• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.73-77
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• 2021

Induced polarization (IP) is useful for mineral exploration and hydrogeological studies by visualizing the electrochemical reactions at the interface between polarized minerals and groundwater. Frequency-domain IP (FDIP) is not actively applied to field surveys because it takes longer to acquire data, despite its higher data quality than conventional time-domain IP. However, data quality is more important in current mineral exploration as the targets gradually shift to deep or low-grade ore bodies. In addition, the measurement time reduced by automated instrumentation increases the potential for FDIP field applications. Therefore, we demonstrate that FDIP can detect mineral exploration targets by performing geophysical logging in the boreholes of a skarn deposit, in South Korea. Alternating current (AC) resistivity, percent frequency effect (PFE) and metal factor (MF) were calculated from impedance values obtained at two different frequencies. Skarn zones containing magnetite or pyrite showed relatively low AC resistivity, high PFE, and high MF compared to other zones. Therefore, FDIP surveys are considered to be useful for mineral exploration.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.242-246
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• 2014

Spectral induced polarization (SIP) is a useful technique, which uses electrochemical properties, for exploration of metallic sulfide minerals. Equivalent circuit analysis is commonly conducted to calculate IP parameters from SIP data. An equivalent circuit model, which indicates the SIP response of rock, has a non-uniqueness problem. For this reason, it is very important to select the proper model for accurate analysis. Thus, this study focused on suggesting a new model, which suitable for the analysis of an anomalous SIP response, such as ore. A suitability of the new model was verified by comparing it with the existing Dias model and Cole-Cole models. Analysis errors were represented as a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE). The analysis result using the Dias model was the NRMSE of 10.50% and was the NRMSE using the Cole-Cole model of 17.03%. Howerver, because the NRMSE of the new model is 0.87%, it is considered that the new model is more useful for analyzing the anomalous SIP data than other models.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.71.2-71.2
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• 2018

태양계 질량의 대부분은 플라즈마, 기체, 또는 액체 상태로 존재하며, 극히 일부만이 고체 즉 암석과 광물로 존재한다. 하지만, 반응 특히 혼합(mixing)이 일어나는 속도가 매우 느린 고체의 특성상 태양계의 탄생과 진화 과정의 기록은 고체태양계 물질에 더 잘 보관되어 있다. 지구를 제외한 고체 태양계 물질을 확보하기 위해서는 지구로 낙하한 암석인 운석(meteorites)을 발견하거나, 우주로 나가 시료를 가져와야 한다. 아폴로 미션(Apollo mission)에 의한 월석(lunar rocks) 채취(Papike et al., 1998), 하야부사 미션(Hayabusa mission)에 의한 소행성(asteroid) 시료 채취(Nakamura et al., 2011), 스타더스트 미션(Stardust mission)에 의한 혜성 시료 채취(Zolensky et al., 2006) 등이 후자에 속한다. 능동적으로 가져온 시료는 아직까지는 그 종류와 양에서 운석에 비해 매우 부족하므로 현재까지 우리가 알고 있는 고체 태양계에 관한 대부분은 운석 연구를 통해 얻어졌다. 운석은 크게 미분화운석 즉 콘드라이트(chondrites)와 분화운석(differentiated meteorites)으로 구분한다. 분화운석 중 일부는 달운석(lunar meteorites) 또는 화성운석(martian meteorites)이며, 나머지 분화운석과 콘드라이트는 암석-지구화학적 특징과 성인적 연관성에 의해 다양한 그룹으로 세분되는데 각 그룹은 하나의, 또는 둘 이상의 매우 유사한, 소행성에서 유래한 것으로 해석된다(Krot et al., 2014; 최변각 2009). 다양한 종류의 운석과 구성 광물에 포함된 기록으로는 (1) 태양계 이전 존재한 항성의 대기에서 생성된 광물, 즉 선태양계 광물(presolar grains), (2) 태양계 성운 탄생과 각 진화 단계의 정확한 시기, (3) 태양계 성운의 화학조성-동위원소 조성, 온도-압력 조건 등을 포함한 물리-화학적 특징, (4) 가스-먼지로부터 미행성, 소행성, 행성으로의 진화 과정, (5) 행성 진화의 열원, (6) 소행성 핵의 생성 과정 등이 있다. 강연에서는 이들을 간략히 살펴보고자 한다. 운석연구 등을 통해 태양계 생성과 진화과정에 관한 다양한 정보가 축적되었지만, 앞으로 연구할 것들이 더 많다. 또한 태양계 물질 중에는 운석의 형태로 지구로 들어왔거나 앞으로 들어올 수 있는 것도 있지만 그렇지 않은 것도 있다. 가스나 기체의 경우가 그러할 것이며, 고체지만 결합이 약해 일부라도 원형을 유지한 채 대기권을 통과 할 수 없는 것도 있을 것이다. 또 공전궤도나 중력 등 물리적 이유로 지구권 진입이 불가능한 것도 있다. 이러한 태양계 구성원에는 우리가 아직까지 얻지 못한 정보들이 다량 보존되어 있을 것이다. 미래의 태양계탐사가 기대되는 이유 중 하나이다.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.193-213
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• 2018

