• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.309-322
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• 2018

Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) occurs in rocks and soils as a result of natural weathering and human activities. It is proved that inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to increase risk of developing several diseases such as lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma. The parent rocks of asbestos have been mainly associated with (ultra)mafic and carbonate rock. The previous studies on NOA were mainly limited to (ultra)mafic rock-hosted asbestos, but studies on carbonate rock-hosted asbestos are relatively rare in S. Korea. Therefore, this study was aimed to examine mineralogical characteristics of carbonate rock-hosted NOA at three sites including Muju and Jangsu, Jeonbuk province and Asan, Chungnam province. Types of rocks at the three sites mainly consisted of Precambrian metasedimentary rocks, carbonate rock, and Cretaceous and Jurassic granites. Asbestos-containing carbonate rock samples were obtained for mineralogical characterization. XRD, PLM, EPMA, SEM and EDS analyses were used to characterize mineralogical characteristics of the carbonate rock-hosted NOA. From the carbonate rock, fibrous minerals were occurred acicular and columnar forms in the three sites. Fibrous minerals were composed of mainly tremolite and associated minerals included possibly asbestos containing materials (ACM) such as talc, vermiculite, and sepiolite. The length and aspect ratios of tremolite were similar to the standard asbestiform (length >$5{\mu}m$, length:width = 3:1). These results indicate that both non-asbestiform and asbestiform tremolite with acicular forms occurred in carbonate rocks at three sites. Geological and geochemical characteristics and mineral assemblages indicate tremolite and associated minerals might be formed by hydrothermal alternation and/or hydrothermal veins of carbonate rocks due to intrusion of acidic igneous rocks.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.235-246
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• 1996

Placer gold in collected heavy minerals from several localities in Huongkhe area, is consistently very finegrained (${\leq}100$ to $400{\mu}m$). The size and size distribution show somewhat differences at Dongdo and Hoahai : at Dongdo, predominant relatively larger and wide distribution; at Hoahai, characteristic relatively finer and narrow distribution range. The morphology of gold grains is divided into the four groups assumed by the dimension ratio : spherical, subprismoidal, prismoidal, and irregular. The gold grains at Dongdo show wide morphological distribution, whereas, at Hoahai, spherical form is predominant (${\approx}75%$). Three main types of gold are classified based on their chemical composition and mode of occurrence: type I (electrum; fineness=568~931), type II (amalgam; fineness=671~927), and type III (native gold; fineness=923~999). Type I gold contains, relatively high and variable silver contents (${\approx}11$ to 58 atomic % Ag), and has been classified into two subtypes based on their silver contents (type IA, ${\approx}11{\sim}39$ atomic % Ag; type IB, ${\approx}40{\sim}58$ atomic % Ag). However, type I gold would have been generally original compositions of electrum which originated at the provenance deposits. Mercury reacts with gold and silver to form amalgam (type II gold) which has variable Hg contents (1.2~30.5 atomic % Hg). The mercury contents in gold grains at Hoahai (10.9~30.5 atomic % Hg) are higher than those at Dongdo (5.8~21.1 atomic % Hg). The gold grains from the area generally exhibit a high-purity gold (type III) rim. The individual rims on the various grains range from <1 to $80{\mu}m$ in thickness and have silver contents of <10 atomic percent Ag, even though the core compositions range from ${\approx}11$ to 58 atomic percent Ag. The rim of gold most likely is responsible for the commonly cited cases of gold from placer deposits assaying at higher values of fineness than the gold in the corresponding source lode. The gold-rich rim in the Huongkhe area apparently forms by a combination of self-electrorefining and preferential dissolution of silver under oxidizing nature during the weathering and transport process. All data of gold grains in the Huongkhe area suggest that the transport distances and/or time of placer gold at Hoahai are generally farther than those at Dongdo. The mercurian gold bearing provenance deposits at Dongdo and Hoahai would be suggest nearest epithermal gold-silver vein-type.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 1974

U-Reuk, a laureate musician in the days of King Jin-Heung, Silla Dynasty, built the Eui Rim Reservoir about 1,400 years ago. This was one of the oldest man-made reservoir. The embankment of the reservoir collapsed by the clumsy artificial drainage on August 19, 1972 when the heavy rainfall of 462 mm/day caused a dangerous overflow of the reservoir. The result of the study on the mystic ancient embankment techniques are as follows: 1. Sandy loam derived from the weathering of granite which is the most widely distributed rock type in the area, was used in the embankment. Large size logs (embankment core) of 30-50 cm in diameter were buried lengthwise along the embankment. 2. The six stocks of Pinus densiflora, 3 stocks of Quercus acutissima, 1 stock of Quercus variabilis and 1 stock of Popolus maximowiczii, altogether 11 stocks are identified. Forest types in the nearby area during the days of the reservoir construction seem to be includde a considerable number of Pinus densiflora, Quercus and Populus species. 3. The angle of repose of the earth materials is taken into account during the embankment. On top of the embankment double layers of clay (20-30 cm indepth) were spread and consolidated. Layer of litter of 20-40 cm in deep covered on the clay layer of the embankment completely, and another layer of clay was consolidated over the litter. Finally, a layer of stones of 10-30 cm in diameter and clay (yellow soil layer) toped the embankment. 4. At the lower part of the embankment clay layer was thicker and became thinner as it goes upwards. At every layer, soil was consolidated and burned. When embankment was completed, it was covered evenly with heavy clay, and finally it was topped with general soil. 5. The heavy clay layer on the inner slope of the embankment showed gray phenomena and litter remained raw humus layer. The clay layer functioned as rubber in the water, and raw humus layer prevented water from seepages. Thus, the embankment was solidly built in this way. 6. The ancient embankment techniques used soils conveyed from nearby area taking the angle of repose into account. Once embankment was completed, clay and litter layers were added to have a plasticity and to withstand the water pressure. 7. It is an excellent technique that the reservoir was constructed with least labor for maximum effects while the recent embankment techniques requires a large amount of labor.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.101-125
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• 2002

