• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.287-290
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• 2002

To examine the denitrification process in an alluvial aquifer in the Cheonan site, hydrological and hydrogeochemical studies were carried out. Elevated levels of NO$_3$ (maximum 77.6 mg/L) were observed in shallow groundwaters of the area, as a result of poultry and agricultural activity. However, the nitrate concentrations were found to be consistently attenuated down to very low levels (<1.0 mg/L). The abrupt removal of nitrate coincided with the pattern of redox change and indicated that denitrification is the most plausible process. The hydrochemistry and mass balance approach using geochemical modeling (phreeqc 2.0) and redox chemistry indicated that chemo-autotrophic denitrification via pyrite oxidation is the key Process to control the nitrate attenuation in the study area.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.73-80
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• 2013

Fine suspended solids from coal mine drainage were treated in the treating plant, using two different pilot-scale inclined clarifiers: radial and lamella types. Suspended solids in the mine drainage were monitored along with other geochemical factors, and metal contents. Fe and Mn are the main chemical components in the drainage, which exist predominantly as total metal forms, whereas dissolved portion is negligible. The raw mine drainage is subject to physical and chemical treatment using $CaCO_3$ and NaOH, therefore the suspended solids are thought to be composed of Fe and Mn precipitates, possibly $Fe(OH)_3$, along with carbonate precipitates. The elemental composition of precipitates are confirmed by SEM-EDS analysis. As nearly all the dissolved ions were precipitated in the primary process by $CaCO_3$, no further aeration or prolonged oxygenation are of necessity in this plant. Adoption of inclined clarifier proved to be effective in treating fine suspended solids in the current plant. Successful application of the inclined clarifier will also be beneficial to improve the current treating process by excluding the current application of chemical agent in the first stage. The final effluents from the pilot plant meet the national standards and the low dissolved Fe and Mn contents are expected not to cause secondary precipitation after discharge.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.149-156
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• 1999

In the United States (U.S.), the monitored natural attenuation (MNA) approach has been used as an alternative remedial option for organic and inorganic compounds retained in soil and dissolved in groundwater. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines the MNA as“in-situ naturally-occurring processes include biodegradation, diffusion, dilution, sorption, volatilization, and/or chemical and biochemical stabilization of contaminants and reduce contaminant toxicity, mobility or volume to the levels that are protective of human health and the environment”. The Department of Soil Environment. National Institute Environmental Research (NIER) is in the process for demonstrating the MNA approach as a potential remedial option for the BTEX contaminated site in Uiwang City. The project is charactering the research site in terms of the nature and extend of contamination, biological degradation rate, and geochemical and hydrological properties. The microbial-degradation rate and effectiveness of nutrient and redox supplements will be determined through laboratory batch and column tests. The geochemical process will be monitored for determining the concentration changes of chemical species involved in the electron transfer processes that include methanogenesis, sulfate and iron reduction, denitrification, and aerobic respiration. Through field works, critical soil and hydrogeologic parameters will be acquired to simulate the effects of dispersion, advection, sorption, and biodegradation on the fate and transport of the dissolved-phase BTEX plume using Bioplume III model. The objectives of this multi-years research project are (1) to evaluate the MNA approach using the BTEX contaminated site in Uiwang City, (2) to establish a standard protocol for future application of the approach, (3) to investigate applicability of the passive approach as a secondary treatment remedy after active treatments. In this presentation, the overall picture and philosophy behind the MNA approach will be reviewed. Detailed discussions of the site characterization/monitoring plans and risk-based decision-making processes for the demonstration site will be included.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.737-760
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• 2022

For the geological disposal of high-level radioactive wastes (HLW), an understanding of deep subsurface environment is essential through geological, hydrogeological, geochemical, and geotechnical investigations. Although South Korea plans the geological disposal of HLW, only a few studies have been conducted for characterizing the geochemistry of deep subsurface environment. To guide the hydrogeochemical research for selecting suitable repository sites, this study overviewed the status and trends in hydrogeochemical characterization of deep groundwater for the deep geological disposal of HLW in developed countries. As a result of examining the selection process of geological disposal sites in 8 countries including USA, Canada, Finland, Sweden, France, Japan, Germany, and Switzerland, the following geochemical parameters were needed for the geochemical characterization of deep subsurface environment: major and minor elements and isotopes (e.g., ³⁴S and ¹⁸O of SO₄^2-, ¹³C and ¹⁴C of DIC, ²H and ¹⁸O of water) of both groundwater and pore water (in aquitard), fracture-filling minerals, organic materials, colloids, and oxidation-reduction indicators (e.g., Eh, Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺, H₂S/SO₄^2-, NH₄⁺/NO₃^-). A suitable repository was selected based on the integrated interpretation of these geochemical data from deep subsurface. In South Korea, hydrochemical types and evolutionary patterns of deep groundwater were identified using artificial neural networks (e.g., Self-Organizing Map), and the impact of shallow groundwater mixing was evaluated based on multivariate statistics (e.g., M3 modeling). The relationship between fracture-filling minerals and groundwater chemistry also has been investigated through a reaction-path modeling. However, these previous studies in South Korea had been conducted without some important geochemical data including isotopes, oxidationreduction indicators and DOC, mainly due to the lack of available data. Therefore, a detailed geochemical investigation is required over the country to collect these hydrochemical data to select a geological disposal site based on scientific evidence.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.599-612
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• 1995

