• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.311-325
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• 1993

The Ohto and Tohyun copper mine which are located 4 km southeast of Euiseong, Gyeongsangbukdo, Republic of Korea show various common geologic and mineralogic features. Both copper deposits are of hydrothermal-vein types, and associated with fracture system developed during formation of the Geumseong-san caldera in late Cretaceous age. According to structures and mineral assemblages, the mineralization processes have progressed in four stages: three hypogene mineralization stages and one supergene stage. Three hypogene stages are 1) stage I forming $N5{\sim}20^{\circ}E$ veins in the Ohto mine, 2) stage II building $N5^{\circ}W{\sim}N5^{\circ}E$ veins in the Tohyun mine, and 3) stage ill bringing $N80^{\circ}E$ veins which crosscut veins of the stage II. The vein ores consist mainly of pyrite, arsenopyrite, galena and chalcopyrite, minor or trace amounts of magnetite, hematite, pyrrhotite, stannite, bournonite, boulangerite, stibnite, galenobismutite, native bismuth, marcasite, geothite and malachite. The main gangue minerals are quartz and calcite. Wallrock is altered by sericitization, chloritization, pyritization, carbonitization and argillization. Arsenic and copper contents in arsenopyrite increase from stage I to stage III (from 31.28 to 33043 atom.% As) and (from 0.04 to 0040 atom.% Co). Going from stage I to stage III Fe and Mn contents in sphalerite decreases from 12.56 to 0.44 wt.% and from 0.24 to 0.01 wt.%, respectively. The compositional data of arsenopyrite in the early stage I indicate a temperature of $420{\sim}365^{\circ}C$ and sulfur fugacity of $10^{-6.5}{\sim}10^{-8.3}$ atm. Chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite assemblage suggest that Middle stage I was deposited at below $334^{\circ}C$. The compositional data of arsenopyrite in early stage II suggest a temperature range of $425{\sim}390^{\circ}C$ and sulfur fugacity codition of $10^{-6.4}{\sim}10^{-7.3}$ atm. Based on fluid inclusion the Middle stage II was regarded as to be deposited at $420{\sim}337^{\circ}C$ (Chi et al., 1989). Referring composition of sphalerite and stannite middle-late stage II seem to be deposited around $246^{\circ}C$ and $10^{-16.5}$ atm. sulfur fugacity. The ${\delta}^{34}S$ values of sulfide minerals in the Stage I, II, III range from 4.9 to 7.6%0 and indicate igneous ore fluid origin. Based on differences in mineral assemblages, chemical composition and chemical environments of Ohto and Tohyun mine its mineralization are considered to be formed at diffent mineralization ages and by different ore fluids.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.207-222
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• 2014

In order to recover the metallic copper powder from the mine-waste rock, heap bioleaching, Fe removal and electrowinning experiments were carried out. The results of heap leaching with the mine-waste rock sample containing 0.034% Cu showed that, the leaching rate of Cu were 61% and 62% in the bacteria leaching and sulfuric acid leaching solution, respectively. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) and calcium hydroxide ($Ca(OH)_2$) were applied to effectively remov Fe from the heap leaching solution, and then $H_2O_2$ was selected for the most effective removing Fe agent. In order to prepare the electrolytic solution, $H_2O_2$ were again treated in the heap leaching, and Fe removal rates were 99% and 60%, whereas Cu removal rates were 5% and 7% in the bacteria and sulfuric acid leaching solutions, respectively. After electrowinning was examined in these leaching solution, the recovery rates of Cu were obtained 98% in bacteria and obtained 76% in the sulfuric leaching solution. The dendritic form of metallic copper powder was recovered in both leaching solutions.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 1972

