• Title/Summary/Keyword: mines

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A Local Governments' Preferences in Selecting Modern Eight Scenic Landscapes (지자체가 선정한 현대팔경에 나타난 경관 선호 양상)

  • So, Hyun-Su
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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    • v.38 no.1
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    • pp.92-102
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    • 2020
  • The followings are the landscape preference aspects from the 816 landscapes(景, Kyung), which comprise the 78 modern Palkyungs, presented by the 78 local governments in Korea. First, the natural environment elements selected as Kyung(景), which are topographical landscapes, mostly consist of mountain elements such as mountains, terrace(臺), rocks and stones and water elements classified as rivers, oceans, and lakes. Natural elements also include old-growth and giant trees such as pines, ginkgos, Japanese cornels and fringe trees, tree-lined streets and forests, and plant elements such as azaleas, rhododendrons, lotuses, reeds, and silver grasses which provide seasonal landscapes. Second, more than half of Kyung, selected as human environment elements, are historical and cultural heritages such as graveyards, mountain fortresses, town fortresses, traditional villages, pavilion in villas, and temples. And it is followed by leisure tourism facilities such as traditional markets, exhibition halls, theme parks, beaches, and food streets, green-based structures such as trails, plazas, parks, and botanical gardens, and industrial heritages such as ranches, abandoned coal mines, stations, ports and bridges. Third, modern Palkyungs include objects not related to the views such as local representative facilities, regional products, and festivals. Fourth, although most of the modern Palkyungs consist of eight, some include 20, 38, or 100 in order to increase the number of objects of public relations. Fifth, a certain local government makes two modern Palkyungs with different subjects by introducing traditional Palkyung and modern Palkyung altogether. In this case, it presents several modern Palkyungs like by selecting Palkyungs in a limited area. Furthermore, one Palkyung includes numerous place names at a time in some cases. Sixth, Sosangjeonhyeong(瀟湘典型)-style modern Palkyung uses 'NakAn(落雁)' as the name of Kyung. Sosangyusahyeong(瀟湘類似型)-style modern Palkyung expresses 'Hyojong(曉鐘)' and landscape of glow of the setting sun, sunset, night view, dawn, sunrise and depicts cloud, sunset, moon, and snow. There are many Myeongsocheheomhyeong(名所體驗型)-style Palkyungs exhibiting the behavior of tourism and Myeongseunghyeong(名勝型)-style Palkyungs raising the awareness only by the names of the places. Seventh, modern Palkyung's naming styles are diverse, such as using only four letters instead of specifying Kyungmul(景物) or Kyungsaek(景色) in combination with Chinese characters or adding modifiers specializing in places.

Interpretation of Limestone Provenance, Materials and Making Characteristics for Lime-Soil Mixture on Tomb Barrier of the Yesan Mokri Site in Joseon Dynasty (조선시대 예산 목리유적 회격묘의 재질 및 제작특성과 석회의 산지 해석)

  • Lee, Chan Hee;Cho, Ji Hyun;Kim, Jiyoung
    • Journal of Conservation Science
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    • v.32 no.4
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    • pp.471-490
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    • 2016
  • This study investigated provenance of raw materials and making technique of lime-based materials used in the tomb barriers of the Yesan Mokri tombs from Joseon dynasty on the basis of analysis to material characteristics and physical properties. In the barrier materials, dry density and porosity are the highest value ($1.82g/cm^3$) and the lowest value (25.20%) in the south wall of No. 1 tomb, respectively. Dry density and porosity are inversely proportional in all barrier materials, but unconfined compressive strength, which is the highest value of $182.36kg/cm^2$ in the No. 2 tomb, does not show an interrelation with porosity and density. Mineral components in the lime-soil mixtures of the tomb barrier are mainly quartz, feldspar, mica and calcite about 200 to $600{\mu}m$ size with yellowish brown matrix. Hydrotalcite and portlandite are detected in the lime mixture, and kaolinite in the soils. The lime materials of the tomb barrier occurred in large quantities weight loss and variable endothermic peaks caused by decarbonization reaction of $CaCO_3$ in the range from 600 to $800^{\circ}C$ in thermal analysis. Making temperature of lime for the tomb barrier is presumed approximately about $800^{\circ}C$ based on the occurrences, compositions and thermal analysis. The tomb barriers are revealed to very wide composition ranges of major elements and loss-on-ignition (22.5 to 33.6 wt.%) owing to mixture of the three materials (lime, sand and clay). It is interpreted that low quality construction technique was applied as the limes are very heterogeneous mixture with aggregates, and curing of the lime was poorly processed in the tomb barriers. Possible limestone sources are distributed in many areas around the Mokri site where limestone conformation and quarries for commercial production are found within Yesan and Hongseong areas. Therefore, we estimated that raw materials were possibly supplied from the local mines near the Mokri site.