Some REE ore deposits are located in the middle part the of Korean peninsula. Geotectonically, the REE ore deposits situated on the Kyemyeongsan Formation of northern margin of the Okcheon geosynclinal belt and in the transitional zone between Kyeonggi massif and the Okcheon belt, with a deep-seated fracture separating the two tectonic units. The Kyemyeongsan Formation are different in lithology and metamorphic grade from the Gyeonggi massif and the Okcheon super group. The sequence of Kyemyeongsan Formation is dominantly composed of acidic metavolcanic and volcaniclastic rocks associated with alkaline igneous rocks which are related to volcano-plutonism. The REE ore deposits contain mainly Ce-La, Ta-Nb, Y, Y-Nd and Nd-Th group minerals. More than 15 RE and REE minerals have been found in the deposits, such as allanite, fergusonite, thorite bestnaesite, euxenite, polyclase, monazite, columbite, (Nb)-rutile, okanoganite, sphene, zircon, illmenite and some other unknown minerals. According to the characteristics of the mineral association, the REE ore deposits may be divided into 4 ore types; Zircon-REE, allanite-REE, feldspar-REE and fluorite-REE type. The Sm-Nd isochron age of the REE ore is 330 Ma, and the Sm-Nd model age is 1.11 Ga with ${\varepsilon}_{Nd(t)}$ being - 2.9. This data suggest that the REE ore deposit was formed in the early Carboniferous, and the ore-forming material came from the mantle. The REE ores show distinct light REE enrichment with strong negative Eu anomaly. The REE patterns of schistose rocks from Kyemyeongsan Formation are similar to felsic volcanics from rifts or back arc basins in or near continental crust. The genesis of the REE ore deposit is quite complicated. Different geologic processes are displayed in the studied area; sedimentation, volcanic activity, metamorphism and hydrothermal replacement. Alkali granite has suffered extensive post-magmatic metasomatism of a high temperature to produce alkali metasomatites. Geochemical charateristics show that metasomatism of alkaline fluid was probably the dominant ore-forming process in Chungju district.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.485-498
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• 1998

The water-rock interaction and anthropogenic contamination affecting to geochemical composition of shallow and deep groundwaters were investigated in the agricultural area of Myunggok-ri, Kongju. The shallow groundwater is classified into the chemical types of $Ca-HCO_3$ and $Ca-Cl(SO_4)$ and shows weak acid having an average pH 6.2. Deep groundwater shows the uncontaminated composition of the chemical types of $Na-HCO_3$ and Na $(Ca)-HCO_3$ with pH of 8.4~8.8. The grouping approach of chemical data of waters shows the distinguished trend between water composition influenced anthrophogenic input and water composition mainly determined by natural process such as water-rock interaction. The main anthropogenic inputs affecting chemical composition of shallow groundwater are the contaminants such as $K^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, $Cl^-$ having average values of 4.4 mg/l, 22 mg/l, 13.7 mg/l, respectively. The contaminants were probably derived from fertilizer, sweage, septic tank, and stable, etc. The hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions indicate that five deep groundwaters were recharged from different altitudes, and that shallow and deep groundwaters were originated from meteoric water. Tritium contents of waters suggest that deep groundwater was recharged before or just after 1950s, and that shallow groundwater is much younger than deep groundwater. The results of this study may serve as a basic data for the future study of shallow groundwater as a drinking water in agricultural area, in Korea.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.375-387
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• 2007

The Iksan Mireuksaji stone pagoda, designated as national treasure No. 11 in Korea, has been in the process of disassembling for reconstruction as part of the cultural heritage conservation program. The pagoda is mainly consisting of granite, which is relatively resistant to weathering. However, it has lost its original rock color due to various contaminants deposited at the surface since it exposed to the atmospheric environment long time. In this research, we categorized the secondary inorganic contaminants into the genetic type, and also quantitatively examined occurrences and types of pollutants in the oxidation area of the pagoda surface in which the area is clearly distinguished by naked eyes. Geochemical behavior of soluble pollutants through reaction experiments are demonstrated, and effective methods of cleaning for the conservation and scientific applicability of the surface cleaner are also studied.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.35-47
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• 1984

