• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.541-551
• /
• 1995

The Yeongdeog gold-silver deposits at Jipum, Gyeongsangbugdo, is of a middle Paleogene $(45.52{\pm}1.02Ma)$ vein type, and is hosted in shale and sandstone of Cretaceous age. Based on mineral paragenesis, vein structure and mineral assemblages, the ore mineralization can be divided into two distinct depositional stages. The early stage is associated with base-metals such as pyrite, arsenopyrite (27.99~30.99 at%), hematite, rutile, pyrrhotite, sphalerite (10.53~18.42 FeS mole%), chalcopyrite and galena with wallrock alteration such as chlorite, sericite and pyrite. The late stage is characterized by the Au-Ag mineralization such as electrum, Ag-bearing tetrahedrite, freibergite, pyrargyrite, unidentified mineral, pyrite, sphalerite (1.08~5.57 FeS mole%), chalcopyrite and galena. Fluid inclusion data indicate that fluid temperatures and salinities range from 343 to $227^{\circ}C$ and from 8.3 to 5.7 wt% eq. NaCl in early stage, respectively. Temperatures and salinities of NaCl eq. wt% range from 299 to $225^{\circ}C$ and from 12.9 to 4.3 in late stage, respectively. They suggest that complex cooling histories were occured by the mixing of the fluids. Sulfur fugacity $(-logfs_2)$ deduced by mineral assemblages and composition ranges from 8.3 to 14.7 atm. in early stage, and from 8.8 to 14.5 atm. in late stage. It suggests that the mineralization was related to decrease of temperature in early stage and fluctuations of $fS_2$ with decrease of temperature in late stage. Sulfur and oxygen isotope compositions are 4.48~5.60‰ and 9.25~10.8% in early stage, and late stage is 4.84~7.00‰ and 5.7‰, respectively. It indicated that hydrothermal fluids may be magmatic origin with some degree of mixing of another water during paragenetic time.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.16 no.E2
• /
• pp.85-96
• /
• 2000

The concentrations of Pb, Mn, Al and Na were measured from a total of 26 snow samples collected from a 1.5-m deep snow pit in Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Ore sampling location is great concern, because of its proximity to the southern extremity of south America, a candidate for the source regions of pollutant aerosols entering Antarctica. The mean concentrations of Pb and Mn were found to be 4.97 pg g(sup)-1 and 20.6 pgg(sup)-1, respectively. These concentrations levels are similar to those reported for recent snow at other Antarctic sites with pronounced spring maxima for both metals. Contributions form natural sources are estimated to be minor (∼16%) for Pb. For Mn, on the other hand, contribution from rock and soil dusts is found to be very important. Excess Pb over Pb from natural sources is likely to be anthropogenic, especially from South Americal. Our results show that yearly Pb fallout flux is much greater in Antarctic coastal areas than at other Antarctic locations far from the coast , indicating that the transport and deposition patterns of pollutant aerosols are not simple is Antarctica. It is also suggested that the recycling of anthropogenic Pb in seawater to the atmosphere could significantly contribute to the Pb fallout flux in the Antarctic coastal regions.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.133-143
• /
• 2011

In Mujoo area, the granitic pegmatites are developed in the granitic gneiss complex with Jurassic gneissic granites, where Nb-Ta mineralization were reported. Pegmatites are mainly composed of large crystals of quartz, feldspars of end-member orthoclase and albite, and muscovite. Nb-Ta minerals in study area are columbite (Nb > Ta) in composition. Chemistry of muscovites shows post-magmatic in origin and they are closely related with columbite. Large columbite, in pegmatites occurred with quartz and feldspars, while microcrystalline columbite is associated with muscovite. The Nb contents in large columbite are relatively higher than those in microcrystalline ones. Two pegmatites, 4~15 m in width and 120 m, 250 m in extension respective1y, are developed. Five drilling cores with total 600 m in length are finally obtained and revealed no possible potential for economic rare metals of Na-Ta deposits.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.363-381
• /
• 2020