A lake seismic survey was carried out to investigate possible geohazards for construction of the underground LPG storage at Namyang Lake. The proposed survey site has a land-lake combined geography and furthermore water depth of the lake is shallow. Therefore, various seismic methods such as marine single channel high resolution seismic reflection survey, sonobuoy refraction survey, land refraction survey and land-lake combined refraction survey were applied. Total survey amounts are 34 line-km of high resolution lake seismic survey, 14 lines of sonobuoy refraction survey, 890 m of land refraction survey and 8 lines of land-lake combined refraction survey. During the reflection survey, there were severe water reverberations from the lake bottom obscured subsurface profiling. These strong multiple events appeared in most of the survey area except the northern and southern area near the embankment where seems to be accumulated mainly mud dominated depositions. The sonobuoy refraction profiles also showed the same Phenomena as those of reflection survey. Meanwhile the results of the land-lake combined refraction survey showed relatively better qualities. However, the land refraction survey did not so due to low velocity soil layer and electrical noise. Summarized results from the lake seismic survey are that acoustic basement with relatively flat pattern appeared 30m below water level and showed three types of bedrock such as fresh, moderately weathered and weathered type. According to the results of the combined refraction survey, a velocity distribution pattern of the lake bottom shows three types of seismic velocity zone such as >4.5 km/s, 4.5-4.0km/s and <4.0km/s. The major fault lineament in the area showed NW-SE trend which was different from the Landsat image interpretation. A drilling was confirmed estimated faults by seismic survey.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.7-16
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• 1986

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of such erosion control measures as sowing, planting and small earth structures on the soil and vegetation. In order to study the changes in soil and vegetation, 36 plots were surveyed from 1981 to 1982 in the large erosion control area which is restored last 20 years. The factors which were measured included vegetation coverage, tree growth, number of species, soil depth, soil consistancy, and Chemical properties of soil. The results were as follows; 1) Maximum coverage of the overstory and understory was attained 7 years after the initiation of erosion control. So the overstory need to be tended and pruned. 2) Diversity of species increased until age 6 after which it began to decrease. 3) In order of tree growth, black locust was the fastest, followed by siberian alder and pitch pine. The initial growth of black locust, though the best among the 3 tree stop., decreased rapidly year by year. At the same time, siberian alder and pitch pine grew well until 12 and 6 years after the initiation of erosion control respectively. 4) Fifty percent of the initially planted trees died within 8 yeard. The mortality of siberian alder occurred until the 20th year while the mortality of pitch pine stopped after 10 years. Thereafter 500 trees per hectare were maintained. 5) The soil depth in A and B horision increased by 2cm annually during 20 years. The soil consistency also decreased rapidly until 7th year. The physical soil properties of the rehabilitated areas were improved after the 14th year. 6) The soil pH tend to decrease from 5.3 during the first year to 5.1 during the twentieth year. 7) The organic matter and nitrogen content in the soil were increased by fertilization but after 20 years these nutrients are still deficient for normal tree growth. 8) The phosphorous content in the soil was high in the first year but the longer the period after the initiation of erosion control the lese the content of phosphorous. 9) The biomass of black locust was the highest and increased continuously. The biomass of siberian alder on the contrary decreased from the 15th year because the number of trees in this place was very low. The total biomass in the twentieth year after erosion control initiation was 105.7 ton per hectare.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.241-259
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• 2022

