• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 1998

Enoronmental problems caused by certain geologic conditions Include pollution of soil by heavy metal, acidization of souls , acid mine drainage, Pound-water pollution, and natural radioactivity, as well as zoo-logical hazards such as landslide and subsidence. The acrid mine drainage contains large amount of heavy metals nO, therefore. cause serious pollution onto the nearby drainage systems and soils. In spite of this prospective environmental danger, few studies have been done on the acid mine drainage derived from non-metallic ore deposits such as pyrophyllitefNapseok) deposits. The sudo-bearing pyrophyllite ores, alteration zones, and mine talllngs of pyrophylllte deposits produce acrid mine drainage by the okidation of weathering. Compared to the fresh host rocks, the ores and altered rocks of pyrophyllite deposits produce acidic solution which contain higher amount of heavy metals because of OeP lower buffering capacity to acrid solution. The pus of urine water and nearby stream water of pyrophyllite deposits are 2.1~3.7, which are strong- ly acidic and much lower than that (6.2~7.2) of upstream water and than that (6.8~7.6) of the stream water derived from the non-mineralized area. This study reveals that this acrid mine drainage can affect the downstream area which is 8km far from the pyrophyllite deposits, even though the drain Is diluted with abundant non-contaminated river water This suggmists that not only acid mine drainage but also the sulfide-bearing sediments originated from the pyrophyllite deposits move downstream and form acidic water through continuous oxidation reaction. The heavy metals such as Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Nl, Mn and Fe are enriched In the mine water of low pH, and their contents decrease as the pH of mine water Increases because of the Influx of fresh stream wainer. SoUs of the Pyrophyulte deposits are characterized by high contents of heavy metals. The stream sediments containing the yellowish brown precipitates formed by neutralization of acid mine drainage occur in all parts of the stream derived from the pyrophyllite deposits, and the sediments also contain high amounts of heavy metals. In summary, the acid mine drainage of the pyrophyllite deposits is located in the upstream part of Hoidong water reservoir in Pusan contains large amounts of heavy metals and flows into the Holdong water reservoir without any purification process. To protect the water of Holdong reservoir, the acid mine drainage should be treated with a proper purification process.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.405-415
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• 2000

This study was carried out to understand the formation of acid mine drainage (AMD) by pyrophyllite (so-called Napseok)-rainwater interaction (weathering), dispersion patterns of heavy metals, and patterns of mixing with non-polluted water in the Tongnae pyrophyllite mine. Based on the mass balance and reaction path modeling, using both the geochemistry of water and occurrence of the secondary minerals (weathering products), the geochemical evolution of AMD was simulated by computer code of SOLVEQ and CHILLER. It shows that the pH of stream water is from 6.2 to 7.3 upstream of the Tongnae mine. Close to the mine, the pH decreases to 2. Despite being diluted with non-polluted tributaries, the acidity of mine drainage water maintains as far as downstream. The results of modeling of water-rock interaction show that the activity of hydrogen ion increases (pH decreases), the goncentration of ${HCO_3}^-$ decreases associated with increasing $H^+$ activity, as the reaction is processing. The concentration of ${SO_4}^{2-}$first increases minutely, but later increases rapidly as pH drops below 4.3. The concentrations of cations and heavy metals are controlled by the dissolution of reactants and re-dissolution of derived species (weathering products) according to the pH. The continuous adding of reactive minerals, namely the progressively larger degrees of water-rock interaction, causes the formation of secondary minerals in the following sequence; goethite, then Mn-oxides, then boehmite, then kaolinite, then Ca-nontronite, then Mgnontronite, and finally chalcedony. The results of reaction path modeling agree well with the field data, and offer useful information on the geochemical evolution of AMD. The results of reaction path modeling on the formation of AMD offer useful information for the estimation and the appraisal of pollution caused by water-rock interaction as geological environments. And also, the ones can be used as data for the choice of appropriate remediation technique for AMD.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.89-102
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• 1982

