• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.201-216
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• 2013

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted in a sand tank model in a laboratory and at an alluvial field site to detect the groundwater table and to investigate the influence of saturation on GPR response in the unsaturated zone. In the sand tank model, the groundwater table and saturation in the sand layer were altered by injecting water, which was then drained by a valve inserted into the bottom of the tank. GPR vertical reflection profile (VRP) data were obtained in the sand tank model for rising and lowering of the groundwater table to estimate the groundwater table and saturation. Results of the lab-scale model provide information on the sensitivity of GPR signals to changes in the water content and in the groundwater table. GPR wave velocities in the vadose zone are controlled mainly by variations in water content (increased travel time is interpreted as an increase in saturation). At the field site, VRP data were collected to a depth of 220 m to estimate the groundwater table at an alluvial site near the Nakdong river at Iryong-ri, Haman-gun, South Korea. Results of the field survey indicate that under saturated conditions, the first reflector of the GPR is indicative of the capillary fringe and not the actual groundwater table. To measure the groundwater table more accurately, we performed a GPR survey using the common mid-point (CMP) method in the vicinity of well-3, and sunk a well to check the groundwater table. The resultant CMP data revealed reflective events from the capillary fringe and groundwater table showing hyperbolic patterns. The normal moveout correction was applied to evaluate the velocity of the GPR, which improved the accuracy of saturation and groundwater table information at depth. The GPR results show that the saturation information, including the groundwater table, is useful in assessing the hydrogeologic properties of the vadose zone in the field.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.597-608
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• 2020

Even after the Gyeongju earthquake and the Pohang earthquake, hundreds of aftershocks and micro-earthquakes are still occurring in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula. These phenomena mean that the stress is constantly working, implying that another huge earthquake may occur in the future. Therefore, the gravity field interpretation method was used to analyze the deep geological structure of the Pohang-Ulsan region in the southeastern Korean Peninsula. First, a gravity survey was performed to collect the insufficient data and to calculate the detailed Bouguer gravity anomaly in the study area. Based on the gravity anomaly data, the location, direction, and maximum depth of deep fault lines were analyzed using the inversion methods "Curvature analysis" and "Euler deconvolution method". As a result, it is interpreted that at least six fault lines(C1~C6) exist in deep depth. The deep fault line C1 is well correlated to the Yeonil Tectonic Line(YTL), suggesting that YTL is extended up to about 4000m deep. The deep fault line C2 consists of several segment faults and well correlated to the fault lines on the surface. Inferred fault lines C3, C4, and C5 have an NW-SE direction, which is parallel to the Ulsan fault. The deep fault line C6 has the direction of NE-SW, and it is interpreted that the eastern boundary fault of Eoil Basin is extended to the deep. Comparing the inferred fault lines with the distribution of micro-earthquakes, the location of the deep fault line C1 is well correlated to the hypocenter of micro-earthquakes. This implies that faults in deep depth are related to the recent earthquakes in the southeastern Korean Peninsula.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.65-77
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• 2011

Hydrochemical and carbon isotopic (${\delta}^{13}C_{DIC}$) analyses of 11 water samples, and noble gas isotopic analyses of 8 water samples collected in the Kyeoungbuk and Kangwon areas of Korea were performed to determine their hydrochemical characteristics and to interpret the source of noble gases and $CO_2$ gas in the water. The carbonated mineral waters are weakly acidic (PH = 5.59-6.04), and electrical conductivity ranges from 302 to $864\;{\mu}S/cm$. The chemical composition of all the water samples is Ca-$HCO_3$ type. The high contents of Fe and Mn exceed the safe limits for drinking water. The ${\delta}^{13}C_{DIC}$ values of the samples range from -5.30‰ to -2.84‰, indicating that the carbon is supplied mainly from a deep-seated source and to a lesser degree from an inorganic carbonate source. The $^3He/^4He$ ratios of the samples range from $1.51{\times}10^{-6}$ to $6.45{\times}10^{-6}$. The samples plot into three groups on a $^3He/^4He$ versus $^4He/^{20}Ne$ diagram: the deep-seated field (e.g., a mantle source), the atmospheric field, and the air-mantle mixing field. A wide range of $^4He/^{20}Ne$ ratios is observed ($0.036{\times}10^{-6}$ to $1.76{\times}10^{-6}$), indicating that while radiogenic $^4He$ is dominant in these water samples, mantle-origin He is also present. The supply of $CO_2$ gas and noble gases from a deep-seated source to carbonated waters is inferred to be controlled by geological structures such as faults and geological boundaries.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.427-437
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• 2012

