals and cements in thin sections and SEM photomicrographs suggest the paragenetic sequence as follows; (1) mechanical compaction, (2) cementation by quartz overgrowth, (3) formation of authigenic clay minerals (illite, kaolinite), (4) dissolution of framework grains and development of secondary porosity, and (5) later-stage pore-filling by pyrophyllite. We propose that these diagenetic processes might be due to organic-inorganic interaction between the dominant framework grains and the formation water. The Al, Si ions and organic acid, derived from dewatering of interbedded organic-rich shale and coals, were transported into the Jangseong sandstones. This caused changes in the chemistry of the formation water of the sandstones, and resulted in overgrowth of quartz and precipitation of authigenic clay minerals of kaolinite and illite. The secondary pores, produced during dissolution of clay and framework grains by organic acid and $CO_2$ gas, were conduit for silica-rich solution into the Jangseong sandstones and the influx of silica-rich solution produced the late-stage pyrophyllite after the expanse of kaolinite. The origin of the solution that formed pyrophyllite is not likely to be the organic-rich formation water based on the observation of fracture-filling pyrophyllite in the Jangseong sandstones, but the process of pyrophyllite pore-filling was indirectly related to organic-inorganic interaction.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.1 s.176
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• pp.27-38
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• 2006

To understand the geologic and hydrogeochemical controls on the occurrence of high fluoride concentrations in bedrock groundwaters of South Korea, we examined a total of 367 hydrochemistry data obtained from deep groundwater wells (avg. depth=600 m) that were drilled fur exploitation of hot springs. The fluoride concentrations were generally very high (avg. 5.65mg/L) and exceeded the Drinking Water Standard (1.5 mg/L) in $72\%$ of the samples. A significant geologic control of fluoride concentrations was observed: the highest concentrations occur in the areas of granitoids and granitic gneiss, while the lowest concentrations in the areas of volcanic and sedimentary rocks. In relation to the hydrochemical facies, alkaline $Na-HCO_3$ type waters had remarkably higher F concentrations than circum-neutral to slightly alkaline $Ca-HCO_3$ type waters. The prolonged water-rock interaction occurring during the deep circulation of groundwater in the areas of granitoids and granitic gneiss is considered most important for the generation of high F concentrations. Under such condition, fluoride-rich groundwaters are likely formed through hydrogeochemical processes consisting of the removal of Ca from groundwater via calcite precipitation and/or cation exchange and the successive dissolution of plagioclase and F-bearing hydroxyl minerals (esp. biotite). Thus, groundwaters with high pH and very high Na/Ca ratio within granitoids and granitic gneiss are likely most vulnerable to the water supply problem related to enriched fluorine.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.5 s.174
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• pp.499-512
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• 2005

EPMA determined that Fe(Mn)-(oxy)hydroxides and well-crystallized Fe-(oxy)hydroxides and could contain a small amount of As $(0.3-11.0\;wt.\%\;and\;2.1-7.4\;wt.\%\;respectively)$. Amorphous crystalline Fe-(oxy) hydroxide assemblages were identified as the richest in As with $28-36\;wt.\%$. On the ternary $As_2O_5-SO_3-Fe_2O_3$ diagram, these materials were interpreted here as 'scorodite-like'. Dissolved As was attenuated by the adsorption on Fe-(oxy) hydroxides and Fe(Mn)-(oxy) hydroxides and/or the formation of an amorphous Fe-As phase (maybe scorodite: $FeAsO_4\cdot2H_2O$). Leaching tests were performed in order to find out leaching characteristics of As and Fe under acidic conditions. At the initial pHs 3 and 5, As contents dissolved from tailings of the cheongyang mine significantly increased after 7 days due to the oxidation of As-bearing secondary minerals (up to ca. $2.4\%$ of total), while As of Seobo mine-tailing samples was rarely released (ca. $0.0-0.1\%$ of total). Dissolution experiments at an initial pH 1 liberated a higher amount of As (ca. $1.1-4.2\%$ of total for Seobo tailings, $1.5-14.4\%$ of total for Cheongyang tailings). In addition, good correlation between As and Fe in leached solutions with tailings was observed. The kinetic problems could be the important factor which leads to increasing concentrations of As in the runoff water. Release of As from Cheongyang tailings can potentially pose adverse impact to surface and groundwater qualities in the surrounding environment, while precipitation of secondary minerals and the adsorption of As are efficient mechanisms for decreasing the mobilities of As in the surface environment of Seobo mine area.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.524-540
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• 2005

