• 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.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.561-573
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• 1999

Mesothermal gold deposits of the Heungdeok, Daewon and Ilsaeng mines in the Youngdong area occur in fault shear zones in Precambrian metamorphic rocks of central Sobaegsan Massif, Korea, and formed in single stage of massive quartz veins (0.3 to 3 m thick). Ore mineralogy is simple, consisting dominantly of pyrrhotite, sphalerite and galena with subordinate pyrite, chalcopyrite, electrum, tetrahedrite and native bismuth. Fluid inclusion data indicate that hydrothermal mineralization occurred at high temperatures (>240$^{\circ}$ to 400$^{\circ}$C) from $H_{2}O-CO_{2}(-CH_{4})$-NaCI fluids with salinities less than 12 wt. % equiv. NaC!. Fluid inclusions in vein quartz comprise two main types. These are, in decreasing order of abundance, type I (aqueous liquid-rich) and type II (carbonic). Volumetric proportion of the carbonic phase in type II inclusions varies widely in a single quartz grain. Estimated $CH_4$ contents in the carbonic phase of type II inclusions are 2 to 20 mole %. Relationship between homogenization temperature and salinity of fluid inclusions suggests a complex history of fluid evolution, comprising the early fluid's unmixing accompanying $CO_2$ effervescence and later cooling. Estimated pressures of vein filling are at least 2 kbars. The ore mineralization formed from a magmatic fluid with the ${\delta}^{34}S_{{\Sigma}S}$, ${\delta}^{18}O_{water}$ and ${\delta}D_{water}$ values of -2.1 to 2.2$\textperthousand$, 4.7 to 9.3$\textperthousand$ and -63 to -79$\textperthousand$, respectively. This study validates the application of a magmatic model for the genesis of mesothermal gold deposits in Youngdong area.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1052-1062
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• 2011

Residual of heavy metals originated from abandoned metal mines in agricultural field can cause adverse effect on ecosystem and eventually on human health. For this reason, remediation of heavy metal contaminated agriculture field is a critical issue. In this study, five different amendments, agriculture lime, dolomite, steel slag, zeolite, and compost, were evaluated for stabilization efficiency of heavy metals in agricultural field. Applied mixing ratio of amendments was varied (2% or 6%) depending on properties of amendments. Result showed that soil pH was increased compared to control (6.1-6.7) after mixing with amendments and ordered as dolomite (7.2~8.3) > steel slag (6.7~8.1) > agriculture lime (6.6~7.4) > zeolite (6.2~6.9) > compost (6.1~7.1). Among other amendments, agriculture lime, steel slag, and dolomite showed the highest stabilization efficiency of heavy metals in soil. For Cd, stabilization efficiency was 49~72%, 51~83%, and 0~36% for agriculture lime, steel slag, and dolomite respectively. In case of Pb, 43~64, 37~73%, and 51~73% of stabilization efficiency was observed for agriculture lime, steel slag, and dolomite respectively. However, minimal effect of heavy metal stabilization was observed for zeolite and compost. Based on result of this study, amendments that can increase the soil pH were the most efficient to stabilize heavy metal residuals and can be adapted for remediation purpose in agricultural field.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.812-825
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• 2019

Two dolomite samples mined from the different mines were calcined using a batch-type microwave kiln ($950/60min^{\circ}C$) to produce $CaO{\cdot}MgO$. The hydration of the $CaO{\cdot}MgO$ samples shows different reactivity. MgO was separated by reacting with a strong acid cation exchange resin using the reactivity of the hydration properties of light dolomite ($CaO{\cdot}MgO$). Calcium ($Ca-(R-SO_3)_2$) was separated from the prepared $CaO{\cdot}MgO$ by the cation exchange resin ($CaO{\cdot}MgO:R-SO_3H=1:12mass%$). High purity MgO (higher than 94 mass %) with unburned $CaCO_3$ (1~2 mass %) was obtained by the separation process. The separated MgO was heated at $950^{\circ}C$ for 60 minutes to afford high purity MgO with MgO content higher than 96%. And High-grade $CaCO_3$ was prepared from the reaction with calcium adsorbed resin ($Ca-(R-SO_3)_2$) and NaOH, $CO_2$ gas.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.3
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• pp.419-430
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• 2021

This study investigated spatiotemporal trends of sediment-related disasters in North Korea from 1960 to 2019 and post-disaster recovery cases based on a literature review and satellite images. Results showed that occurrence status of sediment-related disasters was initially externally reported in 1995 (during the Kim Jongil era); their main triggering factor was heavy summer rainfall. Furthermore, forest degradation rate was positively correlated with population density (R² = 0.4347, p = 0.02) and occurrence number of sediment-related disasters was relatively high on the west coast region, where both variables showed high values. This indicates that human activity was a major cause of forest degradation and thus, significantly affected sediment-related disasters in mountain regions. Finally, sediment- related disasters due to shallow landslides, debris flow, and slow-moving landslides were observed in undisturbed forest regions and human-impacted forest regions, including terraced fields, opencast mines, forest roads, and post-wildfire areas, via satellite image analysis. These disaster-hit areas remained mostly abandoned without any recovery works, whereas hillside erosion control work (e.g., treeplanting with terracing) or torrent erosion control work (e.g., check dam, debris flow guide bank) were implemented in certain areas. These findings can provide reference information to expand inter-Korean exchange and cooperation in forest rehabilitation and erosion control works of North Korea.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.22-30
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• 2019

