• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.265-276
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• 2017

Heavy metals leaching from closed mines have been causing severe environmental problems in nearby soil ecosystems. Mine reclamation in Korea has been recently implemented based on the heavy metal immobilization (a.k.a., stabilization). Since the immobilization temporarily fixes the heavy metals to the soil matrix, the potential risk of heavy metal leaching still exists. Therefore the appropriate monitoring and the related policies are required to safeguard the soils, where all the cultivations occur. The current monitoring methods are based on either heavy metal concentration or simple toxicity test. Those methods, however, are fragmented and hence it is difficult to evaluate the site in an integrated manner. In this study, as the integrated approach, ecological functional state evaluation with a multivariate statistical tool was employed targeting physiochemical soil properties, heavy metal concentrations, microbial enzymatic activity, and arsenic respiratory reductase gene quantity. Total 60 soil samples obtained from three mines (Pungjeong, Jeomdong, Seosung) were analyzed. As a result, the stabilized layer soil and lower layer soil have shown the similar pattern in Pungjeong mine. In contrast, Jeomdong and Seosung mine have shown the similarity between the stabilized layer soil and the cover layer soil, indicating the possible contamination of the cover layer soil.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.145-153
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• 2005

Two hundred seventy-four microorganisms were isolated from the soil of abandoned mines around for selecting the heavy metal-degrading strains and their microbial diversity was analyzed. The specimens of macrofungi were isolated from the soil of abandoned mines around for selecting the heavy metal-degrading strains. Eunseong and Dogok in Gyeongsangbuk-do, for selecting the heavy metal-degrading strains. Soil was also collected from same location. Contents of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr, and As) were determined spectrometically in fruiting bodies of forty eight wild macrofungi specimens with soils. When the analysed their transfer factor from soil to fruiting body, Amanita volvata have the highest transfer factor of cadmium and arsenic. And Mycena pura showed the highest in mercury, Marasmius pulcherripes in zinc, Laccaria laccata in nickel, and Collybia confluens in chrome. When compare the population of mushrooms between the contaminated mines and Mt. Chiak as the healthy area, Genus Russula and Collybia were collected both area, but Leucocoprinus, Coprinus, Suillus, Lepiost, Gyroporus, Lepista, Microstoma, Stropharia, and Agrocybe were only in the contaminated mine area.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.24-35
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• 2019

In this study, a hotspot analysis was conducted to suggest a new method for interpreting soil heavy-metal contamination data of abandoned metal mines according to statistical significance level. The spatial autocorrelation of the data was analyzed using the Getis-Ord $Gi{\ast}$ statistic in order to check whether soil heavy metal contamination data showing abnormal values appeared concentrated or dispersed in a specific space. As a result, the statistically significant data showing abnormal values in the mine area could be classified as follows: (1) the contamination degree and the hotspot value (z-score) were both high, (2) the contamination degree was high but the z-score was low, (3) the contamination degree was low but the z-score was high and (4) the contamination degree and the z-score were both low. The proposed method can be used to interpret the soil heavy metal contamination data according to the statistical significance level and to support a rational decision for soil contamination management in abandoned mines.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.257-262
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• 2008

In the study it was investigated the diffusion characteristics of heavy metal pollutions such as Cu, Pb, Hg and As which was the main pollution sources of soils from abandoned mines. The pollution of Cu and Pb was caused by Mine A, that of Hg was caused by Mine 3, that of Pb was caused by Mine C and that of Cu, Pb, As was caused by Mine D. Though the high concentration was detected within 100m from abandoned mines, the low concentration was detected over than 100m from abandoned mines in all heavy metals investigated except As. It means that it was very difficult to estimate the pollution level of As caused abandoned mines. The results were discussed in the concentrations of Cu, Pb and distances showed a good relationship with 0.71 and 0.68 as the coefficient of correlation, respectively. In particular the relativity of Cu to Pb as very strong with 0.84 as the coefficient of correlation. It was consistent with the chemical behavior in soils in the case of Cu and Pb. Therefore it will be a promising approach to remove Cu and Pb with estimated values in the study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.670-674
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• 2005

The respiratory quinone profile was used as a tool for the study on microbial community structure in the mine tailings of abandoned mines over the depth. For the study, the area of Jingok mine located in Bongwha, Korea has been selected. The distributions of Cd, Cu, Pb, Al, Fe and Mn showed the following common patterns; the highest values in the upper part of mine failings (0-20 cm), rapid decrease with increasing depth. The dominant quinone species of the mine tailings were UQ-9 followed by UQ-10, suggesting that microbes had contributed to heavy metal degradation. The quinone contents in mine tailings ranged from 5.0 to 24.9 nmol/kg. The microbial diversity in the upper part of mine tailings (0-40 cm) was higher than that of lower part of mine tailings (100-120 cm).

