• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.235-245
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• 2012

Nondestructive deterioration diagnosis has been carried out for the former ore dressing plant of the Yongwha mine in Yeongyang (Registered Cultural Property No. 255). Deterioration rates about organic contaminant and soil of the upper part (7 to 13 layer) indicate higher than the lower part (1 to 6 layer) of the ore dressing plants. By contrast, deterioration rates such as crack, break out and discoloration of the lower part indicate very higher than the upper part. It is estimated that the plants of the lower part that mechanical and chemical process had been done for flotation were damaged severely by physicochemical weathering with reaction of concrete and chemical solution. As results of ultrasonic velocity measurement, average p-wave velocity of plants were measured 2,462m/s (compressive strength $529kgf/cm^2$). As for the analytical results of surface contaminants and soil compositions using P-XRF, they were identical with major elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, Fe and As) of ore minerals from the Yongwha mine. Therefore, the ore dressing plant should be treated by phytoremediation with conservation because heavy metals could impinged upon plants and natural environment.

• 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.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.455-467
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• 1995

In order to investigate the dispersion patterns and speciations of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd in soils, stream sediments and stream waters, geochemical studies of soil, stream sediment and stream water samples collected in the vicinity of the Shi-Heung Cu-Pb-Zn mine was carried out Cation exchange capacity measurement, size analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis and batch test were performed to select applicable soil for adsorption treatment The average content of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd in soils collected from tailings and ore dressing plant is 1084 ppm, 2292 ppm, 3512 ppm and 29.2 ppm, respectively, and therefore, tailings and ore dressing plant site may be the major contamination sources in this study area. The mean content of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd in stream sediments is extremely high up to 794 ppm, 1633 ppm, 2946 ppm and 25.2 ppm, respectively. Tailing particles and heavy metal ions are dispersed along the tributary system. Results from the sequential extraction analysis indicate; (1) most of Cu is bound to organic matters and sulphides, (2) fraction of Pb is mainly bound to Fe and Mn oxides. Most of Zn is largely bound to Fe and Mn oxides and residual fraction. Ion exchangeable fraction of Cd is relatively higher than those of Cu, Pb and Zn. Batch test on soils collected from the kaolinite and/or pyrophyllite mines and from the control areas was carried out to select an applicable soil samples for adsorption treatment The sample, S10, collected from the control area 2 (clay content 33.2%) shows the highest $K_d$ (distribution coefficient). Organic content in soils and several clay minerals shows relatively good correlation with $K_d$. It means that applicable soils for adsorption treatment of heavy metals show high organic and clay content.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.201-213
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• 2003

The adsorption property and ability of domestic zeolites for some heavy metal ions (Ag, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn), which may cause a serious environmental problem in industrial wastewater, were evaluated on ore unit through a series of adsorption experiments together with careful examinations of mineral composition and properties of the zeolites. Though the adsorption behavior basically took place in the form of a cation exchange reaction, the higher CEC value does not necessarily to imply the higher adsorption capacity for a specific heavy metal. A general trend of the adsorption selectivity for heavy metals in the zeolites is determined to be as follow: $Ag\geq$Pb>Cr,Cu$\geq$Zn>Mn, but the adsorption properties of heavy metal ions somewhat depend on the species and composition of zeolite. Clinoptilolite tends to adsorb selectively Cu in case of Cr and Cu, whereas heulandite prefers Cr to Cu. A dominant adsorption selectivity of the zeolite ores for Ag and Pb is generally conspicuous regardless of their zeolite species and composition. The zeolite ores exhibit a preferential adsorption especially for $Ag^{+}$ so as not to regenerate when treated with $Na^{+}$ . In the adsorption capacity for heavy meta ions, the zeolites differ in great depending on their species: ferrierite>clinoptilolite>heulandite. Considering the CEC value of mordenite, the mordenite-rich ore appears to be similar to the clinoptilolite ore in the adsorption capacity. The adsorption capacity for heavy metals is not positively proportional to the CEC values of the zeolites measured by the exchange reaction with ammonium ion. In addition, the adsorption capacity roughly tends to depend on the zeolite contents, i.e., the grade of zeolite ore, but the trend is not consistent at all in some ores. These may be caused by the adsorption selectivity for some specific heavy metals, the presence of possible stacking micro-faults and natural cations such as K hardly to exchange in the zeolite. Considering the economic availability and functional effectiveness as natural zeolite resources, clinoptilolite ores could be applicable to utilize the domestic zeolites for the removal of heavy metals.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.315-320
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• 1989

A method was presented for the analysis of trace metals in iron oxide ore. The method utilized ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC)-methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) extraction procedure and analysis by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AA). Citrate at pH $8{\sim}10$ for the determination of Co, Ni and Cu or tiron at pH $6{\sim}7$for the determination of Mn and Cu was added as a masking agent to prevent extraction of Fe(III) into the organic phase. Reduction of solubility of MIBK in water was achieved by addition of NaCl as a salting-out agent. Back extraction of the MIBK extracts with aqueous $HNO_3$ was also studied to increase the stability of metal extracts.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.4033-4041
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• 2021

