• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.333-339
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• 2013

This study was conducted to build up the inventories of Pb isotopic compositions of major Pb pollution sources in South Korea. Since non-ferrous metal smelters are one of major anthropogenic sources, two smelters for zinc, each one of smelter for lead and copper were selected for the study. The Pb concentrations and isotopic compositions of metal ores, wastewater, sludge, metal rod and produced sulfuric acid were analysed to understand the Pb isotopic patterns in environment. The isotopic ratio, $^{206}Pb/^{207}Pb$, of zinc ores from zinc smelter were in the range of 1.179~1.198 and the ratio of waste, flue gas and products samples were 1.105~1.147. This results implied that the isotopic patterns of output samples showed mixing patterns between two distinct metal ore soerces. In 2011, major importing countries of zinc ore were Australia, Peru and Mexico. Thus Pb isotopic patterns from zinc smelter is originated from the mixing patterns between less radiogenic Australian ores and more radiogenic South America's ores. Lead smelters also showed the same mixing patterns with those of zinc smelters. However copper smelter showed same Pb isotopic patterns with more radiogenic South America's ores.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 2015

Bronzes, Earthenwares and various artifacts were excavated from Pungnap earthen fortress in the early Baekje age in Korea. This study was performed in order to identify the manufacture technology of bronze artefacts and provenance of lead in bronzes. Microstructure and chemical composition results show that 3 of them are Cu-Sn-Pb alloys in which an intentional lead addition was carried out and one is tin bronze showing straight twin structure within crystal grains. Also $CuFeS_2$ or $Cu_5FeS_4$ was used as raw materials through the detection of S and Fe as trace elements. The lead isotope results could be matched with one of the zones of southern Korea and China on the East Asian map. This results shows that data were plotted either in zone 2 or zone 3 of the South Korean galena map. However, one of bronze artifacts was matched with the zone of Northern China.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.817-830
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• 2023

This study investigates the age of the surficial rocks in the Arunta region using Uranium-Lead (U-Pb) geochronological dating. Rock samples were collected at four locations, Cattle-Water Pass (CP 1610), Gough Dam (GD 1622 and GD 1610), and London-Eye (LE 1601), within the Strangways Metamorphic Complex and crushed by selFragging. Subsequently, the zircon grains were imaged using Cathodoluminescence (CL) analysis and the U-Pb (uranium and lead) isotope ratios and the chrono-stratigraphy were measured. The imaged zircon revealed an anomalous heterogeneous crystal structure. Ellipses of the samples at locations GD1601, CP1610, and GD1622 fall below the intercept indicating the ages produced discordant patterns, whereas LE1601 intersects the Concordia curve at two points, implying the occurrence of an event of significant impact. For the rock sample at CP1610, the estimated mean age is 1742.2 ± 9.2 Ma with mean squared weighted deviation (MSWD) = 0.49 and probability of equivalence of 0.90; 1748 ± 15 Ma - MSWD = 1.02 and probability of equivalence of 0.40 for GD1622; and 1784.4 ± 9.1 Ma with MSWD of 1.09 and probability of equivalence of 0.37 for LE1601. But for samples at GD1601, two different age groups with different means occurred: 1) below the global mean (1792.2 ± 32 Ma) estimated at 1738.2 ± 14 Ma with MSWD of 0.109 and probability of equivalence of 0.95 and 2) above it with mean of 1838.22 ± 14 Ma, MSWD of 1.6 and probability of equivalence of 0.95. Analysis of the zircon grains has shown a discrepancy in the age range between 1700 Ma and 1800 Ma compared to the ASO dated to have occurred between 440 and 300 Ma. Moreover, apparent similarity in age of the core and rim means that the mineral crystallized relatively quickly without significant interruptions and effect on the isotopic system. This may have constraint the timing and extent of geological events that might have affected the mineral, such as metamorphism or hydrothermal alteration.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.921-928
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• 2013

