• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.585-596
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• 2022

This study determined major factors influencing landslide occurrence along a forest road near Sangsan village, Sancheok-myeon, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea. Within a 2 km radius of the study area, landslides occur intensively during periods of heavy rainfall (August 2020). This makes study of the area advantageous, as it allows examination of the influence of only geological and tomographic factors while excluding the effects of rainfall and vegetation. Data for 82 locations (37 experiencing landslides and 45 not) were obtained from geological surveys, laboratory tests, and geo-spatial analysis. After some data preprocessing (e.g., error filtering, minimum-maximum normalization, and multicollinearity), structural equation model (SEM) and logistic regression (LR) analyses were conducted. These showed the regolith thickness, porosity, and saturated unit weight to be the factors most influential of landslide risk in the study area. The sums of the influence magnitudes of these factors are 71% in SEM and 83% in LR.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2023

Variations in geochemical and mineralogical properties of the ferromanganese(Fe-Mn) crust reflect environmental changes. In the present study, geochemical and mineralogical analyses, including micro X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction, were utilized to reconstruct the paleo-ocean environment of western Pacific Magellan seamount cluster. Samples of the Fe-Mn crust were collected using an epibenthic sledge from the open seamount XX (151° 51.12' 7.2" E and 16° 8.16' 9.6" N, 1557 meters below sea level) in the Western Pacific Magellan Seamount. According to the structure and phosphating status, the Fe-Mn crust of the OSM-XX can be divided into the following: phosphatizated (L4-L5), massive non-phosphatizated (L3), and porous non-phosphatizated (L1-L2) portions. All ferromanganese layers contain vernadite, and owing to the presence of carbonate fluorapatite (CFA), the phosphatizated portion (L4-L5) is rich in Ca and P. The massive non-phosphatizated section (L3) contains high Mn, Ni, and Co, whereas the porous non-phosphatizated portion (L1-L2), which comprises detrital quartz and feldspar, is rich in Fe. Variations in properties of the Fe-Mn crust from the OSM-XX reflect changes in the nearby marine environment. The formation of this crust started at approximately 51.87 Ma, and precipitation of the CFA during the global phosphatization event that occurred at approximately 36-32 Ma highlights an elevated sea level and low temperature during the associated period. The high Mn, Ni, and Co concentrations and elevated Mn/Fe ratios of samples from the massive phosphatizated portion indicate that the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) was enhanced, and reducing conditions prevailed during the crust formation. The high Fe and low Mn/Fe ratios in the porous portion indicate a weak OMZ and dominantly oxidizing conditions. These data reflect environmental changes following the end of the Mi-1 glacial period in the Miocene-Oligocene boundary. Subsequently, Mn/Fe and Co/Mn ratios increased slightly in the outermost part of Fe-Mn crust because of the enhanced bottom current and OMZ associated with the continued cooling from approximately 9 Ma. However, the reduced carbonate dissolution rate in the Pacific Ocean from approximately 6 Ma decreased the growth rate of the Fe-Mn crust.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.5 s.174
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• pp.499-512
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• 2005

EPMA determined that Fe(Mn)-(oxy)hydroxides and well-crystallized Fe-(oxy)hydroxides and could contain a small amount of As $(0.3-11.0\;wt.\%\;and\;2.1-7.4\;wt.\%\;respectively)$. Amorphous crystalline Fe-(oxy) hydroxide assemblages were identified as the richest in As with $28-36\;wt.\%$. On the ternary $As_2O_5-SO_3-Fe_2O_3$ diagram, these materials were interpreted here as 'scorodite-like'. Dissolved As was attenuated by the adsorption on Fe-(oxy) hydroxides and Fe(Mn)-(oxy) hydroxides and/or the formation of an amorphous Fe-As phase (maybe scorodite: $FeAsO_4\cdot2H_2O$). Leaching tests were performed in order to find out leaching characteristics of As and Fe under acidic conditions. At the initial pHs 3 and 5, As contents dissolved from tailings of the cheongyang mine significantly increased after 7 days due to the oxidation of As-bearing secondary minerals (up to ca. $2.4\%$ of total), while As of Seobo mine-tailing samples was rarely released (ca. $0.0-0.1\%$ of total). Dissolution experiments at an initial pH 1 liberated a higher amount of As (ca. $1.1-4.2\%$ of total for Seobo tailings, $1.5-14.4\%$ of total for Cheongyang tailings). In addition, good correlation between As and Fe in leached solutions with tailings was observed. The kinetic problems could be the important factor which leads to increasing concentrations of As in the runoff water. Release of As from Cheongyang tailings can potentially pose adverse impact to surface and groundwater qualities in the surrounding environment, while precipitation of secondary minerals and the adsorption of As are efficient mechanisms for decreasing the mobilities of As in the surface environment of Seobo mine area.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.209-221
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• 2016

