• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2007

The MH21 Research Consortium has conducted a high-resolution 3D seismic survey and a seafloor geochemical survey, to explore methane hydrate reservoirs in the eastern Nankai Trough, offshore Japan. Excellent geological information about shallow formations was obtained from the high-resolution 3D seismic survey, which was designed to image the shallow formations where methane hydrates exist. The information is useful in constructing a geological and geochemical model, and especially to understand the complex geology of seafloor, including geochemical manifestations and the structure of migration conduits for methane gas or methane-bearing fluid. By comparing methane seep sites observed by submersibles with seismic sections, some significant relationships between methane hydrate reservoirs, free gas accumulations below the seafloor, and seafloor manifestations are recognised. Bathymetric charts and seafloor reflection amplitude maps, constructed from seismic reflections from the seafloor, are also useful in understanding the relationships over a vast area. A new geochemical seafloor survey targeted by these maps is required. The relationships between methane hydrate reservoirs and seafloor manifestations are becoming clearer from interpretation of high-resolution 3D seismic data. The MH21 Research Consortium will continue to conduct seafloor geochemical surveys based on the geological and geochemical model constructed from high-resolution 3D seismic data analysis. In this paper, we introduce a basis for exploration of methane hydrate reservoirs in Japan by fusion of 3D seismic exploration and seafloor geochemical surveys.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.173-184
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• 2004

The geochemical exploration was carried out of the soil systems in the survey areas(Mt. Subang area). The chemical values of soil samples for soil in this area are defined such as over values of Ag : 11 ppm(Average ： 1.91 ppm), Au 548 ppb(Average 42.39 ppb), Cu : 89 ppm(Average：51.40 ppm), Pb：190 ppm(Average ： 23.69 ppm), Zn : 157 ppm(Average : 61.78 ppm), respectively. Anomalous areas for each element have been chosen based on the factors such as, geologic settings, geochemical survey, chemical analysis of ore, chemical analysis of soil. statistical processing of the chemical analysis. Therefore, multi-elements anomalies area were recognized in the east-center part of the study area.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 1992

In order to study the optimum depth for the soil geochemical exploration in the area which is affected by agricultural activities and waste disposal of metal mine, the soil samples were sampled from the B layer of residual soil and vertical 7 layers up to 250 cm in the rice field and 3 layers up to 90 cm in the ordinary field. They were analyzed for Au, As, Cu, Pb and Zn by AAS, AAS-graphite furnace and ICP. To investigate the proper depth for the soil sampling in the contaminated area, the data were treated statistically by applying correlation coefficient, factor analysis and trend analysis. It is conclude that soil geochemical exploration method could be applied in the farm-land and a little contaminated area. The optimum depth of soil sampling is 60 cm in the ordinary field, and 150~200 cm in the rice field. Soil sampling in the area of a huge mine waste disposal is not recommendable. Plotting of geochemical map with factor scores as a input data shows a clear pattern compared with the map of indicater element such as As or Au. The second or third degree trend surface analysis is effective in inferring the continuity of vein in the area where the outcrop is invisible.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.563-575
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• 2008

The ore depositional and geochemical exploration on Bougouni area in Mali, central-western Africa covering $2,000\;Km^2$ was conducted for determining the detailed survey area. According to the results of this exploration, the highly potential area for the zinc-tin-gold-silver mineralization was found in Kolani and Riarako areas. The contents of zinc in heavy sand collected in the stream sediments range from 14 to 8,600 ppm, while the mean values of zinc in this area are 543 ppm with threshold($x+2{\sigma}$) of zinc anomalies being 1,000 ppm in Bougouni area. Generally zinc anomalies are associated with the tin and molybdenum anomalies and hence the anomalous area was selected for the detailed survey area for tracing the primary zinc and precious ore deposits related to these anomalies in following project.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.241-246
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• 1980

Some components in uranium-bearing formations which consist mainly of black shale, slate. and low grade coal-bearing formation of Ogcheon Belt were processed statistically in order to find out the geochemical correlations with uranium. Geochemical enrichment of uranium, vanadium and molybdenum in low grade coal-bearing formations and surrounding rocks is remarkable in the studied area. Geochemical correlation coefficient of uranium and molybdenum in the rocks displays about 0.6, and that of uranium and fixed carbon about 0.4. Uranium and vanadium in uranium-bearing low grade coals denote very high correlation with fixed carbon, which is considered to be responsible for enrichment of metallic elements, especially molybdenum. Close geochemical correlation of uranium-molybdenum couple in the rocks can be applied as a competent exploration guide to low grade uranium deposits of this area.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.147-168
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• 2014

