Geochemistry of Acid Mine Water and Stream Sediment around the Donghae Coal Mine

동해탄광 주변 산성광산폐수와 하상퇴적물의 지구화학

  • Oh, Dae Gyun (R & D Management Center for Energy and Resources) ;
  • Kim, Jung Youp (Department of Mineral and Petroleum Engineering, Seoul National University) ;
  • Chon, Hyo Taek (Department of Mineral and Petroleum Engineering, Seoul National University)
  • 오대균 (에너지관리공단 에너지자원기술개발 지원센터) ;
  • 김정엽 (서울대학교 자원공학과) ;
  • 전효택 (서울대학교 자원공학과)
  • Received : 1995.05.01
  • Published : 1995.06.30

Abstract

Geochemistry of stream water and sediment collected in the vicinity of the Donghae coal mine in the Samchuk coalfied were investigated in order to evaluate the environmental impacts of acid mine drainage. The pH of stream water ranges from 2.85(at 2 km away from the mine) to 7.92(at uncontaminated tributary). The main cation and anion species in the upper stream are $Ca^{2+}$ and $SO_{4}{^2-}$, respectively. The level of pH and the amount of $HCO^{3-}$ in stream water increase to the downstream and where uncontaminated small tributaries are joining, and in the area covered with limestone. From the results of thermodynamic calculation, the main forms of iron in stream water are estimated as $Fe^{2+}$ and $FeSO_{4}{^0}$, and most of them could be precipitated as FeO(OH) with increase of pH. The white precipitates in stream sediments particularly found around the coal mine are proved to be $Al(OH)_3$ by XRD and XRF analysis. As a result of investigation for seasonal variation of AMD, the level of pH decreased and conductivity increased in dry season.

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Acknowledgement

Supported by : 한국학술진흥재단