The section from water source to 2.6km upper stream of Hantan River is protected as the drinking water quality protection area according to guidelines of Ministry of Environment, because water source of the Gwanin water intake plant has been known the river. However, opinions were consistently brought up that the standard of water source protection zone must be changed with using underground water as water source because of contribution possibility of underground water as the water source of Gwanin water intake facility. In this regard, hydrogeologic investigation including resistivity survey and hydrogeochemical investigation were carried out to assess water source and infiltration of contaminant for the plant. Quaternary basaltic rocks (50m thick with four layers) covered most of the study area on the granite basement. As the result of the resistivity survey, it is revealed that permeable aquifer is distributed in the boundary of two layers: the basaltic layer with low resistivity; and the granite with high resistivity. Considering of outflow from Gwanin water intake facility, the area possessing underground water was estimated at least $5.7km^2$. The underground water recharged from Cheorwon plain was presumed to outflow along the surface of unconformity plane of basalt and granite. Based on field parameters and major dissolved constituents, groundwater and river water clearly distinguished and the spring water was similar to groundwater from the basaltic aquifer. Temporal variation of $SiO_2$, Mg, $NO_3$, and $SO_4$ concentrations indicated that spring water and nearby groundwater were originated from the basaltic aquifer and other groundwater from granitic aquifer. In conclusion, the spring of the Gwanin water intake plant was distinguished from river water in terms of hydrogeochemical characteristics and mainly contributed from the basaltic aquifer.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.549-559
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• 2009

The objectives of this study are to investigate the biomineralization of goethite and lepidocrocite formed on the twisted-stalk and the sheathed-filament structure that is suggest microbe origin, and heavy metal in the yellow Fe-hydroxide. On the ratio of Cl and the Cl/Br ratios that are a pollution and non-pollution of groundwaters, it is indicated that the groundwater in this areas were relatively contaminated by human activity. The composition of the yellow Fe-hydroxide consisted mainly of $Fe_2O_3$ and $SiO_2$. The content of $Fe_2O_3$ ranges from 58.57 wt.% to 75.7 3wt.%, and $SiO_2$ content ranges from 5.8 wt.% to 16.17 wt.%. Heavy metal elements such as Zn(max. 6,160 mg/kg), Pb(max. 377 mg/kg), U(max. 503 mg/kg), Cr(max. 203 mg/kg), Cu(max. 77 mg/kg), V(max. 162 mg/kg), Ni(max. 105 mg/kg) were observed to be rich in those yellow Fe-hydroxide. The lath and platy crystals and needle-shaped crystals were clearly observed on the twisted-stalks and sheathed-filaments structure. The goethite, gypsum, and lepidocrocite were identified in the yellow Fe-hydroxide by x-ray powder diffraction.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.337-346
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• 2020

This study was carried out to evaluate the applicability of the soil washing process to remediation mercury-contaminated mine tailing or solid material (soil and sediments etc.) around abandoned mines. First, the physicochemical characteristics of mine tailing were analyzed through particle size analysis and sequential extraction. Secondly, laboratory scale washing experiments were performed using hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, potassium iodide and sodium thiosulfate. As a results of particle size analysis, mine tailing particle were concentrated below 40 mesh and the particle size below 200 mesh was the most analyzed. As a result of sequential extraction, elemental mercury fraction was analyzed as the highest with 69.12%, with strongly bound fraction 15.25% and residual and HgS fractions 11.97%, respectively. Laboratory scale washing experiments showed low applicability for nitric acid and sodium thiosulfate solutions. In case of hydrochloric acid solution, it was analyzed that mercury removal was possible at particle size of 200 mesh or more. Therefore, it is considered to be performed together with the physical sorting process. Potassium iodide solution was analyzed to have high washing efficiency at all concentrations and particle sizes. In particular, the mercury removal efficiency is high in the micro particles, and thus the applicability of the washing technology is the highest.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.491-503
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• 2010

Geochemical characteristics of the Moisan epithermal gold-silver deposit with total 140 samples in Haenam area, Jeollanamdo were studied by using multivariate statistical analysis (correlation analysis, factor analysis and cluster analysis). The correlation analysis reveals that Ag, Cu, Bi, Te are highly correlated with Au in the both non-mineralized and mineralized zone. It is resulted from the presence of Au-Ag bearing minerals (electrum, sylvanite, calaverite and stuezite) and non Au-Ag containing minerals (chalcopyrite, tellurobismuthite and bismuthinite). Mo shows relatively much higher correlation at the mineralized zone (0.615) than non-mineralized zone (0.269) which implies Mo content is strongly affected by Au-mineralization. While Mn, Cs, Fe, Se correlated with Au at the nonmineralized zone, they have negative correlation at the mineralized zone. Therefore, they seem to be eluviated elements from the host rock during gold mineralization. Sb is enriched during the gold mineralization showing high correlation at the mineralized zone and negative correlation at the non-mineralized zone. According to the factor analysis, Se, Ag, Cs, Te are the indicators of gold mineralization presence due to the strong affection of gold content in the non-mineralized zone. In the mineralized zone, on the other hand, Mo, Te and Sb, Cu are the indicators of gold and silver mineralization, respectively. While the cluster analysis reveals that Cd-Zn-Pb-S, Bi-Fe-Cu-Mn, Se-Te-Au-Cs-Ag, As-Sb-Ba are the similar behavior elements groups in the non-mineralized zone, Cd-Zn-Mn-Pb, Fe-S-Se, As-Bi-Cs, Ag-Sb-Cu, Au-Te-Mo are the similar behavior elements groups in the mineralized zone. Using multivariate statistical analysis as mentioned above makes it possible to compare the behavior of presented minerals and difference of geochemical characteristics between mineralized and non-mineralized zone. Therefore, it will be expected a useful tool on the similar type of mining exploration.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.269-281
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• 1994

