• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.02a
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• pp.29-48
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• 2001

일반적인 폐수처리 시 여러 광물들이 사용되는 데 예를 들면, 수산화칼슘 및 탄산나트륨은 중화제, 점토는 응집제, 알룸(alum) 및 염화철은 인 제거제로 사용되고 있다. 산성광산배수인 경우에는 알칼리성의 중화제로 석회 (CaO), 석회석 (CaCO$_3$), 가성소다 (NaOH), 탄산나트륨 (NaCO$_3$) 등이 사용된다. 그러나, 설비비 및 유지비가 많이 들어 몇 십년 동안 계속해서 침출되는 산성광산배수를 처리하기에는 문제가 있다. 산성광산배수 (Acid Mine Drainage, AMD)는 pH가 6.0 미만이고 총산도 (totalacidity)가 총알카리도 (total alkalinity)를 초과하는 물로서 노천광이 가행되었던 지역, 가행중이거나 휴광 또는 폐광된 광산에서 유출된다. 또한 도로사면 절개부나 지하철 터널에서도 황철석(pyrite)이나 백철석 (marcasite)을 함유하는 층이 공기 중에 노출되면 산성수가 침출되어 나오기도 한다. 산성광산배수에 의한 하천수의 오염이 매우 극심하여 때로는 미생물마저도 그 속에 살 수 없게 된다. 산성광산배수에 의해 오염된 하천수의 오염범위는 산성수의 양, 농도, 하천에 유입되는 산성수의 분포, 상류에서 흘러드는 오염되지 않은 물의 양, 지류에서 유입되는 물의 양에 따라 좌우된다. 산성광산배수 오염이 문제시되고 있는 나라는 미국을 포함하여 호주, 일본, 한국, 러시아, 남아연방 등이다. 산성광산배수는 환원환경에서 생성된 석탄층 및 접촉교대 또는 열수에 의해 생성된 금속광이 공기 및 물에 노출되어 생성되는 자연적인 현상이다. 그러나 국지적인 지역에서 인간이 이 광상들을 환경영향을 고려하지 않고 대규모로 개발할 때 인간 생활에 심각한 영향을 미치는 것이다. 광산산성배수를 처리하기 위해 상기와 같이 여러 기술이 도입 적용되었으며 일부 기술들은 현재도 사용되고 있다. 각 기술마다 일장일단이 있으므로 경비의 과다, 유지 및 관리에 대한 지속성 여부, 공간의 확보 여부, 지역적 특수성에 맞춰 가장 적합한 방법을 채택하여야 하며 꾸준히 채택한 기술의 개량 및 새로운 기술의 첨가가 요구되고 있다. 따라서, 산성광산배수 오염지대에 대해 획일적으로 같은 처리방법을 채택하여 사용하는 것보다 각 지역 또는 광산산성폐수가 유출되어 나오는 광산폐기물의 특성 등을 고려하여 거기에 맞는 기술들을 복합적으로 또는 단독으로 사용하되 처리방법 채택 시 신중을 기할 것이 요망된다.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.523-532
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• 2021

The treatment of acid rock drainage was reviewed and evaluated for the case of pyrite rocks distributed in a highway embankment. During the highway's construction, neutralization using alkaline water repellent was applied to the embankment section to prevent acid rock drainage. However, it still occurred long after the construction was completed owing to rain infiltration, and the acid rock drainage polluted the surrounding soils and streams. To solve this problem, treatment facilities such as SAPS (Successive Alkalinity Producing Systems) or ecological wetlands and sand filtration were installed. After the installation of the treatment facilities, the effluent and soils contaminated by acid rock drainage nearby the outlet of the facilities were analyzed and evaluated for a period of years. Measurements of the pH of the effluent and analysis of the heavy metal contamination of the soils confirmed that the neutralization treatment for acid rock drainage is being performed properly and that contamination of heavy metals in the acid rock drainage is also being stably controlled by the treatment facilities.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.83-92
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to investigate damage conditions of cut slope structures due to acid rock drainage (ARB) and to assess the acid production potential of various rocks. Acid rock drainage is produced by the oxidation of sulfide minerals contained in coal mine zone and mineralization belt of Pyeongan supergroup and Ogcheon group, pyrite-bearing andesite, and Tertiary acid sulfate soils in Korea. Most of cut slopes producing ARB have been treated with shotcrete to reduce ARD. According to the field observations, ARD had an adverse effect on slope structures. The corrosion of shotcrete, anchors and rock bolts and the bad germination and growth diseases of covering plants due to ARD were observed in the field. The concentration of heavy metals and pH of ARD from cut slope exceeded the environmental standard, indicating a high potential of environmental pollution of surrounding soil, surface water and ground water by the ARD. According to acid base accounting (ABA) of the studied samples, hydrothermally altered volcanic rocks, tuffs, coaly shales, tailings of metallic mine had a relatively high potential of acid production but gneiss and granite had no or less acid production potential. It is expected that the number of cut slopes will increase hereafter considering the present construction trend. In order to reduce the adverse effect of ARD in construction sites, we need to secure the data base for potential ARD producing area and to develop the ARD reduction technologies suitable.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.651-660
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• 2007