Soil geochemical exploration to check anomalies related to mineralization was carried out targeting around Quy Hop area within Nghe An province, Northern Vietnam. The interval of sampling are horizontal 250 m with 13 line and longitudinal 300 m with 25 line, resulting in 325 soil samples. Based on the result of soil geochemical exploration, the pitting survey was carried out targeting the grid point with high TREO content, resulting in 73 soil samples within 8 pits. The geology of the survey area are consisted of Ban Chieng biotite granite complex intruding Bu Khang formation comprising of schist, gneiss and limestone. In order to elucidate the source rock of monazite and xenotime confirmed from heavy sand, soil geochemical exploration was carried out. By ICP-MS result of soil samples, total REE oxide content of background amount is about 1.4 times of crustal abundance, depleting the light rare earth (about 0.2 times) and enriching the heavy rare earth (about 1.5 times). By ICP-MS result of pit soil samples, we identified TREO more than 1,000 ppm in 6 pits. It may be considered that REE ore bodies may develop in NE-SW direction, compared with the geochemical results of Quy Chau area.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.499-508
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• 2019

Based on the preliminary surveys for the occurrences of the Muwellut chrome-nickel mineralized zone ($800km^2$) in northwestern Myanmar, Bophivum area was selected as the detailed exploration area after considering data source, geological potential, metallogenic province, necessity of resource development on target mineral, exploration activity, grade, ore deposit type, nearby operating mine, infrastructure and exploration prediction effect. From 2013 to 2016, KIGAM and DGSE carried out geological and geochemical survey with 1:1,000 scale, magnetic survey(areal extent, $1.672km^2$), trench survey(19 trench, total length 392 m), pitting survey(18 pit, total depth 42.6m), exploration drilling(6holes 600m, 2015; 13holes 617.4m). We analyzed Cr and Ni contents of 77 drill cores with specific gravity in Yangon DGSE analytical center. Considering surface geological survey, geochemical exploration, magnetic survey, trench survey and drilling data, we divided Bophivum area into 8 blocks. Resource estimation are divided into measured and indicated resources. Measured resource is about 9,790t and indicated resource is about 12,080t with the average grade of Cr 11.8% and Ni 0.34%. In case of Bophivum area, if we develop by tying up Webula chrome mineralized zone in the south, it will be possible to upgrade the medium-scale mine. Geologically, the ophiolite belt are distributed in the western and eastern part in Myanmar. So, the exploration technology obtained from exploation in Bophivum area will be helpful to discover the hidden chromitite ore body in Myanmar ophiolite belt in the future.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.143-153
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• 2015

Polymer flooding for enhancing hydrocarbon production injects into a reservoir polymer solution that is viscous. It is very important to monitor the behavior pattern of the polymer solution in order to evaluate the effectiveness of polymer flooding. To monitor the distribution of polymer solution and thus fluid substitution within the reservoir, we first construct seismic and resistivity rock physics models (RPMs), which are functions of reservoir parameters such as rocks and type of fluid, fluid saturation. For the seismic and resistivity RPMs, responses of seismic and electromagnetic (EM) tomography are numerically simulated as polymer injection, using two dimensional (2D) staggered-grid finite difference elastic modeling and 2.5D finite element EM modeling algorithms, respectively. In constructing RPM for EM tomography, three different reservoir rocks are considered: clean-sand, dispersed shale-sand, and sand-shale lamination rocks. The polymer solution is assumed to have 2 wt% of polymer as normally generated, while water is freshwater or saltwater. Further, neutron logging is also considered to check its sensitivity to polymer flooding. The techniques discussed in the paper are important in monitoring not only hydrocarbon but also geothermal reservoirs.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.09a
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• pp.94-103
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• 2001

