• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.577-586
• /
• 2008

The formation of acid mine drainage is closely related to water chemistry and ochreous sprecipitates formed at the bottom of creeks because it is initially derived from the possible water-rock interaction in abandoned waste metals at the mine. According to analyses on water, precipitates, and alteration characters of ore metals in Dalseone mine, whitish precipitates formed at pHs above 5 while schwertmannite formed at pH $3{\sim}4$. Water chemistry vary with seasons. The water chemistry of the treatment site measured ir Octoter 2002 is characterized by lower pH, and higher Al, Zn, Cu contents relative to those in March, 2003. In the latter case, As and Cl contents are very high. $^{27}Al$ MAS NMR data show the presence of predominant octahedral Al in whitish precipitates. Metal ore minerals dissolve at margins, cleavage, or comer of crystals where reactive sites are potential. Pyrite dissolves, forming etch pits or smooth faces on the edge.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water Science and Technology
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.13-26
• /
• 2018

This research was conducted to elucidate the removal mechanism of heavy metals and sulfate ion from acid mine drainage(AMD) by porous zeolite-slag ceramics (ZS ceramics) packed in a column reactor system. The average removal efficiencies of heavy metals and sulfate ion from AMD by the 1:3(Z:S) porous ZS ceramics in the column reactor under the HRT condition of 24 hours were Al 97.5%, As 98.8%, Cd 86.1%, Cu 96.2%, Fe 99.7%, Mn 64.1%, Pb 97.2%, Zn 66.7%, and $SO_4{^{2-}}$ 76.0% during 121 days of operation time. The XRD analysis showed that the ferric iron from AMD could be removed by adsorption and/or ion-exchange on the porous ZS ceramics. In addition it was known that Al, As, Cu, Mn, and Zn could adsorb or coprecipitate on the surface of Fe precipitates such as schwertmannite, ferrihydrite, or goethite. The EDS analysis revealed that Al, Fe, and Mn, which were of relatively high concentration in the AMD, would be adsorbed and/or ion-exchanged on the porous ZS ceramics and also exhibited that Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn could be precipitated as the form of metal hydroxide or sulfate and adsorbed or coprecipitated on the surface of Fe precipitates. The microscopic results on the porous ZS ceramics and precipitated sludge in a column reactor system suggested that the heavy metals and sulfate ion from AMD would be eliminated by the multiple mechanisms of coprecipitation, adsorption, ion-exchange as well as precipitation.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.97-105
• /
• 2014

Artificial precipitation ponds, consisting of three steps of oxidation pond, successive alkalinity producing system (SAPS) and swamp, were constructed for the treatment of the acid mine drainage from the Iwal coal mine. The efficacies of the passive treatment system in terms of neutralization of mine water and removal of dissolved ions were evaluated by the chemical analyses of the water samples. Mine water in the mine adits was acidic, showing the pH value of 2.28-2.42 but the value increased rapidly to 6.17-6.53 in the Oxidation pond. The purification efficiencies for the removal of Al and Fe were 100%, whereas those of $SO_4$, Mg, Ca, and Mn were relatively low of 50%, 40%, 24%, and 59%, respectively. These results indicate a need for application of additional remediation techniques in the passive treatment systems. The precipitates that formed at the bottom of the mine water channels were mainly schwertmannite ($Fe_8O_8(OH)_6SO_4$) and those in the leachate water were 2-line ferrihydrite ($Fe_2O_3{cdot}0.5H_2O$).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.183-199
• /
• 2008

This study is focused on characterization of the physio-chemical and mineralogical properties, investigation of their vertical changes in the tailing profile of the Guryoung mining area, classification of the profile into distinct zones, and condition conceptual model of physio-chemical conditions and phases-water relationships controlling the element behaviors in the tailings. The upper part of the groundwater is characterized by the high contents of $Fe_2O_3$ and $SO_3$ for whole rock analysis, low pH, and the occurrence of jarosite, schwertmannite and Fe-oxyhydroxide as the secondary mineral phases. The tailing profile can be divided into the covering soil, jarosite zone, Fe-sulfate zone, Fe-oxyhydroxide and gypsum-bearing pyrite zone, calcite-bearing pyrite zone, soil zone, and weathered zone on the based of the geochemical and mineralogical characteristics. The profile can be sampled into the oxidized zone and the carbonate-rich primary zone with the dramatic changes in pH and the secondary mineral phases. The conceptual model proposed for the tailing profile can be summarized that the oxidation of pyrite is the most important reaction controlling the changes in pH, the dissolution of the primary silicates and carbonates, the precipitation of secondary mineral phases, acid-neutralizing, and heavy metal behaviors through the profile.