The Second Yeon Hwa Mine which belongs to a so called Lead-Zines Belt Area in the central east Korea is located at about 10 km northeast of the Seogpo railway station on Yeongdong Line. The exploitation of the mine started in June, 1969 and furnished the machinary ore dressing plant in November, 1971. The current monthly production of rude ore is 15,000 meteric tons. The results of the study on the lead-zinc-copper deposits of the Second Yeonhwa mine are summerized as follows: (1) main ore deposits of the mine are localized in the Pungchon Limestion formation of Cambrian age, (2) related ingneous rock with ore deposits is granite porphyry, which distributed in NS and $N50^{\circ}W$ trend, (3) ore solution ascended along the $N50^{\circ}W$ trend which represents folding axis and fault plane and mineralized selectively in the limestone formation. (4) high grade ore deposits are localized in concave and convex boundaries of granite porphyry, and hanging walls of shale bed ($P_2S$ shale bed) in Pungchon Limestone formation and (5) skarn minerals are consisted of garnet, hedenbergite, diopside, and sulfide minerals are composed of zincblenede, galena, phyrhotite, pyrite and some amount of chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.245-258
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• 1984

Geoje copper ore deposits are fissure filled copper veins which developed in late Cretaceous pyroclastics, andesite and shale. Mineral paragenesis reveals a division of the hydrothermal mineralization into three stages: Stage I, deposition of pyrite, magnetite, specularite, quartz and chlorite; Stage II, deposition of chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, tetrahedrite, aikinite, cosalite, electrum, quartz and chlorite; Stage III, deposition of barren calcite. Filling temperatures of fluid inclusions in quartz of stage I range from 171 to $282^{\circ}C$ whereas fluid inclusions in quartz and sphalerite of stage II range from 213 to $262^{\circ}C$ and from 186 to $301^{\circ}C$ respectively. Salinities of fluid inclusions in quartz of stage I range from 5.2 to 11.2 weight percent equivalent to NaCl. Salinities of fluid inclusions in quartz and sphalerite of stage II range from 6.6 to 10.9 and from 7.1 to 14.4 weight percent equivalent NaCl. Salinities of ore fluid during major mineralization stage in this deposits reveal nearly the same ranges as those of many copper deposits in Koseong copper mining district which located about 30km apart from Geoje mine. But filling temperatures of fluid inclusions formed during major copper mineralization stage in this deposits show slightly lower than those of copper deposits in Koseong copper mining district.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2009

In this study, the effect of pH and temperature on the adsorption behavior of acid mine drainage (AMD) on coal mine drainage sludge (CMDS) has been investigated during the treatment of coal mine drainage (CMD) by electrical purification method. The pH$_{zero\;point\;charge}$ (pH$_{zpc}$) of CMDS was 5. The removal ratio of copper, zinc, cadmium, iron were increased according to the increase of pH value. The adsorption amount of copper showed 0.64 mg g$^{-1}$ sludge. It was independent of pH value. The adsorption amount of the other metals showed l.l times when pH was 3. The adsorption amount of chromium was a little bit increased at the pH value higher than 7 due to a small amount of the chromium was eluted as $Cr(OH)_6^{3-}$. The amount of metals' absorption were decreased according to temperature was increase at pH value was 3. The selectivity order was Cd>Fe > Zn > Cu. The amount of absorption showed q$_{max}$ Cu 2.747 mg g$^{-1}$ andZn 2.525 mg g$^{-1}$ when pH value higher than 5. It was independent of temperature.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.195-205
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• 2015

Barricade failures generally occur at the early times of paste backfill when it is fresh in the stopes. The backfill strength increases and need for barricading pressure decreases as a result of the hydration reactions. In this study, paste backfill barricades of Cayeli copper mine were investigated to design cemented mineral processing plant tailings as barricade body concrete. Paste backfill in sub-level caving stopes of the mine needs to be barricaded for only four or five days. Therefore, short term strength and workability tests were applied on several cemented tailings material designs. Barricade failure mechanisms, important points of barricade designing and details of the new concrete material are explained in this work. According to the results obtained with this experimental study, the tailings were assessed to be used in concrete applied as temporary supports such as cemented paste backfill barricades.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.120-125
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• 1999

