• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.113-126
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• 2022

The tectonic history of the Chukchi Abyssal Plain in the Amerasia Basin, Arctic Ocean, has not been fully explored due to the harsh conditions of sea ice preventing detailed observation. Existing models of the tectonic history of the region provide contrasting interpretation of the timing of formation of the crust (Mesozoic to Cenozoic), crust type (from hyper-extended continental crust to oceanic crust), and formation process (from parallel/fan-shaped rifting to transformation faulting). To help determine the age of the oceanic crust, the geothermal gradient was measured at three stations in the south of abyssal plain at depth of 2,160-2,250 m below sea level. Heat flow measurement stations were located perpendicular to the spreading axis over a 40 km-long transect. In-situ thermal conductivity measurement, corrected by the laboratory test, gave observed marine heat flows of 55 to 61 mW/m². All measurements were taken during Arctic expeditions in 2018 (ARA09C expedition) and 2021 (ARA12C expedition) by the Korean ice-breaking research vessel (IBRV) Araon. Given the assumption of oceanic crust, the results correspond to formation in the Late Cretaceous (Mesozoic). The inferred age supports the hypothesis of formation activated by the opening of the Makarov Basin during the Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic. This would make it contemporaneous with rifting of the Chukchi Border Land immediately east of the abyssal plain. The heat flow data indicate the base of the gas hydrate stability zone is located 332-367 m below the seafloor, this will help to identify the gas hydrate-related bottom simulating reflector in the future seismic survey, as already identified on the Chukchi Plateau. Further geophysical surveys, including heat flow measurements, are required to increase our understanding of the formation process and thermal mantle structure of the abyssal plain.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.144-157
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• 2016

The community structure of meiobenthos was investigated from seasonal surveys at four stations of Keunso Bay in Taean. Samples of meiobenthos were collected in August, October, 2013 and January, April, 2014. Triplicate faunal samples were collected by using an acryl corer with a 3.6 cm diameter at each station. The mean grain size of the study area ranged from 3.65 ø to 6.35 ø. Total 13 meiofaunal groups were found in the study area. The total density of meiobenthos at each station was be $1,521-7,849ind./10cm^2$. Nematodes were the most dominant faunal group at all stations. The subdominant group were Sarcomastigophorans and benthic harpacticoid copepods. The highest meiofaunal density was shown in spring, whereas the lowest density was recorded in summer. A total of 13 meiobenthic taxa were found, the richest taxa in October at station 2 ($13ind./10cm^2$), and the lowest in April at station 4 ($5ind./10cm^2$). There were seasonal fluctuations in the number of meiobenthic taxa decreasing from summer to spring. The density of meiobenthos gradually decreased as the depth of sediment increased. Seasonal changes in the vertical distribution of meiobenthos in the study area occurred mainly near the sediment surface.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 2019

Long chain plant waxes (n-alkanes, n-alkanoic acids, and n-alcohols) and their carbon isotopic compositions (${\delta}^{13}C$) in geologic archives are valuable tools for paleovegetation reconstruction. However, the sensitivity of different plant wax constituents to vegetation shift is not well understood. This study explores controls on the variation in ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of long-chain n-alkanes ($C_{27}$ to $C_{33}$) and n-alkanoic acids ($C_{26}-C_{30}$) in the Gulf of Mexico core sediments (ODP 625B) near the Mississippi River delta. n-Alkanoic acids' ${\delta}^{13}C$ values were higher than those of n-alkanes by 1-2‰ on average and such a pattern is the opposite from their isotope fractionation observed in living plants: 1-2‰ smaller in n-alkanes than n-alkanoic acids. We attribute this offset to contributions from aquatic plants or microbes that produce high concentrations of $^{13}C-enriched$ long-chain n-alkanoic acids. The sensitivity of n-alkanes and n-alkanoic acids to vegetation and climate varied among chain lengths. The $n-C_{33}$ alkanes were most sensitive to $C_4$ grassland expansion among n-alkane homologues, while no specific trend was observed in n-alkanoic acids. This is due to the similarity in n-alkanoic acid concentrations between $C_3$ and $C_4$ plants by homologues and low terrestrial plant-derived n-alkanoic acid contributions to the sediments. The results of this study suggest that long chain n-alkanoic acids' ${\delta}^{13}C$ values in sediments may be influenced by contributions from different sources such as aquatic plants or microbial inputs and therefore interpretations regarding this matter should be cautiously formulated. We suggest that there is a need for further studies on characterizing long-chain n-alkanoic acids ($C_{26}-C_{34}$) in aquatic plants and microbes from various climates and environments in order to investigate their production and integration into sedimentary archives.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.30-48
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• 2019