A total of 100 groundwater samples were collected from the Nonsan area and the behaviors of uranium and radon as natural radionuclides were investigated with respect to other physicochemical components in the groundwater in order to understand their occurrence, properties, and origins. Radionuclide levels were used to construct detailed concentration maps. The concentration of uranium ranges from 0 to 378 ${\mu}g/L$, with an average of 8.57 ${\mu}g/L$, standard deviation of 42.88 ${\mu}g/L$, and median of 0.56 ${\mu}g/L$. The correlation coefficient between uranium and radon is 0.42, whereas these radionuclides show no relation with other physicochemical components in groundwater. It is noteworthy that the uranium level in most samples (97% of the samples) is less than 30 ${\mu}g/L$, where the bedrock of the aquifer is granite or complex rocks located along the boundary between granite and metamorphic rocks. In the Okcheon metamorphic belt, the uranium concentration of most groundwater is less than 1 ${\mu}g/L$. Radon levels varies from 128 to 9,140 pCi/L, with an average of 2,186 pCi/L, standard deviation of 1,725 pCi/L, and median of 1,805 pCi/L. High radon levels (> 4,000 pCi/L) are most common in regions of Jurassic granite, whereas low radon areas are found in regions of sedimentary rock. In conclusion, the distribution and occurrence of radionuclides are intimately related to the basic geological characteristics of the rocks in which the radiogenic minerals are primarily contained.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.6_4
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• pp.1503-1517
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• 2018

Mt. Baekdu is a stratovolcano located at the border between China and North Korea and is known to have formed through its differentiation stage after the Oligocene epoch in the Cenozoic era. There has been a growing interest in the magma re-activity of Mt. Baekdu volcano since 2010. Several research projects have been conducted by government such as Korea Meteorological Administration and Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources. Because, however, the Mt. Baekdu volcano is located far from South Korea, it is quite difficult to collect in-situ observations by terrestrial equipment. Remote sensing is a science to analyze and interpret information without direct physical contact with a target object. Various types of platform such as automobile, unmanned aerial vehicle, aircraft and satellite can be used for carrying a payload. In the past several decades, numerous volcanic studies have been conducted by remotely sensed observations using wide spectrum of wavelength channels in electromagnetic waves. In particular, radar remote sensing has been widely used for volcano monitoring in that microwave channel can gather surface's information without less limitation like day and night or weather condition. Radar interferometric technique which utilized phase information of radar signal enables to estimate surface displacement such as volcano, earthquake, ground subsidence or glacial movement, etc. In 2018, long-term research project for collaborative observation for Mt. Baekdu volcano between Korea and China were selected by Korea government. A volcanic specialized research center has been established by the selected project. The purpose of this paper is to introduce about remote sensing techniques for volcano monitoring and to review selected studies with remote sensing techniques to monitor Mt. Baekdu volcano. The acquisition status of the archived observations of six synthetic aperture radar satellites which are in orbit now was investigated for application of radar interferometry to monitor Mt. Baekdu volcano. We will conduct a time-series analysis using collected synthetic aperture radar images.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.78-91
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• 2018

Sangjogam, located in Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do, was designated as Natural Monument #411, because of its diverse geological heritage, such as fossils, ripple marks, dykes, and columnar joints. In the area, Byeongpungbawi, with its beautiful columnar joints vertical to the bedding plane of the underlying sedimentary rocks and spectacular coastal view, was named after its overall shape reminiscent of a huge folding screen. The purpose of this study was to investigate the formation process of the columnar joints using the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) method. AMS measurements showed that the k1 and k3 values representative of directions of the long and short axes of a magnetic particle at each point strongly clustered, and the oblate magnetic foliation structure in Byeongpungbawi developed during sill-type intrusion rather than lava flow. In summary, Byeongpungbawi was produced by sill-type intrusion along the bedding plane of the underlying sedimentary layer, and the subsequent formation of columnar joints was accompanied by the cooling and contraction of intruding rhyolite magma. This study potentially provides a basic research tool in understanding the formation mechanism of columnar joints which are widely distributed in southern Korea.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.153-169
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• 2009

