Abandoned Mining Area Research Articles

Distribution of Arsenic Fraction in Soil Around Abandoned Mining Area and Uptake by Rice

Arsenic (As) contamination of agricultural soils resulting from mining activity has caused major concern due to the potential health risk. Therefore the current study was carried out to investigate the relationship between fractionation of As in soil and rice uptake and to provide a basic information for adequate management of As contaminated agricultural soil. Twenty agricultural soils and rice affected by the abandoned mining sites were collected. Soil chemical properties and As concentrations (total and sequential extracted) in soils were determined and As concentrations in polished rice were analyzed. The average concentration of As in non-specifically adsorbed (F1), specifically adsorbed (F2), amorphous hydrous oxides of Fe and Al (F3), crystalline hydrous oxides of Fe and Al (F4) and residual phase (F5) were 0.08, 1.38, 10.34, 3.26 and 10.98 mg kg -1 , respectively. Both soil pH and available phosphorus were positively correlated with the concentrations of As in F1 and F2. These results indicate that increasing the soil pH and available phosphorus can significantly increase the easily mobile fractions of As (F1 and F2). The average concentration of As in polished rice was 0.09 mg kg -1 . The concentrations of As in F1 and F2 showed a positive correlation with the concentrations of As in polished rice. Therefore soil pH and available phosphorus affect the distribution of As fractionation in soils and thus affect As bioavailability.

생태체계 요인이 폐광지역 주민의 생활만족도에 미치는 영향

생태체계 요인이 폐광지역 주민의 생활만족도에 미치는 영향

국내 카지노업 허가 특례 제도의 현황 및 개선방안

Casino licensing policies and regulations are controversial issues in Korean society due to dual aspects of casino, as economic tools to create jobs and incomes and as a cause of making gambling addicts. Specially, after since casino was established almost 60 years ago in Korea, social consensus on how casino and casino industry should be managed, regarded, or perceived was not firmly formed yet in our society. In this paper, casino licensing policies and regulations of Korean governments was reviewed through examining several special acts, such as special act on designation and management of free economic zones, special act on the development of enterprise cities, special act on the assistance to the development of abandoned mine areas, special act on the establishment of Jeju special self-governing province and the development of free international city, and special act on support and promotion of the Saemangeum project. Also tourism promotion act is reviewed for studying Korean casino licensing policies and regulations. After reviewing special acts and tourism promotion act, discussions and several suggestions on amendment for casino licensing policy and regulation are followed.

Arsenic distribution in soils and rye plants of a cropland located in an abandoned mining area

A mining impacted cropland was studied in order to assess its As pollution level and the derived environmental and health risks. Profile soil samples (0–50cm) and rye plant samples were collected at different distances (0–150m) from the near mine dump and analyzed for their As content and distribution. These cropland soils were sandy, acidic and poor in organic matter and Fe/Al oxides. The soil total As concentrations (38–177mgkg−1) and, especially, the soil soluble As concentrations (0.48–4.1mgkg−1) importantly exceeded their safe limits for agricultural use of soils. Moreover, the soil As contents more prone to be mobilized could rise up to 25–69% of total As levels as determined using (NH4)2SO4, NH4H2PO4 and (NH4)2C2O4·H2O as sequential extractants. Arsenic in rye plants was primarily distributed in roots (3.4–18.8mgkg−1), with restricted translocation to shoots (TF=0.05–0.26) and grains (TF=<0.02–0.14). The mechanism for this excluder behavior should be likely related to arsenate reduction to arsenite in roots, followed by its complexation with thiols, as suggested by the high arsenite level in rye roots (up to 95% of the total As content) and the negative correlation between thiol concentrations in rye roots and As concentrations in rye shoots (|R|=0.770; p<0.01). Accordingly, in spite of the high mobile and mobilizable As contents in soils, As concentrations in rye above-ground tissues comply with the European regulation on undesirable substances in animal feed. Likewise, rye grain As concentrations were below its maximum tolerable concentration in cereals established by international legislation.

Novel and Unexpected Microbial Diversity in Acid Mine Drainage in Svalbard (78° N), Revealed by Culture-Independent Approaches.