멕시코 로얄 은광산 잠재성 평가

  • Heo, Cheol-Ho;Kim, Ui-Jun
    • 한국지구과학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2010.04a
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    • pp.108-109
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    • 2010
  • IMPACT Silver 주식회사는 Zacualpan 프로젝트의 Royal Mines(이하 로얄 광산)을 인수했다. $124.5\;km^2$에 해당하는 지역의 소유권은 두 개의 멕시코 사기업으로부터 가행중인 광산의 채굴권 구입과 운영 중인 기반시설의 임대를 조건으로 한다. 프로젝트 지역은 멕시코시티로부터 남서방향으로 100 km와 Taxco Silver 광산으로부터 북서방향으로 25 km 떨어진 지점에 위치한다. 기반시설은 비포장 도로, 충분한 전력과 물의 공급 및 숙련공들을 갖추어 우수한 평가를 받고 있다. 소유권은 멕시코인의 개인소유 하에서 무한한 매장량 혹은 자원량을 갖고 운영된 채광과 가공시설을 인수하는 것이다. 소유권 지역을 대상으로 한 IMPACT Silver사의 주 탐사목적은 이미 알려진 광화대의 확장을 위한 잠재성 평가와 다른 지역에서 신규 광상의 유망지역을 발견하는 것이다. Zacualpan 프로젝트의 로얄 광산은 남동 Guerrero terrane의 북부에 위치한다. Teloloapan subterrane은 주로 저변성 녹색편암상으로 구성된 쥬라기 후기에서 백악기 초기의 화산성 퇴적층으로 구성된다. 대부분의 유망지역은 Lower Villa de Ayala층의 중성 내지 염기성 화산성 쇄설암을 모암으로 한다. 다상의 변성작용은 지역 전반에 걸쳐 나타나고, Zacualpan 광산지역에서 수반되는 광화작용을 규제한다. Zacualpan 광산지역은 Sierra Madre del Sur로 알려진 유망 광화대에 해당한다. 이 지역은 화산성 괴상 황화광상과 천열수 맥상광상이 우세하다. 대부분의 천열수 광화작용은 3.2-3.8억 년 전 마그마의 생성이 활발한 판구조 체제 동안 발생하였다. 역사적으로 가장 주요한 지역은 Lipton Vein이다. 현재 Zacualpan 지구에서 채광량은 은 200-500 g/t 정도로 보고되고 있다. 일부 지역은 고품위 은 광화작용(은 1,000 g/t 이상)을 수반하고 있으며, 이는 탐사의 주 타겟이 되고 있다. Zacualpan에서 은 광화작용은 은이 부화된 중유황 천열수 맥상광상으로 상당히 유명하다. Fresnillo, Pachuca 및 Taxco 광산을 포함한 멕시코 소유의 대규모의 잘 알려진 광산들이 이에 해당한다. 이러한 광산들은 부산물로서 금, 아연, 연이 생산된다. 이러한 광상들은 맥상과 각력상 및 산점상 또는 망상세맥의 형태로 산출된다. 광화작용은 석영과 탄산염 맥 내에 주로 황철석과 다양한 섬아연석, 방연석, 은 혹은 금 광물들을 수반한다. 경제성을 갖는 광화작용의 수직적인 연장은 평균적으로 대략 300 m이고, 멕시코 중부에 위치한 Fresnillo의 광화작용은 100 m에서 960 m의 연장을 갖는 것으로 알려져 있다. 아주 오랫동안 Zacualpan에서 광산관계자의 관측과 IMPACT Silver에서 최근 작업의 결과를 토대로, Zacualpan 광산지역의 탐사모델은 새로운 광상의 탐사를 위한 가이드로서 개발되었다. Zacualpan 광산지역에서 가장 높은 경제성을 갖는 광화작용은 북서와 남북방향의 맥 구조를 따라 수반된다. 이러한 맥 구조들은 종종 이 지역을 가로질러 수 km까지 추적되지만, 경제성을 갖는 광화작용은 맥 구조를 따라서 구조적으로 유리한 지역에서 부광대를 형성한다. 부광대를 형성하기 위한 가장 유리한 구조적 지역은 북서와 남북방향으로 발달한 맥 구조들이 교차하는 지역이다. 지난 30년간 채광된 주요 부광대는 폭이 2-6 m 이고 수평연장은 30-150 m 그리고 수직연장은 230-300 m에 이른다. 가장 높은 생산량을 보이는 부광대는 남북방향의 이차 맥들이 Guadalupe 광산의 Lipton 맥을 가로지르는 지역에서 발달한다. 남동쪽으로 현재 Compadres 광산의 Silver Shoot No. 1으로부터 고품위 은을 생산하는 지역은 북서방향의 San Agustin 맥이 북향의 Cometa Navideno 맥에 의해 절단되는 지역에서 산출한다. 모암은 광화작용을 규제하는 또 다른 중요한 요소이다. 광산지역에서 경제성을 갖는 모든 광화작용은 중성 내지 염기성 화산암 특히 안산암과 관련 모암에 배태된다. 부광대가 셰일 혹은 편암으로 전이되는 지역에서, 맥들은 소규모의 세맥으로 나뉘어 진다. Zacualpan의 전형적인 천열수 광상에서 부광대는 상부로 가면서 은의 함량이 증가하고, 하부로 가면서 연 아연의 함량이 증가하는 수직적 대상을 보인다. 금의 함량 변화는 보다 예측이 어려우나 상당히 중요하다. Zacualpan 광산지역의 탐사모델에 사용된 토양 채취, 정밀지도제작, 트렌치 및 시추탐광은 현재 IMPACT Silver사가 이 지역을 대상으로 한 가장 효율적인 탐사방법으로 입증되었다. Zacualpan 프로젝트의 로얄 광산은 하루 500 톤을 제련하는 기반시설과 수반된 채굴권을 갖는 가행 광산들을 포함한다. 현재 IMPACT Silver사는 두 곳의 타겟 지역에서 정밀지도제작, 토양 및 암석 채취, 12공 총 1866 m의 시추탐광에 의한 사전조사로 구성된 4 단계 탐사를 수행했다. 암석 1,953개, 토양 1,631 개, 389 개의 시추코어 시료가 채집되고 분석되었다. 이러한 작업은 추가탐사를 요구하는 수많은 유망 광화대를 규명했다. Compadres 광산에서 현재 가행중인 지하갱 시료는 레벨 1에서 0.9 m의 폭을 갖는 광체에서 은 680 g/t과 금 0.3 g/t, 레벨 3에서 1.67 m의 폭을 갖는 광체에서 은 12,591 g/t과 금 12.07 g/t의 품위를 갖는 것으로 나타났다. 레벨 1에서 3까지 2-3 m의 폭과 30-40 m 연장으로 채광되었다. 시추탐광은 고품위를 갖는 몇몇의 중첩된 맥을 발견했다. Compadres 광산에서 남동방향으로 200 m지점에 위치한 Soledad 지역에서 5 개의 시추공으로부터 동일 맥 시스템이 발견되었고, 고품위 부광대의 상부로 간주되는 몇몇 중요 지점이 발견되었다. 초기 단계의 탐사는 유망 시추탐광 지역인 중간정도 내지 고품위 유망 광화대를 규명했다.

