• Title/Summary/Keyword: acid mine drainage (AMD)

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Application of geophysical and geochemical methods to investigation of AMD environment (AMD 환경평가를 위한 지구물리${\cdot}$지구화학탐사의 적용사례)

  • Kim Jisoo;Han Soohyung;Choi Sanghoon;Lee Pyeongkoo
    • 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2005.05a
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    • pp.267-272
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    • 2005
  • Geophysical surveys were performed in three abandoned mines: Jangpoong, Kwangyang, Imchon. The main objectives of the researches include delineating the pathways of leachate from acid mine drainage(AMD), mapping buried rock wastes and tailings, detecting drainage pipes, and investigating the gallery and membrane, if they exist, Geophysical responses were well correlated with the results from water sample data(i.e., pH, EC, heavy metal contents, $SO_4^{-2}$). Main pathways of the leachate were successfully detected in electrical resistivity sections and self-potential(SP) profiles, whereas waste rocks, drainage pipes, and membranes were effectively located by incorporating seismic refraction, electrical resistivity and GPR methods.

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Case Studies of Geophysical Mapping of Hazard and Contaminated Zones in Abandoned Mine Lands (폐광 부지의 재해 및 오염대 조사관련 물리탐사자료의 고찰)

  • Sim, Min-Sub;Ju, Hyeon-Tae;Kim, Kwan-Soo;Kim, Ji-Soo
    • The Journal of Engineering Geology
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.525-534
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    • 2014
  • Environmental problems typically occurring in abandoned mine lands (AML) include: contaminated and acidic surface water and groundwater; stockpiled waste rock and mill tailings; and ground subsidences due to mining operations. This study examines the effectiveness of various geophysical techniques for mapping potential hazard and contaminated zones. Four AML sites with sedimentation contamination problems, acid mine drainage (AMD) channels, ground subsidence, manmade liner leakage, and buried mine tailings, were selected to examine the applicability of various geophysical methods to the identification of the different types of mine hazards. Geophysical results were correlated to borehole data (core samples, well logs, tomographic profiles, etc.) and water sample data (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and heavy metal contents). Zones of low electrical resistivity (ER) corresponded to areas contaminated by heavy metals, especially contamination by Cu, Pb, and Zn. The main pathways of AMD leachate were successfully mapped using ER methods (low anomaly peaks), self-potential (SP) curves (negative peaks), and ground penetrating radar (GPR) at shallow penetration depths. Mine cavities were well located based on composite interpretations of ER, seismic tomography, and well-log records; mine cavity locations were also observed in drill core data and using borehole image processing systems (BIPS). Damaged zones in buried manmade liners (used to block descending leachate) were precisely detected by ER mapping, and buried rock waste and tailings piles were characterized by low-velocity zones in seismic refraction data and high-resistivity zones in the ER data.

Geochemical speciation of dissolved heavy metals in acid mine drainage: effects of pH and total concentration

  • Jung, Hun-Bok;Yun, Seong-Taek;Kwon, Jang-Soon;So, Chil-Sup;Lee, Pyeong-Koo
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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    • 2003.09a
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    • pp.404-408
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    • 2003
  • In this study, we examined the influences of pH and total concentration on the speciation of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn) in acid mine drainage. Their labile concentrations were analyzed by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) at both natural pH and adjusted pHs (from 2 to 8). We obtained regression equations for predicting labile concentrations as a function of the water pH and contamination level (total dissolved metal concentration). Our data show that labile Cu depends on both the total concentration and pH, while labile Cd and Zn concentrations are controlled mainly by their total concentration rather than pH. Therefore, the pH variation of AMD may significantly change the toxicity and bioavailability especially of Cu, owing to its speciation change.

