Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers (한국자원공학회지)

The Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers (한국자원공학회)
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Impact of the Rain on the Geochemical and Hydrological Characteristics Within a Mine Waste Impoundment at the Geopung Mine, Korea

거풍광산 광산폐기물의 지구화학적 및 수리적 특성에 미친 강우 효과

Cheong, Young-Wook;Yim, Gil-Jae;Ji, Sang-Woo;Park, Hak-Yun;Min, Dae-Sik;Park, In-Wha
정영욱;임길재;지상우;박학윤;민대식;박인화

  • Published : 2008.10.28
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Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the impact of the rain infiltration on the changes in the volumetric water contents (VWC), the electric conductivities (EC) by burying sensors underneath waste rocks to measure the water quality of the groundwater in the wells at waste rock and tailings impoundments at the Geopung mine. Monitoring results revealed that both the VWC and EC increased at the same time depending on the rainfall. These mean that the soluble salts were already developed on the surface and in pores of mine wastes due to the past oxidation of sulfide minerals. According to measurements of VWC, the direction of the infiltration in flat surface was near vertical and the one on the slope surface parallel to the slope. These imply that the movement of infiltration was controlled by the geometrical characteristics such as slope or flat surface of the impoundment. In the rainy season, the groundwater level in the well at waste rocks was raised and then dropped rapidly while the readings in the tailings slowly responded to the rain due to the its low permeability. Chemical analyses of groundwater in wells showed that the water was very acidic with the high level of EC and some metals. It may be concluded that the soluble salts including the hydrogen ion and some ions had been flushed into the groundwater by the rain infiltration and thereby waste rocks and tailings had acted as sources of the acid rock drainage. It might be suggested that some countermeasures such as putting a covering on the mine wastes could be used to prevent the occurrence and spreading of acid rock drainage around the mine area.

거풍광산의 폐석 적치장 비 포화대에서 수분, 전기전도도, 온도, 수위 센서를 설치하고 폐석 및 광물찌꺼기 적치장 관정에 대하여 CTD diver 를 설치하여 강우에 의한 지구화학적 물리적 특성 변화를 평가하였다. 폐석 적치장 평지 및 경사지 하부 1 m 깊이에서 용적수분함량, 전기전도도 및 온도를 계측한 결과 강우 침투로 인해서 용적수분 함량이 증가하였고 동시에 전기전도도도가 증가하며 폐석표면 및 공극에 용해성 염이 존재하였다. 강우 이후 평지 하부에서는 용적 수분함량은 수직 방향으로 증가한 반면 경사지에서는 경사면 하부지점에서 수분함량이 크게 나타나 침투류의 유동방향이 폐석 적치장 기하특성에 따라서 영향을 받고 있다. 우기시 폐석적치장 관정의 수위 상승 및 하강이 매우 신속하게 이루어져 폐석 침출수는 폐석 하단부와 원지반 경계부를 통해 신속하게 배출되고 있음을 알 수 있다. 그러나 광물찌꺼기 및 암반층은 수위 상승과 하강이 느리게 관측되어 침출수의 거동도 광물찌꺼기 및 암반의 수리특성에 영향을 받고 있다. 폐석 및 광물찌꺼기의 관정 지하수 전기전도도 값이 강우 이후 높은 수준을 유지하여 강우가 폐석 및 광물찌꺼기의 염들을 용해하여 공 내 지하수의 오염매체로 작용함을 알 수 있다. 따라서 산성침출수의 생성 및 확산 방지를 위해서는 물 및 공기 차폐를 위한 조처가 필요하다고 판단된다.

Keywords

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