To better understand the permeability of uranium sandstone, improve the leaching rate of uranium, and explore the change law of pore structure characteristics and blocking mechanism during leaching, we systematically analyzed the microstructure of acid-leaching uranium sandstone. We investigated the variable rules of pore structure characteristics based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results showed the following: (1) The uranium concentration change followed the exponential law during uranium deposits acid leaching. After 24 h, the uranium leaching rate reached 50%. The uranium leaching slowed gradually over the next 4 days. (2) Combined with the regularity of porosity variation, Stages I and II included chemical plugging controlled by surface reaction. Stage I was the major completion phase of uranium displacement with saturation precipitation of calcium sulfate. Stage II mainly precipitated iron (III) oxide-hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide. Stage III involved physical clogging controlled by diffusion. (3) In the three stages of leaching, the permeability of the leaching solution changed with the pore structure, which first decreased, then increased, and then decreased.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2009

Cobalt-rich manganese crusts on seamounts have received an increasing amount of attention as future resources for Co, Ni, Cu, and Mn. A dearth of detailed information regarding the relevant distribution characteristics, mining technologies, and ore processing technologies, however, has precluded potential evaluations of the technical and economic advantages of these crusts. In the past 4 years, Korea has undertaken a survey of the cobalt-rich manganese crusts in and around the Magellan Seamount and Mid-Pacific Mountains. This paper introduces the preliminary feasibility study of the distribution features and R&D results centered around the development of the cobalt-rich manganese crusts. The evaluation model was developed by modifying the model for the manganese nodules. In addition to considering the geological and geophysical differences between the manganese nodules and the cobalt-rich manganese crusts, an ore dressing subsystem was installed in the model. The mining subsystem is composed of a self-propelled collector--a pipeline with submersible hydraulic pumps for crust lifting. The smelting and chlorine leach method was selected for metallurgical processing. The production scales were established at 2,500t/y of cobalt metal. The production of three metals--cobalt, nickel, and copper--was considered in terms of metallurgical processing. The economic feasibility analyses demonstrated that the payback period was 11.4 years, the NPV was 36M$, and the IRR was 9.6% with the economic factors in the case of a cobalt price of US$ 25/lb. It was also demonstrated in this study that the payback period was 8.6 years, the NPV was 154M$, and the IRR was 14.0% in the case of a cobalt price of US$ 30/lb. This indicates that the approach under consideration appears to offer greater potential given the predicted metal prices.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.57-66
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• 2021

In this study, we attempted to separate and recover Cu from low-grade copper ore by a hydrometallurgical process. The leaching sample obtained after crushing and sieving by 0.355 mm of low-grade copper ore contained 1.5% Cu, 4.7% Fe, 1.0% Mn, and 0.3% Zn. The Cu in the oxide ore was very well leached into sulfuric acid and 97% Cu leaching efficiency was achieved at 80℃ and 3 M sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). From the leaching solution, Cu was separated by solvent extraction from Fe, Mn, and Zn using LIX984N. The separation tendency between Cu and other metals was confirmed through the distribution ratio and separation factor. By plotting the McCabe-Thiele Diagram, the optimum condition for recovering Cu is 5 vol.% LIX984N, 2-stage counter-current solvent extraction, and an O/A ratio of 0.5. Using this method, 99% of the Cu was extracted and a CuSO₄ solution was finally obtained that contained 1.6 g/L Cu after the stripping process using 2 M H₂SO₄.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2003

Researches were carried out to investigate the characteristics and concentration of heavy metal elements of stream water through Dongmyoung abandoned metal mine and soil adjacent to the mine. The pH range of water was 5.9∼7.1 that implies the water environment was acidic to neutral. The contents and distribution aspects of heavy metals in water samples varied with geochemical characteristics of element, but the concentration of heavy metals has the tendency of increase closer to the mine in general. The results of soil analysis show that total heavy metal concentration of agricultural soil near mine was far lower than those of ore tailing and dumping site. Therefore, the effects of the abandoned mine on stream water and agricultural products were supposed to be insignificant, particularly because the portion of absorbed carbonates and reducible fractions among total heavy metal concentration was relatively lower than the other. Since, however total heavy metal concentrations of mining site were relatively higher than those of adjacent region, there is a possibility of heavy metal difussion when the chemical environment of the site changes due to migration of surface and underground water. It is suggested that the preventive measures for water and soil pollution by the heavy metals would be considered around the region.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.252-261
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• 2022

Cobalt is a vital metal in the modern society because of its applications in lithium-ion batteries, super alloys, hard metals, and catalysts. Further, cobalt is a representative rare metal and is the 30th most abundant element in the Earth's crust. This study reviews the current status of cobalt extraction and recycling processes, along with the trends in its production amount and use. Although cobalt occurs in a wide range of minerals, such as oxides and sulfides of copper and nickel ores, the amounts of cobalt in the minerals are too low to be extracted economically. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) leads cobalt mining, and accounts for 68.9 % of the global cobalt reserves (142,000 tons in 2020). Cobalt is mainly extracted from copper-cobalt and nickel-cobalt concentrates and is occasionally extracted directly from the ore itself by hydro-, pyro-, and electro-metallurgical processes. These smelting methods are essential for developing new recycling processes to extract cobalt from secondary resources. Cobalt is mainly recycled from lithium-ion batteries, spent catalysts, and cobalt alloys. The recycling methods for cobalt also depend on the type of secondary cobalt resource. Major recycling methods from secondary resources are applied in pyro- and hydrometallurgical processes.