• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.5-11
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• 2012

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is one of the most severe environmental problem that results from the oxidation of pyrite $(FeS_2)$ and various other metal sulfides. In this study, the influence of microorganism was tested on the process where AMD was released and the method to inhibit AMD generated by microorganisms at abandoned mine area. The activity and growth rate of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, common microorganisms affecting AMD occurrence, were measured. Chlorine dioxide $(ClO_2)$, NaCl, or surfactant (ASOR-770) was used as an inhibitor for working on activity and growth of microorganism. Among the three inhibitors, 10ppm of chlorine dioxide was the most effective inhibitor for AMD control due to the reduced the activity and growth of microorganisms by 20%.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.15-22
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• 2011

In this study, the effect of surface coating on iron-sulfide mineral for preventing the product acid mine drainage(AMD) was progressed by oxidation process of sulfide minerals abandoned mine Area. Three abandoned mines, Yongdong coal mine, Sil Lim mine, and Il Koang mine were selected as a sulfide mineral resource due to higher contamination rate. Six coating agents, apatite, limestone, mangnite, dolomite, bentonite, and cement were used for preventing the AMD with $H_2O_2$ and NaClO as a oxidizing agent helping for oxidizing process on sulfide minerals. Experimental results showed that sulfide mineral surface was coated effectively. Cement has a higher ability of preventing AMD when the ratio of cement to mineralis 1:1 and experimental condition is maintaining 4Days.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.473-476
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• 2004

In this study, hydrochemical studies of thermal waters in the Bugok and Magumsan areas showing geothermal anomalies were carried, and the applicability of ion seothermometers and multiple mineral equilibrium approach was examined to estimate their potential deep reservoir temperatures. Typical thermal waters of the two areas are clearly grouped into two major types, according to water chemistry: Na-Cl type (group A) and Na-SO4 type (group D). Compared to group A, group B and C waters show some modifications in chemistry. Group E waters show the modified chemistry from group D. Geothermal waters from the two areas showed some different chemical characteristics. The thermal waters of group A and B in Magumsan area are typically neutral to alkaline (pH=6.7 to 8.1) and Cl-rich (up to 446.1 mg/L), while the waters of group D and E in Bugok area are alkaline (pH=7.6 to 10.0) and SO$_4$-rich (up to 188.0 mg/L). The group A (Na-Cl type) and group D (Na-SO$_4$ type) waters correspond to mature or partially immature water, whereas the other types are immature water. The genesis of geothermal waters are considered as follows: group A and B waters were formed by seawater infiltration into reservoir rocks along faults and fracture zones and possibly affected by fossil connate waters in lithologic units through which deep hot waters circulate; on the other hand, group D and E waters were formed by the oxidation of sulfide minerals (mainly pyrite) in surrounding sedimentary rocks and/or hydrothermal veins occurring along restricted fracture channels and were possibly affected by the input and subsequent oxidation of S-bearing gases (e.g. H2S) from deep thermal reservoir (probably, cooling pluton). The application of quartz, Na-K, K-Mg geothermometers to the chemistry of representative group A and D waters yielded a reasonable temperature estimate (99-147$^{\circ}C$ and 90-142$^{\circ}C$) for deep geothermal reservoir. Aqueous liquid-rich fluid inclusions in fracture calcites obtained from drillcores in Bugok area have an average homogenization temperature of 128$^{\circ}C$, which corresponds to the results from ion geothermometers. The multiple mineral equilibrium approach yielded a similar temperature estimate (105-135$^{\circ}C$ and 100-14$0^{\circ}C$). We consider that deep reservoir temperatures of thermal waters in the Magumsan and Bugok areas can be estimated by the chemistry of typical Na-Cl and Na-SO$_4$ type waters and possibly approach 105-135$^{\circ}C$ and 100-14$0^{\circ}C$.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2004

