• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.149-159
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• 2019

Borehole elemental concentration logging, measuring neutron-induced gamma rays by inelastic scattering and neutron capture interactions between neutron and formation, delivers concentrations of the most common elements found in the minerals and fluids of subsurface formation. X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence analysis from core samples are traditionally used to understand formation composition and mineralogy, but it represents only part of formations. Additionally, it is difficult to obtain elemental analysis over the whole intervals because of poor core recovery zones such as fractures or sand layers mainly responsible for groundwater flow. The development of borehole technique for in situ elemental analysis plays a key role in assessing subsurface environment. Although this technology has advanced consistently starting from conventional and unconventional resources evaluation, it has been considered as exclusive techniques of some major service company. As regards domestic research and development, it has still remained an unexplored field because of some barriers such as the deficiency of detailed information on tools and calibration facility for chemistry and mineralogy database. This article reviews the basic theory of spectroscopy measurements, system configuration, calibration facility, and current status. In addition, this article introduces the domestic researches and self-development status on borehole elemental concentration tools.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.5-12
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• 2005

Recently, geophysical prospecting methods have played very important roles in civil and environmental engineering problems. Technical advances in geophysical instruments and computer system made it possible to get underground images with very high resolution far purposes to resolve those problems. It was possible partly due to ever increasing demand for development of technologies needed to precisely detect polluted areas and prevent ground-related accidents. Based on the same demand, integrity tests of cast-in place piles draw more attention and development of accurate test procedures is required. Ultrasonic methods is one of most advanced non-destructive procedures. In the paper, a geotomography method is employed for the cast-in place pile integrity test using ultrasonic waves. The image of pile interior is scanned and scrutinized far better and more accurate decision in the cast-in place pile integrity. In this study, we firstly examined the accuracy fur tomography program with idealized synthetic models built in water tank: their position and size were changed in the tank and each case was studied. In the next stage, real concrete pile models were fabricated and images of anomaly areas inside the pile were scanned to successfully locate those areas.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.143-153
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• 2015

Polymer flooding for enhancing hydrocarbon production injects into a reservoir polymer solution that is viscous. It is very important to monitor the behavior pattern of the polymer solution in order to evaluate the effectiveness of polymer flooding. To monitor the distribution of polymer solution and thus fluid substitution within the reservoir, we first construct seismic and resistivity rock physics models (RPMs), which are functions of reservoir parameters such as rocks and type of fluid, fluid saturation. For the seismic and resistivity RPMs, responses of seismic and electromagnetic (EM) tomography are numerically simulated as polymer injection, using two dimensional (2D) staggered-grid finite difference elastic modeling and 2.5D finite element EM modeling algorithms, respectively. In constructing RPM for EM tomography, three different reservoir rocks are considered: clean-sand, dispersed shale-sand, and sand-shale lamination rocks. The polymer solution is assumed to have 2 wt% of polymer as normally generated, while water is freshwater or saltwater. Further, neutron logging is also considered to check its sensitivity to polymer flooding. The techniques discussed in the paper are important in monitoring not only hydrocarbon but also geothermal reservoirs.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2014

We investigate the spatial distribution of highly conductive layer using the one-dimensional inversions of the new magnetotelluric (MT) measurements obtained at the mid-mountain (400 ~ 900 m in elevation) western area of Jeju Island and the previous MT data over Jeju Island, Korea. The conductive layer indicates the sedimentary layer comprised of Seoguipo Fomation and U Formation. There is a definite positive correlation between the top of conductive layer and the earth surface in elevation. On the contrary, the bottom of conductive layer has a negative correlation with the surface elevation. In other words, the conductive layer has a shape of convex lens, which is thickest in the central part. The basement beneath the conductive layer could be concave in the central part of Jeju Island. A kriging considering the correlation between the layer boundary and the surface elevation provides a reliable geoelectric structure model of Jeju Island. However, further studies, i.e. three-dimensional modeling and interpretation integrated with other geophysical or logging data, are required to reveal the possible presence of three-dimensional conductive body near the subsurface vent of Mt. Halla and the causes of the bias in the depths of layer estimated from MT and core log data.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.349-356
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• 2015

Although geophysical methods are useful and generally provide valuable information about the subsurface, it is important to recognize their limitations. A common limitation is the lack of sufficient contrast in physical properties between different layers. Thus, multiple methods are commonly used to best constrain the physical properties of different layers and interpret each section individually. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and shallow seismic reflection (SSR) methods, used for shallow and very shallow subsurface imaging, respond to dielectric and velocity contrasts between layers, respectively. In this study, we merged GPR and SSR data from a test site within the Cheongui granitic mass, where the water table is ~3 m deep all year. We interpreted the data in combination with field observations and existing data from drill cores and well logs. GPR and SSR reflections from the tops of the sand layer, water table, and weathered and soft rocks are successfully mapped in a single section, and they correlate well with electrical resistivity data and SPS (suspension PS) well-logging profiles. In addition, subsurface interfaces in the integrated section correlate well with S-wave velocity structures from multi-channel analysis shear wave (MASW) data, a method that was recently developed to enhance lateral resolution on the basis of CMP (common midpoint) cross-correlation (CMPCC) analysis.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2005

