• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2001

With reducing coal mining industry the number of coal mine sites between 1988 and 1998 was dropped from 347 to 12. Since the abandoned coal mine sites have been kept without any cares, they have raised various environmental and safety problems. Then, Korean government initiated a special law in 1995 for enhancing economic conditions and solving environmental problems with promoting developmental projects in the abandoned mining sites. As a result, casino business in Chungsun area has been opened to publics, and other large-scale developments such as ski slopes and resorts are planned. In addition, Boryung area in Chungchung province also will launch a large-scale project building golf courses. Based on this developmental trend, it is expected that lots of large-scale developments in other places will be taken place. In general, the large-scale developments have caused various environmental problems, and, thus, environmental aspects should be considered in a decision-making process. This paper examine the status of the abandoned mine sites in Korea and U.S. and suggests the alternatives of its utilization.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.95-107
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• 2023

In this study, the effect of repeated traffic vibration on the long-term stability of mine openings is analyzed for re-utilization of abandoned mine galleries. The research mine in this study is an underground limestone mine which is developed by room-and-pillar mining method, and a dynamic numerical analysis is performed assuming that the research mine will be utilized as a logistics warehouse. The actual traffic vibration generated by the mining vehicles is measured directly, and its waveform is used as input data for dynamic numerical analysis, As a results of dynamic numerical analysis, after 20,000 repetitions of traffic vibration, the mine openings is analyzed to be stable, but an increase in the maximum principal stress and an additional area of plastic zone are observed in the analysis section. As shown in the changes of displacement, volumetric strain, and maximum principal stress which are measured at the mine opening walls. It is confirmed that if the repeated traffic vibration is continuously applied, the instability of the mine openings can be increased. Authors expect that the results of this study can be used as a reference for basic study on utilization of abandoned mine.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.737-753
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• 2023

Abandoned mines represent unused space resulting from resource use and changes in industrial environments. Efforts are underway to repurpose such underground spaces, leveraging their unique attributes of temperature stability, shading, and security. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of operating high-demand data centers and public sports facilities as potential recycling options for abandoned mine spaces. The status of data centers located in abandoned mines abroad was examined, including their operational technology capitalizing on the advantages of underground spaces. Considering the varying sizes of underground spaces in different types of abandoned mine in South Korea, the suitability of installing facilities for 12 different sports was evaluated for potential contributions to the health and welfare of local residents. The utilization of abandoned mine spaces as data centers and public sports facilities is expected to not only recycle industrial heritage but also to allow new development opportunities for local communities.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.218-224
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• 2010

The purpose of this case study is to analyze the environmental and sociological impacts on a golf course construction at the damaged area of a previous limestone mine. Due to a long term of the open-pit mining, that site had been abandoned with geographical and ecological destruction before it was renovated to Ostar Danyang public golf course. This study is focused on the review of restoring the ecosystem through golf course construction procedures. Literature surveys of restoration through golf course construction in Japan and Canada were analyzed the procedure of utilization of previously existed lime mine. The sociological and environmental changes before and after construction were compared and analyzed. Environmental impacts on geographical, animal and plant ecology, and water quality were not affected or significantly improved after golf course construction from the mining site existed before. The local economy was also improved by increasing employment of resident and tax payment to local government. The construction of golf course could be one of the typical alternatives of ecological restoration of abandoned lime mine. Moreover in this project, minimizing the environmental impacts on surrounding ecosystem was emphasized by a larger size of developing construction. The harmonious lay-out on nature and artificial landscape were also considered a very first stage of construction procedure.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.412-428
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• 2012

To achieve mine development, a large amount of data concerned with the geological structure and the ore body had to be investigated and collected through geological survey, drilling and geophysical explorations. In most previous cases, however, the data were usually analyzed two dimensionally and those results showed some limits because of their 2D presentation. Those 2D maps such as geological plane sections or longitudinal sections cause lots of difficulties in understanding the complex geological structure or the feature of ore body in a spatial way. In this study, research area was set on the abandoned Yangyang iron mine in Korea and the Sugaeng ore body within the mine was selected as the research target to design a mine haulage system for reopening. A 3D mine model of this area was tried to be constructed using a 3D modelling software, GEMS. An accurate 3D model including the ore body, the geological structure, the old underground mine drifts and the new mine drifts was constructed under the purpose of reopening of the abandoned iron mine. Especially, mine design for trackless haulage system was conducted. New inclines and drifts were planned and modelled 3 dimensionally considering the utilization of old drifts and shaft. In addition to the 3D modelling, geostatistical technique was adopted to generate a spatial distribution of the ore grade and the rock physical properties. 3D model would be able to contribute in solving problems such as evaluating ore reserves, planning the mine development and additional explorations and changing the development plans, etc.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.189-195
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• 1973

