• Title/Summary/Keyword: Mineral and trace elements

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Contamination and Mobility of Toxic Trace Elements in Tailings of Samsanjeil Mine (삼산제일광산 광미 내 유해 미량원소의 오염 및 이동도)

  • Yeon Kyu-Hun;Lee Pyeong-Koo;Youm Seung-Jun;Choi Sang-Hoon
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.38 no.4 s.173
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    • pp.451-462
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    • 2005
  • In order to examine the extent of environmental contamination at abandoned Samsanjeil Cu mines in Kosung-kun, Kyeongsangnam-do, we have investigated the contaminations and mobility of toxic trace elements from mine wastes including about 280,000 tonnages of tailings by chemical experiments (total extraction, partial extraction by 0.1N HCI and sequential extraction procedure). Total concentrations of trace elements showed that Cu, As, Co, Zn, Pb, and Cd concentrations in tailings were 14.0, 3.6, 3.1, 2.1, 2.1 and 1.6 times greater than those in background soil, respectively. From the proportion of metals bound to the exchangeable and carbonate fractions, the comparative mobility of metals decrease in order of $Zn(29.0\%)>Cu(12.3\%)Pb(9.6\%)>Cd(3.0\%)>As=Co(0.0\%)$. Based on the concentrations, chemical speciations of tailings, waste rock and nearby soil, it was revealed that Cu and Zn were the most possible elements to contaminate the surrounding environment in Samsanjeil mine area. In addition, the tailings had total trace metal concentrations below Dutch guideline values except Cu, and they might not affect adverse impact on environment.

The Behavior of Dissolved and Particulate Phases of Trace Elements within the Watershed of Juam Reservoir (주암호 집수유역 내 용존 및 입자상 미량원소의 거동 특성)

  • Lee, Pyeong-Koo;Chi, Se-Jung;Youm, Seung-Jun
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.41 no.4
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    • pp.405-425
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    • 2008
  • In order to investigate the amounts of trace elements flowing into reservoir, and to elucidate the relationship between trace element mobility and fraction size, the stream water and sediment samples were collected from thirty-two sites of the 3rd or 4th order stream within watershed surrounding the Juam reservoir. Chemical analyses of trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) for all samples were completed, and additionally cationi and anion for stream water samples. Considering the distribution of rocks and contamination sources in watershed, the eight stream sediments were selected from typical sites representing study areas, and we determined the concentrations of trace elements according to size fractions ($2\;mm{\sim}200\;{\mu}m$, $200{\sim}100\;{\mu}m$, $100{\sim}50\;{\mu}m$, $50{\sim}20\;{\mu}m$ and < $20\;{\mu}m$). The correlation relationships between concentrations and size fractions of stream sediments were important to identify the hydro-geochemical behavior of trace elements that flow into Juam reservoir. Stream waters showed four water types (Ca-Mg-$HCO_3$, Ca-Na-$HCO_3$-Cl, Ca-Na-$HCO_3-SO_4$, Ca-Na-$HCO_3$) depending on pollution sources such as coal mine, metal mine, farm-land and dwellings. Concentrations of trace elements increased clearly with the decrease in size fractions of stream sediments. Concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn increased dramatically in silt size (< $20\;{\mu}m$) fraction, while As had high concentrations in sand size ($2\;mm{\sim}100\;{\mu}m$) fraction in downstream sediments of metal mines. These indicate that Cu, Zn, and Pb moved into Juam reservoir easily in the adsorbed form on silt size grain in sediments, and As was transported as As-bearing mineral facies, resulting in its less chance to reach into Juam reservoir.

Geochemical Relationship Between Shore Sediments and Near Terrestrial geology in Byunsan-Taean Area, West Coast of Korea (한반도 서해안 변산-태안지역 연안 퇴적물과 육상지질과의 지화학적 상관관계)

  • Seo, Kyoung Won;Chi, Jeong Mahn;Jang, Yoon Ho
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.69-84
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    • 1998
  • A geochemical study was carried out to define how marine shore sediments are related to their terrestrial source rocks in the region of Taean and Byunsan Peninsula, western Korea. The lithology of the coastal part of the study area is composed of Pre-Cambrian granite gneiss, schist, Jurassic terrestrial sedimentary rocks, and Cretaceous plutonic intrusives. Shore sediments are transported from three drainage tributaries. The sediments consist of quatrz with clay minerals, such as illite, kaolinite, smectite, chlorite. Heavy minerals include hematite, ilmenite, rare amount of zircon and apatite. Compared to those in coastal rocks, amount of heavy minerals in the sediments is considerably low. The low content of heavy minerals is thought to be attributed to the heavy mineral detainment in the river beds and influences of tidal currents which cause heavy minerals to accumulate in specific spots. Chemical composition of the major and trace elements, trace elements, and REE chondrite normalized pattern suggest that shore sediments transported from the corresponding drainage tributary show close mineralogical and geochemical relationships with the source rocks distributed in the Taean and Byunsan Peninsula.