Several mines in Jeonnam produce the ores of having high SK number of refractoriness. Among those for 5 mines, this paper deals with the relationahip between SK number and mineral composition of the ore, and with the genesis of the deposits. 1. Byok-Song and Chon-Un Mine: Mineral compositions of the ores are chiastolite, chloritoid(monoclinic), kaolinite, sericite, diaspore, corundum, and quartz. The ores having SK number of 36 or 37, consist chiefly of chiastolite and diaspore and a little amount of kaolinite, sericite, corundum, chloritoid, and quartz. The ores having SK number of 33 or 34 consist of chloritoid, sericite, kaolinite, chiastolite, and diaspore. With increasing the amount of chloritoid and sericite, and decreasing the amount of diaspore and chiastolite, the SK number of the ores decreases. The deposit, originally high alumina-bearing shale of Chon-Un San formation, seems to be formed by contact metamorphism(forming of chiastolite), regional metamorphism(forming of monoclinic chloritoid), and hydrothermal replacement(forming of large crystal of diaspore veinlets). 2. Song-Sauk Mine: Mineral compositions of the ores are chiefly pyrophyllite and quartz and a little amount of kaolinite, dickite, diaspore, and pyrite. Many spherical inclusions containing in pyrophyllite deposits, consist chiefly of diaspore and kaolinite, The inclusions have the high SK number of 38. Amount of spherical inclusions is about 5 % to the whole pyrophyllite ores. The SK number of other pyrophyllite ore is less than 32. Quartz and pyrite are chief minerals lowering the SK number of the ore. The deposits have been formed by hydrothermal processes by replacing the siliceous tuff of Mesozoic age. Spherical inclusions consisting of diaspore and kaolinite, show the selective replacement of hydrothermal solutions to the materials of feldspar in tuff. 3. Seung-San Mine: Mineral compositions of the ores are chiefly kaolinite, dickite, diaspore, and quartz. But some part of the mine consists of alunite deposits. The ores having SK number of 35 or higher consist chiefly of kaolinite and diaspore and a little amount of quartz. With increasing the amount of quartz and decresing the amount of diaspore, the SK number of the ore decreases. The deposits have been formed by hydrothermal processes by replacing the siliceous tuff and quartz porphyry. 4. Wan-Do Mine: Mineral compositions of the ores are chiefly pyrophyllite and quartz. But some ore contains a little amount of diaspore, kaolinite, pyrite, and chloritoid. The ores having high SK number of 36 consist chiefly of diaspore and pyrophyllite. Pyrophyllite ore has a SK number of 32 or lower. Amount of quartz and pyrite decreases the SK number of ores in this mine. Rhyolite was replaced by the action of hydrothermal solutions forming the pyrophyllite deposits.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 1990

Pyrophyllite, kaolinite, and alunite deposits distributing in Southwestern parts of Cheonnam are classified into three types of minerals assemblages by the results of X-ray diffraction analysis etc. The first mineral assemblages contains pyrophyllite, kaolinite, dickite, quartz, diaspore and/or corundum, the second one contains alunite inseads of corundum, and the third one contains alunite without pyrophyllite and diaspore. It is can be considered that the depoSits which consist mainly of pyrophyllite are formed higher temperature than the other deposits. Judging form the chemical analyses the chemical compositions of hydrothermal solutions acting to the deposits seem to be relatively simple. But the hydrothermal solutions which generated Dogcheon, Jugjcon, Ogmaesan, and Seongsan mine contain rather somewhat higher $K_2O$. The values of the Trace Elements and REE analysis of the host rocks of deposits suggest that the host rocks are these deposits are the last products of magmatic differentiation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.341-354
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• 1989

Mineralogy and geochemistry of five pyrophyllite deposits in Yangsan-Milyang area such as Cheonbulsan, Dumyong, Dongrae, Youkwang, and Sungjin mines were investigated. Pyrophyllite ores consist mainly of pyrophyllite, sericite, and quartz with some amounts of kaolinite and pyrite. Polytype of pyrophyllite is 2M. Sericite has two polytypes of 1M and 2M1. The ${\delta}^{18}O$ values of pyrophyllite from the Cheonbulsan and the Dumyong mines were measured as 0.23-0.60‰ and 3.40‰, respectively, and those of montmorillonite and kaolinite from the Dumyong mine were in the range of 11.90-12.06‰. This low oxygen isotope composition provides conclusive evidence for hydrothermal activity in the studied area. Contents of major elements are more useful than those of trace elements to discriminate altered zones such as pyrophyllite, sericite, argillic, and andalusite zones from the surrounding rocks. Particularly, contents of $K_2O$, $Na_2O$ and CaO are helpful to identify alteration zones from the discriminant and the cluster analysis of multi-element data.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.543-553
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• 2023