Combined mineralogical and geochemical studies were made on two hundred eighty one representative samples from uraniferous coaly meta-pelites of the Ogcheon metamorphic terrain. Different mineral occurrence of the areas investigated should be taken into account for chemical processes for uranium extraction. Secondary uranium minerals identified are metauranocircite, metatorbernite and autunite. These are disseminated mostly on the laumontites which infused and filled secondary openings in the coaly matrix, and are often closely associated with iron oxides. The uranium distribution show distinctly log normal. Geochemical correlation coefficient of uranium and organic carbon displays +0.624~+0.796. The relationship of the major components to uranium can be expressed by the following regression equation: Log $(U_3O_8{\times}10^4)$=1.40117-0.00076 (quartz) -0.00118 (muscovite) +0.00235 (biotite) +0.00323 (other silicates) - 0.01114 (apatite) +0.01124 (hematite) +0.00149 (limonite) -0.01823 (opaques)+0.03049 (organic carbon). Uranium in the coaly meta-pelites of the Ogcheon Group was deposited together under same physico-chemical environmental conditions. There is a considerable variation in the ${\delta}^{34}S$ values (11.2~16.8 per mil) of the pyrites from the U-bearing meta-pelites, which implies sedimentary origin. The two U-bearing coaly rocks analyzed have ${\delta}^{13}C$ values between -16.88~-18.00 per mil, which suggests organic.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.337-347
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• 1993

Mineralogical and geochemical studies on some pyrophyllite deposits in Milyang area, Kyeongnam Province (Milyang and Sungjin mine) were carried out in order to investigate dispersion patterns of chemical elements in altered volcanic wallrocks, and to interpret genetic environments of the pyrophyllite deposits. Cretaceous andesitic and tuffaceous rocks, and pyrophyllite ore specimens were collected from the dumps and drilling cores. Andesitic wallrocks were grouped as unaltered and altered rocks in the order of pyrophyllitization. Vertical dispersion patterns and relative mobilities of chemical elements in volcanic wallrocks were discussed. Geochemical environment in the Milyang area is characterized by the occurrence of boron minerals such as dumortierite coexisting with pyrophyllite ores, and tourmaline in granitic rocks. Unaltered andesitic rocks are mainly composed of plagioclase, pyroxene and hornblende, and were propylitized and saussuritized. Altered andesitic rocks are bleached and consist of quartz, sericite, pyrophyllite, kaolinite, chlorite and disseminated pyrite. Pyrophyllite ores are mainly composed of quartz, pyrophyllite, dumortierite, dissemianted pyrite and some diaspore. Enrichment of $SiO_2$, $Al_2O_3$, LOI (loss on ignition), As and Cr, and depletion of $K_2O$, $Na_2O$, CaO, MgO and total Fe are characteristic during alteration process. The REE patterns show that the pyrophyllite deposits could be originated from the continental margin volcanics. The $(La/Lu)_{cn}$ ratios of the pyrophyllite ores increase from 4.2~23.2 to 2.67~128.8 owing to strong acidic hydrothermal alteration. Vertical dispersion patterns of $Al_2O_3$, $K_2O$, $Na_2O$, CaO, MgO, $Fe_2O_3$ (total Fe), As, Au, Sb, Cr and Sr in the wallrocks show the location of orebodies. Particularly dispersion patterns of $Al_2O_3$ and Cr indicate the extension of orebodies. Anomalous distribution of Au, As and Sb in wallrocks shows potential for gold occurrence below the pyrophyllite deposits. Judging from the relative mobilities of elements in wallrocks, $Al_2O_3$ could be added from hydrothermal solution, and the silicified rone be formed from the excess of $SiO_2$.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.53-69
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• 2000

To reveal the origin of the Chuncheon nephrite deposit, radiogenic isotopes of Sr and Pb, stable isotopes of 0 and H, and rare earth elements concentrations were analyzed. Such geochemical data were integrated to track the stepwise changes during the various ore formation stages. All the samples from the nephrite deposit have significantly low 0 isotopic ratios compared with the marble from which they had been formed, which reflects the very important role of the crustal circulating water with low 6180 and 6D in every stage of ore formation. There were progressive decrease of 6180 and 6D during the genesis of Chuncheon nephrite deposit. Newly formed minerals during the ore formation reveal disequilibrium with existing minerals in the respect of 0 isotope, which suggests that the ore-forming fluid of circulating water origin was involved with significant water-rock ratios in every step of ore formation process. The ore samples have Sr and Pb isotopic ratios similar to the values of Kyeonggi gneiss complex within which the deposit is located, which also suggests the important role of crustal circulating water in the genesis of the deposit. In conclusion, all the geochemical data support that major portion of the ore-forming fluid of Chuncheon nephrite deposit was derived ultimately from the surface water of meteoric origin. The meteoric water supplied Sr and Pb through leaching the rocks surrounding the ore deposits.