• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 1997

Cadmium occurs as a minor element in sphalerite ((Zn, Fe)S) from the Boseong-Jangheung gold-silver mine district. We analyzed the abundance of cadmium in sphalerite using an electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA) and discussed the natural sources of cadmium in terms of bedrock geochemistry, in order to preliminarily reconnoiter the potential cadmium contamination in mine districts. Cadmium contents of sphalerites from the Au-Ag mines (Bodeok, Mundeok, Jeonbo, Boknae, Keumsan) in the Boseong-Jangheung district are considerably high, compared with cadmium contents of sphalerites (average = 0.5 wt.% Cd, maximum = 4.4 wt.% Cd) in the world. Sphalerites from the Keumsan mine (average = 9.49 wt.% Cd, maximum=11.22 wt. Cd) are highly enriched in cadmium. Our data suggest that the Boseong-Jangheung area is an important potential site of cadmium contamination in Korea. Based on bedrock geochemistry, natural causes of cadmium enrichment in sphalerite from the mine district are thought to be the mixing of cadmium leached from organic-rich, metasedimentary rocks (including coal) and/or black shales. From this study, we propose that the pinpointing of potential sites of pollution by toxic heavy metals can be done effectively through detailed reconnaisance study on mineralogical compositions of ore minerals such as sphalerite from the mine area.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.4 s.50
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• pp.239-246
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• 2006

KAERI Underground Research Tunnel (KURT) was recently constructed through the site investigation from the yea. of 2003 at KAERI site, Dukjin-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon city. The geo-logic setting of the site has been slightly metamorphosed. There are small fractures developed in the rock and several kinds of secondary filling minerals exist in the fractures. We examined mineralogical characteristics of fracture-filling calcite, which is not only largely distributed, but also can significantly affect the radionuclides migration. The calcite is found along fractures like other secondary minerals, forming thick veins in part. Most calcite-filled fractures contain quartz, iron oxides, and dolomite as minor minerals. The calcite crystals show an characteristic appearance with an uniformly oriented growth, coated with goethite on the edge and the etch-pit sites of their surface. Some calcite crystals have been newly formed by the precipitation of elements dissolved from the tunnel shotcrete wall, and their morphology changed according to the chemistry and flow of groundwater. The calcite can modify the groundwater chemistry and significantly affect the sorption behavior of radionuclides. The characteristic crystal structure and surface morphology of the calcite examined in the KURT site will be used as important basic data for the radionuclide migration experiment in the future.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.85-98
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• 2008

Calc-silicate rock sheet occurs within the Precambrian metasedimentary rocks in Bonghwa area, Kyungsangbuk-do, Korea. The calc-silicate rock runs parallel to bedding plane with $14{\sim}18$ meters in width. Calcite, dolomite, serpentine and tremolite are occurred as major minerals and talc is occurred as a miner mineral. Serpentine mainly occurs in the upper part and tremolite occurs in lower part of calc-silicate rock sheet. Colors of calc-silicate rock change to deeper green with increasing amounts of serpentine mineral. XRD, FT-IR analyses indicates that serpentine mineral is antigorite. Platy structure of antigorite is well observed by SEM analysis. EPMA data indicates that chemical composition of antigorite is very close to ideal ($SiO_2$: 44.3 wt% and MgO: 40.8 wt%). The chemical formula of antigorite is calculated as $Mg_{2.82}Al_{0.04}Fe^{3+}_{0.04}Si_{2.05}O_5(OH)_4$. From careful study by comparing mineralogical analysis data and occurrence, calc-silicate rock sheet was formed by metamorphism of calcareous sedimentary rocks having different mineralogical and chemical compositions. It is considered that the host rock of serpentine enriched upper part was more Mg-rich rocks than the host rocks of tremolite enriched lower part.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2009

The effects of bacterial lysis on the rate of quartz dissolution were investigated under pH 7 condition using Bacillus subtilis cells which were either irradiated or non-irradiated with gamma ray. The amount of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) which resulted from bacterial lysis increased in slurries of quartz and bacteria mixture over experimental period. Lysis of non-irradiated bacteria led to the elevated concentration of dissolved silicon when compared with abiotic control. Concomitant increase in the amounts of DOC and dissolved silicon over time indicated that lixiviation of silicon from quartz was due to bacterial lysis. Higher amounts of DOC and dissolved silicon were present in the irradiated bacterial slurries than those of non-irradiated bacteria. The enhancement of quartz dissolution in the irradiated bacterial slurries was likely attributed to disruption of organic molecules in the bacterial cells by gamma ray and formation of effective ligands for quartz dissolution. The results suggest that the effects of bacterial lysis on mineral weathering rate should be considered for prediction of time for released radionuclides to migrate to surface biosphere in high level radioactive waste disposal site.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.85-95
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• 1987

