• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.11 no.1 s.12
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• pp.1-8
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• 2005

Seventeen exploratory wells have been drilled in the Block VI-1 of offshore Korea, which is located in the southern part or the Ulleung Basin. Gas show has been recognized from most of the wells, and gas and condensate have been accompanied in some wells. Commercial discovery of gas, accompanied by condensate, has been made from Gorae V well. The reservoir gases or the Dolgorae III, Gorae I, and Gorae V wells in the Ulleung Basin mainly consists of hydrocarbon gases (>93%). These gases are thermogenic wet gases which contain more than 96% of the methane and result from the cracking of petroleum or kerogen. Based on the chemistry and composition of the gases and stable isotope data, they seem to be generated from different source rocks. The condensates from the Gorae I and V wells are mostly generated from terrestrial organic matter. Lacustrine organic matter may not play an important role for the generation of these condensates. The condensates from the Gorae V wells consist predominantly of terrestrial organic matter but with minor subsidiary input from marine organic matter. The condensates from Gorse I and V wells may be generated from different source rocks. The thermal maturity level of the condensates from the Gorae V well ranges from early to middle oil generation zone and condensate from Gorae I reaches middle oil window. Correlation or the thermal maturation level of the condensates and organic matter in the sediments reveals that a depth of the generation of liquid hydrocarbons can be inferred to 3,000 m and 3,900 m for the Gorae V and I wells, respectively. Gorae V well, however, did not reach the target depth and the geochemical data of the Gorae I well were obscured due to the severe sediment caving in.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.305-319
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• 2000

A total of 50 diatom species and 1 subspecies belonging to 31 genera except Chaetoceros resting spores were identified in the 45 sediments subsampled from a gravity core GH98-1223 collected from the western Hokkaido Island located in the northeastern East Sea (Sea of Japan). The most dominant species is Thalassionema nitzschioides (Grunow) Hustedt, ranging 29 to 59% of the total assemblages, and most species including Denticulopsis seminae (Simonsen and Kanaya) Simonsen and Pseudoeunotia doliolus (Wallich) Grunow were less than 5% in average. Frequencies of cold-water species are generally higher than those of warm-water species and the vertical distribution of cold-water species was largely opposite to that of warm-water species in spite of ecological habitat difference. Frequency of cold-water species, D. seminae is reverse to that of P. doliolus, an indicator of the Tsushima Warm Current, which is consistent with diatom temperature value (T$_{d}$ value). The variation of T$_{d}$ values shows that the upper part of core with greater-than-average T$_{d}$ values represents postglacial warming trend. These T$_{d}$ values clearly demonstrate that the study area located in the northern part of the East Sea is gradually influenced by Tsushima Warm Current. In addition, the zig-zag variation in the lower part reflects the unstable seawater for diatom habitat. Chaetoceros resting spores indicating productivity and upwelling was 5.3 to 40%, with maximum peak at 80 cm. Chaetoceros resting spores/Chaetoceros vegetative cells, an indicator of relative amounts of biogenic material in the sediments was high at the upper 80 cm level, corresponding to the change of T$_{d}$ values. On the basis of diatom assemblages, the northeastern part of East Sea has experienced the effects of Tsushima Warm Current during the postglacial period of Holocene, which is similar to the modem climatic environment. However, the variation of P. doliolus reflects that the intensity of Tsushima Warm Current has been oscillated in the East Sea.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.661-672
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• 2012

Lab scale experiments to investigate the dissolution reaction among supercritical $CO_2$-sandstone-groundwater by using sandstones from Gyeongsang basin were performed. High pressurized cell system (100 bar and $50^{\circ}C$) was designed to create supercritical $CO_2$ in the cell, simulating the sub-surface $CO_2$ storage site. The first-order dissolution coefficient ($k_d$) of the sandstone was calculated by measuring the change of the weight of thin section or the concentration of ions dissolved in groundwater at the reaction time intervals. For 30 days of the supercritical $CO_2$-sandstone-groundwater reaction, physical properties of sandstone cores in Gyeongsang basin were measured to investigate the effect of supercritical $CO_2$ on the sandstone. The weight change of sandstone cores was also measured to calculate the dissolution coefficient and the dissolution time of 1 g per unit area (1 $cm^2$) of each sandstone was quantitatively predicted. For the experiment using thin sections, mass of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Na^+$ dissolved in groundwater increased, suggesting that plagioclase and calcite of the sandstone would be significantly dissolved when it contacts with supercritical $CO_2$ and groundwater at $CO_2$ sequestration sites. 0.66% of the original thin sec-tion mass for the sandstone were dissolved after 30 days reaction. The average porosity for C sandstones was 8.183% and it increased to 8.789% after 30 days of the reaction. The average dry density, seismic velocity, and 1-D compression strength of sandstones decreased and these results were dependent on the porosity increase by the dissolution during the reaction. By using the first-order dissolution coefficient, the average time to dissolve 1 g of B and C sandstones per unit area (1 $cm^2$) was calculated as 1,532 years and 329 years, respectively. From results, it was investigated that the physical property change of sandstones at Gyeongsang basin would rapidly occur when the supercritical $CO_2$ was injected into $CO_2$ sequestration sites.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.293-308
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• 2003

