• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2012

This article aims to find method to mix a harmless hardening agent and soil generated during construction to make paving materials. The main purpose of this research is to get rid of the harmfulness(Chromium (VI), etc.) of cement which has been generally and frequently used as a hardening agent and strengthen it so that it can be used for the general foundation solidification and stabilization of civil engineering/construction structures such as dredging soil treatment, marine structure foundation treatment, surface soil stabilization, and river bank erosion prevention. NSS(Natural Stabilizer Soil) used for this study takes as its chief ingredient the mixture of lime and staple fibers extracted from natural fibers. It increases the shearing strength of soil that it improves the support and durability of the foundation and prevents flooding and frost as well. The pH measured to know its eco-friendliness was 6.67~7.15, and according to the migration testing, only Pb and CN were lower than the standards, so it can be said that NSS has almost no harmful components in it. According to the result of uniaxial strength testing, when the mixture ratio of weathered soil to NSS was 6%, about 1,850kpa strength was expressed. And according to the result of CBR. testing to figure out its appropriateness as a paving material, the CBR of the foundation was 4%~6%. But when the mixture ratio of NSS is over 6%, the water immersion CBR. is over 100%; thus, it is expected that it will show great utility as a paving material.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9-24
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• 1993

The time-dependent radioecological model applicable to Korean environment has been developed in order to assess the radiological consequences following the short-term deposition of radionuclides in an accident of nuclear power plant. Time-dependent radioactivity concentrations in foodstuffs can be estimated by the model called 'KORFOOD' as well as time-dependent and time-integrated ingestion doses. Three kinds of critical radionuclides and thirteen kinds of foodstuffs were considered in this model. Dynamic variation of radioactivities were simulated by considering several effects such as deposition, weathering and washout, resuspension, root uptake, translocation, leaching, senescence, intake and excretion of soil by animals, intake and excretion of feedstuffs by animals, etc. The input data to the KORFOOD are the time of the year when the deposition occurs, the kinds of radionuclides and foodstuffs for estimation. The time-dependent specific activities in rice and the ingestion doses due to the consumption of all considered foodstuffs were calculated with deposition time using agricultural data-base in Kori region. In order to validate results of KORFOOD, the calculated results were compared with those by a leading German model, ECOSYS-87. The comparison of results shows good agreements within a factor of ten.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.235-245
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• 2012

Nondestructive deterioration diagnosis has been carried out for the former ore dressing plant of the Yongwha mine in Yeongyang (Registered Cultural Property No. 255). Deterioration rates about organic contaminant and soil of the upper part (7 to 13 layer) indicate higher than the lower part (1 to 6 layer) of the ore dressing plants. By contrast, deterioration rates such as crack, break out and discoloration of the lower part indicate very higher than the upper part. It is estimated that the plants of the lower part that mechanical and chemical process had been done for flotation were damaged severely by physicochemical weathering with reaction of concrete and chemical solution. As results of ultrasonic velocity measurement, average p-wave velocity of plants were measured 2,462m/s (compressive strength $529kgf/cm^2$). As for the analytical results of surface contaminants and soil compositions using P-XRF, they were identical with major elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, Fe and As) of ore minerals from the Yongwha mine. Therefore, the ore dressing plant should be treated by phytoremediation with conservation because heavy metals could impinged upon plants and natural environment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.88 no.4
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• pp.541-554
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• 1999

The objectives of this study were to examine the amount of nutrient input by throughfall and stemflow, and the nutrient dynamics by throughfall, stemflow and soil solution among Piuns koraiensis, Larix leptolepis and hardwood forests including oaks at Kwangju-Gun, Kyonggi-Do. A total amount of rainfall during the study period was 1410.1mm. Of the total rainfall, 85% was from throughfall at the L. leptolepis stand, 84.5% at the thinned P. koraiensis stand, 83.2% at the unthinned P. koraiensu stand and 81.2% at the hardwood stand, showing greater throughfall at the conifer stand than at the hardwood stand. Stemflow showed 2.7% of rainfall at the hardwood stand, 1.3% at the unthinned P. koraiensis stand, 1.2% at the thinned P. koraiensis stand and 0.8% at the L. leptolepis stand, showing greater stemflow at the hardwood stand than at the conifer stand. Ion concentration of stemflow was greater than those of rainfall and throughfall. The conifer stand showed higher ion concentration than the hardwood stand both for cation and anion. The ion concentrations of throughfall and stemflow were higher in the descending order : $NH{_4}^+$-N > $K^+$ > $K^+$ > $Na^+$ > $Mg^{2+}$ for cations and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ > $NO{_3}^-$-N > $Cl^-$-N for anions. After the precipitation passed through the canopy, $K^+$ increased most at the hardwood stand, whereas $NH{_4}^+$-N did most at the P. koraiensis and L. leptolepis stands. The ion concentration of soil solution was higher in the descending order : $Ca^{2+}$ > $Mg^{2+}$ > $Na^+$ for cations and $NO{_3}^-$-N > $Cl^-$ > $SO{_4}^{2-}$ for anions. $NH{_4}^+$-N and $K^+$ seemed to be supplied primarily from atmospheric deposition while $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$ and $Na^+$ from weathering.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.281-302
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• 2023