This study has focused on the amount of evaporites and geochemical characteritics of evaporites from the acid mine drainage and on the variation of constituents in acid mine drainage during evaporation. The various colors of evaporites are frequently observed at the rock surfaces contacting acid mine drainage. In order to produce evaporites in the laboratory, acid mine drainages were sampled from the abandoned mine areas (GTa, GTb, GH and GB) and air-dried at room temperature. During the evaporation of acid mine drainages, TDS, EC values and the concentrations of major and minor ions increased, whereas ER and DO values decreased with time. The concentration of Fe increased gradually with evaporation time in the GTb and GB, whereas GH founded in one day but rapidly not detected in the other day after due to removal of Fe by formation-precipitation of amorphous Fe hydroxide. The amounts of the evaporites were produced in amounts of 4 g (GTa), 5 g (GB), 15 g (GH), and 24 g (GTb) from 4 liter of acid mine drainage after 80 days of the evaporation, respectively. In linear analysis from the products with the parameters which are the EC, TDS, salinity, ER, DO and pH contents in field, the determination coefficients were 0.98, 0.99, 0.98, 0.88, 0.89, and 0.25 respectively. If we measure the parameters in field, it would be easy to estimate the amount of evaporites in acid mine drainage. Gypsum and epsomite were identified in all of the evaporites by x-ray powder diffraction studies. Evaporite (GTb) was heated at 52, 65, 70, 95, 150, 250, and 350oC for one hour in electrical furnaces. Gypsum, $CaSO_4\cdot1/2H_2O$ and kieserite were identified in the heated evaporite by XRD. With increased heating temperature, the intensity of the peak at $7.66/AA$ (diagnostic peak of gypsum), the peak at 5.59A ($CaSO_4{\cdot}1/2H_2O)$ and the peak at $4.83{\AA}$ (kieserite) decreased in x-ray diffraction due to dehydration. In the SEM and EDS analysis for the evaporite, gypsum of well-crystallized, radiating cluster of fibrous, acicular, and columnar shapes were observed in all samples. Ca was not detected in the EDS analysis of the flower structures of GTb. Because of that, the evaporite with flower structures is thought to be eposmite.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.4 s.50
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• pp.265-275
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• 2006

It is in its infancy to use bacteria as a novel biotechnology for leaching precious and heavy metals from raw materials. The objective of this study was to investigate biogeochemical processes of iron leaching from magnetite reduction by iron-reducing bacteria isolated from intertidal flat sediments, southwestern part of Korea. Microbial leaching experiments were performed using commercial magnetite, Aldrich magnetite, in well-defined mediums with and without bacteria. Water soluble Fe production was determined by ICP analysis of bioleached samples in comparison to uninoculated controls, and the resulting precipitated solids were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The extent of iron leaching from magnetite in the aerobic conditions (Fe = 107 ppm) was higher than that in the anaerobic environments (Fe = 94 ppm). In the anaerobic conditions, Fe(III) in commercial magnetite was also reduced to Fe(II), but no secondary mineral phases were observed. Amorphous iron oxides formed in the medium under aerobic conditions where there was sufficient supply of oxygen from the atmosphere. SEM observation suggests that the reduction process involves dissolution-precipitation mechanisms as opposed to solid state conversion of magnetite to amorphous iron oxides. The ability of bacteria to leach soluble iron and precipitate amorphous iron oxides from crystalline magnetite could have significant implications for biogeochemical processes in sediments where Fe(III) in magnetite plays an important role in the largest pool of electron acceptor as well as the tool as a novel biotechnology for leaching precious and heavy metals from raw materials.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2013

A column experiment was carried out to study the reaction of Cr(VI) with organic carbon. Chemical analysis for the effluent collected at different times after the reaction of Cr(VI) with organic carbon in compost and SEM observation for the solid samples remaining after the reaction were conducted. Cr(VI) supplied to the column was not detected in the effluent from column at initial stage, but the concentration of Cr(VI) increased abruptly and maintained the initial supplied concentration (20 mg/kg), indicating that Cr(VI) was effectively removed from the solution at the first state. In general, the concentrations of cations and anions with the exception of $PO_4$ increased and decreased again. Considering that most of these ions were not detected or showed very low concentration, these ions are considered to originate from the organic carbon in the column. SEM observation showed that Cr was coprecipitated with Fe on the surface of organic carbon with small amount of other metals such as Mn, No, and Co. This indicated that on the reduction condition on the organic carbon, Cr(VI) was reduced to $Cr(OH)_3$ and coprecipitated with $Fe(OH)_3$, and that Fe is very important in the precipitation of Cr. After the soluble Fe and Mn are not dissolved any more, $Cr(OH)_3$ is not precipitated. Different from other ions, the concentrations of $PO_4$ decreased and increased, which was thought to be the result of the release of $PO_4$ from organic carbon and sorption on the precipitates. After the maximum sorption on the precipitates and no further release of Fe, the concentration of $PO_4$ returns to its original value measured for the ones released from the organic carbon.