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Evaluation of Surface Water-preventing Materials on Stabilization of Contaminants in Tailings (광물찌꺼기에 함유된 오염물질의 안정화를 위한 표면 차폐재의 성능 평가)

  • Kim, Young-Kyu;Jung, Myung-Chae;Kim, Jung-Yul;Kim, Yoo-Sung;Lee, Jin-Soo;Park, Kwan-In
    • Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.53-61
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    • 2011
  • This study examined evaluation on stabilization of major and trace elements in tailings by various surface water-preventing materials. Six columns were filled with tailings of the Sinlim mine, then covered with tailings only, compacted soils, clay, soil-bentonite mixture, pozzolan and bentonite mat. After injection of artificial rain water, the leachate was sampled with times (3, 6, 9 and 12 pore volume) and analysed for major (Ca, Na, Mg, K) and trace elements (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) by ICP-AES. With exception to pozzolan type, the pH values of leachate from the other types became stabilized from 5.5 to 7.5, and EC (electric conductivity) of leachate from them decreased with times. For the pozzolan type, however, the pH and EC of leachate increased with time due to its alkalinity producing system. Concentrations of most major and trace elements in leachate decreased and stabilized with time. Consequently, soil-bentonite mixed cover shows the best ability of water-preventing and reducing mobility of elements in tailings site.

MINERAL STATUS OF GRAZING SHEEP IN THE DRY AREA OF MIDLAND CHINA

  • Fujihara, T.;Hosoda, C.;Matsui, T.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.179-186
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    • 1995
  • In the present study, nutritional status of some minerals in sheep grazed on native pasture was investigated in dry area, Ningxia district, of the People's Republic of China. Samples of some forages and blood of sheep were collected for two seasons, dry (March) and rainy (August) seasons. The Ca contents of forages (wheat straw, green-pea straw and some wild grasses) were relatively high as compared with that required ordinarily as standard, but on the contrary, the P content was much lower than that of standard. Consequently, Ca/P ratio was very high in cost of the roughages sampled in the region. Trace elements, Cu and Zn, content of forage samples were fairly low, and the contents of Mo and Fe were fairly high, particularly in some wild grasses, when the values were compared with that required normally. The Ca level in blood of sheep was in a range accepted as normal, and the other macro minerals(Mg and P) were contained at relatively high levels as compared with the values observed ordinarily, but not at a toxic level. With trace minerals, the plasma Fe level was extremely high as compared with the standard level, although there were no disorders due to toxicity, and Mo level in plasma was a little lower than the lower limit described as a normal. The plasma levels of other trace elements (Cu, Zn and Se) in all the animals were within the range accepted as normal. There would be no clear differences in mineral nutrition of sheep between dry and rainy seasons. These results could suggest that there is no severe unbalance and/or imbalance, and grazing sheep in the Ningxia area of midland China have no problems relating to the nutritional status of minerals.

Chemical Characteristics for Hydrothermal Alteration of Surface Sediments from Submarine Volcanoes of the Tonga Arc (통가열도 해저화산 표층 퇴적물 내 열수변질의 화학적 특성)