Metallic deposits in Korea have a variety of genetic types such as hydrothermal veins, skarns, hydrothermal replacement and alaskite deposits and so on. Geological, mineralogical and geochemical features including host rock, wall-rock alteration, ore and gangue mineralogy, mineral texture and secondary mineralogy related to weathering process control the environmental signatures of mining areas. The environmental signatures of metallic deposits closed from early 1970s to late 1990s in Korea show complicate geochemistry and mineralogy due to step weathering of primary and secondary minerals such as oxidation-precipitation-remobilization. The potentiality of low pH and high heavy metal Concentration s from acid mine drainage is great in base-metal deposits associated with polymetallic mineralization, breccia-pipe type and Cretaceous hydrothermal Au veins with the amount of pyrite whereas skam, hydrothermal replacement, hydrothermal Cu and Au-Ag vein deposits are in low contamination possibility. The geoenvironmental models reflecting the various geologic features closely relate to disuibution of sulfides and carbonates and their ratios and finally effect on characteristics of environmental signatures such as heavy metal species and their concentrations in acid mine drainage.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.463-472
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• 1998

The survey was carried out in order to delineate the occurrence of ore deposits and the mineralized characteristics in the Estancia de la Virgen area through the 1:2,000 scaled geological mapping and topographic measuring surveys. Gold-silver mineralization is in the fault block developed between the San Agustin Fault and Cabanas Fault. It is associated with ore bearing quartz veins controlled by the fault structure. The contents of Au and Ag range from traces up to 72 g/t and 180 g/t respectively. According to traversing the outcrops, the quartz veins are traced by 0.5 Km trended to north and south. In those extended part, they continue for 1,000 m intermittently. Gold-silver mineralization could be divided into three stages. In the first stage, pyrite, galena, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite were formed with the primary silver and gold associated with galena and copper sulfides respectively. In the second stage, Cu-Bi-Au-Ag bearing sulfides such as chalcocite, covellite, and linarite are formed and usually deposited on the cataclastic fractures of galena and/or chalcopyrite. In the third stage, both the carbonation of galena and sphalerite and the sulphatization of galena, took place in the surface environment. And then primary silver was carried away off and was deposited on galena and/or copper sulfides during oxidation near the water table. Low partitionings of Fe in sphalerite assist that the minerals were formed at the relatively low temperature, which is coincided with previously reported homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 1992

A Potential acid sulfate soil derived from continental Holocene deposits on the fan-base was found and it was characterized with improvement practices. Artesian wells were scattered in the area, and the imperfectly drained soils were featured by having fine loamy with 7~30% of gravels. The potential acid sulfate soil layers were typified by having darkness in color with around 3.3~3.8% of O.M. and 0.34~0.41% of total sulfur. Soil pH ranged from 3.4 to 3.8 but it was decreased to 1.9~2.5 after oxidation with $H_2O_2$. Ground water sprang out from an artesian well contained a high amount of minerals such as Na, Ca, Mg, K, etc. and about 80ppm of sulfate which seemed to be responsible for pyrite formation. The soil was classified to member of "Fine loamy, mixed, acid, mesic, sulfic Haplaquepts" in taxonomically, and "weak potential acid sulfate soils" in interpretatively. The installation of tile drains with adding fine earth and liming were effective. However, the pH goes down to 4.8 again after 3 years of improvement practices.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.15 no.4 s.42
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• pp.391-405
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• 2005