With the gradual expansion of copper demands, the utilization of enormous tonnages of waste copper mineral containig up to 0.5% copper becomes available. In order to investigate the possibilities on the application of bacterial leaching method to waste dumps or abandoned mines, the authors had carried out microbial leaching of copper minerals by F.ferrooxidans isolated from the Dalsung copper mine water. The results obtained were as follows : 1. The copper extraction rate from the Dalsung chalcopyrite has been a little accerelated by using flasks in place of percolators. 2. The percentage of copper extracted from the Dalsung chalcopyrite sample was 100% in 30 days in the presence of iron-oxidizing bacteria F.ferrooxidans while 9.27% in the absence of bacteria. 3. F.ferroxidans was capable of producing sufficient quantities of ferric sulfate and sulfuric acid from ferrous iron to bring about the dissolution of 100% of copper from the Dalsung chalcopyrite.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.80-88
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• 2017

Globally, there has been a lot of research related to recycling coal ash from power plant stations. This research is happening because there is a considerable shortage of sites for reclamation of increased coal ash every year. In addition, a variety of environmental pollutants have appeared because of mining activity. Abandoned coal mine, pits, and mine tailing piles caused pollutants to come to the surface resulting in serious damage for humans and the environment. Therefore in this study, we investigated whether or not coal ashes have the ability to prevent several environmental problems by mining in Korea and a manageable form recycling coal ashes. In overseas countries, there is a sufficient field of applicable cases where coal ash is used for neutralizing AMD (Acid Mine Drainage), covering of the waste materials, grouting, and soil amendments. However in Korea, since the coal ash is classified as a 'waste', there is an insufficient field applicable cases so far. Therefore it is necessary to establish a specific standard and management system for the utilization of coal ash based on the relevant precedent cases applied abroad in order to prevent environmental pollution caused by mining activity in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.864-871
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• 2010

At the current situation of continuous utilization of heavy metal contaminated upland for agricultural purpose in Korea, minimizing transport of heavy metals from soil to crops is important for securing safety of human health. The present study (in field scale) examined the efficiency of several soil amendments (dolomite, steel slag, lime, zeolite, and compost) on reduction of phytoavailable heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in soil through comparison with no amendment treatment and clean soil cover treatment. For determination of the phytoavailability, 1 M $NH_4NO_3$ extraction and red pepper cultivation were introduced. Among the amendments, in general, dolomite and steel slag were the most effective in reduction of metal (Cd, Pb, and Zn) phytoavailability resulting in less accumulation of these metals in shoot and fruit of red pepper. However, dolomite and steel slag treatment was not as effective as clean soil cover treatment which showed the least metal accumulation in red pepper fruit. Nevertheless, with taking into account the cost, treatment of dolomite or steel slag can be competitive method because the current study showed that dolomite or steel slag treatment reduced accumulated heavy metal concentration effectively in both shoot and fruit of red pepper compared to those from control soil and the concentration in fruit was within the standard value (<0.2 mg $kg^{-1}$ for both Cd and Pb).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.74-83
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• 2010

This study is a development plan of a resort in a regional center that aims to generate tourism consumptions that have ripple effects on the regional economy by developing abandoned mine complexes in Daechon. Thanks to economic growth, the public awareness of tourism has changed. Hence, want for tourism influences development and advancement of recreational spaces, combining with various cultural contents. Development associated with environmental issues caused by modernization has become a major issue. At this point, to rediscover and specialize industrial complexes of bygone days as tourism resources signifies regeneration of regional resources. This study aims to find a solution for appropriate tourism development as part of the measures to revitalize the regional economy in underdeveloped areas and to improve the polluted environment. The result of the study is summarized as follows: First, in regional development alongside the development of a resort complex, it is important to construct environmental similarities. Minimizing differences in landscape structures is especially necessary because it will cause tourism resources in a regional center to be naturally linked to regional activities. These will then be recognized as attractions in the neighborhood. Therefore, it is desirable to reflect a spatial structure for environmental convergence, and, at the same time, to fulfill operation purposes by space through differentiation of movement lines. Second, in utilization of existing environmental resources, it is desirable to express localities and to develop differentiated elements. Facilities should not be homogenized, attaching importance to trends. Therefore, in establishing a development plan, it is important to have an attitude to accept existing roles and functions in a transformative manner. Third, recreational facilities in resort spaces generally have the problems of being uniformly planned as part of a development project and being limited to landscape facilities. Introduction of specialized facilities that can be reconciled with the regional environment and that can be open influences the landscape structure of the entire region and brings ripple effects as key facilities for activation of tourism.