Acid drainage has been recognized as an environmental concern in abandoned mine sites for long time. Recently, the environmental and structural damage by acid drainage is a current issue in construction sites in Korea. Here, the author introduces the type of damages by acid drainage in construction sites and emphasizes the importance of geoscience discipline in solving the problem. Metasedimentary rock of Okcheon group, coal bed of Pyeongan group, Mesozoic volcanic rock. and Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic rocks are the major rock types with a high potential for acid drainage upon excavation in Korea. The acid drainage causes the acidification and heavy metal contamination of soil, surface water and groundwater, the reduction of slope stability, the corrosion of slope structure, the damage on plant growth, the damage on landscape and the deterioration of concrete and asphalt pavement. The countermeasure for acid drainage is the treatment of acid drainage and the prevention of acid drainage. The treatment of acid drainage can be classified into active and passive treatments depending on the degree of natural process in the treatment. Removal of oxidants, reduction of oxidant generation and encapsulation of sulfide are employed for the prevention of acid drainage generation.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2019

Research was initiated to find out acid drainage neutralizing techniques for ecological vegetative growth on the acid drainage slope. Four different acid drainage neutralizing techniques [no treatment, limestone layer treatment, phosphate treatment, and limestone layer + phosphate treatment] were treated on the acid drainage slope. There was a significant difference observed in treated acid neutralizing techniques for acidity, surface coverage rate, death rate and plant root status. Treated acid neutralizing techniques were effective for neutralizing acidity and vegetative growth in order of [first: limestone layer + phosphate treatment, second: phosphate treatment, third: limestone layer treatment and fourth: no treatment]. The limestone layer and the phosphate treatments were effective for neutralizing acidity and vegetative growth, respectively. However, the phosphate treatment was more effective compared to the limestone layer treatment on the acid drainage slope. We figured out that the phosphate treatment is more effective for neutralizing acidity and vegetative growth because of coating effect of sulfides.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2005

Acid Rock Drainage(ARD) is the product formed by the atmospheric(i.e. by water, oxygen and carbon dioxide) oxidation of the relatively common iron-sulphur mineral pyrite($FeS_2$). ARD causes the acidification and heavy metal contamination of water and soil and the reduction of slope stability. In this paper the generation characteristics and the prediction of ARD of various cut slopes were studied. An attempt to classify the rocks into several groups according to their acid generation potentials was made. Acid Base Accounting(ABA) tests, commonly used as a screening tool in ARD predictions, were performed. Fourteen rock samples were classified into PAF(potentially acid forming) group and four rock samples into NAF(non-acid forming) group. The chemical analysis of water samples strongly suggested that ARD with high content of heavy metals and low pH could pollute the ground water and/or stream water.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.411-424
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• 2013

Assessment and damage reduction strategy of acidic rock drainage were conducted in a section of ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ highway construction site. The geology of the studied section consists of Icheonri sandstone and intermediate to acidic volcanic rocks. Sulfides occur as a disseminated type in sandstone and volcanics which were altered by the hydrothermal solution of granite intrusion. Volcanics and sandstone with a high content of sulfide were classified as a potentially acid rock drainage(ARD) forming rock. The drainage originated from those rocks may acidify and contaminate the surrounding area during the highway construction. Therefore, the drainage should be treated before it is discharged. A slope landslide hazard due to the ARD was also expected and the coating technology was recommended for the reduction of ARD generation as a preemptive measure before reinforcement work for enhancing slope stability such as shotcrete and anchor. According to the ARD risk analysis, those rocks should not be used as cement aggregate, but only to be used as a bank fill material of a filling-up system that allows minimal contact with rainfall and groundwater.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.335-344
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• 2008

The acid rock drainage (ARD) production potential of rock was assessed for a tunnel construction area, Kimhae and the damage reduction strategy was discussed based on the ARD risk evaluation. The geology of the studied area consisted of Mesozoic quartz porphyry, sandstone, tuff and granite. Sulfides occurred as a disseminated type in quartz porphyry and granite, and a vein type in sandstone. Quartz porphyry and sandstone with a high content of sulfide were classified as a potentially ARD forming rock. The drainage originated from those rocks may acidify and contaminate the surrounding area during the tunnel construction. Therefore, the drainage should be treated before it is discharged. A slope stability problem due to the ARD was also expected and the coating technology was recommended for the reduction of ARD generation before the application of supplementary work for enhancing slope stability such as shotcrete and anchor. From the ARD risk analysis, those rocks should not be used as aggregate and be used as bank fill material with the system for the minimum contact with rain water and ground-water.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.5-11
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• 2012

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is one of the most severe environmental problem that results from the oxidation of pyrite $(FeS_2)$ and various other metal sulfides. In this study, the influence of microorganism was tested on the process where AMD was released and the method to inhibit AMD generated by microorganisms at abandoned mine area. The activity and growth rate of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, common microorganisms affecting AMD occurrence, were measured. Chlorine dioxide $(ClO_2)$, NaCl, or surfactant (ASOR-770) was used as an inhibitor for working on activity and growth of microorganism. Among the three inhibitors, 10ppm of chlorine dioxide was the most effective inhibitor for AMD control due to the reduced the activity and growth of microorganisms by 20%.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.315-317
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• 1999