The year 2018 is the $50^{th}$ anniversary of scientific ocean drilling. Nevertheless, we know more about the surface of the moon than the Earth's ocean floor. In other words, there are still no much informations about the Earth interior. Much of what we do know has come from the scientific ocean drilling, providing the systematic collection of core samples from the deep seabed. This revolutionary process began 50 years ago, when the drilling vessel Glomar Challenger sailed into the Gulf of Mexico on August 11, 1968 on the first expedition of the federally funded Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP). DSDP followed successively by Ocean Drilling Program (ODP), Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (old IODP), and International Ocean Discovery Program (new IODP). Concerning on the results of scientific ocean drilling, there are two technological innovations and various scientific research results. The one is a dynamic positioning system, enables the drilling vessel to stay fixed in place while drilling and recovering cores in the deep water. Another is the finding of re-entry cone to replace drill bit during the drilling. In addition to technological innovation, there are important scientific results such as confirmation of plate tectonics, reconstruction of earth's history, and finding of life within sediments. New IODP has begun in October, 2013 and will continue till 2023. IODP member countries are preparing for the IODP science plan beyond 2023 and future 50 years of scientific ocean drilling. We as IODP member also need to participate in keeping with the international trend.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.151-160
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• 2021

2:1 clay minerals such as smectite incorporating ammonium were extracted to investigate the ammonium behavior and nitrogen isotope characteristics for two different sediment cores which were collected from shimmering sites on seafloor of the Wakamiko crater, southwestern Japan. Inorganic nitrogen contents in clay fraction were estimated by calibration curve based on consistently decreasing carbon and nitrogen ratio during the treatment to decompose organic materials, after removing inorganic carbon. The results show that the proportions of inorganic nitrogen for total nitrogen in clay fraction of SWS site(Core#1094MR: av. 18.2%) are higher than those in SES site(Core#1093MG: av. 11.5%). Relatively good crystallinity of the former suggests that exchangeable ammonium was transformed to non-exchangeable ammonium during more evolving diagenetic process. Nitrogen isotope variance of clay fraction(SES site: Core#1093MG: -4.4 ~ +0.2 ‰, av. -2.4 ‰; SWS site: Core#1094MR: -0.7 ~ +3.0 ‰, av. +1.5 ‰) during sequential decomposition of exchangeable ammonium suggests that heat flow derived from deep magma led to nitrogen isotope fractionation between dissolved ammonium and ammonia in the fluids involved in the formation of 2:1 clay mineral incorporating ammonium with local temperature variation.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.40 no.4 s.109
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• pp.428-440
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• 2005

