• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2009

In this study, water quality variation in borehole groundwaters and surface leachate waters were investigated on a seasonal sampling and remote monitoring basis within the waste impoundments at the Geopung mine site where previous rehabilitation measures were unsuccessful to prevent acidic drainage. All groundwaters were typical acidic drainage with acidic pH (3.3${\sim}$4.6) and high TDS (338${\sim}$3330 mg/L) values during the dry season, but increases in metal contents (TDS 414${\sim}$4890 mg/L) and decrease of pH (2.7${\sim}$3.6) were observed during the rainy season. Surface leachate waters showed a similar pattern in water quality variation. Surface runoff waters during rain events had acidic pH (3.0${\sim}$3.4) through direct reactions with waste rocks. Good correlations were found between major and trace elements measured in water samples, but no significant seasonal variation in chemical compositions was shown except relative changes in contents. It can be suggested that dissolution of soluble secondary salts caused by flushing of weathered waste rocks and tailings directly influenced the water quality within the waste impoundments. Increases in acid and metal concentrations and their loadings from mine wastes are anticipated in the rainy season. More appropriate cover systems on waste rocks and tailings necessitate consideration of more extreme conditions in the study mine.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.743-747
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• 2005

In South Korea, about 900 metal mines have been abandoned, and about 88 million-t metal mine wastes have been discarded in recent years. The treatment of the tailings which are the main wastes in the abandoned metal mines becomes a social problem because they cause environmental pollution such as acidic waste water generation, groundwater contamination, and dust generation. Since almost whole quantities of the tailings have disposed by landfill now, the development of effective recycling methods for the tailings are strongly requested. It is expected that the fine tailings obtained by centrifugal separation process among the tailings can be utilized as admixture for cement. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the micro-structure of cement mortar admixed with fine tailing. Various admixtures were made of Fine tailings and 2 Types of OPC, fly-ash and blast furnace slag. The hydration reactivity of cement mortar with FT was examined by Porosity, XRD and SEM morphology analysis. The anolytical result about hardened hydrates shows that waste fine tailing help hydrates none densified due to it,s filling-space, These densified effect is concluded with improving the resistance to attack of cement mortar including waste fine tailing.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.33-43
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• 2000

Mining wastes left without any proper treatment are affecting barren or arable lands where are located near and far from source through various pathway Metals are the only hazardous constituents that cannot be destroyed or altered by chemical or thermal methods and must be converted into the most insoluble and harmless form as possible, which have slower leaching rates than the original species, to prevent their reentry into the environment. Three types of chemical additives used in this study to immobilize heavy metals showed high immobilized capacity (q) and the efficiency (k) in the order of CaO, $Na_2$S.$5H_2$O, and $CaCO_3$. In addition, bentonite was considered as a good additive to remedy AM(Acid Mine Drainage) from the results of the physicochemical characteristics and immobilizing capacity. The Freundlich coefficients (n and k) from adsorption isotherm for the heavy metals adsorbed on 50g Benlonite were calculated.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.56-64
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• 2015

Acid mine drainage occurrence is a serious environmental problem by mining industry, it usually contains high levels of metal ions, such as iron, copper, zinc, aluminum, and manganese, as well as metalloids of which arsenic is generally of the greatest concern. An indigenous plant extract was used to produce calcium carbonate from Canavalia ensiformis as effective biomaterial, and its ability to form the calcium carbonate under stable conditions was compared to that of purified urease. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were employed to elucidate the mechanism of calcium carbonate formation from the crude plant extracts. The results revealed that urease in the plant extracts catalyzed the hydrolysis of urea in liquid state cultures and decreased heavy metal amounts in the contaminated soil. The heavy metal amounts were decreased in the leachate from the treated mine soil; 31.7% of As, 65.8% of Mn, 50.6% of Zn, 51.6% of Pb, 45.1% of Cr, and 49.7% of Cu, respectively. The procedure described herein is a simple and beneficial method of calcium carbonate biomineralization without cultivation of microorganisms or further purification of crude extracts. This study suggests that crude plant extracts of Canavalia ensiformis have the potential to be used in place of purified forms of the enzyme during remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 2016

There have been found mine tailings, wastes, and mining drainage scattered in the area of Nakdong River due to the improper maintenance of the abandoned mines. These contaminants can flow into rivers during the heavy rain periods in summer. Along the study area beginning Seokpo-myeon, Bonghwa-gun of Gyeongsangbuk-do untill Dosan-myeon, Andong-si, there are one hundred five mines including sixty metalliferous mines and forty-five nonmetal mines, which can adversely affect the adjacent rivers. To verify the contamination, we collected sediments, seepage water and surface water for a year both in rainy season and dry season. This study found that sediments, containing high concentrations of heavy metals caused by mining activities, are dispersed throughout the entire river basin (68 sample points with pollution index, based on the concentration of trace element, (PI) >10 among the total of 101 samples). The results of river water analysis indicated the increased concentrations of arsenic and cadmium at branches from Seungbu, Sambo, Okbang and Janggun mine, which concerns that the river water may be contaminated by mining drainage and tailing sediments. However, it is difficult to sort out the exact sources of contamination in sediments and waters only by using the chemical compositions. Thus the control of mining pollution is challenging. To prevent water from being contaminated by mining activities, we should be able to divide inflow rates from each origin of the mines. Therefore, there should be a continued study about how to trace the source of contaminants from mining activities by analyzing stable isotopes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.99-107
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of soil covering depth and vegetation base materials on the competition between Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc. and Lespedeza cyrtobotrya Miq., which were grown in an abandoned coal mine land for three years after seeding, by comparing their growth and stem density. The study site was consisted of sub-plots with four different soil covering depths (0cm, 10cm, 20cm, and 30cm) and four different compounds of vegetation base materials (peat moss (control), soil conditioner+peat moss (S+P), erosion control material+peat moss (E+P), and soil conditioner+erosion control material+peat moss (S+E+P)). Results of this study showed opposite pattern between P. densiflora and L. cyrtobotrya with different soil covering depth and compounds of vegetation base materials in general. P. densiflora showed the highest growth and stem density in plots with 10cm and 0cm depths of soil covering, respectively, while the lowest was shown in plots with 20cm depth of soil covering. In contrast, L. cyrtobotrya showed the highest growth and stem density in plots with 20cm depth of soil covering, while the lowest was shown in plots with 0cm depth of soil covering. In case of vegetation base materials, P. densiflora showed the highest growth and stem density in control plots and plots treated with S+P, respectively, while the lowest was shown in plots with S+E+P treatment. On the other hand, L. cyrtobotrya showed the highest growth and stem density in plots treated with S+E+P, while the lowest was shown in control plots. These results suggested the competition between two plants as a major cause of opposite patterns, which is induced by the suppressed growth and stem density of P. densiflora by fast growing L. cyrtobotrya. Despite the suppression of L. cyrtobotrya on P. densiflora, L. cyrtobotrya can play a positive role in improving soil quality, and thus it would be more desirable for restoring abandoned coal mine land to manage the growth of L. cyrtobotrya periodically, rather than eliminate them.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.4 s.173
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• pp.451-462
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• 2005

