Evaluating the potential source of contamination from sulfide minerals in major rocks in South Korea

Abstract

The utilization of surrounding rocks is required in human living areas, and these development activities create large cut slopes and generate large amounts of cut rocks as construction materials. If these development areas are strata containing sulfide minerals (pyrite, etc.), contamination may occur, causing environmental pollution problems in the development site and surrounding areas. Several methods have been studied for the preliminary identification of potentially contaminated rocks, including Acid Base Accounting (ABA), Modified ABA procedures, Carbonate Neutralization Potential determinations, Humidity cell tests, Column tests, Batch reactor (Shake flask) tests, and Field tests (Orava, 1997; USEPA and Hardrock Mining, 2003). Studies on rock samples have resulted in most of the samples being classified as Non-Acid Forming (NAF), with some samples containing sulfide minerals (such as pyrite) being classified as Potentially Acid Forming (PAF). It can be expected that future development of these rocky areas may affect the surrounding environment or rock utilization. Therefore, these rock areas are considered to be in need of management. It would be desirable to investigate the occurrence of pollution sources caused by mineral sulfides in advance and take appropriate countermeasures. It is expected to reduce the economic losses that may occur in the future, and it is judged that the pollution problem of the surrounding environment can be further reduced.