Svalbard, situated in the high Arctic, is an important past and present coal mining area. Dozens of abandoned waste rock piles can be found in the proximity of Longyearbyen. This environment offers a unique opportunity for studying the biological control over the weathering of sulphide rocks at low temperatures. Although the extension and impact of acid mine drainage (AMD) in this area is known, the native microbial communities involved in this process are still scarcely studied and uncharacterized. Several abandoned mining areas were explored in the search for active AMD and a culture-independent approach was applied with samples from two different runoffs for the identification and quantification of the native microbial communities. The results obtained revealed two distinct microbial communities. One of the runoffs was more extreme with regards to pH and higher concentration of soluble iron and heavy metals. These conditions favored the development of algal-dominated microbial mats. Typical AMD microorganisms related to known iron-oxidizing bacteria (Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans, Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria) dominated the bacterial community although some unexpected populations related to Chloroflexi were also significant. No microbial mats were found in the second area. The geochemistry here showed less extreme drainage, most likely in direct contact with the ore under the waste pile. Large deposits of secondary minerals were found and the presence of iron stalks was revealed by microscopy analysis. Although typical AMD microorganisms were also detected here, the microbial community was dominated by other populations, some of them new to this type of system (Saccharibacteria, Gallionellaceae). These were absent or lowered in numbers the farther from the spring source and they could represent native populations involved in the oxidation of sulphide rocks within the waste rock pile. This environment appears thus as a highly interesting field of potential novelty in terms of both phylogenetic/taxonomic and functional diversity.

Space design marketing for urban regeneration in the UK through regional space assets

Urban regeneration, which promotes sustainable regional revitalisation with the goal of ‘improving life’, is carried out by understanding the urban heritage and space assets of the targeted city and either preserving or using them. Two cases in the UK in which urban regeneration of abandoned mine areas has been successfully achieved include Beamish Open-Air Museum, which was reborn as a space for people to experience how life was in the North East of England by preserving the space assets of the area, and the Eden Project, which was created as a climate-controlled botanical garden, using the geographical conditions of the abandoned mine area. For these types of urban regeneration projects, comprehensive marketing activity to improve the regional image is conducted through the participation of various stakeholders and through a spatial experience symbolising regional identity, which is referred to as space design marketing. In the process of urban regeneration, which consists of planning, formation and management, drawing up a programme in stages is directly connected to success. In the planning stage, it is necessary to draw up a programme that vitalises regional identity by reflecting the conditions and characteristics of the targeted region. During this stage, it is also important to create a space for this programme, promote the participation of the inhabitants in the managing of the space, and develop a programme for educating visitors. The key factors at this point are region, value and identity.

Study on Exposure Factors and Model Specialized for Human Risk Assessment of Abandoned Mine Area, Korea

Study on Exposure Factors and Model Specialized for Human Risk Assessment of Abandoned Mine Area, Korea

Yeasts associated with an abandoned mining area in Pernek and their tolerance to different chemical elements

Four plants, Cirsium arvense (creeping thistle), Equisetum arvense (field horsetail), Oxalis acetosella (wood sorrel) and Phragmites australis (common reed), which grew in an abandoned Sb-mining area in Pernek (Malé Karpaty Mts., Slovakia), were investigated for the yeast species. Yeasts were isolated from both the leaves of the plants and the soil adjacent to the plants. In total, 65 yeast cultures, belonging to 11 ascomycetous and 5 basidiomycetous yeast species, were isolated. The species most frequently isolated from both the soil and leaf samples were Trichosporon porosum, Galactomyces candidus and Candida solani, whereas Aureobasidium pullulans, Candida tsuchiyae and Sporidiobolus metaroseus were isolated exclusively from the plant leaves. All the yeast species isolated were tested for their tolerance to two heavy metals (Cd, Zn) and three metalloids (As, Sb and Si). The yeasts isolated from both the leaves and soils exhibited a high tolerance level to both As and Sb, present in elevated concentrations at the locality. Among the yeast species tested, Cryptococcus musci, a close relative to Cryptococcus humicola, was the species most tolerant to all the chemical elements tested, with the exception of Si. It grew in the presence of 200mmol/L Zn, 200mmol/L Cd, 60mmol/L As and 50mmol/L Sb, and therefore, it can be considered as a multi-tolerant species. Some of the yeast species were tolerant to the individual chemical elements. The yeast-like species Trichosporon laibachii exhibited the highest tolerance to Si of all yeasts tested, and Cryptococcus flavescens and Lindnera saturnus showed the same tolerance as Cryptococcus musci to Zn and As, respectively. The majority of the yeasts showed a notably low tolerance to Cd (not exceeded 0.5mmol/L), which was present in small amounts in the soil. However, Candida solani, isolated from the soil, exhibited a higher tolerance to Cd (20mmol/L) than to As (2mmol/L).

