• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.131-150
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• 1991

The Weolseong diatreme was temporally and spatially related to the intrusion of the Gadaeri granite, and was -mineralized by meteoric aqueous fluids. In the Nokdong As-Zn deposit, pyrite, aresenopyrite and sphalerite are the most abundant sulfide minerals. They are associated with minor amount of magnetite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and cassiterite, and trace amounts of Pb-Sb-Bi-Ag sulphosalts. The AsZn ore probably occurred at about $350^{\circ}C$ according to fluid inclusion and compositional data estimated from the arsenic content of arsenopyrite and iron content of sphalerite intergrown with pyrrhotite + chalcopyrite + cubanite. Heating studies of fluid inclusions in quartz indicate a temperature range between 180 and $360^{\circ}C$, and freezing data indicate a salinity range from 0.8 to 4.1 eq.wt % NaCl. The coexisting assemblage pyrite + pyrrhotite + arsenopyrite suggests that $H_2S$ was the dominate reduced sulfur species, and defines fluid parameter thus: $10^{-34.5}$ < ${\alpha}_{S_2}$ < $10^{-33}$, $10^{-11}$ < $f_{S_2}$ < $10^{-8}$, -2.4 < ${\alpha}_{S_2}$ < -1.6 atm and pH= 5.2 (sericte stable) at $300^{\circ}C$. The sulfur isotope values ranged from 1.8 to 5.5% and indicate that the sulfur in the sulfides is of magmatic in origin. The carbon isotope values range from -7.8 to -11.6%, and the oxygen isotope values from the carbonates in mineralized wall rock range from 2 to 11.4%. The oxygen isotope compositions of water coexisting with calcite require an input of meteoric water. The geochemical data indicate that the ore-forming fluid probably was generated by a variety of mechanisms, including deep circulation of meteoric water driven by magmatic heat, with possible input of magniatic water and ore component.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.13-24
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• 2004

This study was carried out to plan the prevention of the generation and discharge of Acid Rock Drainage (ARD). The Acid Base Accounting(ABA) test was performed for geological materials such as pit wall, waste rock and stream sediments near the Imgi abandoned pyrophyllite mine in Busan, Korea. In addition, hydraulic characteristics were tested with the disk tension infiltrometer around the waste rock dump. Maximum Potential Acidity(MPA) of geological materials near the Imgi mine was 246.942kg $H_2SO_4/t$, and maximum Acid Neutralising Capacity(ANC) was 8.7kg $H_2SO_4/t$. These results indicate the pit wall and waste rock, except most of stream sediments are acid generating geological materials. These have salt and free hydrogen ion which resulted from oxidation of sulfides. Hence they could be convert rain water to acid rock drainage. Although the waste rock dump of the Imgi mine have very low infiltration rate, slopes of the waste rock dump have many "V" type erosion gullies and multi-layers. These gullies and multi-layers have coarse clastic particle layers which have very large hydraulic conductivity. Through this coarse clastic particle layer a large part of rain flow into ground. And also this layer could function as aeration path which induced oxidation of sulfide minerals and generation of ARD continuously.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.473-476
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• 2004

In this study, hydrochemical studies of thermal waters in the Bugok and Magumsan areas showing geothermal anomalies were carried, and the applicability of ion seothermometers and multiple mineral equilibrium approach was examined to estimate their potential deep reservoir temperatures. Typical thermal waters of the two areas are clearly grouped into two major types, according to water chemistry: Na-Cl type (group A) and Na-SO4 type (group D). Compared to group A, group B and C waters show some modifications in chemistry. Group E waters show the modified chemistry from group D. Geothermal waters from the two areas showed some different chemical characteristics. The thermal waters of group A and B in Magumsan area are typically neutral to alkaline (pH=6.7 to 8.1) and Cl-rich (up to 446.1 mg/L), while the waters of group D and E in Bugok area are alkaline (pH=7.6 to 10.0) and SO$_4$-rich (up to 188.0 mg/L). The group A (Na-Cl type) and group D (Na-SO$_4$ type) waters correspond to mature or partially immature water, whereas the other types are immature water. The genesis of geothermal waters are considered as follows: group A and B waters were formed by seawater infiltration into reservoir rocks along faults and fracture zones and possibly affected by fossil connate waters in lithologic units through which deep hot waters circulate; on the other hand, group D and E waters were formed by the oxidation of sulfide minerals (mainly pyrite) in surrounding sedimentary rocks and/or hydrothermal veins occurring along restricted fracture channels and were possibly affected by the input and subsequent oxidation of S-bearing gases (e.g. H2S) from deep thermal reservoir (probably, cooling pluton). The application of quartz, Na-K, K-Mg geothermometers to the chemistry of representative group A and D waters yielded a reasonable temperature estimate (99-147$^{\circ}C$ and 90-142$^{\circ}C$) for deep geothermal reservoir. Aqueous liquid-rich fluid inclusions in fracture calcites obtained from drillcores in Bugok area have an average homogenization temperature of 128$^{\circ}C$, which corresponds to the results from ion geothermometers. The multiple mineral equilibrium approach yielded a similar temperature estimate (105-135$^{\circ}C$ and 100-14$0^{\circ}C$). We consider that deep reservoir temperatures of thermal waters in the Magumsan and Bugok areas can be estimated by the chemistry of typical Na-Cl and Na-SO$_4$ type waters and possibly approach 105-135$^{\circ}C$ and 100-14$0^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.23-36
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• 2006

