• Resources Recycling
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.49-56
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• 2021

In this study, using strontium sulfate (SrSO₄) recovered from magnetite ore in Hongcheon, the Black Ash process was used to produce strontium carbonate (SrCO₃). In the carbothermic reaction step, SrSO₄ was reacted with carbon (C) at 1273 K under Ar gas atmosphere using a gas-tight quartz reactor to produce strontium sulfide (SrS). Afterward, water leaching of the residues produced from the carbothermic reaction at 353 K and carbonation of the leaching solution using sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) at 298 K were conducted to produce SrCO₃. The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of the production of SrCO₃ via the Black Ash process using domestic magnetite ore containing strontium (Sr).

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2022

Mackinawite (FeS), as a ubiquitous reduced iron mineral, is known as a key controller of redox reactions in anaerobic subsurface environment. The reaction of FeS with redox-sensitive toxic element such as arsenic is substantially affected by pH conditions of the given environments. In this study, the interaction of As(V) with FeS was studied under strict anaerobic conditions with various pH conditions. The pH-dependent arsenic removal tests were conducted under wide ranges of pH conditions and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was applied to investigate the reaction mechanisms under pH 5, 7, and 9. The removal efficiency of FeS for As(V) showed the higher removal of As(V) under low pH conditions and its removal efficiency decreased with increasing pH, and no As(V) reduction was observed in 1 g/L FeS solution. However, XAS analysis indicated the reduction of As(V) to As(III) occurred during reaction between FeS and As(V). The reduced form of As(III) was particularly identified as an arsenic sulfide mineral (As₂S₃) in all pH conditions (pH 5, 7, and 9). As₂S₃ precipitation was more pronounced in pH 5 where the solubility of FeS is higher than in other pH conditions. The linear combination fitting results of XAS demonstrated that As(V) removal mechanism is concerted processes of As₂S₃ precipitation and surface complexation of both arsenic species.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.73-80
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• 2022

This study investigated the mineralogical characteristics and basic flotation properties of domestic molybdenum ores. The source mineral of molybdenum was identified as molybdenite, and the main gangue minerals in the raw ore were silicate minerals. Copper, lead, and zinc were also found in trace amounts. Based on the results of basic flotation properties, molybdenite's zeta potential showed negative charges in all pH ranges. The contact angle of molybdenite increased with pH, reaching a maximum of 74° at pH 9. In optimal conditions, the grade and recovery of the concentrate by unit flotation were MoS2 82.4% and 92.04%, respectively. Further investigation of the impurities in the concentrate revealed a sulfide mineral with surface characteristics similar to molybdenite and silicate minerals combined with molybdenite, which may degrade the quality of the concentrate. To improve the concentrate quality, we intend to control silicate minerals through regrinding and liberation and use column flotation to improve fine particle separation efficiency.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.411-424
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• 2013

Assessment and damage reduction strategy of acidic rock drainage were conducted in a section of ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ highway construction site. The geology of the studied section consists of Icheonri sandstone and intermediate to acidic volcanic rocks. Sulfides occur as a disseminated type in sandstone and volcanics which were altered by the hydrothermal solution of granite intrusion. Volcanics and sandstone with a high content of sulfide were classified as a potentially acid rock drainage(ARD) forming rock. The drainage originated from those rocks may acidify and contaminate the surrounding area during the highway construction. Therefore, the drainage should be treated before it is discharged. A slope landslide hazard due to the ARD was also expected and the coating technology was recommended for the reduction of ARD generation as a preemptive measure before reinforcement work for enhancing slope stability such as shotcrete and anchor. According to the ARD risk analysis, those rocks should not be used as cement aggregate, but only to be used as a bank fill material of a filling-up system that allows minimal contact with rainfall and groundwater.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.1 s.176
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• pp.75-82
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• 2006

Acid drainage occurs when sulfide minerals are exposed to an oxidizing environment. The objective of this study was to examine the optimum condition for creating a phosphate coating on standard pyrite surfaces for reduction of pyrite oxidation. The solution of $10^{-2}M\;KH_2PO_4,\;10^{-2}M\;H_2O_2$ was identified as the best phosphate coating agent for the reduction of pyrite oxidation. The formation of an iron phosphate coating on pyrite surfaces was confirmed with ore microscope and scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The temperature did not significantly affect the formation of phosphate coating on the surface of pyrite. However, the phosphate coating was less stable at higher temperature than at lower temperature. The phosphate coating was quitely stable at wide range of pH and $H_2O_2$ concentration. The less than $3.4\%$ of phosphate was dissolved at pH 2.79 and 10.64 and less than $1.0\%$ of phosphate was dissolved at 0.1M $H_2O_2$. On the basis of these results, the phosphate coating can effectively reduce the negative environmental impact of acid rock drainage.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-46
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• 2018