In general, the REE were produced by mining conventional deposits, such as the carbonatite or the clay-hosted REE deposits. However, because of the recent demand increase for REE in modern industries, unconventional REE deposits emerged as a necessary research topic. Among the unconventional REE recovery methods, the REE-bearing coal deposits are recently receiving attentions. R-types generally have detrital originations from the bauxite deposits, and show LREE enriched REE patterns. Tuffaceous-types are formed by syngenetic volcanic activities and following input of volcanic ash into the basin. This type shows specific occurrence of the detrital volcanic ash-driven minerals and the authigenic phosphorous minerals focused at narrow horizon between coal seams and tonstein layers. REE patterns of tuffaceous-types show flat shape in general. Hydrothermal-types can be formed by epigenetic inflow of REE originated from granitic intrusions. Occurrence of the authigenic halogen-bearing phosphorous minerals and the water-bearing minerals are the specific characteristics of this type. They generally show HREE enriched REE patterns. Each type of REE-bearing coal deposits may occur by independent genesis, but most of REE-bearing coal deposits with high REE concentrations have multiple genesis. For the case of the US, the rare earth oxides (REO) with high purity has been produced from REE-bearing coals and their byproducts in pilot plants from 2018. Their goal is to supply about 7% of national REE demand. For the coal deposits in Korea, lignite layers found in Gyungju-Yeongil coal fields shows coexistence of tuff layers and coal seams. They are also based in Tertiary basins, and low affection from compaction and coalification might resulted into high-REE tuffaceous-type coal deposits. Thus, detailed geologic researches and explorations for domestic coal deposits are required.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.277-291
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• 2023

To analyze the crustal velocity structures beneath 21 broadband seismic stations in Gangwon Province, South Korea, we first applied the H-κ stacking method to 139 teleseismic event data (Mw ≥ 5.8 and the epicentral distance of 30° - 90°) occurring between March 18, 2019 and December 31, 2022 to estimate the Moho depths and V_p/V_s ratios beneath each station. The Moho depths and V_p/V_s ratios from the H-κ stacking method range from 24.9 to 33.2 km depth and 1.695 - 1.760, respectively, and the estimated V_p/V_s ratios were applied to the joint inversion of receiver functions and surface wave dispersion to obtain 1-D crustal velocity models beneath each station. The resulting Moho depths range from 25.9 to 33.7 km depth, similar to the results from the H-κ stacking method. Moho depth results from the both methods are generally consistent with Airy's isostasy. The 1-D crustal velocity models confirm that the existence of 2 km thick low-velocity layers with P-wave velocities of 5 km/s or less at some stations in the Taebaeksan basin, and at the stations CHNB and GAPB in northern Gangwon Province, which are located above the Cenozoic sedimentary layer. The station SH2B, although not overlying a sedimentary layer, has a low P-wave velocity near the surface, which is probably due to various factors such as weathering of the bedrock. We also observe a velocity inversion with decreasing velocity with depth at all stations within 4 - 12 km depths, and mid-crustal discontinuities possibly due to density differences in the rocks at around 10 km depth below some stations.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.35-52
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• 1973

Red Yellow Soils occur very commonly in Korea and constitute the important upland soils of the country which are either presently being cultivated or are suitable for reclaiming and cultivating. These soils are distributed on rolling, moutain foot slopes, and terraces in the southern and western parts of the central districts of Korea, and are derived from granite, granite gneiss, old alluvium and locally from limestone and shale. This report is a summary of the morphology, physical and chemical characteristics of Red Yellow Soils. The data obtained from detailed soil surveys since 1964 are summarized as follows. 1. Red-Yellows Soils have an A, Bt, C profile. The A horizon is dark colored coarse loamy or fine loamy with the thin layer of organic matter. The B horizon is dominantly strong brown, reddish brown or yellowish red, clayey or fine loamy with clay cutans on the soil peds. The C horizon varies with parent materials, and is coarser texture and has a less developed structure than the Bt horizon. Soil depth, varied with relief and parent materials, is predominantly around 100cm. 2. In the physical characteristics, the clay content of surface soil is 18 to 35 percent, and of subsoil is 30 to 90 percent nearly two times higher than the surface soil. Bulk density is 1.2 to 1.3 in the surface soil and 1.3 to 1.5 in the subsoil. The range of 3-phase is mostly narrow with 45 to 50 percent in solid phase, 30 to 45 percent in liquid one, and 5 to 25 percent in gaseous state in the surface soil; and 50 to 60 solid, 35 to 45 percent liquid and less than 15 percent gaseous in the subsoil. Available soil moisture capacity ranges from 10 to 23 percent in the surface soil, and 5 to 16 percent in the subsoil. 3. Chemically, soil reaction is neutral to alkaline in soils derived from limestone or old fluviomarine deposits, and acid to strong acid in other ones. The organic matter content of surface soil varying considerably with vegetation, erosion and cultivation, ranges from 1.0 to 5.0 percent. The cation exchange capacity is 5 to 40 me/100gr soil and closely related to the content of organic matter, clay and silt. Base saturation is low, on the whole, due to the leaching of extractable cations, but is high in soils derived from limestone with high content of lime and magnesium. 4. Most of these soils mainly contain halloysite (a part of kaolin minerals), vermiculite (weathered mica), and illite, including small amount of chlorite, gibbsite, hematite, quartz and feldspar. 5. Characteristically they are similar to Red Yellow Podzolic Soils and a part of Reddish Brown Lateritic Soils of the United States, and Red Yellow Soils of Japan. According to USDA 7th Approximation, they can be classified as Udu Its or Udalfs, and in FAO classification system to Acrisols, Luvisols, and Nitosols.