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Evaluation of Heavy Metal Contamination in Geochemical Environment around the Abandoned Coal Mine - With special reference to geochemical environment around the Imgok Creek in the Gangreung Coal Field - (폐석탄광 주변 지구화학적 환경의 중금속 오염 평가 - 강릉탄전 임곡천 일대를 중심으로 -)

  • Chon, Hyo-Taek;Kim, Ju-Yong;Choi, Si-Young
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.31 no.6
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    • pp.499-508
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    • 1998
  • The Imgok Creek is located in the Gangreung coal field, which has been known that sulfides are more abundant than other coal fields in Korea, and it has been severly contaminated by acid mine drainage (AMD) discharging from the abandoned coal mines, such as the Youngdong, the Dongduk and the Waryong coal mines. The purposes of this study are to synthetically assess the contamination of natural water, stream sediment and cultivated soils, and to provide the basic data for AMD treatment. Geochemical samples were collected in December, 1996 (dry season) and April, 1997 (after three day's rainfall). TDS of the Youngdong mine water was remarkably higher than those of other mine waters. In the Imgok Creek, concentrations of most elements, except Fe decreased with distance by dilution caused by the inflow of uncontaminated tributaries. From the results of NAMDI and $I_{geo}$ calculation, the Youngdong coal mine was the main contamination source of the study area. Groundwater pollution was not yet confirmed in this study and the paddy and farm land soils were also not yet contaminated by mining activity based on the pollution index ranging from 0.27 to 0.47.

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A Case Study of Mine Environmental Restoration using Coal Ash (발전회를 이용한 광산환경 복원사례 연구)

  • Yoo, Jong-Chan;Ji, Sang-Woo;Ahn, Ji-Whan;Kim, Chun-Sik;Shin, Hee-Young
    • 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.

Characteristics of the Dalseong Acid Mine Drainage and the Role of Schwertmannite (달성폐광산 산성광산배수의 발달특징과 슈베르트마나이트의 역할)

  • Choo, Chang-Oh;Jeong, Gyo-Cheol;Lee, Jin-Kook
    • The Journal of Engineering Geology
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    • v.17 no.2 s.52
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    • pp.187-196
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    • 2007
  • The Dalseong acid mine drainage were studied focused on the characters of schwertmannite that controls geochemistry of the stream. Besides chemical analysis of stream water, particle size analysis, XRD SEM and TEM were performed on precipitates of streams and on wasted metalliferous ores. The AMD discharged from the abandoned mine reveals a decrease of pH and EC downward stream. Euhedral sulfur occurs as equigranular aggregates on the altered pyrite while fine acicula goethite coalesces to form cross, star, or starfish-like shapes. Water chemistry plotted on the Eh-pH diagram shows that schwertmannite and ferrihydrite are stable phases. Reddish brown precipitates consist of mostly schwertmannite with less goethite, whereas yellowish brown precipitates are composed of geothite with less schwertmannite. The particle size of precipitates ranges $d(0.1)\;0.861{\mu}m{\sim}3.769{\mu}m,\;d(0.5)\;3.984{\mu}m{\sim}15.255{\mu}m,\;and\;d(0.9)\;9.875{\mu}m{\sim}56.726{\mu}m$. Schwertmannite is characterized by equigranular spheric form. Pincushion or spicule with 100nm width and $200{\sim}300nm$length form on schwertmannite sphere with radial growth patterns. It is highly probable that reddish or yellowish brown precipitates formed in many AMDs may contain schwerhnannite. Because it can serve as sink for removing heavy elements by adsorption in AMD system, there is a need to correctly identify schwertmannite in precipitates and to characterize its phase stability.

Geophysical surveys for delineation of leachate flows from AMD and buried rock wastes in Kwangyang abandoned mine (광양 폐광산의 산성광산배수의 유동경로 및 폐광석 탐지를 위한 지구물리탐사)

  • 김지수;한수형;윤왕중;김대화;이경주;최상훈;이평구
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.36 no.2
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    • pp.123-131
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    • 2003
  • Geophysical surveys(electrical resistivity, self-potential, seismic refraction, GPR) were conducted to investigate the physical properties of the subsurface, and to delineate the flow channel of leachate from a AMD(acid mine drainage), buried rock wastes and tailings, and drainage pipes at an abandoned mine(Kwangyang mine). Especially in rainy season the sites appear to be abundant in AMD leachate, characterized by electrical conductivities of 0.98-1.10 ms/S. Electrical resistivity sections indicate that the leachate flows running in two directions at southern part rise up through the narrow fracture zones at the central part and contaminates the surrounding soil and stream. Such schematic features at the anomalous zone are well correlated with negative peaks in self-potential data, the limited penetration depth in GPR data and low velocity zone in seismic refraction data. Shallow high-resistivity zone is associated with the buried rock wastes which cause the diffractions in GPR image. In addition, the events at depth of approximately 1-1.25 m in GPR sections must be the metal pipes through which AMD is drained off to the inner bay.