In order to examine the extent of environmental contamination at abandoned Samsanjeil Cu mines in Kosung-kun, Kyeongsangnam-do, we have investigated the contaminations and mobility of toxic trace elements from mine wastes including about 280,000 tonnages of tailings by chemical experiments (total extraction, partial extraction by 0.1N HCI and sequential extraction procedure). Total concentrations of trace elements showed that Cu, As, Co, Zn, Pb, and Cd concentrations in tailings were 14.0, 3.6, 3.1, 2.1, 2.1 and 1.6 times greater than those in background soil, respectively. From the proportion of metals bound to the exchangeable and carbonate fractions, the comparative mobility of metals decrease in order of $Zn(29.0\%)>Cu(12.3\%)Pb(9.6\%)>Cd(3.0\%)>As=Co(0.0\%)$. Based on the concentrations, chemical speciations of tailings, waste rock and nearby soil, it was revealed that Cu and Zn were the most possible elements to contaminate the surrounding environment in Samsanjeil mine area. In addition, the tailings had total trace metal concentrations below Dutch guideline values except Cu, and they might not affect adverse impact on environment.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.15 no.2 s.42
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• pp.133-144
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• 2005

Stability investigations were conducted for the heap of coal associated wastes occurred from D mine located in Gang-Won Province from the geotechnical and environmental engineering aspect, and a countermeasure was also examined to increase the stability in this area. Quality of water flowed from the heap of coal associated wastes was identified as Am. Slope stability investigations were conducted with both circular failure analyses using SLOPILE program and planar failure analyses in cases of dry, rainy, and ordinary slopes. The results of circular failure analyses indicated that the factor of safety is 0.78 for rainy case. for planar failure analyses, the factor of safety decreases with increase the depth and reaches below 1 about 4m depth for rainy case. A retaining wall system with backfill using the recycled-concrete aggregates as a practical scheme was suggested to satisfy both demands: reducing Am generation, and enhancing slope stability in the deposits of coal associated wastes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.471-483
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• 2001

The pH values of the mine and surface water from the Tohyun mine creek were higher compared with those of groundwater, and 2nd round samples in same sites were even alkaline. The stream and mine waters belong to the characteristics of (Ca+Mg)-(SO$_4$) and (Ca+Mg)-(HCO$_3$) types, and groundwaters have to the (Ca+Mg+Na+K)-(HCO$_3$+SO$_4$) type. As the 2nd samples. concentrations of mostly anions are increasing compared with the forder samples. However, the mostly cation concentrations are decreasing. The hydrogeochemistry indicate that water quality is different chemical characteristics and evolution trends. The range of $\delta$D and $\delta$$^{18}$ valutes (relative to SMOW) in the waters are shown in -62.2 to -70.1$\textperthousand$, and -8.1 to -9.4$\textperthousand$. The values are plowed parallel to $\delta$D=8$\delta$$^{18}$ O+ (6$\pm$4). The d values of groundwater show 2.4, which is lower than the surface (5.2) and mine (7.6) waters. Strontium concentra titans range from 0.025 to 11.844 mg/$\ell$ in all kinds of water samples, but the groundwater has the highest contents The $^{87}$ Sr/$^{86}$ Sr ratios (0.7115 to 0.7129) show more lightened to the groundwater. The $\delta$$^{18}$ O value, Ca and Sr contents are decreased with $^{87}$ Sr/$^{86}$ Sr increasing, because it is support to the altitude effects of the sampling sites rather than a water-rock interaction of environmental isotope. Using computer code of WATEQ4F, saturation indices of albite, Quartz, gibssite and gypsum are calculated to be soluble. The calcite and dolomite show super saturation state, however, clay mineral species are plotted boundary between undersaturation and supersaturation. In the Tohyun mine creek, reaction materials with ore wastes arid precipitation have influence upon increasing EC and TDS of the waters independent of pH. The SO$_4$ concentrations in the mine water is 181.845 mg/$\ell$. This is abruptly increase in surface water and then detected 249.727 mg/$\ell$ in the groundwater. As a results of the calculated sulfate mineral solubilities, the sulfate ions became saturation states an above 150 mg/$\ell$ concentrations.

• 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.