An integrative assessment of environmental degradation of Caveira abandoned mine area (Southern Portugal)

Since the end of the 1990s the Portuguese Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) is a typical European post-mining region with significant problems related to acid mine drainage (AMD), metal dispersion, mine waste management and unsafe mining infra-structures. The Portuguese government is providing particular attention on the sulphide abandoned mines and doing considerable investments on the mining recovery all over the country.The former Caveira mine was closed in the 1980s. It is considered an extremely impacted site due to the dimension of the areas affected by mining activities. Tailings, mine addicts and associated waste rock dumps, resulting from 129years of pyrite and Cu exploitation, are spread along the Grândola stream. Despite the semi-arid climatic conditions of the area, the tailings are considerably eroded by the surficial waters, particularly during rainfall events.The past mining and smelting activities have resulted in severe contamination of the Grândola stream and its tributary by AMD (pH<2) as well as degradation of surrounding stream sediments, soils and vegetation. In order to evaluate possible environmental risks, a sediment and surface water survey was carried out downstream the Caveira mine. The acidic effluent and mixed stream water show high Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb and SO4 concentrations, with several of these contaminants exceeding local and/or surface water quality standards. The data show a strong seasonal variation of surface water quality with poorer water quality during the dry and rainy seasons caused by evaporation and efflorescent salt dissolution, respectively. The variable flow regime at the local streams causes dilution of AMD rich in trace metals reaching background within 14km downstream. The potential toxicity of stream metal concentrations was determined using cumulative criterion unit (CCU) scores and the modified AMD index (MAMDI), which highlighted As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn as the major sources of potential chronic stream toxicity, with emphasis on winter season. Although the threshold of the likely harm to aquatic life is exceeded at all sites, the two indexes highlight differences relating to the extension of contamination effects. The Average Index of Toxicity (AIT) showed that sediment contamination is very high even when the distance to mine promoted a decreasing in water metal concentrations, which are being precipitated in the sediments due to pH increase.

Mineralogy and geochemistry of a clogged mining reservoir affected by historical acid mine drainage in an abandoned mining area

The present study is focused on a water reservoir that is under the influence of AMD in the historic mining area of Riotinto (SW Spain). Transport of particulate matter and chemical precipitation within the reservoir has caused its clogging. Hydrochemical, geochemical and mineralogical characterization allowed to assess the degree of contamination by trace elements.The results indicate high average concentrations of metals and metalloids in water and sediments. The sediments are strongly enriched in As, Pb, Cu, and Zn, which occur with concentrations >1000mg/kg. Highest accumulation was observed for As and Pb, which gave enrichment factors in the range 358–471, indicative of extreme pollution. Geochemical trends show strong correlation between major elements, including Fe and Al, mobilized from the source material.Mineralogy of the clogging material showed a short-range of spatial variability. Among the newly formed phases jarosite and goethite are the most abundant. They are especially concentrated in the clay size fraction. Combining results about chemistry of the sediments and mineral distribution suggests that As is being retained by both clay and iron-rich minerals. Furthermore, results indicate that jarosite forms directly from sulphide oxidation, whereas goethite may result from transformations undergone in the reservoir.

