• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.531-549
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship of hydrochemistry, geology, fault with occurrence of uranium and radon-222 from the groundwater in the Yeongdong area. In this study, 49 groundwater and 4 surface water samples collected in the study area were collected on two separate occasions. The surface radioactivities were measured at 40 points to know the relationship between the occurrence of uranium in groundwater and surface geology. The chemical composition of groundwater showed three types : $Ca-HCO_3$, $Na-HCO_3$ and $Ca-HCO_3(SO_4,\;NO_3)$. Two groundwater of 49 samples exceeded the maximum contaminant levels of uranium, $30{\mu}g/L$, proposed by the Ministry of Environment of Korea and 11 groundwater of 40 samples for Rn-222 concentrations exceeded the 148 Bq/L maximum contaminant level of US EPA. Most of unsuitable groundwater are located in the geological boundary related with the biotite gneiss and the surface radioactivities of rock samples showed no relationship with groundwater geochemical constituents. The strike-slip fault, Youngdong fault, is $N45^{\circ}E$ direction and the high concentrations of uranium in upper part of fault, consisted of granite and granitic gneiss are detected but in lower part, consisted of metamorphic sedimentary rock are not detected. It suggests that the natural radioactive concentrations are related with the geologic characteristics and the migration and diffusion of natural radioactive materials are affected by the fault.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.409-428
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• 2018

Yeongdong area is located on the border zone between Precambrian Yeongnam massif and central southeastern Ogcheon metamorphic belt, in which Cretaceous Yeongdong sedimentary basin exists. Main geology in this area consists of Precambrian Sobaeksan gneiss complex, Mesozoic igneous and sedimentary rocks and Quaternary alluvial deposits. Above this, age-unknown Ogcheon Supergroup, Paleozoic sedimentary rocks and Tertiary granites also occur in small scale in the northwestern part. This study focuses on the link between the various geology and Rn concentrations in groundwater. For this, twenty wells in alluvial/weathered zone and sixty bedrock aquifer wells were used. Groundwater sampling campaigns were twice run at wet season in August 2015 and dry season in March 2016. Some wells placed in alluvial/weathered part of Precambrian metamorphic rocks and Jurassic granite terrains, as well as Cretaceous porphyry, showed elevated Rn concentrations in groundwater. However, detailed geology showed the distinct feature that these high-Rn groundwaters in metamorphic and granitic terrains are definitely related to proximity of aquifer rocks to Cretaceous porphyry in the study area. The deeper wells placed in bedrock aquifer showed that almost the whole groundwaters in biotite gneiss and schist of Sobaeksan gneiss complex and in Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of Yeongdong basin have low level of Rn concentrations. On the other hand, groundwaters occurring in rock types of granitic gneiss or granite gneiss among Sobaeksan gneiss complex have relatively high Rn concentrations. And also, groundwaters occurring in the border zone between Triassic Cheongsan granites and two-mica granites, and in Jurassic granites neighboring Cretaceous porphyry have relatively high Rn concentrations. Therefore, to get probable and meaningful results for the link between Rn concentrations in groundwater and surrounding geology, quite detailed geology including small-scaled dykes or vein zones should be considered. Furthermore, it is necessary to take account of the spatial proximity of well location to igneous rocks associated with some mineralization/hydrothermal alteration zone rather than in-situ geology itself.