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Seasonal Occurrences of the Apple Leaf Miner, Phyllonorycter ringoniella (Matsumura) and Its Parasites and Damaging Leaf Position (사과굴나방 및 그기생충류(寄生蟲類)의 발생소장(發生消長)과 가해엽위(加害葉位))

  • Lee, Soon-Won;Kim, In-Soo;Kim, Jeong-Hwan;Lee, Moon-Hong;Hyun, Jai-Sun
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.24 no.3 s.64
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    • pp.151-156
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    • 1985
  • Apple leaf miner(ALM), Phyllonorycter ringoniella(Matsumura), occurs $4{\sim}5$ generations a year in Suweon; adult emergence peaks being in mid April, early June, early July, mid August, and mid September with the highest one in the 4th generation. Numbers of days required to complete the development(egg to adult emergence) were different with oviposited dates; 43days for late May, $32{\sim}37$ days for June to July, and 39days for early August. ALM larvae oviposited after late August did not emerge and went into diapause. Sites of the infested leaf on the shoot seemed to be somewhat different with the ALM generations; the preferred leaf sites being the 1st-6th leaf for the 1st, the 4th-9th for the 2nd, the 4th-18th for the 3rd or 4th, and the terminal leaves of the first growth shoot or the leaves of the secondary shoot for the 5th generation. Parasites of three families emerged from the mines of ALM in Suweon. The encyrtid (Holcothorax testaceipes Ratzelburg) occurs 4 generations and the eulophids 5 generations a year. A small number of the braconid(Apanteles sp.) occcrred only in September.

