• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.281-291
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• 2013

A hypothetical repository was assumed to be located at the KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) site, and the travel times of radionuclides released from three source positions were calculated. The groundwater flow around the KURT site was simulated and the groundwater pathways from the hypothetical source positions to the shallow groundwater were identified. Of the pathways, three pathways were selected because they had highly water-conductive features. The transport travel times of the radionuclides were calculated by a TDRW (Time-Domain Random Walk) method. Diffusion and sorption mechanisms in a host rock matrix as well as advection-dispersion mechanisms under the KURT field condition were considered. To reflect the radioactive decay, four decay chains with the radionuclides included in the high-level radioactive wastes were selected. From the simulation results, the half-life and distribution coefficient in the rock matrix, as well as multiple pathways, had an influence on the mass flux of the radionuclides. For enhancing the reliability of safety assessment, this reveals that identifying the history of the radionuclides contained in the high-level wastes and investigating the sorption processes between the radionuclides and the rock matrix in the field condition are preferentially necessary.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.164-175
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• 2011

Using natural electromagnetic (EM) fields at low frequencies, magnetotelluric (MT) surveys can investigate conductivity structures of the deep subsurface and thus are used to explore geothermal energy resources and investigate proper sites for not only geological $CO_2$ sequestration but also enhanced geothermal system (EGS). Moreover, marine MT data can be used for better interpretation of marine controlled-source EM data. In the interpretation of MT data, MT modeling schemes are important. This study improves a three dimensional (3D) MT modeling algorithm which uses edge finite elements. The algorithm computes magnetic fields by solving an integral form of Faraday's law of induction based on a finite difference (FD) strategy. However, the FD strategy limits the algorithm in computing vertical magnetic fields for a topographic model. The improved algorithm solves the differential form of Faraday's law of induction by making derivatives of electric fields, which are represented as a sum of basis functions multiplied by corresponding weightings. In numerical tests, vertical magnetic fields for topographic models using the improved algorithm overcome the limitation of the old algorithm. This study recomputes induction vectors and tippers for a 3D hill and valley model which were used for computation of the responses using the old algorithm.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.657-667
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• 2003

Deep-drilled core sampling and high-resolution seismic survey were carried out to identify a Holocene-late Pleistocene boundary in Gyeonggi Bay, western coast of Korea. Analysis of core sections revealed the existence of an oxidized and semi-consolidated sediment layer, Iying immediately below a Holocene horizon (Unit I) and being developed at the top of a late Pleistocene deposit (Unit II). The oxidized sedimentary layer (uppermost part of Unit II) is characterized by semi-consolidated, yellowish sediments showing signs of desiccation and alteration such as high N value, low water content, periglacial cryogenic structure, depletion of smectite, and high geochemical weathering index (Ba/Sr ratio). This feature, together with radiocarbon ages, suggests that the layer has formed as a result of prolonged subaerial exposure of Unit II sediments during the late Wisconsin sea-level lowstand, producing a regional unconformity. Such unconformitic-bounding surface corresponds to a prominent near-surface reflector (R), which is observed in seismic profiles obtained across the drilled-core sections in the study area. Consequently, the buried oxidized-sedimentary layer associated with the seismic reflector possibly plays a key horizon for the understanding of late Quaternary environmental changes as well as evidence of the emergence of the Yellow Sea shelf during the late Wisconsin sea-level lowstand.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 2004

As the sea connecting with the East Sea, the Sea of Okhotsk is the most potential area of gas hydrates in the world. In other to examine geophysical structures of gas hydrate-bearing sediments in the Sea of Okhotsk, the CHAOS (hydro-Carbon Hydrate Accumulation in the Okhotsk) international research expedition was carried out in August 2003. In the expedition, high-resolution seismic and geochemical survey was also conducted. Sparker seismic profiles show only diffusive high-amplitude reflections without BSRs at BSR depth. It means that BSR appears to be completely different images on seismic profiles obtained using different frequencies. Many gas chimneys rise up from BSR depth to seafloor. The chimneys can be divided into two groups with different seismic characteristics; wipe-out (WO) and enhanced reflection (ER) chimneys. Different seismic responses in the chimneys would be caused by amount of gas and gas hydrates filling in the chimneys. In hydroacoustic data, a lot of gas flares rise up several hundreds meters from seafloor to the water column. All flares took placed at the depths within gas hydrate stability zone. It is interpreted that gas hydrate-bearing sediments with low porosity and permeability due to gas hydrate filling in the pore space make good pipe around gas chimneys in which gas is migrating up without loss of amount. Therefore, large-scale gas flare at the site on gas chimney releases into the water column.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2001