  • Um, In Kwon;Chun, Jong-Hwa;Choi, Hunsoo;Choi, Man Sik
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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    • v.26 no.4
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    • pp.245-262
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    • 2013
  • We analyzed 29 surface sediment samples in five submarine volcanoes (TA12, TA19, TA22, TA25, and TA26) located in the southern part of the Tonga arc for trace elements and rare earth elements to investigate characteristics of the hydrothermal alteration of surface sediments. Based on analytical results of trace element and rare earth element (REE), surface sediments of TA12, TA19, and TA22 submarine volcanoes, which are located in the northern part of the study area, were very little or not influenced by hydrothermal fluids. In contrast, some stations of TA25 and TA26 submarine volcanoes were strongly affected by hydrothermal fluids. However, these two submarine volcanoes showed different features in element concentration in the sediments. Some stations of TA25 submarine volcano showed enrichment of Ni, Cu, Sn, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, Sb, W, Ba, Ta, Rb, Sr, and As, however, those of TA26 submarine volcano showed enrichment of Sn, Zn, Pb, Cd, Sb, Ba, Rb, and Sr. Stations which enriched trace elements were observed, enriched REEs were also observed. Average upper continental crust (UCC)-normalized REE patterns of the surface sediments generally showed low light REE (LREE) abundances and increased heavy REE (HREE) abundances. Eu enrichment was identified at several stations of TA25 and TA26 submarine volcanoes. In addition, enrichment of Ce was found at some stations of TA26 submarine volcano and these enrichment patterns were similar with hydrothermal fluid of near stations. Furthermore, TA25 and TA26 submarine volcanoes showed different enrichment characteristics of trace elements and REE. Trace elements were concentrated at TA25 submarine volcano. TA26 submarine volcano, on the other hand, observed highly enrichment of REE especially, Eu and Ce. As a result of the investigation, the characteristics and concentrations of REEs and trace elements in the surface sediments of each submarine volcano can be applied to identify hydrothermal alteration of sediments during exploration for hydrothermal deposits.

Adsorption Behaviors of Metal Elements onto Illite and Halloysite (일라이트, 할로이사이트에 대한 중금속 원소의 흡착특성)

  • 추창오;김수진;정찬호;김천수
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.20-31
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    • 1998
  • Adsorption of metal elements onto illite and halloysite was investigated at $25^{\circ}C$ using pollutant water collected from the gold-bearing metal mine. Incipient solution of pH 3.19 was reacted with clay minerals as a function of time: 10 minute, 30 minute, 1 hour, 12 hour, 24 hour, 1 day, 2 day, 1 week, and 2 week. Twenty-seven cations and six anions from solutions were analyzed by AAs (atomic absorption spectrometer), ICP(induced-coupled plasma), and IC (ion chromatography). Speciation and saturation index of solutions were calculated by WATEQ4F and MINTEQA2 codes, indicating that most of metal ions exist as free ions and that there is little difference in chemical species and relative abundances between initial solution and reacted solutions. The adsorption results showed that the adsorption extent of elements varies depending on mineral types and reaction time. As for illite, adsorption after 1 hour-reaction occurs in the order of As>Pb>Ge>Li>Co, Pb, Cr, Ba>Cs for trace elements and Fe>K>Na>Mn>Al>Ca>Si for major elements, respectively. As for halloysite, adsorption after 1 hour-reaction occurs in the order of Cu>Pb>Li>Ge>Cr>Zn>As>Ba>Ti>Cd>Co for trace elements and Fe>K>Mn>Ca>Al>Na>Si for major elements, respectively. After 2 week-reaction, the adsorption occurs in the order of Cu>As>Zn>Li>Ge>Co>Ti>Ba>Ni>Pb>Cr>Cd>Se for trace elements and Fe>K>Mn>Al, Mg>Ca>Na, Si for major elements, respectively. No significant adsorption as well as selectivity was found for anions. Although halloysite has a 1:1 layer structure, its capacity of adsorption is greater than that of illite with 2:1 structure, probably due to its peculiar mineralogical characteristics. According to FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) results, there was no shift in the OH-stretching bond for illite, but the ν1 bond at 3695 cm-1 for halloysite was found to be stronger. In the viewpoint of adsorption, illite is characterized by an inner-sphere complex, whereas halloysite by an outer-sphere complex, respectively. Initial ion activity and dissociation constant of metal elements are regarded as the main factors that control the adsorption behaviors in a natural system containing multicomponents at the acidic condition.

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Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Jido kaolin deposits (지도 도석광상에 대한 광물학적 및 지구화학적 연구)

