• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.45-53
• /
• 2009

This study concerned remediation of heavy metal contaminated farmland soils near abandoned mine, using stabilization method, with particular emphasis on the remediating the soils contaminated with multi-elements. In this study, stabilizing heavy metals based on 'In-situ chemical fixation' has been applied to the soil collected from an abandoned mine in Korea, using column test, with various stabilizing agents, including $FeSO_4$, $KMnO_4$, sludge (collected from coal mine drainage treatment pond), zero-valent iron (ZVI), zeolite and $CaCO_3$. Sixty five-days operation of the flow-through columns yield $FeSO_4\;+\;KMnO_4$ and zeolite are efficient on reducing As leaching from the soil. ZVI and sludge are reducing the leaching of Cu. Although $FeSO_4\;+\;KMnO_4$ seem to be efficient for most heavy metals, high pH in the initial stage of test enabled high leaching of the heavy metals, whereas fixation of the heavy metals maintain throughout the rest of the test period, with increasing pH up to around 6. Addition of some alkaline agent may inhibit the low pH during the application. The column test was also run as two set: one set incubated with deionized water for 72 hours prior to starting the test, and the other without incubation. The incubated set demonstrated better stabilizing efficiency, indicating the potential optimized operation method.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.59-64
• /
• 2019

This study suggests a conceptual strategy and methodology for the risk assessment of the domestic abandoned mine fillers with fly ash. The fillers are composed of coal fly ash and solidification materials, and contain little toxic substances such as carbonates but also some heavy metals; therefore, those requires a risk assessment. The risk assessment should primarily focus on estimation of the effects to human health both on carcinogen and non-carcinogen aspects. The significant data such as toxicity and partition coefficients can be obtained from the national soil or mine environmental risk assessment guidelines. Accurate risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in the fillers may consume lots of time and efforts through site survey and instrumental analyses, etc. Moreover, it is inefficient to explore all of the factors as concentrations and categories in every heavy metal in the fillers, due to a high variety and complexity. Therefore, implementation of a preliminary risk assessment is suggested by using the literature data and the basic characteristics of the filler samples prior to the detailed risk assessment. Certainly, this presumes a thorough understanding of reliable sample analysis methods, exposure pathways, and relevant physicochemical and biological mechanisms.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.142-149
• /
• 2005

This investigation was conducted to observe and verify the distribution and their occurrence between heavy metals and natural isotopes in the soil collected at the 40 locations from the abandoned coal mine areas to the sediment of Chungra reservoir located at Chungra-Myon Boryung city, Chungnam. The results of the investigation showed that there were distinctive differences of the contents for the heavy metals and the natural isotopes between the area influenced by the coal mine tailing and the non-influenced area. The amounts of the heavy metals were Pb ($1.32-29.96mg\;kg^{-1}$), Cd ($0.15-0.76mg\;kg^{-1}$), Cu ($0.28-49.67mg\;kg^{-1}$), and Cr ($1.31-13.18mg\;kg^{-1}$) while the averages were Cu ($12.43mg\;kg^{-1}$), Pb ($10.44mg\;kg^{-1}$), Cr ($4.87mg\;kg^{-1}$), Cd ($0.51mg\;kg^{-1}$). The standard deviations of Pb and Cu were significantly higher compared to other heavy metals investigated in this experiment. And the amounts of the natural isotopes measured from the dried soil samples were Pb-210 ($4.87dpm\;g^{-1}$), Th-234 ($3.52dpm\;g^{-1}$), Ra-226 ($2.88dpm\;g^{-1}$), Ra-228 ($7.30dpm\;g^{-1}$), K-40 ($58.06dpm\;g^{-1}$) for all locations whereas Cs-137 which is fall-out by nuclear experiment from atmosphere was rarely found. From these results we found that the amounts of natural isotopes such as Pb-210 (4.41%), Th-234 (3.60%), and Ra-226 (2.09%) were less than those found in the coal-tailing while the proportion of Ra-228 (266%) and K-40 (308%) were significantly higher than those in the coal-tailing. Also occurrence of correlations between the amounts of the heavy metals and the natural isotopes was proportionally related.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.53 no.6
• /
• pp.743-753
• /
• 2020