Experimental leaching of tailings was performed as a function of times (1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days) in the laboratory using reaction solutions equilibrated to three different pH set-points (pHs 1,3 and 5). The initial pHs of 5 and 3 stabilized at either 4.6-6.1 or 2.8-3.5 in 2 days and decrease gradually with time afterwards. The results of the leaching tests indicate that the significant increase in the sulfate concentrations and in acidity after 7 days of leaching results from the oxidation of sulfide minerals. There were no significant variations in the extractable Pb found in the leach solutions of pH 5 and 3 within the reaction time (1-30 days), while Zn, Cd and Cu concentrations tend to significantly increase with time. In tailings leaching at an initial pH=1, two trends were observed: i) The 'Zn-type' (Zn, Cd and Cu), with increasing concentrations between days 1 and 30, corresponding to the expected trend when continuous dissolution is the dominant process, ii) the 'Pb-type' (Pb), with decreasing concentrations over time, suggesting rapid dissolution of a Pb source followed by the precipitation of 'anglesite' in relation to the large increase in dissolved sulfates. The high sulfate concentrations were coupled with high concentrations of released Fe, Zn and Cd. Release of Zn and Cd and acidity from these leaching experiments can potentially pose adverse impact to surface and groundwater qualities in the surrounding environment. The kinetic problems could be the important factor which leads to increasing concentrations of trace metals in the runoff water.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.103-112
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• 2017

In order to transform arsenopyrite into pyrrhotite and to decrease As content by less than 2,000 mg/kg, pulp sample and non-magnetic pulp sample were heated in a microwave oven at different heating times and were separated through wet-magnetic separation. As the microwave heating time increased, the phase of pyrrhotite was extended to become arsenopyrite entirely. The melting pores and micro-cracks occurred on the pyrrhotite due to hot spot phenomenon with microwave heating. The heated raw pulp sample (As content : 19,970.13 mg/kg) and non-magnetic pulp sample (As content : 19,970.13 mg/kg) which were heated in a microwave oven for 10 minutes were separated through wet-magnetic separation and magnetic fraction containing less than 2,000 mg/kg of As content was recovered only from the heated sample of magnetic separation. It was discovered that for the sulfide complex ore with As penalty imposed on, if microwave heating and wet-magnetic separation are effectively utilized, magnetic fraction. We expect to be able to obtain ore minerals with an arsenic content below the penalty charge.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.1 s.176
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• pp.75-82
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• 2006

Acid drainage occurs when sulfide minerals are exposed to an oxidizing environment. The objective of this study was to examine the optimum condition for creating a phosphate coating on standard pyrite surfaces for reduction of pyrite oxidation. The solution of $10^{-2}M\;KH_2PO_4,\;10^{-2}M\;H_2O_2$ was identified as the best phosphate coating agent for the reduction of pyrite oxidation. The formation of an iron phosphate coating on pyrite surfaces was confirmed with ore microscope and scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The temperature did not significantly affect the formation of phosphate coating on the surface of pyrite. However, the phosphate coating was less stable at higher temperature than at lower temperature. The phosphate coating was quitely stable at wide range of pH and $H_2O_2$ concentration. The less than $3.4\%$ of phosphate was dissolved at pH 2.79 and 10.64 and less than $1.0\%$ of phosphate was dissolved at 0.1M $H_2O_2$. On the basis of these results, the phosphate coating can effectively reduce the negative environmental impact of acid rock drainage.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-46
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• 2018

Traditional inorganic pigments applied to dancheong, buddhist painting, and wall painting were produced from natural minerals which were later replaced by synthetic pigments, resulting in the loss of the recipe to prepare mineral pigments. This study examined the domestic occurrence and mineralogical characteristics of green and blue mineral pigments required for the conservation of cultural heritage. Cuprous green-blue mineral pigments were found as the weathering products of waste dumps and ores of abandoned Cu-Pb-Zn sulfide mines. Mineralogical analyses using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy identified diverse hydrous copper sulfate pigments of green (brochantite and devilline) and blue color (linarite, bechererite, and schulenbergite) with minor green pigments of antlerite and atacamite commonly associated with cerussite, smithsonite, anglesite, and cuprite. Noerok, a green silicate pigment, replaced the fractured basalt lava. Celadonite was responsible for the green color of Noerok, closely associated with opal in varying ratio. Glauconite, green silicate pigment, was identified in the Yellow Sea sediments. Malachite and azurite, the most important green and blue pigments of Korean cultural heritage, were not identified in this study.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.411-419
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• 1996