There is currently no agreement among archaeologists, environmental historians, and paleoecologists as to the relative significance of pre- and post-Conquest human impact on the environments of Highland Mexico. This paper presents the results of pollen, microscopic charcoal, dung fungal spore, isotope, and magnetic susceptibility analyses on ca. 4m sediment core. The coring site is Hoya Rincon de Parangueo, one of the seven maar lakes in the Valle do Santiago. Amaranthaceae pollen, one of important disturbance indicators and Zea mays pollen obviously indicate two periods of agricultural activities. The first period begins ca. 400 B.C. and ends ca. A.D. 850. The second begins around A.D. 1550 and continues to the present. During the first period, the degree of agricultural activities was related to periodical sunspot cycles and the most intense activities were present between ca. A.D. 150-ca. A.D. 400. The abrupt increase of $\delta^{18}O$ around 280cm may reflect that an important transition to a dry phase took place around A.D. 450. People probably stopped cultivating crops due to dry conditions prevailing since ca. A.D. 450. The second period, the post-Conquest, exhibits a dramatic increase of sporormiella, dung fungal spores resulted fron the introduction of cattle. Low Poaceae frequency and charcoal production and high $\delta^{13}C$ values, magnetic susceptibility, and organic contents all indicate the arrival of the Spanish. Most importantly, it seems that mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) could have benefits from declined fire frequencies caused by cattle grazing. The study area is now entirely dominated by woody plants like mesquite, which clearly demonstrates that serious vegetation change occurred in the study area.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2008

The resource plants of the Mt. Geonji was listed 354 taxa; 92 families, 242 genera, 303 species, 48 varieties and 3 forms. 354 taxa listed consists of 205 taxa of edible plants(57.1%),234 taxa of medicinal plants(65.2%), 167 taxa of ornamental plants(46.5%) and 218 taxa of the others(60.7%). Specific plant species by floral region were total 22 taxa; Trapella sinensis var. antennifera in class IV, Iris ensata var. spontanea in Class II, 16 taxa(Salix glandulosa, Alnus hirsuta, Chrysosplenium flagelliferum, Mallotus japonicus, Ilex macropoda, Grewia biloba var. parviflora, Vaccinium oldhami, Lysimachia barystachys, Fraxinus mandshurica, etc.) in class I. The naturalized plants in this site were 12 families, 23 genera, 28 species, 2 varieties, 30 taxa(Bromus unioloides, Phytolacca americana, Oenothera erythrosepala, Ipomoea hederacea var. hederacea, Aster pilosus, Erechtites hieracifolia) and naturalization rate was 8.5% of all 354 taxa vascular plants. Wild plants disturbing ecosystem like Solanum carolinense and Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior have been increasing. So, it needs continuing control and conservation measures on the plant ecosystem.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.351-363
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• 2012

In order to develop the evaluation techniques for the potential sulfide ore reserves, the relationships between the modal vol.%, grain sizes and textural characteristics of the constituent minerals (e.g., sulfides, oxides and skarn minerals) and the Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP) phase differences are examined for the nine rock cores collected from the Gagok Pb-Zn skarn deposit. The Gagok Pb-Zn skarn deposit occurs mainly along the intrusive contact between the Cretaceous granitic rocks and Cambrian Myobong slate and Pungchon limestone. The nine rock cores have been grouped into three showing distinctive SIP phase differences: the highest (Group I), intermediate (Group II) and lowest (Group III). In relation with the modal vol.% of minerals, Group I is characterized by higher pyrrhotite (25-38 vol.%) and amphibole (40-55 vol.%); Group II by intermediate pyrrhotite (7-13 vol.%) and higher garnet (44-68 vol.%); and lower pyrrhotite (1-7 vol.%) and higher pyroxene (24-66 vol.%) stand for Group III. Furthermore, the grains of all the major constituent minerals become smaller from Group I (<5 mm) through Group II (<2.5 mm) to Group III (<1.6 mm). In particular, the pyrrhotite contents and their grain sizes show logarithmic correlation with the SIP phase differences, Although we present here the results solely from nine samples, the systematic interrelations especially for pyrrhotite indicate the potential ability of SIP measurements as a new mine-evaluation technique for the sulfide ore reservoir.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.169-181
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• 2014