This study analyzed heavy metal concentration, mineral composition, and spectral characteristics of heavy metal contaminated soil samples of cropland and rice field located in downstream of abandoned Okdong coal mine. X-ray fluorescence analysis detected heavy metal elements including cadmium, copper, arsenic, lead, zinc and nickel in the soils. Both cropland and rice field samples were severely contaminated with arsenic showing higher concentration over the concerned standard. The pollution index of cropland samples was higher than that of rice field samples. X-ray powder diffraction analysis identified that the mineral composition of cropland and rice field samples is similar with quartz, calcite, kaolinite, illite, smectite, magnetite and hematite. The range of organic matter content were more widely distributed in cropland samples. The spectral analysis showed that the reflectance spectra and the absorption features of cropland and rice field samples were alike. The absorption features that appeared near 490nm and 900nm were attributed to the ferric iron, and clay minerals such as kaolinite and smectite caused the absorption features at 1410nm, 1910nm and 2200nm. The reflectance of the soil spectral decreased with an increase in organic content. The absorption depths of both types of soil samples decreased with higher organic matter content at 490nm and 1916nm as well as higher heavy metal concentration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.33-46
• /
• 2023

In this study, carbon storage in the aboveground biomass, litter layer, and soil layer was calculated for abandoned mining restoration areas to determine the level of carbon storage after the restoration project through comparison with the ecological reference. Five survey sites were selected for each abandoned mining restoration area in Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do, and the ecological reference that can be a goal and model for the restoration project. The carbon storage in the restoration area was 0~21.3Mg C ha^-1, the deciduous layer 3.3~6.0Mg C ha^-1, and the soil layer(0-30cm) 8.3~35.1Mg C ha^-1, showing a significant difference in carbon storage by target site. The total carbon storage was between 6.1 and 35.3% of the ecological reference, with restoration area ranging from 14.0 to 62.4 Mg C ha^-1. The total carbon storage in the restoration area and the ecological reference differed the most in the aboveground biomass and was less than 12%. Based on these results, forest restoration area need to improve the carbon storage of forests through continuous management and monitoring so trees can grow and restore productivity in the early stages of the restoration project. The results of this study can be used as primary data for preparing future forest restoration indicators by identifying the storage of abandoned mining restoration areas.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.391-404
• /
• 2000

This study investigated the geochemical characteristics of mine drainage discharged from an abandoned coal mine in the Hwasoon area. Surface water samples were collected from 23 locations along the Hancheon creek. The concentration of Zn and Cu in stream waters was highest at low pH (3.53), whereas the content of TDS and TDI was highest at high pH (7.78) due to the concentration of Ca, $HCO_3$ and $SO_4$. At the upstream site, the Ba, Fe, Mn, Zn, and $SO_4$ contents were relatively high but decreased significantly with the distance from the coal mine. On the contrary, the Na and $NO_3$ contents were low at the upstream site but increased downstream. Yellow precipitate material collected in the Hancheon consisted mainly of iron and LOI. This yellow precipitate was heated from 100 to $900^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour. With increasing temperature, the intensity of hematite peaks were sharply produced in X-ray pattern and the absorption band Fe-O of hematite increased in IR due to dehydration and melting. The yellow to brown precipitate and evaporite materials were collected by a air-dry from the acid mine water at the laboratory. After drying, the concentration of ions in the acid water samples increased progressively in oversaturation with respect to either gypsum, ferrohexahydrite or quenstedetite. The X-ray powder diffraction studies identified that the precipitated and evaporated materials after drying were well crystallized gypsum, ferrohexahydrite and quenstedetite. Diagnostic peaks used for identification of gypsum were the 7.65, 4.28, 3.03, 2.87 and 2.48$\AA$ peaks and those for ferrohexahydrite were the 5.46, 5.12, 4.89, 4.44, 4.05, 3.62, 3.46, 3.40, 3.20, 3.03, 2.94, 2.53, 2.28, 2.07, 1.88 and 1.86${\AA} peaks. The IR spectra with OH-stretching, deformation of $H_2O$and ${SO_4}^{2-}$stretching vibration include the existence of gypsum, ferrohexahydrite and quenstedetite in the precipitated and evaporite materials. In the SEM and EDS analysis for the evaporite material, gypsum with well-crystallized, acicular, and columnar form was distinctly observed.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.15-17
• /
• 1998