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Seasonal Fluctuation, Reproduction, Development and Damaging Behavior of Compsidia populnea L.(Coleoptera; Cerambicidae) on Populus $alba{\times}glandulosa$ (현사시나무의 줄기 식입해충(害蟲) 포푸라하늘소의 생활사(生活史)에 관한 조사(調査))

  • Park, Kyu-Tek;Paik, Hung-Ryul
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.24 no.4 s.65
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    • pp.195-201
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    • 1986
  • This study was conducted to investigate the life history of Compsidia populnea which is major species of the stem-borers on Populus alba{\times}glandulosa$. Peak emergence of the adult of Compsidia populnea L. was around 10th${\sim}$l2nd of May in Chuncheon vicinities, having one generation a year in Korea. There was a preovipositional period of 10.7 days and a ovipositional period of 14.3.days. Mean adult longevity was 11 days for male and 13.8 days for female. Individual eggs were long oval with somewhat narrowed tip at one side and soft, 2.6mm in length, 0.8mm in diameter, and were laid singly under the U-shaped scars which were made by female before oviposition. Total number of scars per female averaged 56.6 ($8{\sim}135$) and eggs were found in 67.9 percent of the total scars. Egg period was $8{\sim}11$ days at $25^{\circ}C$ constant temperature and $7{\sim}14$ days in the field condition. Early young larvae stayed for $2{\sim}3$ weeks under the scars and then boring into the xylem, forming galls at this time. Size of the gall was 1.8cm($1.3{\sim}2.5$) in length, 1.6cm($1.0{\sim}2.2$) in diameter and the length of mine was everage 3.1cm. Fully grown larvae were developed around the early October and overwintered in the mines of galls. Pupation was done around the early of April. Pupal developmental period averaged 11 days($9{\sim}13$ days) at $25^{\circ}C$ constant temperature condition.

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Chemical and Optical Absorption Spectroscopic Study of Colored Tourmalines (유색 전기석의 화학적 및 광학흡수 분광학적 연구)

  • Kim, Hee-Jong;Kim, Soo-Jin
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.1-16
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    • 1993
  • The chemical and optical absorption spectroscopic characters of pink and colorless tourmalines from San Diego mine in California, U.S.A., blue/green tourmalines from anonymous mine, Brazil, and brownis black tourmalines from Uncheon and Haksan mines in Korea have been studied using X-ray diffractometer, electron microprobe, optical absorption spectroscopy, and heat treatment. Least-squares refinements give unit cell diminsions : a = 15.96-16.01 ${\AA}$, c = 7.15-7.16 ${\AA}$ for the brownish black tourmalines, a = 15.82 - 15.87 ${\AA}$, c = 7.09 - 7.10 ${\AA}$ for pink tourmalines, and a = 15.88 - 15.94 ${\AA}$, c = 7.12 - 7.15 ${\AA}$ for blue green tourmalines. The colors of tourmalines are responsible for the transition elements. The pink color is attributed to the $Mn^{3+}$ ions, the blue-green to $Fe^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$, bluish green to $Cu^{2+}$, and the brownish black to $Fe^{2+}$, $Fe^{2+}$ - $Fe^{3+}$, and $Fe^{2+}$ - $Ti^{4+}$. The $Mn^{3+}$ ions of pink color tourmalines are stabilized in the Y sites compressed along the O(1)H-O(3)H axis by Jahn-Teller distortion. Heating removes the pink or red component from tourmalines, producing the colorless stones from the pink and red ones. The bluish green samples change into the greenish blue ones and a certain yellowish green samples change into the light green ones by heat treatment. In the elbaite-schorl series, the concentration of Fe and Mn are variable depending on the color zones. The green zone is characterrized by the high content of Fe and Mn are variable depending on the color zones. The green zone is characterized by the high content of Fe, whereas the pink zone by the high content of Mn. Mn increases in deep yellow zone compared with yellow or colorless zones.