A future nuclear energy system is being developed at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), the system involves a Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) linked with the pyro-process. The pyro-process produces a source material to fabricate a SFR fuel rod. Therefore, an isotopic fissile content assay is very important for fuel rod safety and SFR economics. A new technology for an analysis of isotopic fissile content has been proposed using a lead slowing down spectrometer (LSDS). The new technology has several features for a fissile analysis from spent fuel: direct isotopic fissile assay, no background interference, and no requirement from burnup history information. Several calculations were done on the designed spectrometer geometry: detection sensitivity, neutron energy spectrum analysis, neutron fission characteristics, self shielding analysis, and neutron production mechanism. The spectrum was well organized even at low neutron energy and the threshold fission chamber was a proper choice to get prompt fast fission neutrons. The characteristic fission signature was obtained in slowing down neutron energy from each fissile isotope. Another application of LSDS is for an optimum design of the spent fuel storage, maximization of the burnup credit and provision of the burnup code correction factor. Additionally, an isotopic fissile content assay will contribute to an increase in transparency and credibility for the utilization of spent fuel nuclear material, as internationally demanded.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.4 s.173
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• pp.463-479
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• 2005

The Sr and Pb isotopic ratios and chemical composition were measured for atmospheric bulk deposition samples collected in the Jeonju, Gunsan and Namweon areas over a period of one year. Acidity of deposition ranged pH $4\~7$ with little higher in dry season, and around pH 5.0 in rainy season. The EC and TDS of rainy season was low showing dilution effect, and increased during dry season. Sulfate $(SO_4)\;and\;NO_3$ are atmospheric aerosols largely of anthropogenic origin in winter. Sodium was concentrated in winter deposition, Ca was concentrated in spring to summer deposition. Namweon has lower EC and TDS than those of other, and Jeonju has higher. Namweon was concentrated in $HCO_3$ and Cunsan was concentrated in Cl. Aluminium, Cu, and Zn show good correlation index with TDS, indicating of their origin atmospheric. $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr$ ratios of bulk deposition ranged from 0.7109 to 0.7128. The isotopic variations are correlated with mixing of isotopic compositions of local soils, road deposit and biogenic aerosol. In order to constrain further the origin of aerosols in rainwater, it will be necessary to collect additional Sr isotopic data for aerosols. Lead isotope ratios for all areas were similar and belonged to Pb isotope ratios of Seoul's aerosols, but little different with Beijing's aerosols. It showing that Pb in the Korea mainly derived from the gasoline combustion, not exclusively from the Beijing.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2015

Nitrogen (N) loading from domestic, agricultural and industrial sources can lead to excessive growth of macrophytes or phytoplankton in aquatic environment. Many studies have used nitrogen stable isotope ratios to identify anthropogenic nitrogen in aquatic systems as a useful method for studying nitrogen cycle. In this study to evaluate the precision and accuracy of Kjeldahl processes, two reference materials (IAEA-NO-3, N-1) were analyzed repeatedly. Measured the ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$ values of IAEA-NO-3 and IAEA-N-1 were $4.7{\pm}0.2$‰ and $0.4{\pm}0.3$‰, respectively, which are within recommended values of analytical uncertainties. Also, we investigated spatial patterns of ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$ in effluent plumes from a waste water treatment plant in Han River, Korea. ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ and ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$ values are enriched at downstream areas of water treatment plant suggesting that dissolved nitrogen in effluent plumes should be one of the main N sources in those areas. The current study clarifies the reliability of Kjeldahl analytical method and the usefulness of stable isotopic techniques to trace the contamination source of dissolved nitrogen such as nitrate and ammonia.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.2
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• pp.57-68
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• 2000

This study is a scientific analysis of 12 bronze materials which were excavated from Sanoisa temple in Chongju. Analysis of crystalline shape, size and distribution of the each sample metal suggested that they can be classified as tableware(wrought), vessels for memorial service(casting) and bell bronze, which is the same result as classification based on elemental composition. Most of the tableware are forging wares with composition of 8:2:0 in Cu:Sn:Pb, and vessels for memorial service are casting wares whose composition is 7:1:2 in Cu:Sn:Pb, and bell bronze's composition is Cu:Sn:Pb = 85:10:5/9:1:0. The result clearly shows that composition is closely related with usage and manufacturing method of wares. Trace elements such as Co, Fe and As are the elements with high correlation coefficient with Cu, which means they exist as impurities in Cu, and the content of As showed an increase in the order of tableware, memorial service vessels and bell bronze. In addition, the analysis of lead isotope ratio showed that 3 bronze materials with high lead content were made from the lead coming from Japan and China. The composition of the solder was Cu:Sn:Pb = 83:12:5 where small Pb crystals were distributed evenly.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.3 s.41
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• pp.141-148
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• 2005