This study was carried out to enhance the efficiency of bioleaching of heavy metals. copper and zinc from the soil samples obtained from mine tailings in Cho-il Mine located in Dan-Yang, Choong-Buk. The effects of medium (9 K) composition on the leaching efficiency were investigated by changing concentrations of the dominant components. phosphorus, nitrogen source. and energy source which are the most important factors governing the growth and multiplication of microorganism. The results of the bioleaching test at different phosphorus concentrations of medium, 0 mM. 3.0 mM, and 6.0 mM showed that leaching efficiency for zinc and copper was 98.8% and 47.5% respectively at 0 mM and decreased at higher phosphorus concentration 6.0 mM. In the bioleaching test of zinc and copper at 0 mM, 45 mM, and 90 mM nitrogen concentrations, the Highest efficiency of 85% and 46.4% was obtained for zinc and cooper respectively at 45 mM and the lower efficiency observed for 90mM nitrogen addition. The zinc and copper leaching with variation of energy source dosage showed the highest removal efficiency, 93% for zinc in the absence of energy source and 46.4% for copper at 160mM energy source.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.83-89
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• 2015

Soil samples collected in an area of Gahak Mine were investigated for the characterization of mineralogical and physicochemical properties of contaminants in soils. It is found that soils in the study area are contaminated by lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), in which their concentrations are 595.3 mg/kg, 184.9 mg/kg, 712.8 mg/kg, and 10.64 mg/kg, respectively. All the concentrations exceed the concern criteria of Korean standard. Upon distribution patterns of metals identified by the sequential extraction procedure, our results show that more than 50% of metals are found as a residual type, and 30% are accounted for the association of Fe/Mn oxides. Interestingly, XRD results show that minium (Pb₃O₄) and cuprite (Cu₂O) are identified in the soil samples, suggesting that the sources of the contaminants for Pb and Cu are these minerals. In SEM images, tens of µm of Pb oxides and Pb silicate-minerals are observed. We, therefore, note that the contamination of metals in the study area results from the direct influx and disturbance of tailings. Our findings indicate that the characterization of physicochemical and mineralogical properties of contaminated soils is a critical factor and plays an important role in optimizing recovery treatments of soils contaminated in mine development areas.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.235-244
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• 2020

Copper (Cu), one of the main contaminants in the mine drainage from the closed mine area, needs to be removed before exposed to environment because of its toxicity even in the low concentration. In this study, passive treatment based field pilot experiments using limestone and compost media were conducted during 9 months for enhancing Cu removal efficiency of the mine water treatment facility of S mine located in Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do in South Korea. The pH increase and Cu removal efficiency showed high value at Successive Alkalinity Producing System ( SAPS) > Reducing and Alkalinity Producing System (RAPS) > limestone reactor in a sequence. The compost media using in SAPS and RAPS contributed to raise pH by organic material decomposition with generating alkalinity, thus, Cu removal efficiency increased. Also, experimental results showed that Cu removal efficiency was proportional to pH increase, meaning that pH increase is the main mechanism for Cu removal. Moreover, Sulfate Reduction Bacteria (SRB) was identified to be most activated in SAPS. It is inferred that the sulfate reduction reaction also contributed to Cu removal. This study has the site significance in that the experiments were conducted at the place where the mine water generates. In the future, the results will be useful to select the more effective reactive media used in the treatment facility, which is most appropriate to remediate mine water from the S mine.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1983-1992
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• 2016

Pseudomonas strains isolated from the heavily contaminated Lubin copper mine and Zelazny Most post-flotation waste reservoir in Poland were screened for the presence of integrons. This analysis revealed that two strains carried homologous DNA regions composed of a gene encoding a DNA_BRE_C domain-containing tyrosine recombinase (with no significant sequence similarity to other integrases of integrons) plus a three-component array of putative integron gene cassettes. The predicted gene cassettes encode three putative polypeptides with homology to (i) transmembrane proteins, (ii) GCN5 family acetyltransferases, and (iii) hypothetical proteins of unknown function (homologous proteins are encoded by the gene cassettes of several class 1 integrons). Comparative sequence analyses identified three structural variants of these novel integron-like elements within the sequenced bacterial genomes. Analysis of their distribution revealed that they are found exclusively in strains of the genus Pseudomonas.