• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.1 s.176
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• pp.27-38
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• 2006

To understand the geologic and hydrogeochemical controls on the occurrence of high fluoride concentrations in bedrock groundwaters of South Korea, we examined a total of 367 hydrochemistry data obtained from deep groundwater wells (avg. depth=600 m) that were drilled fur exploitation of hot springs. The fluoride concentrations were generally very high (avg. 5.65mg/L) and exceeded the Drinking Water Standard (1.5 mg/L) in $72\%$ of the samples. A significant geologic control of fluoride concentrations was observed: the highest concentrations occur in the areas of granitoids and granitic gneiss, while the lowest concentrations in the areas of volcanic and sedimentary rocks. In relation to the hydrochemical facies, alkaline $Na-HCO_3$ type waters had remarkably higher F concentrations than circum-neutral to slightly alkaline $Ca-HCO_3$ type waters. The prolonged water-rock interaction occurring during the deep circulation of groundwater in the areas of granitoids and granitic gneiss is considered most important for the generation of high F concentrations. Under such condition, fluoride-rich groundwaters are likely formed through hydrogeochemical processes consisting of the removal of Ca from groundwater via calcite precipitation and/or cation exchange and the successive dissolution of plagioclase and F-bearing hydroxyl minerals (esp. biotite). Thus, groundwaters with high pH and very high Na/Ca ratio within granitoids and granitic gneiss are likely most vulnerable to the water supply problem related to enriched fluorine.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.307-327
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• 2008

Geochemical study on the rocks and minerals of the Gyeongju low and intermediate level waste repository was carried out in order to provide geochemical data for the safety assessment and geochemical modeling. Polarized microscopy, X-ray diffraction method, chemical analysis for the major and trace elements, scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and stable isotope analysis were applied. Fracture zones are locally developed with various degrees of alteration in the study area. The study area is mainly composed of granodiorite and diorite and their relation is gradational in the field. However, they could be easily distinguished by their chemical property. The granodiorite showed higher $SiO_2$ content and lower MgO and $Fe_2O_3$ contents than the diorite. Variation trends of the major elements of the granodiorite and diorite were plotted on the same line according to the increase of $SiO_2$ content suggesting that they were differentiated from the same magma. Spatial distribution of the various elements showed that the diorite region had lower $SiO_2,\;Al_2O_3,\;Na_2O\;and\;K_2O$ contents, and higher CaO, $Fe_2O_3$ contents than the granodiorite region. Especially, because the differences in the CaO and $Na_2O$ distribution were most distinct and their trends were reciprocal, the chemical variation of the plagioclase of the granitic rocks was the main parameter of the chemical variation of the host rocks in the study area. Identified fracture-filling minerals from the drill core were montmorillonite, zeolite minerals, chlorite, illite, calcite and pyrite. Especially pyrite and laumontite, which are known as indicating minerals of hydrothermal alteration, were widely distributed in the study area indicating that the study area was affected by mineralization and/or hydrothermal alteration. Sulfur isotope analysis for the pyrite and oxygen-hydrogen stable isotope analysis for the clay minerals indicated that they were originated from the magma. Therefore, it is considered that the fracture-filling minerals from the study area were affected by the hydrothermal solution as well as the simply water-rock interaction.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.329-343
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• 2001

The deep environment and geochemical evolution of the Bugok geothennal waters, located in the Kyeongnam Province, was re-interpreted based on the hydrochemical and isotopic data published by Yun et al. (1998). The geothermal waters of the Bugok area is geochemically divided into three groups; Geothennal water I, II and III groups. Groups I and II are geochemically similar; high temperature (55.2-77.2$^{\circ}$C) and chemically belonging to Na-S04 types. However, pH and Eh values are a little different each other and Group II water is highly enriched in S04 compared to Group I water. Group III water, occurring from peripheral sites of the central part of the geothennal waters, shows temperature range of 29.3 to 47.0$^{\circ}$C and belongs to $Na-HCO_3-S0_4$ types. The deep environment and geochemical evolution of the Bugok geothennal waters, showing the diversity of geochemistry, can be interpreted as follows; I) Descending to great depth of meteoric waters that originated at high elevation and reacting with sediments and/or granites in depth. The $S0_4$ concentration of the waters has been increased by the dissolution of sulfate minerals in sediments. 2) During the continuous descending, the waters has met with the reduction environment, producing the $H_2S$ gas due to sulfate reduction. The waters has been heated up to 130$^{\circ}$C and the extent of water-rock reaction was increased. At this point, pH of waters are increased, S04 concentration decreased and calcite precipitated, therefore, the waters show the $Na-S0_4$ type. 3) Ascending of the geothennal waters along the flow path of fluids and mixing with less-deeply circulated waters. The $S0_4$ concentration is re-increased due to the oxidation of $H_2S$ gas and/or sulfide minerals in sediments. During continuous ascending, these geothennal waters are mixed with shallow groundwater.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2016

