Economic and Environmental Geology (자원환경지질)

The Korean Society of Economic and Environmental Geology (대한자원환경지질학회)
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Heavy Metal Contamination around the Abandoned Au-Ag and Base Metal Mine Sites in Korea

국내 전형적 금은 및 비(base)금속 폐광산지역의 중금속 오염특성

  • Chon Hyo-Taek (School of Civil, Urban and Geosystem Engineering College of Engineering, Seoul National University) ;
  • Ahn Joo Sung (Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Division, Korea Institute of Geoscienece and Mineral Resources) ;
  • Jung Myung Chae (Department of Earth Resources and Environment Geotechnics Engineering Semyung University)
  • 전효택 (서울대학교 지구환경 시스템공학부) ;
  • 안주성 (한국지질자원연구원 지하수지열연구부) ;
  • 정명채 (세명대학교 자원환경공학과)
  • Published : 2005.04.01
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Abstract

The objectives of this study we to assess the extent and degree of environmental contamination and to draw general conclusions on the fate of toxic elements derived from mining activities in Korea. 인t abandoned mines with four base-metal mines and four Au-Ag mines were selected and the results of environmental surveys in those areas were discussed. In the base-metal mining areas, the Sambo Pb-Zn-barite, the Shinyemi Pb-Zn-Fe, the Geodo Cu-Fe and the Shiheung Cu-Pb-Zn mine, significant levels of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were found in mine dump soils developed over mine waste materials, tailings and slag. Furthermore, agricultural soils, stream sediments and stream water near the mines were severely contaminated by the metals mainly due to the continuing dispersion downstream and downslope from the sites, which was controlled by the feature of geography, prevailing wind directions and the distance from the mine. In e Au-Ag mining areas, the Kubong, the Samkwang, the Keumwang and the Kilkok mines, elevated levels of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were found in tailings and mine dump soils. These levels may have caused increased concentrations of those elements in stream sediments and waters due to direct dis-charge downstream from tailings and mine dumps. In the Au-Ag mines, As would be the most characteristic contaminant in the nearby environment. Arsenic and heavy metals were found to be mainly associated with sulfide gangue minerals, and mobility of these metals would be enhanced by the effect of oxidation. According to sequential extraction of metals in soils, most heavy metals were identified as non-residual chemical forms, and those are very susceptible to the change of ambient conditions of a nearby environment. As application of pollution index (PI), giving data on multi-element contamination in soils, over 1.0 value of the PI was found in soils sampled at and around the mining areas.

이 연구의 목적은 국내 폐광산지역의 주변 환경오염 양상을 평가하고 독성 중금속 원소들의 거동에 대한 일반적인 결론을 도출하고자 함이다. 이를 위해 국내의 전형적인 비(base)금속 광산과 금은 광산 4개 지역을 각각 선정하여 환경오염 조사결과를 상호 비교, 검토하였다. 비금속광산으로서 삼보 Pb-Zn-중정석, 신예미 Pb-Zn-Fe, 거도 Cu-Fe 및 시흥 Cu-Pb-Zn광산지역의 광미 및 슬래그 등 폐기물에서 유래된 토양에서 상당한 수준의 Cd, Cu, Pb 및 Zn의 함량이 나타났다. 또한 광산 하부지역 주변 농경지. 하상퇴적물 및 하천수에서도 지속적인 분산의 영향으로 심각한 오염양상이 나타났으며 이는 광산으로부터의 거리, 풍향, 지형 등에 의해 영향을 받고 있었다. 구봉, 삼광, 금왕 및 길곡 금은광산지역에서도 광미 및 광산 폐기토양에서 As, Cd, Cu, Pb 및 Zn의 높은 함량이 나타났으며 직접적인 하부유출로 하상퇴적물 및 하천수의 오염을 유발하고 있었다. 금은광산지역에서 비소가 특징적인 환경오염 원소로 나타났으며 중금속원소와 함께 황화광물에서 비롯되어 산화영향에 따라 그 이동도가 증진될 수 있다. 토양시료의 연속추출 분석결과 대부분의 중금속은 비 잔류성 형태로 존재하며 주변 환경조건의 변화에 취약한 것으로 나타났다. 오염지수의 적용견과 폐광산 토양에서 1.0 이상으로 중금속원소들의 복합적 오염양상을 나타내었다.

Keywords

References

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