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.63-73
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• 2018

Rice is a staple food source in Asian countries. In paddy field, rice plant can take up toxic elements through its roots from contaminated soils, and its leaves and grain can absorb the toxic elements deposited on the soil surface. A totla of 40 soil and polished rice samples were collected around four abandoned metal mines in Korea and analyzed for As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The average contents of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in rice grain grown on the contaminated soils were 0.247, 0.174, 4.694, 0.804 and 16.78 mg/kg, respectively. These levels are higher than worldwide average concentrations. Assuming the rice consumption of 169 g/day by overall households in Korea, the estimated daily intakes from the rices were found to be 33, 48, and 63% for As, Cd, and Pb, respectively, of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) suggested by the FAO/WHO Joint Food Additive and Contaminants Committee.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.291-300
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• 2013

The potential mineral resources in North Korea are magnesite, limestone, coal, graphite, iron, gold, silver, lead, and zinc. North Korea is mainly exporting coal and iron to China(70%) and EU countries. Gold ore reserves(or resources) in North Korea are about 2,000 tons and annual production is 2 tons based on metal. Major gold mines are Sooan, Holdong, and Daeyoodong mines and six smelters are operating. Fe ore reserves (or resources) are 4.3 billion tons and annual production is about 5 million tons based on 63.5% Fe. Major iron mines are Moosan, Leewon, Eunryul, Shinwon, and Jaeryong and 7 smelters are operating. Pb and Zn ore reserves(or resources) are Pb 470,000 tons and Zn 15 million tons, and annual productions are about Pb 26,000 tons and Zn 50,000 tons based on metal respectively. Major Pb-Zn mines are Gumdock and Seongcheon mines. Magnesite ore reserves(or resources) are 2.8 billion tons (95% MgO) and annual production is about 150,000 tons. Major magnesite mines are Ryongyang, Daeheung Youth and Ssangryong mines, and 5 magnesium refractory factories are operating. Apatite ore reserves(or resources) are 340 million tons(30% $P_2O_5$) and annual production is about 300,000 tons(crude ore). Major apatite mines are Daedaeri, Dongam and Poongnyen mines. Coal is established as an important strategic fuel mineral resources and is a major energy source in North Korea. Coal ore reserves(or resources) are 18.6 billion tons and annual production is about 20 million tons. The main coal fields is located in southern Pyongan and the Jigdong mine is the biggest in North Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.389-392
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• 2003

Coalfields in Korea have been grouped into thirteen based on mainly geographycal and geological structure, ten out of which have been developed. To classify the phisico-chemical characteristics of mine drainage from each coalfield and, if possible, to clarify the intrinsic reasons of them. Sampling of waters from 59 mines in eight coalfields has been carried out. Higher pH of drainage water from the mines of the Cungchung coalfield belong to the Beading system, Mesozoic era than those belong to the Pyungan system, Proterozoic era is due to the low content of sulfides of neighboring strata. The drainage from coal beds overlying limestone bed mostly show high pH. Waters from the Gangrung and Samchuck coalfields coal beds are located within black shale formation which contains a lot of sulfides showed mostly very high metal and S $O_{4}$$^{2-}$ concentrations.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.293-294
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• 2006

Laser Powder Deposition (LPD) is a technology capable of modifying a metallic structure by adding the appropriate material to perform a desired function. LPD offers a unique fabrication technique that allows the use of soft (tough) materials as base structures. Through LPD a hard material can be applied to the base material with little thermal input (minimal dilution and heat-affected-zone {HAZ}), thus providing the function of a heat treatment or other surface modifications. These surface modifications have been evaluated through standard wear testing (ASTM G-65), surface hardness (Rc), micro-hardness (vickers), and optical microscopy.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2018

Background: A detailed evaluation of the underground mine climate requires extensive measurements to be performed coupled to climatic modeling work. This can be labor-intensive and time-consuming, and consequently impractical for daily work comfort assessments. Therefore, a simple indicator like a heat stress index is needed to enable a quick, valid, and acceptable evaluation of underground climatic conditions on a regular basis. This can be explained by the unending quest to develop a "universal index," which has led to the proliferation of many proposed heat stress indices. Methods: The aim of this research study is to discuss the challenges in identifying and selecting an appropriate heat stress index for thermal planning and management purposes in underground mines. A method is proposed coupled to a defined strategy for selecting and recommending heat stress indices to be used in underground metal mines in the United States and worldwide based on a thermal comfort model. Results: The performance of current heat stress indices used in underground mines varies based on the climatic conditions and the level of activities. Therefore, carefully selecting or establishing an appropriate heat stress index is of paramount importance to ensure the safety, health, and increasing productivity of the underground workers. Conclusion: This method presents an important tool to assess and select the most appropriate index for certain climatic conditions to protect the underground workers from heat-related illnesses. Although complex, the method presents results that are easy to interpret and understand than any of the currently available evaluation methods.