The current status of domestic a agalmatolite mines in South Korea was investigated with a view to establishing a stable supply of agalmatolite and managing its demand. Most mined agalmatolite deposits were formed through hydrothermal alteration of Mesozoic volcanic rocks. The physical characteristics of pyrophyllite, the main constituent mineral of agalmatolite, are as follows: specific gravity 2.65~2.90, hardness 1~2, density 1.60~1.80 g/cm³, refractoriness ≥29, and color white, gray, grayish white, grayish green, yellow, or yellowish green. Among the chemical components of domestic agalmatolite, SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ contents are respectively 58.2~67.2 and 23.1~28.8 wt.% for pyrophyllite, 49.2~72.6 and 16.5~31.0 wt.% for pyrophyllite + dickite, 45.1 and 23.3 wt.% for pyrophyllite + illite, 43.1~82.3 and 11.4~35.8 wt.% for illite, and 37.6~69.0 and 19.6~35.3 wt.% for dickite. Domestic agalmatolite mines are concentrated mainly in the southwest and southeast of the Korean Peninsula, with some occurring in the northeast. Twenty-one mines currently produce agalmatolite in South Korea, with reserves in the order of Jeonnam (45.6%) > Chungbuk (30.8%) > Gyeongnam (13.0%) > Gangwon (4.8%), and Gyeongbuk (4.8%). The top 10 agalmatolite-producing mines are in the order of the Central Resources Mine (37.9%) > Wando Mine (25.6%) > Naju Ceramic Mine (13.4%) > Cheongseok-Sajiwon Mine (5.4%) > Gyeongju Mine (5.0%) > Baekam Mine (5.0%) > Minkyung-Nohwado Mine (3.3%) > Bugok Mine (2.3%) > Jinhae Pylphin Mine (2.2%) > Bohae Mine. Agalmatolite has low thermal conductivity, thermal expansion, thermal deformation, and expansion coefficients, low bulk density, high heat and corrosion resistance, and high sterilization and insecticidal efficiency. Accordingly, it is used in fields such as refractory, ceramic, cement additive, sterilization, and insecticide manufacturing and in filling materials. Its scope of use is expanding to high-tech industries, such as water treatment ceramic membranes, diesel exhaust gas-reduction ceramic filters, glass fibers, and LCD panels.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 1991

Oxygen and sulfur isotope composition of pyrophyllite and pyrite from six pyrophyllite deposits in the Yangsan-Milyang areas (the Cheonbulsan, Dumyong, Dongrae, Youkwang, Sungjin and Milyang mines), and five deposits in the Whasoon-Dado-Haenam areas (the Byuksong, Songseok, Dado, Bugock and Nowha mines) were measured. Pyrophyllite ores both from the Yangsan-Milyang areas and the Dado-Haenam areas are composed mainly of high alumina minerals such as pyrophyllite, sericite and kaolinite. Most of altered rocks show diagnostic chacteristics of bleaching effect. Major minerals of the Songseok ore deposit in the Whasoon area are pyrophyllite, and diaspore with minor amounts of kaolinite and quartz. The Byuksong ores from the Whasoon area were composed mainly of andalusite, kaolinite, pyrophyllite and mica with small amounts of chloritoid, quartz and carbonaceous matter. The Byuksong and Songseok ores show metamorphic textures such as porphyroblastic, and pressure solution textures, and have low whiteness values, The ${\delta}^{18}O$ values of pyrophyllite from the Cheonbulsan and Dumyong mines in the Yangsan area, and the Dado and Nowha mines in the Dado-Haenam areas were in the range of 0.23~5.36%,. The relatively low 8 180 values provide conclusive evidence for hydrothermal activity in these deposits. The ${\delta}^{18}O$ values of pvrophvllite from the Songseok mine in the Whasoon area were measured as 6.70-8.13%, and these higher ${\delta}^{18}O$ values suggest that the Songseok ore deposit have been probably subjected to metamorphism. ${\delta}^{34}$S(pyrito) values from the Cheonbulsan, Dumyong, Youkwang, Dongrae, Sungjin and Milyang deposits in the Yangsan-Milyang areas, and the Dado pyrophyllite deposits in the Dado area range from -5.8 to 2.7%, which means that the pyrite sulfur could be of igneous origin. ${\delta}^{34}$S(pyrito) from the Nohwa mine in the Haenam area is, however, measured as -12.4%" implying the contamination of sulfur derived from the sedimentary country rocks. All of the studied high alumina deposits in the Yangsan-Milyang areas and the Dado-Haenam areas were hydrothermal in origin, whereas the Byuksong and Songseok ore deposits in the Whasoon area were probably of metamorphic origin.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 2005