The objectives of this study were to recover silica and iron oxides and $CO_2$ sequestration using serpentine via various acid dissolution and pH swing processes. Serpentine collected from Guhang-myeon in S. Korea were mainly composed of antigorite and magnetite consisting of $SiO_2$ (45.3 wt.%), MgO (41.3 wt.%), $Fe_2O_3$ (12.2 wt.%). Serpentine pulverized ($${\leq_-}75{\mu}m$$) and then dissolved in 3 different acids, HCl, $H_2SO_4$, $HNO_3$. Residues treated with acidic solution were recovered from the solution (step 1). And then the residual solution containing dissolved serpentine was titrated using $NH_4OH$. And pH of the solution increased up to pH=8.6 to obtain reddish precipitates (step 2). After recovery of the precipitates, the residual solution reacted with $CO_2$ and then pH increased up to pH=9.5 to precipitate white materials (step 3). The mineralogical characteristics of the original sample and harvested precipitates were examined by XRD, and TEM-EDS analyses. ICP-AES analysis was also used to investigate solution chemistry. The dissolved ions were Mg, Si, and Fe. The antigorite became noncrystralline silica after acid treatment (step 1). The precipitate at pH=8.6 was mainly amorphous iron oxide, of which size ranged from 2 to 10 nm and mainly consisting of Fe, O, and Si (step 2). At pH=9.5, nesquehonite [$Mg(HCO_3)(OH){\cdot}2(H_2O)$] and lasfordite [$MgCO_3{\cdot}H_2O$] were formed after reaction with $CO_2$ (step 3). The size of carbonated minerals was ranged from 1 to $6{\mu}m$. These results indicated that the acid treatment of serpentine and pH swing processes for the serpentine can be used for synthesis of other materials such as silica, iron oxides and magnesium carbonate. Also, This process may be useful for the precursor synthesis and $CO_2$ sequestration via mineral carbonation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.212-222
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• 1997

Geochemistry of metasedimentary groundwaters and spar waters has been studied in comparison with that of granitic groundwaters in Korea. Metasedimentary groundwaters show $Ca^{2+]$-${HCO_3}^-$ type at depth and low sodium concentrations compared with granitic groundwaters, which is due to the lack of plagioclase in their aquifer mineralogy and, therefore, the predominant reaction of calcite dissolution. According to factor analysis, metasedimentary groundwaters at 100~300 m depth are represented by 1) the dissolution of calcite and Mg-carbonates, 2) transformation of kaolinite to illite, and 3) the presence of sodium as not the product of plagioclase dissolution but a artificial pollutant. Discriminant function between the granitic and metasedimentary groundwaters shows a good discriminating ability with 81.8%, and groundwaters of volcanic aquifer, which has abundant plagioclase, are included in the granitic group by this function. Spa water samples show the result of active water-rock interaction due to high temperature.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.175-192
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• 2001

We have collected hydrogeochemical data of shallow groundwaters in the Uljin area located at eastern coastal area of Korea. Geostatistical analysis (ANOVA test, cluster analysis, and factor analysis) of the collected data sets was pert'onned, in order to evaluate both the spatial and/or temporal variation of water quality data and the groundwater contamination, as weJl as the principal reactions occurring in the aquifer. Results of the ANOVA test show that regional water chemistry are not significantly changed spatially in eight watersheds. However, some ions such as $Ca^{2+}$, $HCO_{3}^{-}$ and $SO_{4}^{2-}$ show a meaningful watershed variation. Water chemistry variation according to sampling time (season) is not shown, except for $SO_{4}^{2-}$. The cluster analysis shows that significant water chemistry variation is eXplained by the distance from the coast. Factor analysis indicates that the water chemistry is changed according to various factors as follows: in the order of decreasing importance, water-rock interaction (mainly, carbonate dissolution), sea-salt spraying, and then contamination by fertilizers and agrochemicals.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.177-177
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• 2009