Korea government has consistently investigated the development of economic mineral deposits in the Tofua volcanic arc, Tonga since 2008 for the secure of sea floor mineral resources. We studied the composition and distribution of minerals formed by hydrothermal activity around TA 25 seamounts of the Tofua volcanic arc, Lau Basin, Tonga, using X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. We used 7 core samples and 9 surface sediment samples. Barite, sphalerite, and clinoclase are present in the most volcanic vent area. Gypsum, smectite, and kaolin mineral are distributed in vent A area, chalcopyrite, pyrite, smectite, and kaolin mineral are in vent B and C area, and gypsum, chalcopyrite, pyrite, and goethite are in vent D area. From the study of clay fraction, smectite and few kaolinite are detected in the most studied area except inner part of caldera, which suggest that argillic alteration are dominant in the volcanic vent areas. Various sulfide or arsenide minerals were found in the hydrothermal vent B, C, and D. The mineralogy and geochemistry suggest higher hydrothermal activities in volcanic vent B, C, and D compared to vent A and inner caldera area. Therefore higher probabilities of massive sulfide deposits may occur in hydrothermal vent B, C, and D.

• 한국지구과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.04a
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• pp.108-109
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• 2010

IMPACT Silver 주식회사는 Zacualpan 프로젝트의 Royal Mines(이하 로얄 광산)을 인수했다. $124.5\;km^2$에 해당하는 지역의 소유권은 두 개의 멕시코 사기업으로부터 가행중인 광산의 채굴권 구입과 운영 중인 기반시설의 임대를 조건으로 한다. 프로젝트 지역은 멕시코시티로부터 남서방향으로 100 km와 Taxco Silver 광산으로부터 북서방향으로 25 km 떨어진 지점에 위치한다. 기반시설은 비포장 도로, 충분한 전력과 물의 공급 및 숙련공들을 갖추어 우수한 평가를 받고 있다. 소유권은 멕시코인의 개인소유 하에서 무한한 매장량 혹은 자원량을 갖고 운영된 채광과 가공시설을 인수하는 것이다. 소유권 지역을 대상으로 한 IMPACT Silver사의 주 탐사목적은 이미 알려진 광화대의 확장을 위한 잠재성 평가와 다른 지역에서 신규 광상의 유망지역을 발견하는 것이다. Zacualpan 프로젝트의 로얄 광산은 남동 Guerrero terrane의 북부에 위치한다. Teloloapan subterrane은 주로 저변성 녹색편암상으로 구성된 쥬라기 후기에서 백악기 초기의 화산성 퇴적층으로 구성된다. 대부분의 유망지역은 Lower Villa de Ayala층의 중성 내지 염기성 화산성 쇄설암을 모암으로 한다. 다상의 변성작용은 지역 전반에 걸쳐 나타나고, Zacualpan 광산지역에서 수반되는 광화작용을 규제한다. Zacualpan 광산지역은 Sierra Madre del Sur로 알려진 유망 광화대에 해당한다. 