  • Park, Young Seog;Kim, Jin
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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    • v.6 no.2
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    • pp.80-93
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    • 1993
  • Jido kaolin deposits developed in the rhyolitic tuff of Cretaceous are located in the western part of Sinan-gun, Jeonranam-do. Jido kaolin deposits is predominantly composed of pyrophyllite, kaolinite and illite. On the basis of mineral assemblage Jido kaolin deposits can be divided into three alteraion zone from the center of alteration to the margin; kaolinite, kaolinite-pyrophyillite and pyrophyillite zones. Discriminant analysis show that $Al_2O_3$, $K_2O$, $Na_2O$, CaO of major elements are discriminant elements classifying kaolinite, kaolinite-pyrophyllite and pyrophyllite zones, while in case of trace elements Cr, Ni, Sc, Zn, and Zr are discriminant elements. Kaolin deposits has been formed by the hydrothermal alterations of the volcano rocks such as rhyolitic tuff and lapilli tuff, in late cretaceous. On the basis of the results of X-ray diffraction analysis, the deposits can be classified into three types of minerals assemblages; kaolinite, kaolinite-pyrophyllite and pyrophyllite zones. All the assemblages contain quartz and muscovite, but the kaolinite zone contains kaolinite, illite and chlorite, the kaolinite-pyrophyllite zone contains kaolinite, pyrophyllite and the pyrophyllite zone contains illite and pyrite.

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Mineral Status of Soils and Forages in Southwestern Punjab-Pakistan: Micro-minerals

  • Khan, Zafar Iqbal;Hussain, A.;Ashraf, M.;McDowell, L.R.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.19 no.8
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    • pp.1139-1147
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    • 2006
  • This study was conducted to evaluate the trace elemental nutritive values of soil and forages collected from southwestern part of the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Soil and forage samples were collected fortnightly for two seasons. The concentrations of some trace minerals varied greatly among seasons and sampling periods. Seasonal effects were found in all soil micro-minerals except zinc, while forage iron, zinc, and selenium were affected by seasonal changes. Sampling periods effects were observed in all soil minerals and in forage copper, iron, zinc, and manganese only. All soil mineral levels except cobalt and selenium were sufficiently high to meet the requirements of plants for normal growth during both seasons. In contrast, soil Co and Se levels were severely deficient during both seasons and considered inadequate for plant growth. Soil Fe, Zn, Co, and Se levels were higher, and Cu and Mn lower during winter than those during summer. Forage Zn levels during summer were at marginal deficient levels, and in contrast, all other forage micro-minerals were within the required range for ruminants during both seasons. Although forage mico-minerals were within the range required by the ruminants, they were not sufficiently high to prevent the predisposition to various diseases caused by nutrient deficiency. Consequently, grazing animals at this location need continued mineral supplementation of these elements with a mixtures of high bio-availability rather than of high micro-mineral contents to support optimum ruminant productivity.

Changes of Mineralogical Characteristics of Precipitates in Acid Mine Drainage of the Dalsung Mine and Related Changes of Trace Elements (달성광산 산성광산배수 침전물의 시간에 따른 광물상 특성 변화 및 이에 따른 미량원소의 거동 변화)

  • Yoon, Young Jin;Kim, Yeongkyoo;Lee, Seong-joo
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.55 no.5
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    • pp.531-540
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    • 2022
  • Various iron minerals that precipitate in acid mine drainage have a great influence on the concentration change and mobility of trace elements in the drainage during phase transition to other minerals as well as the precipitation process. This study investigated the change of mineral properties and the behaviors of trace elements influenced by pH and time for the precipitates collected from the acid mine drainage treatment system of the Dalsung mine, where schwertmannite is mainly precipitated. However, the main mineral precipitated in the drainage was goethite, suggesting schwetmannite has already undergone a phase transition to goethite to some extent, and it was observed that at higher pH, the peak width at half maximum of XRD peak was narrower. This can be interpreted as the transformation of small amount of amorphous schwetmannite to goethite or an increase in the crystallinity of goethite, and it showed that the higher the pH, the greater this change was. The concentration of Fe was also greatly affected by the pH values, and as the pH increased, the concentration of Fe in the drainage decreased. With increasing time, the Fe concentration increased and then decreased, which can be interpreted to indicate the dissolution of schwertmannite and precipitation of goethite. This mineral change probably resulted in the rapid increase of the concentration of S at initial stage, but its concentration was stabilized later. The concentration of S is also related to the stability of schwetmannite, showing a high concentration at a low pH at which schwertmannite is stable and a low concentration at a high pH at which goethite is stable. The trace elements present as cations in the drainage also showed a close relationship with the pH, generally the lower the pH, the higher the concentration, due to the solubility changes by the pH, and the precipitation and the changes in mineral surface charge at high pH. On the other hand, in the case of As, existing as an anion, although it showed a high concentration at low pH, its concentration increased with time at all pH values, which is probably related to the concentration of Fe which can be coprecipitated in the drainage, and the increase of As concentration with time is also considered to be related to the decrease in schwertmannite rather than the mineral surface charge.