사용후 핵연료의 건식처리 시 핵연료 다발을 절단하여 voloxidation 즉 휘발산화처리를 하면 고온에 의해 분리가 가능한 핵분열생성물의 분리와 우라늄의 산화에 의한 부피팽창으로 핵연료가 쪼개져서 입도가 작아지고 또한 핵연료가 피복재에서 쉽게 박리되게 된다. 그 결과 폐기물 처리 시에 발열핵종으로 폐기물의 저준위화시에 분리가 요망되는 Cs-137이 분리되는 장점이 있어 습식 재처리에 있어서도 바람직하다. 건식처리에 있어서는 voloxidation 으로 처리된 피복재에는 금속 지르코늄에 불순물로 함유된 우라늄의 의한 방사화 생성물과 피복재 표변에 부착/침투한 방사화 생성물이 방사능을 갖게 된다. 이러한 부착된 TRU 잔류물은 통상 1% 미만으로 알파핵종의 방사능이 원자로에서 배출시에는 고준위 기준치의 약 100배 수준이었다가 30년 냉각후에는 약 1/10 수준으로 저준위화 된다. 지르코늄 금속중에 불순물로 함유된 우라늄의 방사화로 생기는 방사능은 고준위 기준치의 10% 를 넘지 않아서 피복재의 저준위화시에 고려할 필요가 없다. 발생열은 방출시에 고준위 기준치의 약 30 배 수준에서 5년 냉각후에는 기준치 미만이 되며 30년후에는 1/8000 정도로 저준위화 된다. 사용후 핵연료를 습시처리시에 발생하는 고준위 폐기물 중 약 1/4 가 피복재 (hull) 임을 고려하면 피복재의 저준위화는 사용후 연료의 건식처리에 있어서도 필수적인 과정이다. 특히 미국의 고준위 폐기물 처분장 Yucca Mt.의 포기와 우리의 고준위 폐기불 처분장이 공론화되는 싯점에서 저준위화는 매우 필요한 기술이다. 피복재는 방사성 물질의 침투두께가 0.01mm 미만이 대부분으로 저준위화에는 표면제염에 의한 저준위화가 주로 연구되어왔다. 표면제염에 의한 저준화는 이온 빔, laser에 의한 방법, dry ice 분사에 의한 방법이 시도되었다. 염소기체를 이용하여 지르코늄의 산화막을 제거하고자 하였으나 이 산화막이 안정적이어서 표변의 연마, 아크릴 칼의 사용, 표면을 눌러서 처리하는 등 전처리하여서 염소기체 반응에 의한 표면제거 실험이 가장 효과적임이 실험적 결과이었다. 이러한 전처리로 방사능을 1/100 수준으로 낮춘다고 하더라도 지르코늄 금속중에 불순물로 함유된 우라늄의 방사화에 의해 중저준위 폐기물의 범주에서 벗어나지 않으므로 재활용에는 제한이 있다. 또한 전처리(표면제염)하여 분리되는 고준위는 다른 고준위 염폐기물과 함께 처리하여 발열 핵종을 제거하면 중저준위화가 가능하다. 저준위화 된 hull폐기물에는 지르코늄 금속에 불순물로서 함유되어있는 우라늄에 의한 방사능을 갖는데 이들의 제거나 분리는 지르코늄 합금 피복재 원료물질에 불순물로 함유하는 우라늄의 함량을 낮추는 것과 유사한 문제이다. 현재까지 지르코늄합금 피복재에 우라늄이 불순물로 함유된 것을 사용함으로 원자로내에서 방사화되어서 방사능을 갖게 되는 것은 피할 수가 없다. 따라서 저준위화 처리된 피복재는 장기 보관으로 방사능을 감쇠시켜서 재활용하도록 한다. 처리 방법으로는 초고압 압축저장, 시멘트 고화, 합성암석에 의한 고화법 등으로 장기간 보관 후에 금속으로서 재활용한다.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 1994