A Study on Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage Using an Cow Manure and Spent Oak (우분과 참나무 폐목을 이용한 산성광산배수의 처리에 관한 연구)

  • An, Jong-Man;Lee, Hyun-Ju;Kim, Ki-Ho;Lee, Yong-Bok;Choi, Sang-Il
    • Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.52-60
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    • 2011
  • Although facilities for the passive treatment of AMD (Acid Mine Drainage) are currently operating in Korea, their removal efficiency for heavy metals is relatively low in average (only 80%). Passive treatment system is composed of oxidation tank, SAPS (Successive Alkalinity Producing System), and wetland. In the treatment system adopted in korea, SAPS (Successive Alkalinity Producing System) plays a major role to remove about 65% of heavy metals through a precipitation. However, the efficiency of SAPS is limited due to the use of mushroom compost (MC) as a organic material and of limestone as a neutralizer. Therefore, this research was performed to search for alternative organic materials through the field test. We tested two types of mixed organic materials: 1) cow manure and spent oak (herein, CO) and 2) cow manure and sawdust (herein, CS). For comparison mushroom compost (herein, MC) was also tested. The result showed that the average Fe removal efficiency was 91.38% with CO, 85.19% with CS, and 91.58% with MC. Thus, CO can be effectively used as an alternative of MC in the SAPS system for heavy metals removal.

Field Experiment on AMD Treatment Using Apatite and Fish Bone at the Ilkwang Mine (인회석 및 생선뼈를 이용한 일광광산 AMD 처리 현장실험)

  • Choi, Jung-Chan
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.38 no.5 s.174
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    • pp.563-570
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    • 2005
  • The purposes of this study are to examine a field test on heavy metal removal efficiency for AMD(Acid Mine Drainage) using fish bone and apatite, and to compare those results of the laboratory & the field tests. The duration of the field test was about one month and flow rates of AMD varied from 2.53 l/min to 12.8 l/min. From the result of the field test, removal efficiencies of apatite and those of fish bone are high for As, Fe, and Pb while those of fish born is higher than those of apatite far Al, Cd, Cu and Zn which are similar to the result of the previous laboratory test. In particular, average arsenic removal efficiency of apatite is higher$(84\%)$ than that of fish bone$(75\%)$ like the result of the previous laboratory test. In case of precipitates of phosphate compounds which are generated from chemical reaction between apatite/fish bone and AMD, those generated from apatite/AMD reactionform powder-shape while those created from fish bone/AMD reaction seem to be sludge. Therefore, apatite will be used as a precipitant for mine drainages having wide range of pH based on previous studies while fish bone will be applied as a precipitantfor AMD having lower PH and high concentration of heavy metals.

Geochemistry of Acid Mine Water and Stream Sediment around the Donghae Coal Mine (동해탄광 주변 산성광산폐수와 하상퇴적물의 지구화학)

  • Oh, Dae Gyun;Kim, Jung Youp;Chon, Hyo Taek
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.213-220
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    • 1995
  • Geochemistry of stream water and sediment collected in the vicinity of the Donghae coal mine in the Samchuk coalfied were investigated in order to evaluate the environmental impacts of acid mine drainage. The pH of stream water ranges from 2.85(at 2 km away from the mine) to 7.92(at uncontaminated tributary). The main cation and anion species in the upper stream are $Ca^{2+}$ and $SO_{4}{^2-}$, respectively. The level of pH and the amount of $HCO^{3-}$ in stream water increase to the downstream and where uncontaminated small tributaries are joining, and in the area covered with limestone. From the results of thermodynamic calculation, the main forms of iron in stream water are estimated as $Fe^{2+}$ and $FeSO_{4}{^0}$, and most of them could be precipitated as FeO(OH) with increase of pH. The white precipitates in stream sediments particularly found around the coal mine are proved to be $Al(OH)_3$ by XRD and XRF analysis. As a result of investigation for seasonal variation of AMD, the level of pH decreased and conductivity increased in dry season.

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