• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.313-323
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• 2014

Significant alteration in the microbial community can occur across reclamation areas suffering subsidence from mining. A reclamation site undergoing fertilization practices and an adjacent coal-excavated subsidence site (sites A and B, respectively) were examined to characterize the bacterial diversity using 454 high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing. The dominant taxonomic groups in both the sites were Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Betaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Firmicutes. However, the bacterial communities' abundance, diversity, and composition differed significantly between the sites. Site A presented higher bacterial diversity and more complex community structures than site B. The majority of sequences related to Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Chloroflexi, Nitrospirae, Firmicutes, Betaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, and Anaerolineae were from site A; whereas those related to Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Gammaproteobacteria, Nitriliruptoria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Phycisphaerae originated from site B. The distribution of some bacterial groups and subgroups in the two sites correlated with soil properties and vegetation due to reclamation practice. Site A exhibited enriched bacterial community, soil organic matter (SOM), and total nitrogen (TN), suggesting the presence of relatively diverse microorganisms. SOM and TN were important factors shaping the underlying microbial communities. Furthermore, the specific plant functional group (legumes) was also an important factor influencing soil microbial community composition. Thus, the effectiveness of 454 pyrosequencing in analyzing soil bacterial diversity was validated and an association between land ecological system restoration, mostly mediated by microbial communities, and an improvement in soil properties in coal-mining reclamation areas was suggested.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.95-97
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• 2007

The mining-related damages due to the mining operations such as ground subsidence, tailing, Acid Mine Drainage, and soil contamination have a significant effect on our social and economical environment. So, for the effective prevention and reclamation works of the hazards in the mining area, the systematic management of mine information and mining-related damages is urgently needed. In this study, we estimated the possibilities of GIS-based system development for the mining area and related database. We classified the steps of building GIS as mine itself, mining-related damages, rehabilitation works and additional functions for estimating damages and analyzed the essential database and functions for each step. GIS will be helpful to estimate the mining-related damages and to carry out the reclamation works effectively.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.17-25
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• 2018

The Boroo area in Mongolia is known to have been contaminated with heavy metals due to irregular gold mining activities and the release of mercury from gold extraction process. Soil and mine tailings were collected to analyze contamination patterns of heavy metals in the Boroo area. Analyses revealed that mercury, arsenic and cadmium concentrations exceeded the regulatory standard of the nation (Mongolia National Standard). In case of mercury, about 80% of the survey area was over the limit and the concentration distribution heavily influenced by influx of mercury through water transport. Soil contamination by arsenic was most severe that the concentration exceeded the regulatory limit in almost entire survey area, showing peak concentrations at nearby streams and river along with ore processing facilities. For cadmium, about 20% of the survey area was over the limit with the concentration distribution similar to that of arsenic.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.56-64
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• 2013

After the law has been enacted for the prevention and recovery of mining damage in 2005, efforts of remediation have been started to recover heavy metal contaminated soils in agricultural land near mining sites. As part of an effort, the upper part of cultivation layer has been treated through covering up with clean soil, but the heavy metal contamination could be still spreaded to the surrounding areas because heavy metals may be remained in the lower part of cultivation layers. In this study, the most frequently occurring arsenic (As) contamination was selected to study in agricultural land nearby an abandoned metal mining site. We applied separation technologies considering the differences in the physical characteristics of soil particles (particle size, density, magnetic properties, hydrophobicity, etc.). Based on physical and chemical properties of arsenic (As) containing particles in agricultural lands nearby mining sites, we applied sieve separation, specific gravity separation, magnetic separation, and flotation separation to remove arsenic (As)-containing particles in the contaminated soil. Results of this study show that the removal efficiency of arsenic (As) were higher in the order of the magnetic separation, flotation separation, specific gravity separation and sieve separation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.287-296
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• 2020

Mine Reclamation Project is being carried out with the aim of ensuring a sustainable green living and helping to develop eco-friendly mines by analyzing, removing and preventing the harmful factors. Mines developed during the japanese colonial period and mining boom period are still not repaired throughout the country, and from these scattered risks, public safety is worth pursuing as a top priority. The project that is close to public safety in the mine recalmation project is an emergency treatment, and the most widely used method is a filling method similar to the ground subsidence prevention. If dangerous mine cavity or tunnels are located in the mountains, charging with existing materials may not be possible, or unreasonable cases may occur, and new methods of technological development are required. Emergency actions should be carried out safely and efficiently to prevent the loss of precious people's lives on the hiking paths adjacent to dangerous mining sites. In these field conditions, urethane foam materials may be an alternative. In this study, the applicability of urethane foam materials in mining was reviewed through overseas cases. It was also tested on the appropriate depth of top soil for the protection of urethane foam materials through forest fire simulation test. The test result show that approximately 15cm of soil covering (recommended 20cm over) was suitable for maintaining the function of foam materials from forest fires.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.848-855
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• 2020