Carbon is not only an essential element for life but also a key player in climate change. The radiocarbon (¹⁴C) analysis using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is a powerful tool not only to understand the carbon cycle but also to track pollutants derived from fossil carbon, which have a distinct radiocarbon isotope ratio (Δ¹⁴C). Many studies have reported Δ¹⁴C of carbon compounds in streams, rivers, rain, snow, throughfall, fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), and wastewater treatment plant effluents in South Korea, which are reviewed in this manuscript. In summary, (1) stream and river carbon in South Korea are largely derived from the chemical weathering of soils and rocks, and organic compounds in plants and soils, strongly influenced by precipitation, wastewater treatment effluents, agricultural land use, soil water, and groundwater. (2) Unprecedentedly high Δ¹⁴C of precipitation during winter has been reported, which can directly and indirectly influence stream and river carbon. Although we cannot exclude the possibility of local contamination sources of high Δ¹⁴C, the results suggest that stream dissolved organic carbon could be older than previously thought, warranting future studies. (3) The ¹⁴C analysis has also been applied to quantify the sources of forest throughfall and PM_2.5, providing new insights. The ¹⁴C data on a variety of ecosystems will be valuable not only to track the pollutants derived from fossil carbon but also to improve our understanding of climate change and provide solutions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.130-143
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• 1997

To investigate geochemical characteristics and the sources of the dissolved ion species in the river water in the Han river drainage basin, samples were collected at 60 sites from the Han river drainage basin. The data for. pH, conductivity, TDS (total dissolved solid), temperature, and concentrations of dissloved ions were obtained as follows : (1) The geochemical characteristics of the surface water in the South and North Han river drainage basins are mainly controlled by bed rock geology in the drainage basin and in the main stream of the Han river considerably affected by anthropogenic pollution. The South Han river water samples have high concentrations of $Ca^{2＋}$ (ave. 15.42 ppm), $Mg^{2＋}$ (ave. 2.74 ppm), HC $O_3$$^{[-10]}$ (ave. 51.9 ppm), which evidently indicates that the bed rock geology in a limestone area mainly controls the surface water chemistry. The concentration of S $O_4$$^{2-}$ is remarkably high (SHR10-2 : 129.9 ppm) because of acid mine drainage from the metal and coal mines in the upper reaches of the South Han river. (2) The South Han river and the North Han river join the Han river. in the Yangsuri, Kyounggido and flow through Seoul metropolitan city. The mixing ratio is about 60:40 at the meeting point (sample number HRl0). (3) The result of factor analysis suggests that the pollution factor accounts for about 79% and the bed rock type factor accounts for about 7% of the data variation. This means that the geochemical characteristics of the Han river water mainly controlled by anthropogenic pollution in the South Han river and main stream of the Han river drainage basin. (4) The chemical data for four tributaries such as the Wangsukcheon, the Tancheon, the Zunuangcheon, and the Anyangcheon show that the concentration of pollution elements such as N $O_2$, C $l^{－}$, P $O_4$$^{3-}$, S $O_4$$^{2-}$ and Mn are high due to municipal waste disposal.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.613-629
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• 1996

River terraces of glacial and interglacial periods are most developed in the Ungcheon River, midwestern coastal region of south Korea. Among these terraces, interglacial river terraces correspond to the thalassostatic terraces of eastern coastal region of Korea. Thus the former shoreline altitudes of the coastal region around Ungcheon River can be estimated by using relative heights of these interglacial thalassostatic terraces of Ungcheon River The former shoreline altitudes estimated from interglacial thalassostatic terraces of Ungcheon River are 80m, 50${\sim}$60m, 40${\sim}$45m, 30m, 25m(?), 15${\sim}$20m, and 10m. These estimates are almost identical with those of Quaternary sea levels of eastern coastal region. Among the above estimates of Ungcheon River, the former shoreline altituded of 15~20m and 10m correspond to the ancient sea levels of $\pm$18m and $\pm$10m of eastern coastal region which were injudged as the last interglacial culmination period and late warmer period of the last interglacia(5e and 5a substages of oxygen isotope stage), respectively. Therefore there is a possibility that the rest of the above former shoreline altitudes of the coastal region aroune Jngcheon River also correspond to those of eastern coastal region. On the basis of the above possibility it can be proposed that the eastern and western coastal region of Korean Peninsula have undergone tectonic uplift of equall amount since the middle Quaternary Period.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.325-337
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• 2002