The host rocks of titaniferous magnetite deposits in Gonamsan are alkaline gabbros, which are typical of undersaturated alkaline rocks in terms of the lack of normative quartz. According to field occurrences and petrographic features, these alkaline gabbros are divided into 3 rock types: coarse-grained and pegmatitic rock, medium-grained rock with equigranular texture, and layered cumulate rock. All these rocks mainly contain clinopyroxene(salite), plagioclase(An 43-66), pargasite, and ilmenite. The accessory minerals are apatite, sphene, quartz, and sometimes titaniferous magnetite. Pargasite, sphene, and quartz are considered to be secondary minerals formed by the reaction among clinopyroxene, plagioclase and Fe-Ti oxide at deuteric stage. Fe-Ti oxides generally occur as ilmenite in the alkaline rocks, and titaniferous magnetite in the ore deposits. Layered cumulate rocks are characterized by a recurrence of discontinuous thin mesolayer of clinopyroxene-pargasite within leucolayer mainly composed of plagioclase. Clinopyroxene is cumulus mineral whereas plagioclase, ilmenite and apatite occur as intercumulus minerals. According to the variation diagrams of oxide and trace element contents against the differentiation index, incompatible elements, such as Na, Ba and Sr, show positive correlations whereas compatible elements, such as Mg and Cr, show negative correlations. However some compatible elements, such as Co, Ni and V show irregular variations, reflecting relative cumulate status of cumulus and intercumulus minerals. On the de la Roche multicationic diagram, these alkaline gabbros are distributed along the differentiation curve of undersaturated alkaline series from alkaline basaltic composition through basanitic composition to tephritic composition. Layered cumulate rocks, which are distributed between basanitic composition and tephritic composition, reflect their cumulate character, slightly scattering away from the curve. The medium-grained rock shows higher contents in Ba, Sr and light rare earch elements than the coarse-grained and pegmatitic rock. The former shows two times higher contents of total rare earth elements than the latter, $while(La/Lu)_{cn}$ ratios maintain fairly constant values of 5.08~5.06 in these two rocks. This means that coarse-grained and pegmatitic rock, as compared with the medium-grained rock, was formed by the earlier differentiated magma but rare-earth element distribution pattern remained almost parallel during differentiation. From the data the above mentioned, these alkaline gabbros are considered to be comagmatic and to be formed by intrusions of differentiated magmas in its reservoir.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.375-385
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• 1994

The studied area is composed of Precambrian gneiss complex, middle Jurassic biotite granite, late Cretaceour sediments, volcanics and pink feldspar granite. Characteristic minerals of the biotite granite is plagioclase and hornblende whereas the pink feldspar granite is pink feldspar (perthite) and quartz. Plagioclase compositions of the biotite granite and the pink feldspar granite are oligoclase to calcic andesine ($An_{18-44}$) and sodic albite ($An_{0.5-5.0}$), respectively. In the variation diagrams of the Harker and normative Q-Or-Pl diagram, the biotite granite belongs to the category from granodiorite to granite, the pink feldspar granite from nomal to late granite. The values of D.I. L.I. and alkalinity of the pink feldspar granite are higher than those of the biotite granite. While CaO is enriched in the biotite granite, $K_2O$ is enriched in the pink feldspar granite. The ratio of $K_2O/Na_2O$ which indicates the relative ratio of alkali is 1.06 in the pink feldspar granite, and 0.86 in the biotite granite. In A-M-F and N-C-K diagrams both these granites are plotted in peraluminus granite ($Al_2O_3$>$Na_2O+K_2O+CaO$) region, assigned to calc alkaline series and alkaline series respectively. Put into the form of A-C-F diagram, the biotite granite falls under I-type, and the pink feldspar granite S-type. On the base of whole rock ratios of $Fe^{+3}/Fe^{+2}+Fe^{+3}$ and $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr$ for the granites in studied area, the biotite granite indicates ilmenite series (0.26) and S-type and/or contaminated I-type ($0.72020{\pm}0.00050$), the pink feldspar granite magnetite series (0.44) and I-type ($0.70826{\pm}0.00020$).