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The Behavior of Dissolved and Particulate Phases of Trace Elements within the Watershed of Juam Reservoir (주암호 집수유역 내 용존 및 입자상 미량원소의 거동 특성)

  • Lee, Pyeong-Koo;Chi, Se-Jung;Youm, Seung-Jun
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.41 no.4
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    • pp.405-425
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    • 2008
  • In order to investigate the amounts of trace elements flowing into reservoir, and to elucidate the relationship between trace element mobility and fraction size, the stream water and sediment samples were collected from thirty-two sites of the 3rd or 4th order stream within watershed surrounding the Juam reservoir. Chemical analyses of trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) for all samples were completed, and additionally cationi and anion for stream water samples. Considering the distribution of rocks and contamination sources in watershed, the eight stream sediments were selected from typical sites representing study areas, and we determined the concentrations of trace elements according to size fractions ($2\;mm{\sim}200\;{\mu}m$, $200{\sim}100\;{\mu}m$, $100{\sim}50\;{\mu}m$, $50{\sim}20\;{\mu}m$ and < $20\;{\mu}m$). The correlation relationships between concentrations and size fractions of stream sediments were important to identify the hydro-geochemical behavior of trace elements that flow into Juam reservoir. Stream waters showed four water types (Ca-Mg-$HCO_3$, Ca-Na-$HCO_3$-Cl, Ca-Na-$HCO_3-SO_4$, Ca-Na-$HCO_3$) depending on pollution sources such as coal mine, metal mine, farm-land and dwellings. Concentrations of trace elements increased clearly with the decrease in size fractions of stream sediments. Concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn increased dramatically in silt size (< $20\;{\mu}m$) fraction, while As had high concentrations in sand size ($2\;mm{\sim}100\;{\mu}m$) fraction in downstream sediments of metal mines. These indicate that Cu, Zn, and Pb moved into Juam reservoir easily in the adsorbed form on silt size grain in sediments, and As was transported as As-bearing mineral facies, resulting in its less chance to reach into Juam reservoir.

Assessment of the Heavy Metal Contamination in Paddy Soils Below Part of the Closed Metalliferous Mine (폐금속광산 하류 논토양의 중금속 오염도 평가)

  • Kim, Min-Kyeong;Hong, Sung-Chang;Kim, Myung-Hyun;Choi, Soon-Kun;Lee, Jong-Sik;So, Kyu-Ho;Jung, Goo-Bok
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.34 no.1
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    • pp.6-13
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    • 2015
  • BACKGROUND: Most of the tailings have been left without any management in abandoned metalliferous mines and have become the main source of heavy metal contamination for agricultural soils and crops in the these areas. METHODS AND RESULTS: This experiment was carried out to investigate the assessment of the heavy metal contamination in paddy soils located on downstream of the closed metalliferous mine. The average total concentrations of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and arsenic (As) in paddy soils were 8.88, 56.7, 809, 754, and 37.9 mg/kg, respectively. Specially, the average concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn were higher than those of warning criteria for soil contamination(4 mg/kg for Cd, 200 mg/kg for Pb, and 300 mg/kg for Zn) in agricultural soil established by Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea. The proportions of 0.1 M HCl extractable Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As concentration to total concentration of these heavy metals in paddy soils were 27.7, 21.3, 35.1, 13.8 and 10.5%, respectively. The pollution index of these five metals in paddy soils ranged from 0.42 to 11.92. Also, the enrichment factor (EFc) of heavy metals in paddy soils were in the order as Cd>Pb>Zn>Cu>As, and the enrichment factor in paddy soil varied considerably among the sampling sites. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) of heavy metals in soils were in the order as Cd>Pb>Zn>Cu>As, specially, the average geoaccumulation index of Cd, Pb, and Zn (Igeo 2.49~3.10) were relatively higher than that of other metals in paddy soils. CONCLUSION: Based on the pollution index, enrichment factor, and geoaccumulation index for heavy metal in paddy soils located on downstream of closed metalliferous mine, the main contaminants are mine waste materials and mine drainage including mine activity.