Hornblende gabbro-lamprophyre-diorite Complex in Guwoonri, Hwacheon distributes in a zonal pattern, where the diorite distributed along the margin of the Complex encompasses the hornblende gabbro body in the central part of the Complex, and lamprophyre intruded in vein along the boundary between diorite and hornblende gabbro. The hornblende gabbro in the central part of the Complex also shows a zonal distribution pattern, where hornblende gabbro containing subspherical amphibole phenocrysts as a major mafic mineral(Sag) surrounds hornblende gabbro with prismatic amphiboles as a principal mafic mineral(Pag). The zonal distributions observed in hornblende gabbro-lamprophyre-diorite Complex in Guwoonri resulted from two different geological processes. The zonal distribution among diorite, lamprophyre, and hornblende gabbro was due to intrusions of three distinct magmas derived from different degree of partial melting of a common source rock, whereas the zonal distribution shown within the hornblende gabbro body occupying the central part of the Complex resulted from an inward fractional crystallization of a single magma. Geochemical characteristics and mineral mode of hornblende gabbro, lamprophyre, and diorite indicate that these rocks formed from hydrous mafic to intermediate magma derived from partial melting of enriched mantle, which has been caused by infiltration of volatiles including water into mantle in plate margin.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2006

Ichnology is the study of traces made by various organisms, which includes classification and description of traces, and interpretation of sedimentary process, behavior of organism and depositional environment based on traces and organism behavior. Ichnofacies, which is defined as the association of several traces related together with substrate characteristics and sedimentary processes, is closely related to depositional environment. Ichnology has been applied to sedimentology (to understand physical characteristics of depositional environment, sedimentation pattern and event bed), sequence stratigraphy (to recognize sequence boundaries and biostratigraphic discontinuities such as MFS, TSE and RSE), oil exploration (providing of many information without big cost) and palaeocology. Preliminary ichnological study on the Ganghwa intertidal flat shows that dominant ichofacies are changing with season and location, suggesting that their seasonal variation would be a good indicator to understand the seasonal change of sedimentary processes, the small- scale change of sedimentary environment and the preservation potential of such units. Ichnology on intertidal flat in western coast of Korea has a great potential to apply its results to petroleum geology as well as sedimentology.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2012

Groundwater flow simulations were performed to obtain data of groundwater flow used in a safety assessment for a hypothetical geological disposal facility assumed to be located in the KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) site. A regional scale modeling of the groundwater flow system was carried out to make boundary conditions for a local scale modeling. And, fracture zones identified at the study site were involved in the local scale groundwater flow model. From the results of the local scale modeling, a hydraulic head distribution was indicated and it was used in a particle tracking simulation for searching pathway of groundwater from the location of the hypothetical disposal facility to the surface where the groundwater reached. The flow distance and discharge rate of the groundwater in the KURT site were calculated. It was thought that the modeling methods used in this study was available to prepare the data of groundwater flow in a safety assessment for a geological disposal facility of radioactive wastes.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.230-242
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• 2017

Seismic velocities measured from in-situ tests (n=177) and through rock core samples (n=1,035) are reviewed in light of construction standards, widely used standards as a first-hand approximation of rock classification solely based on seismic velocities. In-situ down hole tests and refraction survey for soft rocks showed seismic velocities of 1,400~2,900 m/s which is faster than those specified in construction standards. For moderate~ hard rocks, in-situ down hole tests and refraction survey showed 2,300~3,800 m/s which roughly corresponds with the range specified in the construction standards. A similar trend is also observed for seismic velocities measured from rock core samples. The observed differences between construction standards and seismic velocities can be explained in two ways. If construction standards are correct the observed differences may be explained with seismic velocities affected by underlying fast velocities and also possibly with selection of intact cores for velocity measurement. Alternatively, construction standards may have intrinsic problems, namely artificial discrete boundaries between soft rocks and moderate rocks, application of foreign standards without consideration of geologic setting and lack of independent verification steps. Therefore, we suggest a carefully designed verification studies from a test site. We also suggest that care must be exercised when applying construction standards for the interpretation and accessment of rock mass properties.