In order to provide cool night to strawberry plant with cool air and water, an abandoned cool mine was utilized. It's effects on flower induction and fruit yield in 4 different cultivars were examined. After 70 days of transplanting, flowering frequency was below 65% and 100% in control and treatment of night cooling, respectively and regardless of cultivars. Number of flower buds and flower clusters were higher in treated plants compared with the control. Average time until flowering was much less in treated plants. In terms of yield weight and total yield, 'Suhong' was found to be the best cultivar, averaging 24.2g fruit. Cooling contributed to the 6-7 times of increase in total yield within the frame of harvesting times. The fruit were harvested at 80-97 days after transplanting.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.25-36
• /
• 2005

Several metalliferous and coal mines, including Myungjin, Seojin and Okdong located at the upper watershed of Okdong stream, were abandoned or closed since 1988 due to the mining industry promotion policy. Thus these disposed an enormous amount of mining wastes without a proper treatment facilities, resulting in water pollution in the downstream areas. Acid mine drainage (AMD) and waste water effluents from the closed coal mines were very strongly acidic showing pH ranges of 2.7 to 4.5 and had a high level of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) showing the ranges of 1,030 to 1,947 mg/L. Also heavy metal concentrations in these samples such as Fe, Cu, Cd and anion such as sulfate were very high. Concentrations of water soluble heavy metals in the Okdong streams were in the orders of Fe>Al>Mn>Zn>Cu>Pb>Cd, indicating Fe from the AMD and waste water effluents contributed greatly to the quality of water and soil in the lower watershed of Okdong stream. Copper concentrations in the effluents from the tile drainage of mine tailings dams were highest during the raining season. Water Pollution Index (WPI) of the surface water at the upper stream of Okdong river where AMD of the abandoned coal mines was flowed into main stream were in the ranges of 16.3 to 47.1. On the other hand, those at the mid stream where effluents from tailings dams and coal mines flowed into main stream were in the WPI ranges of 10.6 to 19.5. However, those at the lower stream were ranged from 10.6 to 14.9. These results indicated that mining wastes such as AMD and effluents from the closed mines were the major source to water pollution at the Okdong stream areas.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.134-141
• /
• 2014

A testing inspection is one of the important in the industry, owing to determine the reliability and directivity of testing inspection results. Therefore, the quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) work which performed by personnel not directly in the inventory compilation development, in testing inspection must be thoroughly considered. Some agencies for environmental test inspection, they sometimes misunderstood that the QA/QC was ended with proficiency testing performance and on-site assessment by a director. Thus, results were often calculated without QA/QC work by self manual when conducting test. The objective of this study was to improve reliability of testing and inspection agency through the QA/QC case study which basically performed to raising reliability of testing and inspection agency. In this study, it increased reliability of result by verifying calibration curve (IC, ICV, CCV), blank, accuracy (LCS, MS) and precision as QA/QC performance, while performing investigation of soil contamination in mining areas. This study suggests that reliability establishing method of test result and management method of analysis process, through the QA/QC instance of testing agency.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2000.03b
• /
• pp.117-124
• /
• 2000

This paper presents the construction planning and the detail design of a 16.2 km long railroad tunnel in a mountainous area. Major design conditions for railroad are the single track, loop-typed alinement, and a maximum grade of 24.5$\textperthousand$. A underground station(double track) with a length of 1.1km is located in the middle of the line for train cross-passing. Tunnel is excavated in highly complex geological conditions including faulted areas, abandoned mine works areas, and various rock types such as sandstone, shale, limestone, and coal seam partly. Drilling and blasting method was adopted because it is more flexible than TBM(Tunnel Boring Machine) as a result of risk assessment for geological conditions in this area. Two working adits were planned to adjust the construction schedule and can be used for ventilation and maintenance in operation phase. New material and concept were introduced to the tunnel drain design. They are expected to improve tunnel drain condition and capability. Rational tunnel support design was tried to consider the various tunnel size and purpose and to use the geological investigation results.