An experiment was conducted using a sand and gravel-filled tank model, to investigate the influence on the GPR response of vadose zone gasoline vapor phase effects and residual gasoline distributed by a fluctuating water table. After background GPR measurements were made with only water in the tank, gasoline was injected into the bottom of the model tank to simulate a subsurface discharge from a leaking pipe or tank. Results from the experiment show the sensitivity of GPR to the changes in the moisture content and its effectiveness for monitoring minor fluctuation of the water table. The results also demonstrate a potential of GPR for detecting possible vapor phase effects of volatile hydrocarbons in the vadose zone as a function of time, and for detecting the effects of residual phase of hydrocarbons in the water saturated system. In addition, the results provide the basis for a strategy that has the potential to successfully detect and delineate LNAPL contamination at field sites where zones of residual LNAPL in the water saturated system are present in the subsurface.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2010

A magnetotelluric (MT) survey has been performed to delineate deeply extended fracture systems at the geothermal field in Seokmo Island, Korea. To assist interpretation of the MT data, geological surveying and well logging of existing wells were also performed. The surface geology of the island shows Cretaceous and Jurassic granite in the north and Precambrian schist in the south. The geothermal regime has been found along the boundary between the schist and Cretaceous granite. Because of the deep circulation along the fracture system, geothermal gradient of the target area exceeds $45^{\circ}C/km$, which is much higher than the average geothermal gradient in Korea. 2D and 3D inversions of MT data clearly showed a very conductive anomaly, which is interpreted as a fracture system bearing saline water that extends at least down to 1.5 km depth and is inclined eastwards. After drilling down to the depth of 1280 m, more than 4000 tons/day of geothermal water overflowed with temperature higher than $70^{\circ}C$. This water showed very similar chemical composition and temperature to those from another existing well, so that they can be considered to have the same origin; i.e. from the same fracture system. A new geothermal project for combined heat and power generation was launched in 2009 in Seokmo Island, based on the survey. Additional geophysical investigations including MT surveys to cover a wider area, seismic reflection surveys, borehole surveys, and well logging of more than 20 existing boreholes will be conducted.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.137-145
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• 2017

High-grade limestone applied to various chemical industries is abundant within upper Pungchon formation in Taebaeksan basin, South Korea. Geophysical exploration is one of the most efficient methods to investigate subsurface geological structure in an extensive area. Since the geophysical exploration for the high-grade limestone has rarely been conducted in Korea, its appropriate strategy has not been set up yet. In this study, we focused on to suggest the reasonable strategy and accumulate geophysical databases which are essential for interpreting geophysical images by characterizing laboratory physical properties of in-situ rocks. Hence, rocks were obtained from drilled cores consisting of lower Hwajeol formation, Pungchon formation, and dykes in Jeongseon area, Gangwon province. Geophysical laboratory experiments and petrography of the rocks were conducted. Since susceptibility values of the rocks in Pungchon Formation were obviously lower than those of upper Hwajeol and dykes, it is considered that the lithological boundaries could be distinguished by magnetic survey. In addition, electrical properties of the rocks in middle Pungchon formation were relatively different compared with those of upper/lower Pungchon formations. Thus, induced polarization is shown to be able to detect the high-grade limestone in upper Pungchon formation.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.201-206
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• 2006

Earth sciences is undergoing a gradual but massive shift from description of the earth and earth systems, toward process modeling, simulation, and process visualization. This shift is very challenging because the underlying physical and chemical processes are often nonlinear and coupled. In addition, we are especially challenged when the processes take place in strongly heterogeneous systems. An example is two-phase fluid flow in rocks, which is a nonlinear, coupled and time-dependent problem and occurs in complex porous media. To understand and simulate these complex processes, the knowledge of underlying pore-scale processes is essential. This paper presents a new attempt to use pore-scale simulations for understanding physical properties of rocks. A rigorous pore-scale simulator requires three important traits: reliability, efficiency, and ability to handle complex microstructures. We use the Lattice-Boltzmann (LB) method for singleand two-phase flow properties, finite-element methods (FEM) for elastic and electrical properties of rocks. These rigorous pore-scale simulators can significantly complement the physical laboratory, with several distinct advantages: (1) rigorous prediction of the physical properties, (2) interrelations among the different rock properties in a given pore geometry, and (3) simulation of dynamic problems, which describe coupled, nonlinear, transient and complex behavior of Earth systems.