Numerous abandoned or closed mines are present in the steep mountain valleys in Korea due to the depression of the mining industry since the late 1980s. From the mines, enormous amounts of wastes were dumped on the slopes causing sedimentation and acid mine drainage to be discharged directly into streams causing detrimental effects on surrounding environment. Objective of this research was to evaluate the feasibility of the lime cake by-product from the soda ash production (Solvay process) to neutralize the pyrophyllite mine wastes, which have discharged the acid drainage to soil and stream in the watershed. The pH of mine wastes was strongly acidic at pH 3.67 containing over 16% of $Al_2O_3$ and 11% of $Fe_2O_3$. Whereas the lime cake by-product was strongly basic at pH 9.97 due to high contents of CaO, MgO and $CaCl_2$ as major components. Column experiments were conducted to test the neutralizing capacity of the lime cake by-product for the acidic pyrophyllite mine wastes. The column packed with the wastes (control) was treated with the lime cake by-product, calcium carbonate, the dressing soil or combination. The distilled water was eluted statically through the column and the leachate was collected for the chemical analyses. Treatments of the mine wastes with the lime cake by-product (or calcium carbonate) as mixtures increased pH of the leachate from $3.5{\sim}4.0\;to\;7{\sim}8$. Concentrations of Fe and Al in the leachate were also decreased below 1.0 mg $L^{-1}$. A Similar result was observed at the combined treatments of the mine waste, the lime by-product (or calcium carbonate) and the dressing soil. The results indicated that the lime cake by-product could sufficiently neutralize the acid drainage from the pyrophyllite mine wastes without dressing soils.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.47-58
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• 2016

The Fe-component of pyrophyllite is an impurity that reduces its grade in the final product. In order to identify the amount of impurity in pyrophyllite and to remove the Fe from the ore using a dry method, microwave heating and magnetic separation were carried out. Pyrite and hematite were identified to contain pyrophyllite by microscopy, XRD, XRF, SEM/EDS and EPMA analysis. It is suggested that the euhedral pyrite in the pyrophyllite is formed by hydrothermal solution, and then the dissolution cavity structure is formed with a partial remainder of the pyrite which dissolved in acidic water. And the $Fe^{3+}$ ion contained in the acidic water precipitated out in the concentric structure of hematite as the origin of sedimentary structure. As a result of the microwave heating and magnetic separation experiments, the Fe removal rates obtained were 96% and 93% from pyrophyllite ore from the Sunsan mine and Wando mine, respectively. It is confirmed that the microwave heating and magnetic separation method was an environmentally friendly method to upgrade the low-grade pyrophyllite.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.337-347
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• 1993

Mineralogical and geochemical studies on some pyrophyllite deposits in Milyang area, Kyeongnam Province (Milyang and Sungjin mine) were carried out in order to investigate dispersion patterns of chemical elements in altered volcanic wallrocks, and to interpret genetic environments of the pyrophyllite deposits. Cretaceous andesitic and tuffaceous rocks, and pyrophyllite ore specimens were collected from the dumps and drilling cores. Andesitic wallrocks were grouped as unaltered and altered rocks in the order of pyrophyllitization. Vertical dispersion patterns and relative mobilities of chemical elements in volcanic wallrocks were discussed. Geochemical environment in the Milyang area is characterized by the occurrence of boron minerals such as dumortierite coexisting with pyrophyllite ores, and tourmaline in granitic rocks. Unaltered andesitic rocks are mainly composed of plagioclase, pyroxene and hornblende, and were propylitized and saussuritized. Altered andesitic rocks are bleached and consist of quartz, sericite, pyrophyllite, kaolinite, chlorite and disseminated pyrite. Pyrophyllite ores are mainly composed of quartz, pyrophyllite, dumortierite, dissemianted pyrite and some diaspore. Enrichment of $SiO_2$, $Al_2O_3$, LOI (loss on ignition), As and Cr, and depletion of $K_2O$, $Na_2O$, CaO, MgO and total Fe are characteristic during alteration process. The REE patterns show that the pyrophyllite deposits could be originated from the continental margin volcanics. The $(La/Lu)_{cn}$ ratios of the pyrophyllite ores increase from 4.2~23.2 to 2.67~128.8 owing to strong acidic hydrothermal alteration. Vertical dispersion patterns of $Al_2O_3$, $K_2O$, $Na_2O$, CaO, MgO, $Fe_2O_3$ (total Fe), As, Au, Sb, Cr and Sr in the wallrocks show the location of orebodies. Particularly dispersion patterns of $Al_2O_3$ and Cr indicate the extension of orebodies. Anomalous distribution of Au, As and Sb in wallrocks shows potential for gold occurrence below the pyrophyllite deposits. Judging from the relative mobilities of elements in wallrocks, $Al_2O_3$ could be added from hydrothermal solution, and the silicified rone be formed from the excess of $SiO_2$.