Lead isotopic compositions are analyzed from the sulfide minerals of the Yeonhwa, Janggun and Uljin deposits and from host limestone, intrusives, and basement rocks to reveal the source of Pb in these deposits. In the $^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb$ vs $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ plot, Galenas from the Yeonhwa mine display relatively well defined positive linear array, similar to the Precambrian basement rocks of the Korean peninsula. A galena sample from the Uljin mine, Janggun limestone and the basement rocks also follow the variation of Yeonhwa mine. However, ore minerals from the Janggun mine, having relatively low $^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb$ values, reveal offset from such trend toward lower $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ values. Considering the fact that Mesozoic igneous rocks and ores within the Gyeongsang basin display considerably lower $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ values than basement rocks of the Korean peninsula, the deviation of Janggun ore minerals can be interpreted as to reflect mixing between leads from old continental crustal materials and from Mesozoic igneous rocks with more mantle signature. The lead of the Yeonhwa and Uljin mine, following trend of Precambrian basement rather well, seems to have been originated mostly from such basement. However, regarding that they occupy low $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ side of the variation trend of the basement, the possibility of having some leads derived from the Mesozoic igneous rocks cannot be excluded.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2019

New geochronological data of U-Pb, Re-Os and the lead isotope analysis of the Cu-Mo-Au mineral deposits are reported in the Trapiche and Constancia around Apurimac province, southeastern part of Peru. The measured ages were the first regional pulse of previously reported mineralization age between 28 and 33 Ma. The lead isotopic results indicate two sources of mineralization. The first source is thought to be derived from the upper crust and the second one is thought to be derived from a mixture of the upper crust and the lower crust.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 1993

In the present study, three representative hydrothermal clay deposits, named the Seongsan, Ogmaesan and Haenam deposits, were selected for oxygen and hydrogen isotope studies. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions of quartz, sericite, alunite and kaolin minerals from Seongsan, Ogmaesan, Haenam deposits and surrounded rocks of clay deposits have been measured. The ${\delta}^{18}O$ values of quartz, kaolin, sericite and alunite in the Seongsan mine are +8.4 to +11.1‰, +3.6 to 5.4‰, +4.8 to +5.8‰ and + 3.0 to +6.6‰, respectively. In the Ogmaesan mine, the ${\delta}^{18}O$ values of quartz, kaolin, sericite and alunite are +8.0 to +13.6‰, +2.8 to +6.7‰, +4.8 to +8.4‰ and +0.9 to +2.4‰, respectively. The ${\delta}^{18}O$ values of the Haenam mine range from +7.9 to +10.1‰ for quartz and from +4.5 to +6.5‰ for sericite. The ${\delta}^{18}O$ values of the whole-rocks range from + 3.0 to + 7.8‰ for the granitic rocks. The ${\delta}^{18}O$ values of the whole-rocks range from + 3.2 to + 10.7‰ for the volcanic rocks. The 8D values of kaolin, sericite and alunite in the Seongsan mine are -78 to -86‰, -71 to -90‰ and -43 to -77‰, respectively. In the Ogmaesan mine, the ${\delta}D$ values of kaolin, sericite and alunite are -73 to -80‰, -74 to -88‰ and -57 to -98‰, respectively. The ${\delta}D$ values of the Haenam mine range from -76 to -85‰ for sericite. The ${\delta}D$ values of the whole-rocks range from -77 to -105‰ for the granitic rocks. The ${\delta}D$ values of the wholerocks range from -76 to -100‰ for the volcanic rocks. The main result obtained oxygen and hydrogen isotope data can lead to the following interpretations on the origin of hydrothermal fluids in the clay deposits: Through the oxygen isotopic study, the formation temperature of the clay deposits was estimated from the coexisting minerals such as quartz-kaolin minerals and -sericite. Formation temperature of the acidic alteration zone is 165 to $280^{\circ}C$ in the Seongsan deposits, 175 to $250^{\circ}C$ in the Ogmaesan deposits and 250 to $350^{\circ}C$ in the Haenam deposits. Three clay deposits has been formed by magmatic water mixed with meteoric water. Furthermore, from this isotopic data, it is clarified that kaolin minerals and alunite are hypogene in origin, and has been formed by oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in the steam-heated environment, and that alunite has been produced in the spectacular solfataric alteration observed at the surface of some present-day hydrothermal systems. Oxidation of the $H_2S$ is thought to be generated when the vapor phase generated by boiling of the deep-seated water under the water table.