Microscopic study and X-ray diffraction analysis were carried out to find out rock type, tock forming minerals; and weathering characteristics of rocks at the constructing site of the churyong Tunnel, Kyongju-Gun, Kyongbuk. Seismic velocity and compressional strength were measured to evaluate mechanical properties of rock. The rock of the study area is Jurassic tuff consisting of clay minerals, crystals of quartz and feldspar, fragments of volcanic rocks and shale. Fresh tuff has compressional strength of about $443kg/\textrm{cm}^2$ and seismic velocity of about 3680m/sec in average. It is classified as soft rock. Rock fragment within tuff is andesite and it has compressional strength of about $2500kg/\textrm{cm}^2$ and seismic velocity of about 4340m/sec in average. It is classified as hard rock. A good linear relationship is found between compressional streangth and seismic velocity in both laboratory sample and in-situ rocks. Laboratory samples has seismic velocities faster about 1.5km/sec than those in-situ rocks. It is interpreted that joints, fractures, and water content in the in-situ rocks result in decreas of seismic velocity. As Tuff has more than 50% of clay minerals in matrix and shale fragments, it absorbs water easily in atmospheric condition. Therefore, though the rock in the study area is medium hard rock before weathering, it is weathered very easily in the case of exposure to natural environment, comparing with other rock.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.185-201
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• 2018

Nuclear power plants(NPP) are constructed and operated to ensure safety against natural disasters and man-made disasters in all processes including site selection, site survey, design, construction, and operation. This paper will introduce a series of efforts conducted in Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. Ltd., to assure the safety of nuclear power plant against earthquakes and other natural hazards. In particular, the present status of the earthquake, fault, and slope safety monitoring system for nuclear power plants is introduced. A earthquake observatory network for the NPP sites has been built up for nuclear safety and providing adequate seismic design standards for NPP sites by monitoring seismicity in and around NPPs since 1999. The Eupcheon Fault Monitoring System, composed of a strainmeter, seismometer, creepmeter, Global Positioning System, and groundwater meter, was installed to assess the safety of the Wolsung Nuclear Power Plant against earthquakes by monitoring the short- and long-term behavioral characteristics of the Eupcheon fault. Through the analysis of measured data, it was verified that the Eupcheon fault is a relatively stable fault that is not affected by earthquakes occurring around the southeastern part of the Korean peninsula. In addition, it was confirmed that the fault monitoring system could be very useful for seismic safety analysis and earthquake prediction study on the fault. K-SLOPE System for systematic slope monitoring was successfully developed for monitoring of the slope at nuclear power plants. Several kinds of monitoring devices including an inclinometer, tiltmeter, tension-wire, and precipitation gauge were installed on the NPP slope. A macro deformation analysis using terrestrial LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) was performed for overall slope deformation evaluation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.281-292
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• 2024

North Korea relies heavily on coal as the primary energy source, playing an important role in all energy demand sectors except for the transportation sector. Approximately half of the total electricity is generated through coal-fired power plants, and coal is used to produce heat and power for all industrial facilities. Furthermore, coal has been a significant contributor to earning foreign currency through long-term exports to China. Nevertheless, since the 1980s, indiscriminate mining activities have led to rapid depletion of coal production in most coal mines. Aging mine facilities, lack of investment in new equipment, shortages of fuel and electricity, difficulties in material supply, and frequent damage from flooding have collectively contributed to a noticeable decline in coal production since the late 1980s. North Korea's coal deposits are distributed in various geological formations from the Proterozoic to the Cenozoic, but the most critical coal-bearing formations are Ripsok and Sadong formations distributed in the Pyeongnam Basin of the Late Paleozoic from Carboniferous to Permian, which are called as Pyeongnam North and South Coal Fields. Over 90% of North Korea's coal is produced in these coal fields. The classification of coal in North Korea differs from the international classification based on coalification (peat, lignite, sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal, and anthracite). North Korean classification based on industrial aspect is classified into bituminous coal, anthracite, and low-grade coal (Chomuyeontan). Based on the energy factor, it is classified into high-calorie coal, medium calorie coal, and low-calorie coal. In North Korea, the term "Chomuyeontan" refers to a type of coal that is not classified globally and is unique to North Korea. It is a low-grade coal exclusively used in North Korea and is not found or used in any other country worldwide. This article compares North Korea's coal classification and the international coal classification of coal and provides insights into the geological characteristics, reserves, utilization, and research trends of North Korean coal resources. This study could serve as a guide for preparing scientific and industrial agendas related to coal collaboration between North Korea and South Korea.