Geophysical survey was carried out to derive some information on the existence of near-surface anomalous body at Reung-Chi area in Kongju. Resistivity, seismic, magnetic and gravity method were applied. Geophysical survey that was applied was the electrical resistivity survey, seismic survey, magnetic survey, gravity survey. These surveys are analyzed to provide data of high resolution. As a result of analysis of resistivity survey, anomalies showing high resistivity anomaly than around appeared, and the one showing M-shape out of those explains the possibility that underground common or other underground structure or geographical anomalous zone could exist in the underground. As a result of analysis of seismic survey, it is clear that the low velocity layer is spread as far as the bottom of the underground. It is possible to presume that it is a phenomenon appearing while going through the underground space where it is lying in the underground. Area that shows unusual situation in interpretation of data on seismic waves are included into the area that once showed resistivity anomaly, the results of both seismic surveys come in accord. As a result of magnetic survey, a circle-shape of twin magnetic fields in the area where abnormalities are shown between electrical resistivity survey and seismic survey is appeared. Given the area of gravity survey, abnormalities whose density is different from the one around the bottom of the underground. As a result of analogizing the data of underground of the subsurface based on analysis of data from each survey, it was interpreted that anomalous zone exists commonly in the research areas.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.213-219
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• 2006

The Yongjang mine is located in Masan City, Gyeongsangnamdo, which consists of a black shale possessing quartzite veins with othercompositions such as gold, silver, and sublimated sulfur. The average width of the veins is $9{\sim}17cm$ and the average degrees of the gold and silver are 3.6 g/t and 113.6 g/t respectively. A regional and a detailed scale electrical resistivity surveys are conducted to determine the existence of the mineralization zones and the linear structures in the study area. In addition, surveys of a several different array methods are conducted such as dipole-dipole array in the surface and borehole-to-surface array, surface-to-borehole array, and dipole-dipole array in the borehole. The method of element division can be applied to the region in which the borehole is curved, inclined or the distance between the electrodes is shorter than that of nodal points, because the coordinate of each electrode cannot be assigned directly to the nodal point if several electrodes are in an element. Yongjang vein is extended longer under the subsurface than on the surface in the images reconstructed from the 3D inversion. Therefore, it is recognized that the 3-D interpretation of the electrical resistivity survey is a very useful method to figure out the existence of strike and extension direction because the mineralization zones and the linear structures are shown in each depth.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 2017

A sequence of earthquakes with the main shock $M_L$ 5.8 occurred on September 12 2016 in the Gyeongju area. The main shock was the largest earthquakes in the southern part of the Korean peninsula since the instrumental seismic observation began in the peninsula in 1905 and clearly demonstrated that the Yangsan fault is seismically active. The mean focal depth of the foreshock, main shock, and aftershock of the Gyeongju earthquakes estimated by the crustal model of single layer of the Korean peninsula without the Conrad discontinuity turns out to be 12.9 km, which is 2.8 km lower than that estimated based on the IASP91 reference model with the Conrad discontinuity. The distribution of the historical and instrumental earthquakes in the Gyeongju area indicates that the Yangsan fault system comprising the main Yangsan fault and its subsidiary faults is a large fracture zone. The epicenters of the Gyeongju earthquakes show that a few faults of the Yangsan fault system are involved in the release of the strain energy accumulated in the area. That the major earthquakes of Gyeongju earthquakes occurred not on the surface but below 10 km depth suggests the necessity of the study of the distribution of deep active faults of the Yangsan fault system. The magnitude of maximum earthquake of the Gyeongju area estimated based on the earthquake data of the area turns out to be 7.3. The recurrence intervals of the earthquakes over magnitudes 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 based on the earthquake data since 1978, which is the most complete data in the peninsula, are estimated as 80, 670, and 5,900 years, respectively. The September 2016 Gyeongju earthquakes are basically intraplate earthquakes not related to the Great East Japan earthquake of March 11 2011 which is interplate earthquake.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.153-167
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• 1995