Abandoned mines, homes for the people: case study of Jos Tin-mining region

Purpose – This paper aims to assess the Jos Plateau Tin-mining region as an abandoned mine area being used for housing development with a view to make recommendations. Design/methodology/approach – Utilising secondary data, which maps out ten different locations in the region, this paper highlights the level of radioactive substances (X-ray, beta and gamma rays) and the presence of heavy metals in the environment, abandoned mines, home for the people as well as housing development within a derelict region. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with heads of selected settlement within the Jos Plateau Tin-mining region. Findings – Subsequent analysis shows that the radioactive substances exceed the international standards and therefore have a serious impact on the health of the local population who reside in the affected area. This is particularly significant as people use the contaminated soil as a basic material for their homes as well as farming and food production. Research limitations/implications – With overpopulation of neighbouring city and rising house prices, an increasing number of people have moved to the Tin-mining areas often without any knowledge about the perils of contaminated soil. At the same time, the planning authority has no presence in the affected area, as it falls outside its jurisdiction. Practical implications – However, there is an urgent need to address this problem and prevent people from moving to this area, otherwise this would become a serious long-term human catastrophe. Social implications – Drawing from international experience, the paper argues that it is possible to develop housing in former Tin-mining areas but require careful remediation and engagement by the public and private sector. Originality/value – The discussion in this paper makes a case for appropriate physical planning measure as people build their homes on the abandoned Tin-mining areas, with the presences of heavy metals and radioactive substances which are dangerous to human health where the governments have not made provision to address the problem. It is a bridge linking a previous paper on the environment and now consideration on housing/home which together form part of an ongoing PhD research “A potential application of spatial planning in Jos, Nigeria”.

Land contamination by toxic elements in abandoned mine areas in Italy

Purpose The present paper concerns the distribution and mobility of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn and Fe) in the soils of some abandoned mine sites in Italy and their transfer to wild flora.

황철석과 토착미생물이 광미를 활용한 전기 생산에 미치는 영향

Acid mine drainage (AMD) producing mine tailings can be beneficially recycled to generate electricity by applying fuel cell technology. Pyrite-containing mine tailings and indigenous bacteria from abandoned mine areas were used to construct fuel cells to investigate the effect of pyrite contents and the presence of iron-oxidizing bacteria. The results showed an enhanced electrical performance with a higher content of pyrite in mine tailings. The inoculation of the indigenous bacteria also enhanced the current density by about three times, and the power density by about 10 times. Overall, this study shows that the combined use of the ecological function of indigenous bacteria from mine areas and mine-tailings in fuel cells does not only contribute to reducing harmful effects of mine tailings but also generate electricity.

Resistance to and accumulation of heavy metals by actinobacteria isolated from abandoned mining areas.

Accumulation of high concentrations of heavy metals in environments can cause many human health risks and serious ecological problems. Nowadays, bioremediation using microorganisms is receiving much attention due to their good performance. The aim of this work is to investigate heavy metals resistance and bioaccumulation potential of actinobacteria strains isolated from some abandoned mining areas. Analysis of mining residues revealed that high concentration of zinc “Zn” was recorded in Sidi Bouatman, Arbar, and Bir Nhass mining residues. The highest concentration of lead “Pb” was found in Sidi Bouatman. Copper “Cu,” cadmium “Cd,” and chromium “Cr” were found with moderate and low concentrations. The resistance of 59 isolated actinobacteria to the five heavy metals was also determined. Using molecular identification 16S rRNA, these 27 isolates were found to belong to Streptomyces and Amycolatopsis genera. The results showed different levels of heavy metal resistance; the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) recorded was 0.55 for Pb, 0.15 for Cr, and 0.10 mg·mL−1 for both Zn and Cu. Chemical precipitation assay of heavy metals using hydrogen sulfide technic (H2S) revealed that only 27 isolates have a strong ability to accumulate Pb (up to 600 mg of Pb per g of biomass for Streptomyces sp. BN3).