Chemical and isotopic analysis for stream water, shallow groundwater, intermediate groundwater and deep groundwater was carried out to grasp hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Heunghae area, Pohang city. Water type of stream water and shallow groundwaters is typified as Ca-Cl type, intermediate groundwater is $Na-HCO_3$, and deep groundwater is prominent in Wa-Cl type. $HCO_3^-\;and\;SiO_2$ in shallow groundwater are originated from weathering of silicate minerals, whereas those of deep groundwaters are resulted from weathering of carbonate minerals. Ca and Mg ions in both shallow and deep groundwaters are resulted from weathering of calcite and dolomite. $SO_4^{2-}$ in shallow groundwater is originated mainly from pyrite oxidation. As well depth increases, pH and TDS increase, but Eh and DO decrease. Alkali metal contents(K, Na, Li) increases as well depth increases, but alkali earth metal(Mg, Ca) and hi concentrations increase as well depth decreases. Anions, halogen elements(F, Cl, Br), and $HCO_3$ contents increase as well depth increases. The average stable isotope value of the groundwater of each depth is as follows; deep groundwater: ${\delta}^{18}O=-10.1\%o,\;{\delta}D=-65.8\%_{\circ}$, intermediate groundwater: ${\delta}^{18}O=-8.9\%_{\circ},\;{\delta}D=-59.6\%_{\circ}$, shallow groungwater : ${\delta}^{18}O=-8.0\%_{\circ},\;{\delta}D=-53.6\%_{\circ}$, surface water : ${\delta}^{18}O=-7.9\%_{\circ},\;{\delta}D=-53.3\%_{\circ}$ respectively.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2008

pH and Eh were measured at 25 points in the abandoned Dalcheon mine. And, major ion components $(Na^+,\;K^+,\;Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+},\;Cl^-,\;SO_4^{2-},\;CO_3^{2-},\;HCO_3^-)$ were analyzed through groundwater sampling at 41 points. pH and Eh were measured the highest concentration in serpentinite area. And, pH was between weak alkaline and intermediate values in study area. Groundwater in study area was dominated oxidation-reduction environment caused by reaction with carbonate rock. Because sulfur components contained in carbonate, serpentinite, arsenopyrite and pyrite was dissolved by groundwater, $SO_4^{2-}$ component was high in study area. And $Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+}$ of cations were high. Correlation coefficients of ion components in tailing dumps were 0.95 between $Ca^{2+}\;and\;SO_4^{2-}$, 0.86 between $Ca^{2+}\;and\;Mg^{2+}$, 0.85 between $Mg^{2+}\;and\;SO_4^{2-}$. Correlation coefficients of ion components in bedrock were 0.86 between $Mg^{2+}\;and\;SO_4^{2-}$, 0.68 between $Ca^{2+}\;and\;SO_4^{2-}$. Concentration range of $Ca^{2+}$ in tailing dumps was $6.85{\sim}323.58mg/L,\;and\;3.18{\sim}207.20mg/L$ in bedrock. Concentration range of $SO_4^{2-}$ in tailing dumps was $21.54{\sim}1673.17mg/L,\;and\;2.04{\sim}1024.64mg/L$ in bedrock. By the result of Piper diagram analysis with aquifer material, groundwater in tailing dumps was $Ca-SO_4$ type. Groundwater quality types with bedrock material were Mg-$SO_4$ and Mg-$HCO_3$ types in serpentinite area, Ca-$HCO_3$ type in carbonate area, Na-K and $CO_3+HCO_3$ types in hornfels, respectively. As a result of this study, groundwater in tailing dumps were dissolved $Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+}\;and\;SO_4^{2-}$ components with high concentration. Also, these ion components were transported into bedrock aquifer.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.185-199
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• 1998