이 지역은 화산성 괴상 황화광상과 천열수 맥상광상이 우세하다. 대부분의 천열수 광화작용은 3.2-3.8억 년 전 마그마의 생성이 활발한 판구조 체제 동안 발생하였다. 역사적으로 가장 주요한 지역은 Lipton Vein이다. 현재 Zacualpan 지구에서 채광량은 은 200-500 g/t 정도로 보고되고 있다. 일부 지역은 고품위 은 광화작용(은 1,000 g/t 이상)을 수반하고 있으며, 이는 탐사의 주 타겟이 되고 있다. Zacualpan에서 은 광화작용은 은이 부화된 중유황 천열수 맥상광상으로 상당히 유명하다. Fresnillo, Pachuca 및 Taxco 광산을 포함한 멕시코 소유의 대규모의 잘 알려진 광산들이 이에 해당한다. 이러한 광산들은 부산물로서 금, 아연, 연이 생산된다. 이러한 광상들은 맥상과 각력상 및 산점상 또는 망상세맥의 형태로 산출된다. 광화작용은 석영과 탄산염 맥 내에 주로 황철석과 다양한 섬아연석, 방연석, 은 혹은 금 광물들을 수반한다. 경제성을 갖는 광화작용의 수직적인 연장은 평균적으로 대략 300 m이고, 멕시코 중부에 위치한 Fresnillo의 광화작용은 100 m에서 960 m의 연장을 갖는 것으로 알려져 있다. 아주 오랫동안 Zacualpan에서 광산관계자의 관측과 IMPACT Silver에서 최근 작업의 결과를 토대로, Zacualpan 광산지역의 탐사모델은 새로운 광상의 탐사를 위한 가이드로서 개발되었다. Zacualpan 광산지역에서 가장 높은 경제성을 갖는 광화작용은 북서와 남북방향의 맥 구조를 따라 수반된다. 이러한 맥 구조들은 종종 이 지역을 가로질러 수 km까지 추적되지만, 경제성을 갖는 광화작용은 맥 구조를 따라서 구조적으로 유리한 지역에서 부광대를 형성한다. 부광대를 형성하기 위한 가장 유리한 구조적 지역은 북서와 남북방향으로 발달한 맥 구조들이 교차하는 지역이다. 지난 30년간 채광된 주요 부광대는 폭이 2-6 m 이고 수평연장은 30-150 m 그리고 수직연장은 230-300 m에 이른다. 가장 높은 생산량을 보이는 부광대는 남북방향의 이차 맥들이 Guadalupe 광산의 Lipton 맥을 가로지르는 지역에서 발달한다. 남동쪽으로 현재 Compadres 광산의 Silver Shoot No. 1으로부터 고품위 은을 생산하는 지역은 북서방향의 San Agustin 맥이 북향의 Cometa Navideno 맥에 의해 절단되는 지역에서 산출한다. 모암은 광화작용을 규제하는 또 다른 중요한 요소이다. 광산지역에서 경제성을 갖는 모든 광화작용은 중성 내지 염기성 화산암 특히 안산암과 관련 모암에 배태된다. 부광대가 셰일 혹은 편암으로 전이되는 지역에서, 맥들은 소규모의 세맥으로 나뉘어 진다. Zacualpan의 전형적인 천열수 광상에서 부광대는 상부로 가면서 은의 함량이 증가하고, 하부로 가면서 연 아연의 함량이 증가하는 수직적 대상을 보인다. 금의 함량 변화는 보다 예측이 어려우나 상당히 중요하다. Zacualpan 광산지역의 탐사모델에 사용된 토양 채취, 정밀지도제작, 트렌치 및 시추탐광은 현재 IMPACT Silver사가 이 지역을 대상으로 한 가장 효율적인 탐사방법으로 입증되었다. Zacualpan 프로젝트의 로얄 광산은 하루 500 톤을 제련하는 기반시설과 수반된 채굴권을 갖는 가행 광산들을 포함한다. 현재 IMPACT Silver사는 두 곳의 타겟 지역에서 정밀지도제작, 토양 및 암석 채취, 12공 총 1866 m의 시추탐광에 의한 사전조사로 구성된 4 단계 탐사를 수행했다. 암석 1,953개, 토양 1,631 개, 389 개의 시추코어 시료가 채집되고 분석되었다. 이러한 작업은 추가탐사를 요구하는 수많은 유망 광화대를 규명했다. Compadres 광산에서 현재 가행중인 지하갱 시료는 레벨 1에서 0.9 m의 폭을 갖는 광체에서 은 680 g/t과 금 0.3 g/t, 레벨 3에서 1.67 m의 폭을 갖는 광체에서 은 12,591 g/t과 금 12.07 g/t의 품위를 갖는 것으로 나타났다. 레벨 1에서 3까지 2-3 m의 폭과 30-40 m 연장으로 채광되었다. 시추탐광은 고품위를 갖는 몇몇의 중첩된 맥을 발견했다. Compadres 광산에서 남동방향으로 200 m지점에 위치한 Soledad 지역에서 5 개의 시추공으로부터 동일 맥 시스템이 발견되었고, 고품위 부광대의 상부로 간주되는 몇몇 중요 지점이 발견되었다. 초기 단계의 탐사는 유망 시추탐광 지역인 중간정도 내지 고품위 유망 광화대를 규명했다.