폐광지역 경제자립형 사업에 대한 비용-편익 분석 : 강원도 삼척시를 중심으로

The project of promoting the economy has attracted attention as on strategy for the economic revitalization of abandoned mine areas which is promoting by local government based on the Special law on the development of abandoned mine areas. Through the analysis of economic feasibility analysis, the government is trying to determine the presence or absence of budget support to project of promoting the economy of local government. Furthermore, this paper attempts to conduct a cost-benefit analysis, using net present value(NPV), benefit/cost(B/C) ratio, internal rate of return(IRR) techniques for project of promoting the economy of Samcheok City. The project of promoting the economic of Samcheok City is promoting the Yukbaeksan flowers rest park and Glass Art Culture and Tourism theme park. The results indicate that NPV, B/C ratio and IRR of Yukbaeksan flowers rest park are 3,937 million won, 1.06, 6.18% and NPV, B/C ratio and IRR of Glass Art Culture and Tourism theme park are 8,311 million won, 1.34 and 9.47. Accordingly, the projects of promoting the economic of Samcheok City ensure economic feasibility that the three indicators have exceeded 0, 1.0 and 5.5% respectively. Moreover, the analysis results can be used effectively in the decision for the project of promoting ecomony of Samcheok city.

A Review on the Regeneration Cases for Abandoned Mine Areas of Japan

본 연구는 일본의 폐광지역 재생사례에 대한 고찰을 통해 국내에 시사점을 제시하고자 하는 연구이다. 유바리(夕張)와 같은 공공주도의 리조트 개발 방식은 단기적으로 지역의 고용창출, 방문객 증가에서 긍정적 효과를 거둘 수 있으나, 초기의 재정투자, 유지, 관리 비용 증가라는 측면에서 지방재정에 부담이 될 수 있다. 이에 최근에는 주민주도로 프로그램 운영 위주의 재생사업들이 추진되고 있다. 이쿠노쬬(生野町)나 마쯔오무라(松尾村)처럼 주민주도로 거버넌스 조직을 구축하고 대규모 시설 정비 없이 기존 건축물이나 생활풍습 등을 활용하는 광산체험 마케팅, 환경재생 등을 통해 지역 활성화를 도모하는 사례가 증가하고 있다. 이러한 사례들은 지역주민 참여를 통한 프로그램 위주의 재생사업으로도 충분히 지역 활성화를 도모할 수 있다는 점에서 하드웨어 정비 위주로 추진되고 있는 국내 재생사업에 시사점을 줄 수 있을 것으로 기대해 본다.

Human exposure and risk assessment of cadmium for residents of abandoned metal mine areas in Korea.

The objective of this study is to find the Cd levels in agricultural crops compared to soil, to evaluate the relationship between daily intake dose through the multimedia/multi-pathway of human exposure and biomarker levels of the residents in mine vicinity area. We collected and cited the data of four out of ten health impact assessments for the residents of abandoned mine areas undertaken by the Korea Ministry of Environment in 2008. The Cd levels in soil were significantly decreased by the separation distance from the mines. The Cd levels in blood were significantly different between residents in mine areas and in comparative areas, but urinary Cd levels did not differ. The Cd levels in blood were related to the age; the separation distance from mine to residence; the daily intake dose via ingestion of drinking water, crops, and surface soil; and inhalation of ambient air of Cd, but urinary Cd levels were not relevant with various sociodemographic characteristics and exposure factors. The average hazard quotient (HQ) value of Cd in the mining site was below 1.0, but the maximum HQ was closed to 1.0. The results indicated that the ingestion of Cd-contaminated soil and agricultural crops by local inhabitants could pose potential adverse health effects to long-term residents consuming rice grown near to the mining areas.

Study on Heavy Metal Accumulation of Plantsin Gejiu Tin Mining Area

Based on determination of heavy metal contents in soils and plants, understanding pollution of heavy metal in soils and plants, as well as the heavy metal accumulation in plants, in order to provide scientific basis for phytoremediation of heavy metals in mining areas. The determination and analysis on the concent of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Mn was made in Niuba and southern mining area in Gejiu City. The result showed that the soil pollution from Cd is the most serious while the pollution from Zn was relative to minimum in Niuba abandoned mining area. In southern mining area, Pb in soil pollution was the most serious while Cu was relative to minimum Analysis on correlation between the heavy metal content in plants and soils was made based on the 5 plant samples (Pyracantha fortuneana, Zea mays, Acroptilon repens, Equisetum ramosissimum and Cucurbita moschata) collected from Niuba reclamation area and 5 plant samples (Corylus yunnanensis, Alnus nepalensis, Pyracantha fortuneana,Cupressus torulosa,Acacia dealbata) from recovery area of southern mining area. The results show that Pyracantha fortuneana has a better correlation with soil than other plants, Cucurbita moschata and soil have poor correlation, Corylus yunnanensis has better correlation with soil compared to other plants, Acacia dealbata has poor correlation with soil.

