Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea (한국광물학회지)

The Mineralogical Society of Korea (한국광물학회)
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A Mineralogical Study on the Arsenic Behavior in the Tailings of Nakdong Mine

낙동광산의 광미 내 비소 거동에 대한 광물학적 연구

  • Lee, Woo-Chun (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Research Institute of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Cho, Hyen-Goo (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Research Institute of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Kim, Young-Ho (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Research Institute of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Kim, Soon-Oh (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Research Institute of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University)
  • 이우춘 (경상대학교 자연과학대학 지구환경과학과 및 기초과학연구소) ;
  • 조현구 (경상대학교 자연과학대학 지구환경과학과 및 기초과학연구소) ;
  • 김영호 (경상대학교 자연과학대학 지구환경과학과 및 기초과학연구소) ;
  • 김순오 (경상대학교 자연과학대학 지구환경과학과 및 기초과학연구소)
  • Published : 2009.12.30
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Abstract

Arsenic and heavy metals leached out as a result of oxidation of tailings exposed to the surface pose a serious environmental contamination of mine areas. This study investigated how arsenic behavior is controlled by a variety of processes, such as oxidation of sulfides and formation or alteration of secondary minerals, based on mineralogical methods. The study was carried out using the tailing samples obtained from Nakdong mine located in Jeongseongun, Gangwondo. After separating magnetic and non-magnetic minerals using pretreated tailing samples, each mineral sample was classified according to their colors and metallic lusters observed by the stereoscopic microscope. Subsequently, the mineralogical properties were determined using various instrumental analyses, such as x-ray diffractometer (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA). The literature review confirmed that various ore minerals were identified in the Nakdong ore deposits. In this study, however, there were observed a few original ore minerals as well as secondary and/or tertiary minerals newly formed as a result of weathering including oxidation. In particular, we did not recognize pyrrhotite which has been known to originally exist in a large abundance, but peculiarly colloform-type iron (oxy)hydroxides were identified, which indicates most of pyrrhotite has been altered by rapid weathering due to its large reactivity. In addition, a secondary scorodites filling the fissure of weathered primary arsenopyrites were identified, and it is speculated that arsenic is immobilized through such a alteration reaction. Also, we observed tertiary iron (oxy)hydroxides were formed as a result of re-alteration of secondary jarosites, and it suggests that the environment of tailing has been changed to high pH from low pH condition which was initiated and developed by oxidation reactions of diverse primary ore minerals. The environmental change is mainly attributed to interactions between secondary minerals and parental rocks around the mine. As a result, not only was the stability of secondary minerals declined, but tertiary minerals were newly formed. As such a process goes through, arsenic which was immobilized is likely to re-dissolve and disperse into surrounding environments.

지표에 노출된 폐광미의 산화작용으로 인해 용출된 비소와 중금속들이 광산주변 환경에 심각한 오염을 야기할 수 있다. 본 연구는 황화광물의 산화작용과 이차 광물의 생성 및 변질과 같은 다양한 작용들이 비소의 거동에 미치는 영향을 광물학적 방법을 이용하여 고찰하였다. 연구대상 광미는 강원도 정선군에 위치한 낙동광산에서 채취하였다. 전처리한 광미로부터 자성광물과 비자성 광물을 선별한 후, 현미경 관찰을 통해 광물의 색 및 금속광택에 따라 분류하였고, X-선 회절 분석기, 에너지 분산분광기, 그리고 전자탐침미세현미경 등과 같은 다양한 기기분석들을 이용하여 광물학적 특성을 조사하였다. 문헌조사에서는 다양한 광석광물이 산출되는 것으로 알려졌지만, 산화 등과 같은 풍화작용으로 인하여 본 연구에서는 일부 광석광물들과 더불어 새롭게 형성된 이차 내지 삼차 광물들을 확인할 수 있었다. 특히 다량으로 존재했다고 알려진 자류철석은 동정되지 않았지만 특징적으로 콜로포옴 형태의 철 (산)수산화광물을 확인하였는데, 이는 자류철석의 큰 반응성으로 인하여 풍화가 급격하게 진행되어 자류철석이 모두 변질된 것을 입증한다. 뿐만 아니라 일차 광석광물인 유비철석의 균열부에 충진한 이차 광물인 스코로다이트를 확인할 수 있었는데 이러한 변질 과정을 통해 용출된 비소가 고정화되는 것으로 판단된다. 또한 이차 광물로 생성된 자로사이트가 다시 변질되어 삼차 광물인 철 (산)수산화광물이 형성되는 것도 관찰할 수 있었는데 이는 다양한 광석광물의 산화작용으로 인해 조성된 초기의 낮은 pH 환경으로부터 pH가 증가하는 환경으로의 전이를 지시한다. 이러한 환경의 변화는 이차 광물들과 주변 모암과의 작용 등에 기인하며 그 결과 이차 광물의 안정도가 떨어지게 되고 새로운 삼차 광물들이 형성된다. 이러한 과정에서 고정화된 비소가 재용출 되어 주변 환경에 확산되어질 수 있다.

Keywords

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