The soil geochemical exploration was carried out targeting around Tri Le area far from about 30 km with northwestern direction from Que Phong within Nghe An province. The interval of sampling are horizontal 200 m interval with 23 line and longitudinal 300 m with 10 line, resulting in 228 soil samples. Based on the result of the soil geochemical exploration, the detailed pitting survey was carried out targeting the grid point with high TREO content, resulting in 75 soil samples within 7 pits. The geology of survey area are consisted of Ban Chieng biotite granite complex and granitic gneiss intruding Ban Khang formation comprising of quartz schist and marble. Main mineralization in the study area have the characteristics of occurrence with tin, ruby and REE-bearing monazite and xenotime to be thought as occurring at the alteration zone of granite complex. In order to elucidate the source rock of monazite and xenotime confirmed from heavy sand, soil geochemical exploration was carried out. As a analysis result with ICP-MS on the soil samples from the soil geochemical exploration, total REE oxide content of background amount to about 2 times of crustal abundance, enriching the heavy rare earth(about 2 times) and light rare earth(about 1.5 times). As a analysis result with ICP-MS on the soil samples from the soil detailed pit survey, we only identified outcrop considering as economic weathered granite body at the grid point 1-10 pit among 7 pits. As a synthetic consideration on the soil geochemical exploration and detailed pit survey, we tentatively designated Tri Le area as no promising target for REE. In 2014, we have the plan to carry out the soil geochemical exploration targeting the extended economic REE ore body in Quy Chau as project area from 2011 to 2012.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.691-698
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• 2007

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.359-373
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• 2013

Shale is considered as a source rock for conventional oil and gas exploration and development because shale is fine-grained detrital sedimentary rock which can preserve the organic matter better. Shale has a good sealing capacity for the petroleum trap due to its low permeability. Commercial recoveries of gas from shale in the North America based on the development of technologies of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing reveal that shale also function as a effective reservoir rock. Geochemical techniques to evaluate generation potential of the hydrocarbons from organic matter in the source rocks can be applied for the exploration of the shale gas resources. To evaluate shale gas resources, it is important to understand various geochemical processes and shale characteristics controlling generation, storage and estimation of shale gas reserves. In this paper, the generation mechanism of the oil and gas from organic matter is reviewed, and geochemical techniques which can be applied for the evaluation and characterization of shale gas are introduced.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.143-167
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• 1978

The Sangdong tungsten (mostly scheelite) mine is located on the southern limb of a major syncline, the Hambaeg syncline, in a thick sequence of lower Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in the mideastern part of south Korea. Productive scheelite mineralization in Sangdong area is confined to one single formation, the Myobong Slate. Four major ore beds, which have an lateral extension over than 1 km and were not heavily subjected to spatial disturbance, are developed in the Myobong Formation. The original materials of the ore-comprising horizones were probably of either calcareous or silceous sediments. The four ore beds, especially in the case of Main ore bed, display both lateral and vertical zoning. Association quartz-mica-scheelite is predominant in the central, while association hornblende-quartz-diopside-scheelite, diopside-garnet and wollastonite-garnet are developed in this order towards the periphery of the ore beds. Petrologically, two phases of thermometamorphism are recognized. The first phase is represented by the association wollastonite-garnet and diopside-garnet, while the second phase by the association hornblende-quartz-diopside-scheelite and quartz-mica-scheelite. The associations of the second phase do constitute prodctive ore. The high background value of tungsten in the area surrounding the Sangdong mine reveals that the area can be considered a geochemical zone enriched in tungsten. Studies on the trace element patterns were carried out to draw useful criteria for the purpose of future geochemical exploration in the area. The increasing trend of the ratio Rb $({\times}1000)/K_2O$ of the Myobong Slate towards the known mineralization area proved to be indicative for the presence of tungsten mineralization.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.599-622
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• 2012

The phase I soil geochemical exploration was carried out targeting around Chau Binh area far from about 14 km with southeastern direction from Quy Chau within Nghe An province. The interval of sampling are horizontal 300 m with 14 line and longitudinal 500 m with 15 line, resulting in 194 soil samples. Based on the result of the phase I soil geochemical exploration, the phase II detailed pitting survey was carried out targeting the grid point with high TREO content, resulting in 56 soil samples within 7 pits. The geology of survey area are consisted of Ban Chieng biotite granite complex and Dai Loc gneissic granite complex intruding Bu Khang formation comprising of schist, gneiss and limestone. Main mineralization in the study area have the characteristics of occurrence with tin, ruby and REE-bearing monazite(about 300 g/t) and xenotime(about 10 g/t) to be thought as occurring at the alteration zone of granite complex. In order to elucidate the source rock of monazite and xenotime confirmed from heavy sand, soil geochemical exploration was carried out. As a analysis result with ICP-MS on the soil samples from the phase I soil geochemical exploration, total REE oxide content of background amount to about 2 times of crustal abundance, enriching the heavy rare earth(about 2 times) and light rare earth(about 1.84 times). As a analysis result with ICP-MS on the soil samples from the phase II soil detailed pit survey, we identified outcrop considering as economic ore body at the grid point 4-7 pit with N40W attitude. As a synthetic consideration on the phase I soil geochemical exploration and phase II detailed pit survey, we tentatively designated areas considering as the extension of economic ore body with REE anomaly. In the near future, we have the plan to carry out the geophysical exploration and test drilling targeting the interval anticipated to the economic ore body.