Locations of the four representative abandoned metal mines selected by their extent are shown in Fig. 1, and also general information of the mines was summarized in Table 1. As shown in the figure and table, the Dalsung Cu–W mine located near Taegu city was one of the largest Cu mines in Korea with production reaching a maximum in the 1960s when rates accounted approximately 5–15% of the total Cu and 3–5% of the total W outputs in the country. The mineralization of the mine can be classified as a hydrothermal breccia-pipe type. The study area is underlain by the Gyoungsang sedimentary formation (Middle-Upper Jurassic era), and the geology around the mine is greatly influenced by volcanic activity. The ore minerals are chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) and wolframite ((Fe,Mn)WO4) with a minor amount of arsenopyrite (FeAsS), bismuthinite (Bi2S3) and pyrite (FeS2). The Yeongdae Au–Ag mine located near Jeonju city was a typical hydrothermal vein type with Au (and Ag) bearing quartz and granite vein. The mine was operated during 1956 to 1966 and stopped in 1968. Production from the mining area reached a maximum in the 1963–1966 when rates accounted for 76% of the total Au. In this area soil capping regarding soil remediation was carried out. In addition, the Munmyung Au–Ag mine was located nearby Youngdeokgun and it is well-known as highly contaminated site due to a tailings dam collapse accident in 2002 by a typhoon. The mine was opened in 1938 and stopped production in 1942 by reaching the maximum production of the Au (17%) in 1939. The mineralization of this mine can be classified as a hydrothermal vein type with conglomerate, sandstone, and shale. The Sambo Pb–Zn–barite mine is located 60 km away from Seoul, was opened in 1945 and stopped production in 1991. At its peak in the 1980s, the mine had produced about 10% of the total Pb production and 10–20% of the total Zn production of Korea. The geology of the mine is underlain by muscovite schist, granitic gneiss, and two mica granites.