Hydrogeochemical and environmental isotope studies were undertaken for various kinds of water samples collected in 1995-1996 from the Bugok geothermal area. Physicochemical data indicate the occurrence of three distinct groups of natural water: Group I ($Na-S0_4$ type water with high temperatures up to $77^{\circ}C$, occurring from the central part of the geothermal area), Group II (warm $Na-HCO_{3}-SO_{4}$ type water, occurring from peripheral sites), Group III ($Ca-HCO_3$ type water, occurring as surface waters and/or shallow cold groundwaters). The Group I waters are further divided into two SUbtypes: Subgroup Ia and Subgroup lb. The general order of increasing degrees of hydrogeochemical evolution (due to the degrees of water-rock interaction) is: Group III$\rightarrow$Group II$\rightarrow$Group I. The Group II and III waters show smaller degrees of interaction with rocks (largely calcite and Na-plagioclase), whereas the Group I waters record the stronger interaction with plagioclase, K-feldspar, mica, chlorite and pyrite. The concentration and sulfur isotope composition of dissolved sulfate appear as a key parameter to understand the origin and evolution of geothermal waters. The sulfate was derived not only from oxidation of sedimentary pyrites in surrounding rocks (especially for the Subgroup Ib waters) but also from magmatic hydrothermal pyrites occurring in restricted fracture channels which extend down to a deep geothermal reservoir (typically for the Subgroup Ia waters). It is shown that the applicability of alkaliion geothermometer calculations for these waters is hampered by several processes (especially the mixing with Mg-rich near-surface waters) that modify the chemical composition. However, the multi-component mineral/water equilibria calculation and available fluid inclusion data indicate that geothermal waters of the Bugok area reach temperatures around $125^{\circ}C$ at deep geothermal reservoir (possibly a cooling pluton). Environmental isotope data (oxygen-18, deuterium and tritium) indicate the origin of all groups of waters from diverse meteoric waters. The Subgroup Ia waters are typically lower in O-H isotope values and tritium content, indicating their derivation from distinct meteoric waters. Combined with tritium isotope data, the Subgroup Ia waters likely represent the older (at least 45 years old) meteoric waters circuated down to the deep geothermal reservoir and record the lesser degrees of mixing with near-surface waters. We propose a model for the genesis and evolution of sulfate-rich geothermal waters.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.397-416
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• 1992

In the present study, three clay deposits, named the Seongsan, Ogmaesan and Haenam deposits, were investigated. The altered zones are recognized in the hydrothermally altered rocks of the clay deposits from the center of the alteration to the margin: Kaolin, Kaolin-Quartz, Quartz, Sericite and Chlorite zones in the Seongsan deposits; Quartz zone, Alunite zone, Kaolin zone, Sericite zone and Chlorite zone in the Ogmaesan deposits; Quartz zone, Pyrophyllite zone, Sericite zone and Chlorite zone in the Haenam deposits. These zones can be grouped into two types of alteration: Acidic alteration such as Pyrophyllite zone, Alunite zone, Quartz zone, Kaolin zone, Kaolin-Quartz zone and a part of Sericite zone; Propylitic alteration such as Chlorite zone and a part of Sericite zone. All clay deposits belong to high-sulfidation (acid-sulfate) system. The rocks of the acidic alterations are composed of pyrophyllite, alunite, kaolin minerals, sericite, quartz and pyrite. On the basis of bulk chemical compositions, it was found that some components such as $SiO_2$, $TiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3$, FeO, MgO, CaO, $K_2O$ and $Na_2O$ were mobilized considerably from the original rocks. The mobility of these major elements is related to, and controls, mineral assemblages in each altered zone. Polytypes of sericite are determined as $2M_1$ and 1M by X-ray diffraction method. The amount of $2M_1$ is nearly equal to that of 1M in the Seongsan deposits whereas $2M_1$ is less and higher than that of 1M in the Ogmaesan and the Haenam deposits. These facts indicate that formation temperature of sericite is relatively high in the Haenam deposits, moderate in the Seongsan deposits, and low in the Ogmaesan deposits. The ratios of Na/(K+Na) for alunite in the Ogmaesan deposits determined by electron microprobe analyzer (EPMA) are higher than those in the Seongsan deposits. Thus, the alunite of the Ogmaesan deposits must have been formed from the solutions with relatively high aqueous Na/(K+Na) ratios and low pH at a high temperature rather than that of the Seongsan deposits. From all data, it is clarified that alunite is hypogene in origin, and has been formed by oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in the steam-heated environment, and that alunite has been produced by the spectacular solfataric alteration observed at the surface of some present-day hydrothermal systems.