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2017

The stone lantern of the four guardian kings in the Beopjusa temple at Boeun was mainly made of biotite granodiorite consisting of porphyritic-textured potassium feldspar and included in ilmenite series. A base stone made of alkali granite was buried, after founded its place during an earlier restoration process. Cracking and break out are noticeable on this object. In addition, discoloration, salt crusting, and epiphytes were observed. The lantern was vulnerable in terms of physical and structural stability caused by cracking in the front and back of the light chamber and in the non-horizontal direction. According to the conservational condition of the stone lantern, structural reinforcement was carried out based on calculations, including those on the position, size, and anchor length of the titanium stiffener. Chemical and biological pollutants were washed off without damage to the surface of the stone material. Oxygenated iron pieces were replaced with titanium. Ethyl silicate was applied to the surface of the lantern for consolidation and smooth drainage.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.239-256
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• 2017

In the process of site selection for a radioactive waste disposal, site characterization must be carried out to obtain input parameters to assess the safety and feasibility of deep geological repository. In this paper, methodologies of site characterization for radioactive waste disposal in Korea were suggested based on foreign cases of site characterization. The IAEA recommends that site characterization for radioactive waste disposal should be performed through stepwise processes, in which the site characterization period is divided into preliminary and detailed stages, in sequence. This methodology was followed by several foreign countries for their geological disposal programs. General properties related to geological environments were obtained at the preliminary site characterization stage; more detailed site characteristics were investigated during the detailed site characterization stage. The results of investigation of geology, hydro-geology, geochemistry, rock mechanics, solute transport and thermal properties at a site have to be combined and constructed in the form of a site descriptive model. Based on this site descriptive model, the site characteristics can be evaluated to assess suitability of site for radioactive waste disposal. According to foreign site characterization cases, 7 or 8 years are expected to be needed for site characterization; however, the time required may increase if the no proper national strategy is provided.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.249-264
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• 1998

The Creataceous volcanic rocks distributed in the southeastern part (Kyeongsang basin) of Korea peninsula are composed of basalt, basaltic andesite, andesite, dacite and rhyolite. The variation of major elements show that contents of MgO, CaO, $FeO^T$, $Al_2O_3$, $TiO_2$ and $P_2O_5$ decrease with increasing of $SiO_2$, but $K_2O$ contents are increased slightly, $Na_2O$ widely dispersed. We can show slightly inflection point and low frequency of dacites in range between 63-65 wt.% $SiO_2$, while continuous trend exit in variation diagram. Variation trends in Harker diagrams for the major, minor, trace and REEs suggest that the BAV (basaltic to andesitic volcanics) and DRV (dacitic to rhyolitic volcanics) are not related to a simple crystal fractionation process. In the regime of under 65 wt. % in silica content, fractionation of olivine and clinopyroxene is predominant, while that of plagioclase happens strongly higher than 65 wt.% (e.g., $SiO_2$, vs. Eu and Sr, MgO vs. $Al_2O_3$ and CaO). The latter means low-pressure fractional crystallization for DRV. On the discriminant diagram, DRV are located in more mature environment than BAV. The $(Ce/Sm)_N$ vs. CeN digram shows that these two classes cannot be related to crystal fractionation. If they had been produced by fractionation, although they plotted in a slightly elongate cluster along the same horizontal trend, DRV should lie to the right of these primitive compositions. These diagrams clearly rule out a simple fractionation throughout from BAV to DRV. BAV had been influenced greatly subductiong slab as shown by K/Yb vs. Ta/Yb. We suggest that BAV primitive magma generated higher degree of partial melting than DRV primitive magma. LILE (K, Ba, $Rb{\pm}Th$) enriched characteristics as shown in BAV are inherited from subducting slab fluids and/or higher degree of partial melting of mantle material. However, lower degree of partial melting of mantle relative to BA V and contamination at high-level magma reservoir caused LILE enrichment to DRV.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 2009

The stone Buddha and Shrine of Unjusa temple (Korean Treasure No. 797) at Hwasun formed in Koryo Dynasty is unique style which faces each other the back parts of south and north within the stone Shrine. The stone Buddha and Shrine is highly evaluated in historical, artistic and academic respects. But, the stone properties have been exposed in the open system various aspects of degradations weathered for a long time without specific protective facilities. To inquire into relative deterioration and environmental factor, air temperature and relative humidity of the stone Buddha and Shrine were monitored for a year of the indoor and outdoor, respectively. As a result, the temperature shows increase and decrease according to the seasons in the tendency to clear. While the relative humidity is high to keep all four seasons. Highly relative humidity environment induces dew condensation on the interior of stone Buddha and Shrine. The dew condensation is recorded at the spring, summer and winter season. The summer season is double the total of spring and winter season. In the case of summer, dew condensation is long time continued due to high temperature and relative humidity that is kept by more than nearly 100%. There is progress towards chemical weathering throughout dissolve rock properties and alteration on the rock surface. In the case of winter, dew condensation is not kept for a long time as summer. In the winter, which showing a below zero may add physical weathering throughout moisture that happen by dew condensation to repeat freezing and thawing. Therefore, the reduction plan of the relative humidity effect on dew condensation should be prepared.