On sites where explosives are used, the effects of noise and vibration produced by the blast wave are subject to a number of operational restrictions. Recently, the number of civil complaints has increased and the standard of environmental regulations on secure goods has been greatly tighten. Therefore, work is generally carried out by machine excavation in case of close proximity of safety thing. Machine excavation methods have the advantage as reducing noise and vibration compared to blasting methods, but depending on the conditions of rock intended to be excavated, they are sometimes less constructive than planned. In general, the closer a rock type is to hard rock, the less constructible it becomes. In this paper, we are going to explain the construction of a construction section with a close proximity to a safety thing using electronic detonators. While the project site was designed with a machine excavation methods due to the close(9.9m) proximity of safety thing(the railroad), construction using electronic detonators was reviewed as an alternative method for improving rate of advance time and construction efficiency when expose to hard rock. Through blasting using electronic detonators, construction and economic efficiency were maximized while minimizing impact on surrounding safety things. Because $HiTRONIC^{TM}$, which is produced by Hanwha, has innovative stability and high explosion reliability, it is able to explode with high-precision accuracy. Electronic detonators are widely used in construction sites of railway or highway, other urban burrowing areas and large limestone mines.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.237-244
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• 2019

Background: Street vendors spend relatively more time near roadways and are vulnerable to air pollution related health disorders. However, there is limited information on the quality of the air they breathe. The objectives of this present study were to calculate the mass concentration of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) in eight size fractions ($PM_{0.4-0.7}$, $PM_{0.7-1.1}$, $PM_{1.1-2.1}$, $PM_{2.1-3.3}$, $PM_{3.3-4.7}$, $PM_{4.7-5.8}$, $PM_{5.8-9.0}$, and $PM_{9.0--0{\mu}m}$) at commercial (CML) and residential site (RSL) in Dehradun city from November 2015 to May 2016. To estimate the corresponding respiratory deposition dose (RDDs) in alveolar (AL), tracheobronchial (TB), and head airway (HD) region on street vendors working at CML and RSL. To find the association of atmospheric PM with RDDs and the incidence of respiratory related disorders among street vendors. Methods: Andersen cascade impactor was employed for calculating the PM mass concentration. Questionnaire based health survey among street vendors were carried out through personal interview. Results: A significant difference (p < 0.05; t-test) between the mean $PM_{0.4-10{\mu}m}$ mass concentration at CML and RSL was observed with ($mean{\pm}SD$) $84.05{\pm}14.5$ and $77.23{\pm}11.7{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$, respectively. RDDs in AL, TB and HD region at CML was observed to be 9.9, 7.8, and 7.3% higher than at RSL, respectively. Health survey revealed 1.62, 0.96, 0.04, and 0.57 times higher incidence of cold, cough, breathlessness, and chest pain, respectively with street vendors at CML compared to RSL. Conclusion: The site characteristics plays a major role in the respiratory health status of street vendors at Dehradun.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.609-619
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• 2018

This study was carried out at a local limestone mine to analyze the ventilation efficiency of the shaft equipped with a main fan. The results show that its ventilation efficiency is clearly verified for the natural as well as the mechanical ventilation. The airflow rate of $11.7m^3/s$ was induced by the natural ventilation force and the maximum quantity is almost same as the airflow rate estimated by monitoring the average temperatures in the upcast and downcast air columns. Meanwhile, the airflow rate exhausted by the main fan through the shaft was $20.3{\sim}24.8m^3/s$; variation of the quantity was caused by the upward shift of the mine ventilation characteristic curve due to the frequent movement of the equipment. This indicates efforts are required to reduce the ventilation resistance and raise the quantity supplied by the main fan. The turbulent diffusion coefficients along the 1912 m long airway from the portal to the shaft bottom was estimated to be $15m^2/s$ and $18m^2/s$. Since these higher coefficients imply that contaminants will be dispersed at a faster velocity than the airflow, prompt exhaust method should be planned for the effective air quality control. The ventilation shaft and main fan are definitely what local limestone mines inevitably need for better working environment and sustainable development.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to assess the applicability of acid mine drainage sludge (AMDS) pellets for the arsenic (As) stabilization and to suggest an evaluation method for arsenic stabilization efficiency in soil around abandoned coal mines. The soil samples were collected from the agricultural field around Ham-Tae, Dong-Won, Dong-Hae, and Ok-Dong coal mine. The As concentration in soil was exceeding the criteria of soil pollution level, except for Ham-Tae coal mine. The AMDS pellets are more appropriate to use by reducing dust occurrence during the transport and application process than AMDS powder. In addition, AMDS pellets were maintained the As stabilization efficiency. The application of AMDS pellets for the As stabilization in soil was assessed by column experiments. The AMDS pellets were more effective than limestone and steel slag, which used as the conventional additives for the stabilization process. The As extraction by $0.43M\;HNO_3$ or $1M\;NaH_2PO_4$ solution were appropriate evaluation methods for evaluation of As stabilization efficiency in the soil.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.576-587
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• 2018

This study has focused on analysis factors affecting safety monitoring system at tailings sites, and the evaluation equipment to monitor the factors. Twenty sites at eighteen mines with unsafe conditions were selected to examine the equipment. There were three main factors influenced safety in the sites including surface erosion, piping, and slope instability. In detail, the surface erosion was divided into three sub-factors (planting, soil-topping layer, and tailings), piping into three sub-factors (liner, rain protection facility and leachate), and slop instability was also divided into three sub-factors (slop, concrete wall, and reinforcing wall). As results of in-field measurement, a CCTV was the most effective facility, and electrical resistivity survey, acoustic sensing, thermal liner sensor, structure inclinometer, rainfall meter, and flowmeter were also highly effective. According to applications of the facilities in the unstable tailings, structural defects were mainly found in the piping, which was the most important monitoring factor for safety management of tailings sites.