A seismic refraction study in estimation of depth to the bedrock demonstrates that 1) the average velocity in the medium is about 250 m/s in the surface layer (< 4 m), 2,500 m/s in the weathered formation, and greater than 3,000 m/s in the bedrock, 2) the depth to the deepest reflector assumed to be the bedrock is about 17 m; however, according to the cores collected in a borehole in study area, the bedrock (granite) occurred at depth 25 m, 3) according to the density and velocity logging, at depth 17 m, a measurable velocity and density increase are observed, and 4) the velocity of the weathered formation is relatively high and therefore, the acquisition offsets ($70{\sim}80m$) are turned out not to be long enough to record the refracted signal from the bedrock at depth 25 m as first arrivals.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.151-166
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• 1989

A study of rare-earth mineralization in Kyemyungsan metasedimentary formation of Precambrian Ogcheon Group was carried out in the Mt. Eore Area near Choongju City based on the thorium (Th) and uranium (U) count data of geophysical airborne survey. This rare-earth mineralization was found in the magnetite-bearing banded quartizite which contains diagnostically some amounts of the metamict allanite. The brown colored allanites are distributed as aggregates of fine grains and sometimes banded structures with magnetite (inter growth) along the banding. The ore bed is displaced by the small faults and granite intrusions, and separated 5 ore blocks. The dimensions of the outcrop are 50-80 m in width, 1,500 m in length with the strike of $N70-80^{\circ}E$ and dip of $50-80^{\circ}NW$. In the field, the values of total gamma ray count of GR-101A scintillometer were able to measure more than 400 cps and maximum 1,500 cps, which data are coincided with the values of GR-310 gamma ray spectrometer and the gamma ray count of well logging data. The chemical compositions of the allanites from EPMA data are ranged from$\sum^{TR_2O_3}$ 18.57% to 26.00%, and the cerium oxides ($Ce_2O_3$) of allanite are positive relation with $La_2O_3$, MgO, FeO, MnO and negative relation with $SiO_2$, $Al_2O_3$, $Nd_2O_3$. The result of Neutron Activation Analysis (N.A.A.), Multi-Channel Analysis (M.C.A.) and wet chemistry of 25 outcrop samples for the elements of REE, Zr, U, Th shows strong anomalies. The good correlation elements with the thorium (Th) are the elements of La, Ce, LREE, $TR_2O_3$, Pr, Sm, Yb, Lu by the increasing order.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.11-17
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• 2018

Recently, road subsidence has been increasing in urban areas, threatening the safety of citizens. In the lower part of the road, various road facilities such as water supply and drainage pipelines and telecommunication facilities are buried, and the deterioration of the facilities causes the road subsidence. Especially, in the case of old sewer which are attracting attention as a main cause of ground subsidence, the risk of subsidence is calculated indirectly through CCTV exploration. Currently, we are finding cavity through GPR exploration. However, it is difficult to find the sewer back cavity because it is explored from the surface of the road. Thus, the nondestructive cavity exploration techniques was investigated in this study and we confirmed the applicability through experiments on the test-bed. In this study a new quantitative method is proposed to detect the cavity around sewer.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.45-57
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• 1999

Groundwater flow in rock mass is controlled by the fractures developed in the area. So, the conductive fractures are very important for groundwater flow in crystalline rock. This study aims to find out the characteristics of the fracture distributed in granitic rock in the northern part of the Yusong area (latitude $36^{\circ}24'18"~36^{\circ}25'08",{\;}longitude{\;}127^{\circ}21'00"~127^{\circ}23'23"$). The electric and EM surveys were carried out in the site to delineate the fracture the fracture zones. Since geophysical survey provides non-unique solution, hydraulic data and dilling log data including BHTV scanning were used as complementary data to achieve the objective of this study. Electric survey(DC) arrays used are schlumberger and dipole-dipole arrays. VLF is used for EM survey. The main charcteristics of the fracture developed in the study aera are that fractures associated with basic dyke cut corss the main fracture zone in NNW and play an important role as hydraulic barrier. In trun, groundwater table in the upstream area is lower than that downstream area.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.251-263
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• 2015

Geological mapping, borehole drilling, electrical resistivity, and seismic tomography surveys were conducted in order to map underground cavities and better understand the mechanisms driving subsidence in a limestone region in Korea. Limestone outcrops in the study area generally alternate between calcite-rich and calcite-poor rock. The results reveal that in areas experiencing subsidence, cavities occur mainly around soil-rock boundaries at depths of 7~14 m. These results are based on comparative analyses of electrical resistivity, seismic tomography, and borehole logging data. The volumes of the cavities are relatively small in a range of 558~835 ㎥ and they have a shape typical of suffosion sinkholes, which are typically found where sandy soils overlie bedrock cavities.