Traditional inorganic pigments applied to dancheong, buddhist painting, and wall painting were produced from natural minerals which were later replaced by synthetic pigments, resulting in the loss of the recipe to prepare mineral pigments. This study examined the domestic occurrence and mineralogical characteristics of green and blue mineral pigments required for the conservation of cultural heritage. Cuprous green-blue mineral pigments were found as the weathering products of waste dumps and ores of abandoned Cu-Pb-Zn sulfide mines. Mineralogical analyses using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy identified diverse hydrous copper sulfate pigments of green (brochantite and devilline) and blue color (linarite, bechererite, and schulenbergite) with minor green pigments of antlerite and atacamite commonly associated with cerussite, smithsonite, anglesite, and cuprite. Noerok, a green silicate pigment, replaced the fractured basalt lava. Celadonite was responsible for the green color of Noerok, closely associated with opal in varying ratio. Glauconite, green silicate pigment, was identified in the Yellow Sea sediments. Malachite and azurite, the most important green and blue pigments of Korean cultural heritage, were not identified in this study.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.305-313
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• 2010

Mineralogical characteristics of Cu-Co ores from the Central African Copperbelt in the Democratic Repblic of Congo are studied using powder X-ray diffractometer, general area detector X-ray diffractometer, and electron proble microanalyzer. Black ores are mainly composed of heterogenite (cobalt oxide/hydroxide mineral) and malachite (copper carbonate mineral), whereas green ores are only composed of malachite. Heterogenite shows very bright white color under the reflected microscope, and belongs to 3R polytype, because it has d-spacings at $4.39{\AA}$ and $2.316{\AA}$. Since NiO and $Fe_20_3$ content of heterogenite are lower than those of 3R polytype from other localities, it cannot completely exclude the presence of 2H polytype in heterogenite from this study. Malachite is light grey color under the reflected microscope with approximate chemical formula of $Cu_{1.97}Co_{0.02}Fe^{2+}{_{0.01}}CO_3(OH)_2$. Heterogenite and malachite were probably formed at the supergene emichment stage, the last mineralization stage in the Central African Copperbelt. Cobalt seems to be much more emiched in the black supergene (oxy)hydroxide ore than those in the primary sulfide ore.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.14-23
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• 2021

To investigate the potential for leaching of heavy metals by bacteria from ores stacked on actual mining sites, leaching tests of a complex metallic ore (Pb-Zn-As ore) were conducted over 60 days using acidophile bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans under initial acidic conditions. Initially, a small amount of heavy metals was leached due to the initial acidic conditions. After 20 days, when A. thiooxidans in the reactor was adapted to the ore, the amount of leached heavy metals rapidly increased; the concentrations of leached arsenic, iron, and zinc reached a maximum of 2800, 3700, and 2500 mg/L, respectively. On the other hand, in the presence of A. ferrooxidans or in the control test without bacteria, heavy metals, except zinc, were barely detected in leaching. Through this study, it was confirmed that (i) bacteria could leach heavy metals at mining sites under acidic conditions and (ii) leaching of heavy metals from a high arsenic-containing ore by A. thiooxidans was more significant than that by A. ferrooxidans.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.19 no.spc
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• pp.163-173
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• 1986

Black and graphite slates from the Okcheon metamorphic belt contain enriched values of uranium (average 200~250ppm) and molybdenum (average 150~200ppm). Uranium mineralization is closely associated with quartz and sulfide veinlets which are formed diagenetically in graphite slate. The uranium minerals were concentrated in outer part of graphite nodules. The ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of organic carbon from the metasediments including uranium bearing graphite slate range from -15.2 to -26.1‰ with a mean of -23.5‰. Meanwhile, ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of coal and coaly shale from some Paleozoic coal fields of South Korea vary from -19.4 to -23.9‰ with an average of -22.5‰. Isotopic compositions of vein calcite in uranium bearing slate range from -13.4 to -15.4‰ in ${\delta}^{13}C$ and +11.3 to +15.1‰ in ${\delta}^{18}O$ could indicate a reduced organic carbon source isotopically exchanged with a graphite of biogenic origin. Metamorphic temperature determined by a calcite-graphite isotope geothermometer was 383~$433^{\circ}C$ which corresponded to greenschist facies by Miyashiro (1973) and is consistent with metamorphic facies estimated by mineral assemblages (Lee, et al., 1981, and Kim, 1971). The fixation of uranyl species by carbonaceous matter in marine epicontinental environment, and remobilization of organouranium by diagenetic processes have attributed to the enrichment of uranium and heavy metals in the graphite slate of Okcheon metamorphic belt.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1990

A couple of Au-Ag-bearing epithermal quartz veins of Cretaceous(87.9Ma) in age are developed in the Cretaceous(112Ma) granodiorite batholith which was emplaced in Mesozoic Baegyari sedimentary formation. Au minerals consist mostly of electrum with a 54.2-61.9 wt% Au and are closely associated with sulfide minerals including pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, galena and sphalerite. Homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions in quartz, fluorite and calcite are $196-368^{\circ}C$ (avg. $240^{\circ}C$), $74-176^{\circ}C$ (avg. $115^{\circ}C$) and $75-200^{\circ}C$ (avg. $119^{\circ}C$) respectively. Sulfur isotopic compositions( +5- +8‰) of ore sulfides indicate a deep-seated sulfur origin. Oxygen isotope compositions of different stages of quartz vary from +5.6 to +9.3‰ and calculated ${\delta}^{18}O$ values of ore fluid at $250^{\circ}C$ range from -3.2 to +0.4‰, reflecting an isotopically evolved ore fluid mixed with a $^{18}O$ depleted meteoric water under the variable mixing ratios between hydrothermal and meteoric waters. Isotopic data of calcite minerals support the above conclusions.