Emplacement ages for the granite plutons of the Jurassic and the Cretaceous times in the central Ogcheom Fold Belt were determined by Rb-Sr whole rock and mineral isocheon methods. In addition mineral ages for the plutons were determined by K-Ar and fission track methods. In turn, thermal histories and uplifting rates of the granitic bodies are elucidated from the isotopic ages. The Jecheon(~203 Ma) and Mungyeong(at lest~200 Ma) granites of the Jurassic and the Muamsa, Wolagsan and Daeyasan granites(~110 Ma) of the Cretaceous show high strontium initial ratios [$(^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr)_1$0.7100],suggesting that the granitic magmas have been generated by partial melting of crustal materials (S-type), or by mixing of mantle and crustal materials. Only mineral ages of the Sogrisan and Hyeongjebong granites (~90 Ma) were determined by K-Ar method, and petrogenesis of them were not defined yet. The two Jurassic granite plutons were cooled rapidly down to $300^{\circ}C$, right after the plutons were slowly cooled down since then, due to their deep emplacment. During the Middle Cretaceous period, the Jurassic Mungyeong granitic pluton was intruded and thermally affected much by the surrounding Wolagsan and Daeyasan granites. Accordingly the Rb-Sr mineral age, K-Ar hornblende and biotite ages of the Mungyeong granite appear to be reduced or reset due to the thermal effects above their blocking temperatures. All the cretaceous granites have been cooled much ore simply and rapidly down than the Jurassic ones below $300^{\circ}C$, owing to their shallow emplacement.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.18-35
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• 2000

The most dominant type of landslide in Korea is debris flows which mostly take place along mountain slopes during the rainy season, July to August. The landslides have been reported to begin activation when rainfall is more than 200mm within 2days. The debris flows are usually followed by translational slips which occur upper part of mountain slopes and they transit to debris flow as getting down to the valleys. Lithology, location, slope inclination, grain size distribution of soil, permeability, dry density and porosity have been proved as triggering factor causing translational slides. The triggering data taken from mapping are statistically analysed to get landslide potential quantitatively. Rock mass creeps mostly occur on well bedded sedimentary rocks in Kyeongsang Basin. Although the displacement of rock mass creep is relatively small about 1m, the creep can cause severe hazards due to relatively large volume of the involved rock mass. Examples are rock mass creep occurred in the mouth of Hwangryongsan Tunnel, in Chilgok and in Sachon in 1999. Although the direct factor of the creeps are due to slope cutting at the foot area, more attention is required A rotational slide occurring within thick soil formation or weathered rock is also closely related to bottom part of slope cutting. It is propagated circular or semi-circular type. Especially in korea, the rotational slide may be frequently occurred in Tertiary tuff area. Because they are mainly composed of volcanic ash and pyroclastic materials, well developed joints and high degree of swelling and absorption can easily cause the slide. The landslide among the Pohang-Guryongpo national road is belong to this type of slide.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.29-38
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• 2013

The G-class cement is commonly used in practice for geothermal well cementing in order to protect a steel casing that is designed to transport hot water/steam from deep subsurface to ground surface during operating a geothermal power plant. In order to maintain optimal performance of geothermal wells, physical properties of the cementing material should be satisfactory. In this paper, relevant factors (i.e., groutability, uniaxial compression strength, thermal conductivity and free fluid content) of the G-class cement were experimentally examined with consideration of various water-cement (w/c) ratios. Important findings through the experiments herein are as follows. (1) Groutability of the G-class cement increases by adding a small dose of retarder. (2) There would be a structural defect caused when the w/c ratio is kept higher in order to secure groutability. (3) Thermal conductivity of the G-class cement is small enough to prevent heat loss from hot steam or water to the outer ground formation during generating electricity. (4) The G-class cement does not form free water channel in cementing a geothermal well. (5) The Phenolphthalein indicator is applicable to the distinction of the G-class cement from the drilling mud.