Land subsidence induced by underground coal mining leads to severe ecological and environmental problems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the potential to improve plant growth and soil properties. We aimed to assess the effects of AMF on the growth and soil properties of sea buckthorn under field conditions at different reclamation times. Inoculation with AMF significantly promoted the survival rate of sea buckthorn over a 50-month period, while also increasing plant height after 14, 26, and 50 months. Crown width after 14 months and ground diameter after 50 months of inoculation treatment were significantly higher than in the uninoculated treatment. AMF inoculation significantly improved plant mycorrhizal colonization rate and promoted an increase in mycelial density in the rhizosphere soil. The pH and electrical conductivity of rhizosphere soil also increased after inoculation. Moreover, after 26 and 50 months the soil organic matter in the inoculation treatment was significantly higher than in the control. The number of inoculated soil rhizosphere microorganisms, as well as acid phosphatase activity, also increased. AMF inoculation may play an active role in promoting plant growth and improving soil quality in the long term and is conducive to the rapid ecological restoration of damaged mining areas.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.2
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• pp.721-724
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• 2006

Among many sources of soil and water pollution, former mining regions also play an important role in distribution and scope of pollution. In response, KMRC has made an investigation into the status mine hazard at the abandoned metalliferous mine area in Korea. In this study, we analyzed distribution of mine hazards at abandoned metalliferous mines using GIS. We considered the distribution of mine hazards and its magnitude for each abandoned mine and displayed the mine hazard index (MHI) using GIS. We divided the MHI value for each mine into 5 classes, and displayed the first class as smallest point symbol and the last class as biggest point symbol. The biggest symbol shows the most serious status of mine hazards. This GIS function was included in the AMGIS system KMRS are running, and it would be helpful to make decision of reclamation priority at abandoned metalliferous mine area.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2008

The effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for coal mining spoils in Samcheok, Jeongsun, and Mungyung were evaluated based on the physicochemical properties of soil in the rehabilitated areas. These spoils were reclaimed by introducing plants such as black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), pitch pine (Pinus rigida), birch (Betula platyphylla var. japonica), alder (Alnus hirsuta), bush clover (Lespedeza cyrtobotrya), and grass (Lolium perenne) in planting beds covered with forest soil. In the surface soil, the pH, organic matter, total N, available P, and exchangeable Ca showed significant changes over the years after reclamation. The pH and exchangeable Ca content decreased exponentially over time, whereas organic matter increased linearly and total N and available P increased exponentially. Changes in the physicochemical properties of subsurface soils displayed a different pattern. There were significant changes over time in the organic matter, available P, and exchangeable Ca and Mg contents of the soil. Organic matter increased logarithmically with years since rehabilitation and available P increased exponentially. Meanwhile, exchangeable Ca decreased exponentially, and Mg decreased logarithmically. The changes in the subsurface soil were not as dramatic as those in the surface soil. This result suggests that the ameliorating effects of the establishment and growth of plants more pronounced on the surface soil layer. Stand ordination data showed different relationships with time since rehabilitation in the early and later stages of the rehabilitation process. In the early stages of rehabilitation, stands tended to be arranged in the order of reclamation age. However, in the later stages, there was not a clear relationship between reclamation age and vegetation characteristics. This result suggests that soil amelioration is required for the early stages, after which an autogenic effect becomes more prominent as the vegetation becomes better established.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.549-566
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• 2022

Mining of ore minerals (sfalerite, cinnabar, and chalcopyrite) from the old mine has led in significant environmental effects as contamination of soils and plants and acidification of water. Also, nanoparticles (NP) have obtained global importance because of their widespread usage in daily life, unique properties, and rapid development in the field of nanotechnology. Regarding their usage in various fields, it is suggested that soil is the final environmental sink for NPs. Nanoparticles with excessive reactivity and deliverability may be carried out as amendments to enhance soil quality, mitigate soil contaminations, make certain secure land-software of the traditional change substances and enhance soil erosion control. Meanwhile, there's no record on the usage of Nano superior substances for mine soil reclamation. In this study, five soil specimens have been tested at 4 sites inside the region of mine (<100 m) to study zeolites, and iron sulfide nanoparticles. Also, through using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Extreme Learning Machine (ELM), this study has tried to appropriately estimate the mechanical properties of soil under the effect of these Nano particles. Considering the RMSE and R2 values, Zeolite Nano materials could enhance the mine soil fine through increasing the clay-silt fractions, increasing the water holding capacity, removing toxins and improving nutrient levels. Also, adding iron sulfide minerals to the soils would possibly exacerbate the soil acidity problems at a mining site.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.546-552
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• 2018

Although there are differences in the history of mining development by country, geographical conditions, and economic status, there are various problems such as water pollution caused by acid mine drainage from past mine development, soil and water pollution caused by mine tailing, and landslides caused by slope failure. Thus, human life is threatened by ground subsidence caused by collapses. Some countries have technology and legal systems that are different from those of others. In countries where mine reclamation is underway, or has to begin, there is a need for institutional arrangements and technical support. Countries trying to start mine reclamation require help from the international community. Technically and institutionally advanced nations need to recover from mine reclamation through cooperation with countries that are beginning to undertake reclamation.