The polymetallic Co, Ni, Cu, As, Au, and Ag deposits of Bou Azzer East are located in the western part of the Bou Azzer inlier in the Central Anti Atlas, Morocco. Six stages of emplacement of the mineralization have been identified. Precious metals (native gold and electrum) are present in all stages of this deposit except the early nickeliferous stage. From the Statistical analysis of the Co, As, Ni, Au, and Ag contents of a set of 501 samples, shows that the Pearson correlation coefficient between As-Co elements (0.966) is the highest followed by that of the Au-Ag couple (0.506). Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical ascending classification (HAC) of the grades show, that Ni is associated with the pair (As-Co) and Cu is rather related to the pair (Au-Ag). The kriging maps show that the highest values of the Co, As and Ni appear in the contact of the serpentinite with other facies, as for those of Au and Ag, in addition to anomalous zones concordant with those of Co, Ni and As, they show anomalies at the extreme South and North of the study area. The development of the anomalous Au and Ag zones is mainly along the N40-50°E and N145°E directions.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.23-31
• /
• 2010

Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) such as tetrachloroethylene (PCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA) are the contaminants most frequently found in soil and groundwater. They have a potential to be toxic to and persistent in environment. This study is focused on selection of zero-valent metal and ores for the removal of high concentration PCE or 1,1,1-TCA and mixture of two compound. For the screening of suitable metals, we measured dechlorination rate, removal capacities and economics by using batch reactor test. This results suggest that removal rate and dechlorination of high quality iron and zinc are higher than slag and nature ores like zinc and manganese. Among nature ores, zinc ores(64% purity) have highest removal capacities. And in economics zinc ores is 10 times better than high quality metal tested. We conclude zinc ore is most suitable metal for the removal of PCE or 1,1,1-TCA.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.487-496
• /
• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to create soil contamination maps using QGIS (Quantum Geographic Information System) and suggest selection methods for soil pollution sources for preferential investigation in a soil contamination survey. Method: Data from soil contamination surveys over five years in Gyeonggi-do Province, South Korea (2013-2017) were used for making soil contamination maps and analyzing the density of survey points. By analyzing points exceeding the concern level of soil contamination, soil pollutant sources for priority management were identified and selection methods for preferred survey points were suggested through a study of the model area. Results: A soil contamination survey was conducted at 1,478 points over five years, with the largest number of surveys conducted in industrial complex and factory areas. Soil contamination maps for copper, zinc, nickel, lead, arsenic, fluoride, and total petroleum hydrocarbons were made, and most of the survey points were found to be below concern level 1 for soil contamination. The density of the survey points is similar to that of densely populated areas and factory areas. The analysis results of points exceeding the criteria showed that soil pollutant sources for priority management were areas where ore and scrap metals were used and stored, traffic-related facilities areas, industrial complex and factory areas, and areas associated with waste and recycling. According to the study of the model area, the preferred survey points were traffic-related facilities with 15 years or more since their construction and factories with a score of 10 or more for soil contamination risk. Conclusion: Soil contamination surveys should use GIS for even regional distribution of survey points and for the effective selection of preferred survey points. This study may be used as guidelines to select points for a soil contamination survey.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.3-13
• /
• 2021

Nickel is widely used due to its excellent toughness, malleability and enhanced corrosion resistance. Therefore, nickel is indispensable in our daily lives, and it is widely used in basic to advanced applications such as stainless steel, super alloys and electronic devices. Recently, nickel has been widely used as the major material in secondary batteries and capacitors. The use of nickel continues to rise and has increased from 800 thousand tonnes per year worldwide in the 1970s to about 2 million tonnes in the 2010s. However, nickel is a representative rare metal and ranks 23rd among the abundant elements in the earth's crust. This study reviews the current status of the nickel smelting processes as well as the trend in production amount and use. Nickel is extracted by a wide variety of smelting methods depending on the type of ore. These smelting methods are essential for the development of new recycling processes that can extract nickel from secondary nickel resources.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.347-360
• /
• 2007