As the groundwater flows along the fractures of crystalline rocks, it will be in contact with the fracture walls mostly coated by secondary minerals which are quite different form those of host rocks. The presence of fracture-filling minerals in crystalline rocks is important on the view point of radioactive waste disposal because of their great surface reactivity. The Surichi drill hole of 200 m in depth in the Yugu area composed mainly of Precambrian gneiss was selected to study the formation process of clay minerals on the fracture wall of gneiss, and their relation with present groundwater. The water-rock interaction in fractures resulted in the formation of gibbsite and clay minerals. They are formed by two different processes : (1) Incongruent dissolution of feldspar by groundwater diffused from a fracture path into rock matrix produced smectite and illite in situ, (2) on the wall of fracture, gibbsite, kaolinite, smectite and illite are formed by precipitation of dissolved species in groundwater. They show the paragenetic sequence such as gibbsite${\leftrightarrow}$kaolinite${\leftrightarrow}$smectite or illite. The paragenetic sequence of fracture-filling minerals was controlled by increase of pH of groundwater, decrease of fracture permeability by precipitation of fillings, and immobility of alkali or alkaline earths in groundwater. The groundwater from the Surichi borehole is a $Na-HCO_{3}$ type with pH range of 8.6-9.2. The sodium and bicarbonate in groundwater would be supplied by the dissolution of albite and calcite, respectively. The saturation index of groundwater and surface water calculated by WATEQ4F indicates that gibbsite and kaolinite are under precipitation to equilibrium state, and that smectite and illite are under equilibrium to redissolution environment. The stability relation of clay minerals in the $Na_{2}O-Al_{2}O_{3}-SiO_{2}-H_{2}O$ system shows that kaolinite is stable for all waters.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.4 s.46
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• pp.277-288
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• 2005

Perlite, a hydrated volcanic glass, occurs mainly as a bed-like body, and is distributed intermittently along the unconformity surface between the Beomgockri Group and its lower formations, viz. Janggi Group. The perlite is intimately associated with surrounding pumiceous welded tuff and rhyodacites in space and time. Compared to the typical perlite, the perlite is rather silica-poor and impure, and thus, includes lots of phenocrysts and rock fragments. Nearly the perlite is compositionally rather close to a pitchstone than a perlite in water contents. Petrographic comparison between perlite and associated volcanic to volcaniclastic rocks indicates that pumiceous welded tuff and rhyodacite seem to be Protolith of the Perlite. A Zr/$TiO_{2}$-Nb/Y diagram and field occurrence of perlite and their protolithic rocks also conforms the above interpretation. Kn addition, remnant vesicles in perlite strongly reflect that the precursor of perlitic glass appeared to be pumice fragment as well as volcanic glass. The perlite was diagenetically formed by way of a pervasive water-rock interaction at the deposition of the Manghaesan Formation in lacustrine environment. During perlitization, $SiO_{2}$ and alkali tend to be consistently depleted. Preexisting system of the Beomgockri Group based on the perlite formation should be corrected, because the perlite was formed diagenetically without lateral persistence in its occurrence.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2022

The Arctic Ocean is very sensitive to global warming and Arctic Ocean sediments provide a records of terrestrial climate change, analyzing their composition helps clarify global warming. The gravity core sediment ARA07C-St02B was collected at the East Siberian margin during an Arctic expedition in 2016 on the Korean ice-breaking vessel ARAON, and its provenance was estimated through sedimentological, mineralogical and geochemical analysis. The core sediment was divided into four units based on sediment color, sand content and ice-rafted debris content. Units 1 and 3 had higher sand and ice-rafted debris contents than units 2 and 4, and contained a brown layer, whereas units 2 and 4 were mainly composed of a gray layer. Correlation analysis using the adjacent core sediment ARA03B-27 suggested that the sediment units were deposited during marine isotope stage 1 to 4. The bulk mineral, clay mineral, and geochemical compositions of units including a brown layer differed from units including a gray layer. Bulk and clay mineral compositions indicated that coarse and fine sediments had a different origin. Coarse sediments might have been deposited mostly by the East Siberian Coastal Current from the Laptev Sea and the East Siberian Sea or by the Beaufort Gyre from the Chukchi Sea, whereas fine sediments might have been transpoted mostly by currents from the East Siberian Sea, the Chukchi Sea and the Beaufort Sea. Some of the coarse sediments in unit 1 and fine sediments in unit 3 might have been deposited by iceberg ice, sea ice or current from the Beaufort Sea and the Canada Archipelago. Investigating the geochemical composition of the potential origins will elucidate the origin and transportation of the study area's core sediments.