The Janggun magnetite deposits occur as the lens-shaped magnesian skarn, magnetite and base-metal sulfide orebodies developed in the Cambrian Janggun Limestone Formation. The K-Ar age of alteration sericite indicates that the mineralization took place during late Cretaceous age (107 to 70 Ma). The ore deposition is divided into two stages as a early skarn and late hydrothermal stage. Mineralogy of skara stage (107 Ma) consists of iron oxide, base-metal sulfides, Mg-Fe carbonates and some Mg- and Ca-skarn minerals, and those of the hydrothermal stage (70 Ma) is deposited base-metal sulfides, some Sb- and Sn-sulfosalts, and native bismuth. Based on mineral assemblages, chemical compositions and thermodynamic considerations, the formation temperature, $-logfs_2$, $-logfo_2$ and pH of ore fluids progressively decreased and/or increased with time from skarn stage (433 to $345^{\circ}C$, 8.8 to 9.9 atm, 29.4 to 31.6 atm, and 6.1 to 7.2) to hydrothermal stage (245 to $315^{\circ}C$, 11.2 to 12.3 atm, 33.6 to 35.4 atm, and 7.3 to 7.8). The ${\delta}^{34}S$ values of sulfides have a wide range between 3.2 to 11.6‰. The calculated ${\delta}^{34}S_{H_2S}$ values of ore fluids are relatively homo-geneous as 2.9 to 5.4‰ (skam stage) and 8.7 to 13.5‰ (hydrothermal stage), which are a deep-seated igneous source of sulfur indicates progressive increasing due to the mixing of oxidized sedimentary sulfur with increasing paragenetic time. The ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of carbonates in ores range from -4.6 to -2.5‰. Oxygen and hydrogen isotope data revealed that the ${\delta}^{38}O_{H_2O}$ and ${\delta}D$ values of ore fluids decreased gradually with time from 14.7 to 1.8‰ and -85 to -73‰ (skarn stage), and from 11.1 to -0.2‰ and -87 to -80‰ (hydrothermal stage), respectively. This indicates that magmatic water was dominant during the early skarn mineralization but was progressively replaced by meteoric water during the later hydrothermal replacement.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2014

As we are trying to in-situ treat (purify or immobilize) heavy metals or radionuclides in groundwater, one of the geochemical factors to be necessarily considered is the value of oxidation/reduction potential (ORP) of the groundwater. A biogeochemical impact on the characteristic ORP change of groundwater taken from the KAERI underground was observed as a function of time by adding electron-donor (lactate), electron-acceptor (sulfate), and indigenous bacteria in a laboratory condition. There was a slight increase of Eh (slow oxidation) of the pure groundwater with time under a $N_2$-filled glove-box. However, most of groundwaters that contained lactate, sulfate or bacteria showed Eh decrease (reduction) characteristics. In particular, when 'Baculatum', a local indigenous sulfate-reducing bacterium, was injected into the KAERI groundwater, it turned to become a highly-reduced one having a decreased Eh to around -500 mV. Although the sulfate-reducing bacterium thus has much greater ability to reduce groundwater than other metal-reducing bacteria, it surely necessitated some dissolved ferrous-sulfate and finally generated sulfide minerals (e.g., mackinawite), which made a prediction for subsequent reactions difficult. As a result, the ORP of groundwater was largely affected even by a slight injection of nutrient without bacteria, indicating that oxidation state, solubility and sorption characteristics of dissolved contaminants, which are affected by the ORP, could be changed and controlled through in-situ biostimulation method.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.137-147
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to leach penalty elements, such as Bi and As, effectively through microwave leaching of a gold concentrate sample containing penalty elements with nitric acid solution. For this purpose, the time effect of microwave leaching, nitric acid concentration effect, and sample addition effect in a microwave were examined. The experiment, demonstrated that the leaching rate of penalty elements increased as microwave leaching time and nitric acid concentration increased and concentration addition decreased. When a microwave heating experiment was carried out on the concentrate and ore minerals, Bi was removed by as much as 90%, and the phase of arsenopyrite was transformed in the order of arsenopyrite (FeAsS), pyrrhotite (FeS), and hematite ($Fe_2O_3$). When the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was carried out with solid residue, elemental sulfur and anglesite were identified. The intensity of the XRD peaks of elemental sulfur and anglesite increased, and the peaks were sharper when the microwave leaching time was 12 min instead of 1 min, the nitric acid concentration was 4 M in rather than 0.5 M, and the concentration addition was 30 g rather than 5 g. This was probably because more elemental sulfur and anglesite were generated in the leaching solution as the leaching efficiency increased. Bi can be leached as valuable elements in the leaching solution through microwave leaching processes while they are released to the environment through a microwave heating processes.