강원랜드 카지노설립 이후 지역주민들의 인식변화에 대한 분석

본 연구는 강원도 폐광지역에 대체산업으로 설립된 강원랜드가 당초 목적인 '낙후된 폐광지역의 균형있는 발전과 주민의 생활 향상'에 얼마나 기여하였는지를 각종 평가지표와 주민의식 설문조사를 통해 실증적으로 평가하여 향후 폐광지역 진흥정책 연구의 기초자료의 제공과 정책적 제언을 제시하고자 하는 목적에서 수행하였다. 지역발전 및 경제력 효과에 대한 영향력을 측정하기 위해 폐광지역 주민들을 대상으로 설문조사를 실시하고 분석하였다. 회귀분석 결과 시사점은 첫째, 연령에서 20대와 비교하여 50대 이상 즉 나이가 많은 주민은 경제적 효과, 공간적 효과, 사회 문화 교류, 삶의 질 효과에 대해 부정적으로 평가하고 있음을 알 수 있다. 둘째, 거주지에서 정선지역과 비교하여 삼척과 영월지역의 주민들은 강원랜드의 입지로 인한 효과에 대해 부정적 평가를 하고 있음을 알 수 있다. 특히 영월지역 주민의 평가가 매우 낮음을 알 수 있다. The purpose of this study is to evaluate level of achieving original policy goals to some degree in a variety of ways, and to provide basic data of establishment for promotion policy of abandoned mine area and furthermore, to contribute to that area and Casino policy research. To attain these sorts of research goals, a case method of study is employed to evaluate achievement of policy goals based on goal achievement model, and to survey satisfaction levels of the people of abandoned mine district based on stakeholder model. The local finance scales of those counties have been increased with local revenue enhancement. KangwonLand actively contributed to corporate social responsibility but it didn't actually help the local people. Most residents in that area negatively rate for the change of "the quality of life". By an itemized list, natural environment, local pride and expectation of future are relatively high, while participation of policy, increase in economic effects, relation of neighbor were lowest. and thus, we need to look for ways of improving the quality of life.

Pesticide mobility and leachate toxicity in two abandoned mine soils. Effect of organic amendments

Abandoned mine areas, used in the past for the extraction of minerals, constitute a degraded landscape which needs to be reintegrated to productive or leisure activities. However these soils, mainly composed by silt or sand and with low organic matter content, are vulnerable to organic and inorganic pollutants posing a risk to the surrounding ecosystems and groundwater. Soils from two mining areas from Andalusia were evaluated: one from Nerva (NCL) in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (SW Andalusia) and another one from the iron Alquife mine (ALQ) (SE Andalusia). To improve soil properties and fertility two amendments, stabilised sewage sludge (SSL) and composted sewage sludge (CSL), were selected. The effect of amendment addition on the mobility of two model pesticides, thiacloprid and fenarimol, was assessed using soil columns under non-equilibrium conditions. Fenarimol, more hydrophobic than thiacloprid, only leached from native ALQ, a soil with lower organic carbon (OC) content than NCL (0.21 and 1.4%, respectively). Addition of amendments affected differently pesticide mobility: thiacloprid in the leachates was reduced by 14% in NCL-SSL and by 4% in ALQ-CSL. Soil OC and dissolved OC were the parameters which explained pesticide residues in soil. Chemical analysis revealed that leachates from the different soil columns did not contain toxic element levels, except As in NCL soil. Finally ecotoxicological data showed moderate toxicity in the initial leachates, with an increase coinciding with pesticide maximum concentration. The addition of SSL slightly reduced the toxicity towards Vibrio fischeri, likely due to enhanced retention of pesticides by amended soils.