We examined the contamination of stream water and stream sediments by heavy metal elements with respect to distance from the abandoned Backun Au-Ag-Cu mine. High contents of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Mn, and Fe) and aluminum in the waters connected with mining and associated deposits (dumps, tailings) reduce water quality. In the mining area, Ca and SO$_4$ are predominant cation and anion. The mining water is Ca-SO$_4$ type and is enriched in heavy metals resulted from the weathering of sulfide minerals. This mine drainage water is weakly acid or neutral (pH; 6.5-7.1) because of neutralizing effect by other alkali and alkaline earth elements. The effluent from the mine adit is also weakly acid or neutral, and contains elevated concentrations of most elements due to reactions with ore and gangue minerals in the deposit. The concentration of ions in the Backun mining water is high in the mine adit drainage water and steeply decreased award to down stream. Buffering process can be reasonably considered as a partial natural control of pollution, since the ion concentration becomes lower and the pH value becomes neutralized. In order to evaluate mobility and bioavailability of metals, sequential extraction was used for stream sediments into five operationally defined groups: exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to FeMn oxide, bound to organic matter, and residual. The residual fraction was the most abundant pool for Cu(2l-92%), Zn(28-89%) and Pb(23-94%). Almost sediments are low concentrated with Cd(2.7-52.8 mg/kg) than any other elements. But Cd dominate with non stable fraction (68-97%). Upper stream sediments are contaminated with Pb, and down area sediments are enriched with Zn. It is indicate high mobility of Zn and Cd.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 2007

The consumption of artificially crushed sands exceeds more than 30 percent of the domestic sand supply in South Korea, and its rate is still increasing. For the manufacture of crushed sand granites and granitic gneisses are preferred, fine fractions (i.e. sludge, particles finer than 63 microns) are removed by use of flocculation agents, and its amount occupy about 15 wt%. The sludges consist of quartz, feldspars, micas, chlorite/vermiculite, kaolinites, smectites and occasionally calcite. Among the clay minerals micas are usually predominant, and $14{\AA}$ minerals, kaolinites and smectites are rather scarce. Jurassic granites usually contain more kaolinites and smectites than those of Cretaceous to Tertiary granites, probably due to longer geologic ages. On the other hand, sludge from Precambrian gneiss does not contain kaolinites and smectites. Chemical analyses for the granites and their sludges show rather clear differences in most of major chemical components. Except for $SiO_2,\;Na_2O\;and\;K_2O$, all other components represent rather clear increase. Decrease of $SiO_2$ content is attributed to the relative decrease of quartz in the sludges. And the $Na_2O decrease is caused by a relatively stronger weathering property of albite compared to Ca plagioclase. The $K_2O$ content shows rather small differences throughout the whole samples. The increases of $Al_2O_3$ and other major components resulted from weathering processes and most of colored components are also concentrated in the sludges. Particle size analyses reveal that the sludges are categorized as sandy loams in a sand-silt-clay triangular diagram. The sludge is now classified as industrial waste because of its impermeability, and this result was also confirmed by rather higher hydraulic conductivities. For the environmental problems, and accomplishing effective sand manufacture, more fresh rocks with little weathering products must be chosen.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.27-40
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• 1997

The hydrogeochemical study on the 15 natural waters was carried out in the vicinity of tunnel excavation site of Donghae largely composed of granite and limestone. The water samples can be classified based on their chemical characteristics into two groups; waters draining in the granitic region(group 1) and the limestone region(group 2). This classification was also confirmed by statistical examination through cluster analysis, and the tunnel seepage waters collected at the same site appear to be included in group 1 and 2 by their sampling period, respectively. According to factor analysis, the waters of group 1 art mainly represented by the weathering of plagioclase to kaolinite and those of group 2 are characterized by the dissolution of calcite. Different properties of the tunnel seepage waters are thought to be resulted from the effective waterproofing processes conducted during the sampling interval to the surface and subsurface leakage zones at the granitic region, which contributed to the change of groundwater flow system. However both the tunnel seepage waters seem to have thermodynamically interacted with rock-forming minerals in their wallrocks. The mixing ratio of the waters from two groups and water-rock interactions are evaluated quantitatively for the tunnel seepage waters through the mass balance approach, and the results are identical with the previous conclusions in this study.