In order to evaluate the degree and extent of heavy metal pollution and the environmental impacts of abandoned Cu mines in Goseong-gun, soils and paddies were collected from the mine area and have been analysed for heavy metal contents. The heavy metal contents were much higher in mountain soils than in paddy soils. Total content of heavy metals decreased in order of Cu>Zn>Pb>As>Cr>Cd in mountain soils whereas Zn>Pb>Cu>Cr>As>Cd in paddy soils. The extractable amount of heavy metals by 0.1/1N HCl decreased in order of Cu>Pb>Zn>As>Cd>Cr in mountain soils whereas Pb>Cu>Zn>As>Cd>Cr in paddy soils. Although the extraction ratios were highly various depending on the sampling site, their average values were in order of Cd(16%)>Pb(10%)>Cu(9%)>As(4.5%)>Zn-Cr(${\le}2.5%$). The soils investigated were enriched in heavy metals relative to the averages of earth crust as In order of $As{\ge}Cd$>Pb>Zn>Cu>Cr. Pollution index calculated from total or extractable heavy metals of soils indicated that the heavy metal pollution was restricted to mountain soils around abandoned Cu mines, especially the Samsan I mine. The metal contents of brown rice showed no significantly contaminated level as follows; As $nd{\sim}0.87mg/kg,\;Cd\;0.02{\sim}0.34mg/kg,\;Cu\;1.01{\sim}6.25mg/kg,\;Mn\;13.4{\sim}43.2mg/kg,\;Pb\;0.09{\sim}2.83mg/kg,\;and\;Zn\;16.5{\sim}79.1mg/kg$. From the extraction and dispersion properties of heavy metal with the soil pH ($4.5{\sim}7.8$), it can be deduced the conclusion that the heavy metal pollution is spreading in the study area mainly by the detrital migration of waste ore and gangue minerals rather than the dissolution and circulation of heavy metal.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.325-337
• /
• 2002

We examined the contamination of stream water and stream sediments by heavy metal elements with respect to distance from the abandoned Backun Au-Ag-Cu mine. High contents of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Mn, and Fe) and aluminum in the waters connected with mining and associated deposits (dumps, tailings) reduce water quality. In the mining area, Ca and SO$_4$ are predominant cation and anion. The mining water is Ca-SO$_4$ type and is enriched in heavy metals resulted from the weathering of sulfide minerals. This mine drainage water is weakly acid or neutral (pH; 6.5-7.1) because of neutralizing effect by other alkali and alkaline earth elements. The effluent from the mine adit is also weakly acid or neutral, and contains elevated concentrations of most elements due to reactions with ore and gangue minerals in the deposit. The concentration of ions in the Backun mining water is high in the mine adit drainage water and steeply decreased award to down stream. Buffering process can be reasonably considered as a partial natural control of pollution, since the ion concentration becomes lower and the pH value becomes neutralized. In order to evaluate mobility and bioavailability of metals, sequential extraction was used for stream sediments into five operationally defined groups: exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to FeMn oxide, bound to organic matter, and residual. The residual fraction was the most abundant pool for Cu(2l-92%), Zn(28-89%) and Pb(23-94%). Almost sediments are low concentrated with Cd(2.7-52.8 mg/kg) than any other elements. But Cd dominate with non stable fraction (68-97%). Upper stream sediments are contaminated with Pb, and down area sediments are enriched with Zn. It is indicate high mobility of Zn and Cd.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.1-19
• /
• 2004

Metallic deposits in Korea have a variety of genetic types such as hydrothermal veins, skarns, hydrothermal replacement and alaskite deposits and so on. Geological, mineralogical and geochemical features including host rock, wall-rock alteration, ore and gangue mineralogy, mineral texture and secondary mineralogy related to weathering process control the environmental signatures of mining areas. The environmental signatures of metallic deposits closed from early 1970s to late 1990s in Korea show complicate geochemistry and mineralogy due to step weathering of primary and secondary minerals such as oxidation-precipitation-remobilization. The potentiality of low pH and high heavy metal Concentration s from acid mine drainage is great in base-metal deposits associated with polymetallic mineralization, breccia-pipe type and Cretaceous hydrothermal Au veins with the amount of pyrite whereas skam, hydrothermal replacement, hydrothermal Cu and Au-Ag vein deposits are in low contamination possibility. The geoenvironmental models reflecting the various geologic features closely relate to disuibution of sulfides and carbonates and their ratios and finally effect on characteristics of environmental signatures such as heavy metal species and their concentrations in acid mine drainage.