Fractionation and Pollution Index of Heavy Metals in the Sangdong Tungsten Mine Tailings (광미에 존재하는 중금속의 분획화와 오염도 평가)

  • Yang, Jae-E.;Kim, Hee-Joung;Jun, Sang-Ho
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.34 no.1
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    • pp.33-41
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    • 2001
  • Enormous volumes of mining wastes from the abandoned and closed mines are disposed without a proper treatment in the upper Okdong River basin at Southeastern part of Kangwon Province. Erosion of these wastes contaminates soil, surface water, and sediments with heavy metals. Objectives of this research were to fractionate heavy metals in the mine tailing stored in the Sangdong Tungsten tailing dams and to assess the potential pollution index of each metal fraction. Tailing samples were collected from tailing dams at different depth and analyzed for physical and chemical properties. pH of tailings ranged from 7.3 to 7.9. Contents of total N and organic matter were in the ranges of 3.2~5.5%, and 1.3~9.1%, respectively. Heavy metals in the tailings were higher in the newly constructed tailing dam than those in the old dam. Total concentrations of metals in the tailings were in the orders of Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd, exceeded the corrective action level of the Soil Environment Conservation Law and higher than the natural abundance levels reported from uncontaminated soils. Relative distribution of heavy metal fractions was residual > organic > reducible > carbonate > adsorbed, reversing the degree of metal bioavailability. Mobile fractions of metals were relatively small compared to the total concentrations. Distribution of metals in the tailing dam profiles was metal specific. Concentrations of Cu at the surface of tailing dams were higher than those at the bottom. Pollution index (PI) values of each fraction of metals were ranged from 4.27 to 8.51 based on total concentrations. PI values of mobile fractions were lower than those of immobile fractions. Results on metal fractions and PI values of the tailing samples indicate that tailing samples were contaminated with heavy metals and had potential to cause a detrimental effects on soil and water environment in the lower part of the stream. A prompt countermeasure to prevent surface of tailings in the dams from water and wind erosions is urgently needed.

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The Ecological Values of the Korean Demilitarized Zone(DMZ) and International Natural Protected Areas (비무장지대(DMZ)의 생태적 가치와 국제자연보호지역)

  • Cho, Do-soon
    • Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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    • v.52 no.1
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    • pp.272-287
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    • 2019
  • The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established in 1953 by the Korean War Armistice Agreement. It extends from the estuary of the Imjin River, in the west, to the coast of the East Sea. It is 4 km in width and 148 km in length. However, the ecosystems of the civilian control zone (CCZ) located between the southern border of the DMZ and the civilian control line (CCL) and the CCZ in the estuary of the Han River and the Yellow Sea are similar to those in the DMZ, and, therefore, the ecosystems of the DMZ and the CCZ are collectively known as the "ecosystems of the DMZ and its vicinities." The flora in the DMZ and its vicinities is composed of 1,864 species, which accounts for about 42% of all the vascular plant species on the Korean Peninsula and its affiliated islands. Conducting a detailed survey on the vegetation, flora, and fauna in the DMZ is almost impossible due to the presence of landmines and limitations on the time allowed to be spent in the DMZ. However, to assess the environmental impact of the Munsan-Gaesong railroad reconstruction project, it was possible to undertake a limited vegetation survey within the DMZ in 2001. The vegetation in Jangdan-myeon, in Paju City within the DMZ, was very simple. It was mostly secondary forests dominated by oaks such as Quercus mongolica, Q. acutissima, and Q. variabilis. The other half of the DMZ in Jangdan-myeon was occupied by grassland composed of tall grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis, M. sacchariflorus, and Phragmites japonica. Contrary to the expectation that the DMZ may be covered with pristine mature forests due to more than 60 years of no human interference, the vegetation in the DMZ was composed of simple secondary forests and grasslands formed on former rice paddies and agricultural fields. At present, the only legal protection system planned for the DMZ is the Natural Environment Conservation Act, which ensures that the DMZ would be managed as a nature reserve for only two years following Korean reunification. Therefore, firstly, the DMZ should be designated as a site of domestic legally protected areas such as nature reserve (natural monument), scenic site, national park, etc. In addition, we need to try to designate the DMZ as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve or as a World Heritage site, or as a Ramsar international wetland for international cooperation. For nomination as a world heritage site, we can emphasize the ecological and landscape value of the wetlands converted from the former rice paddies and the secondary forests maintained by frequent fires initiated by military activities. If the two Koreas unexpectedly reunite without any measures in place for the protection of nature in the DMZ, the conditions prior to the Korean War, such as rice paddies and villages, will return. In order to maintain the current condition of the ecosystems in the DMZ, we have to discuss and prepare for measures including the retention of mines and barbed-wire fences, the construction of roads and railroads in the form of tunnels or bridges, and the maintenance of the current fire regime in the DMZ.