New results about the crustal structure down to a depth of 60 km beneath North Korea were obtained using the seismic tomography method. About 1013 P- and S-wave travel times from local earthquakes recorded by the Korean stations and the vicinity were used in the research. All earthquakes were relocated on the basis of an algorithm proposed in this study. Parameterization of the velocity structure is realized with a set of nodes distributed in the study volume according to the ray density. 120 nodes located at four depth levels were used to obtain the resulting P- and S-wave velocity structures. As a result, it is found that P- and S-wave velocity anomalies of the Rangnim Massif at depth of 8 km are high and low, respectively, whereas those of the Pyongnam Basin are low up to 24 km. It indicates that the Rangnim Massif contains Archean-early Lower Proterozoic Massif foldings with many faults and fractures which may be saturated with underground water and/or hot springs. On the other hand, the Pyongyang-Sariwon in the Pyongnam Basin is an intraplatform depression which was filled with sediments for the motion of the Upper Proterozoic, Silurian and Upper Paleozoic, and Lower Mesozoic origin. In particular, the high P- and S-wave velocity anomalies are observed at depth of 8, 16, and 24 km beneath Mt. Backdu, indicating that they may be the shallow conduits of the solidified magma bodies, while the low P-and S-wave velocity anomalies at depth of 38 km must be related with the magma chamber of low velocity bodies with partial melting. We also found the Moho discontinuities beneath the Origin Basin including Sari won to be about 55 km deep, whereas those of Mt. Backdu is found to be about 38 km. The high ratio of P-wave velocity/S-wave velocity at Moho suggests that there must be a partial melting body near the boundary of the crust and mantle. Consequently we may well consider Mt. Backdu as a dormant volcano which is holding the intermediate magma chamber near the Moho discontinuity. This study also brought interesting and important findings that there exist some materials with very high P- and S-wave velocity annomoalies at depth of about 40 km near Mt. Myohyang area at the edge of the Rangnim Massif shield.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2001

The combination of geological, structural and satellite image studies is used to make an examination of the Miocene eruptive type in the Eoil Basin, SE Korea. The basin subsided by the NW-SE extension due to NNW dextral shearing during the East Sea opening. Based on geological structures as well as lithofacies and ages of the basin-fills, it is divided into the NE subbasin and the SW subbasin which were abundantly filled with basaltic volcanics and marine sediments without volcanic materials, respectively: Syndeposional synclines and anticlines are characteristically developed in the NE subbasin, which amplitudes decrease away from the adjacent normal faults to make them into a homoclinal structure. The thicker lavas as well as the younger agglomerates and lacustrine sediments, which show circular distributions, are distributed around the axial zones of major synclines. The satellite image shows four remarkable circular structures within the NE subbasin. They are located adjacent to and along the normal faults, and they are laid almost exactly on the axial zones of the synclines as well as on the distribution area of the agglomerates and lacustrine sediments. These facts indicate that the basaltic lava effusion were conducted by the normal faults like a kind of fissure-eruption and its activity was more predominant at the sites in where the synclines are developed. More active effusion of lava became a reason for deeper subsidence to make differential subsidence and syndepositional folding adjacent to and along the normal faults. Hence, we suggest that a nested cauldron structure was formed in the NE subbasin of the Eoil Basin, and that the volcanism made the subbasin to be a lava pond and controlled the process of filling and sedimentation in the subbasin.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.320-331
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• 1995

The closely spaced cores were analyzed to find detailed reconstruction of paleoenvironments and sealable changes along the Delaware Bay coast. Three areas, Kitts Hummock Beach mars, the St. Jones River marsh, and Bowers marsh near the St. Jones River's mouth, were chosen because these areas are compose of their own geomorphic characteristics and sea-level history. since significance of the stratigraphic correlations was to determine sedimentary fancies and paleoenvironments, multidisciplinary methods such as lithological description, grain-size analysis, organic/inorganic content, water content, mineral composition, botanical analysis, micropaleontological analysis, and /SUP 14/C datings were performed. Five major divisions of marsh environments were recognized in the stratigraphic sections: freshwater marsh, initialfreshwater marsh, slightly brackish marsh, brackish marsh, and salt marsh. Most of the lower part in the stratigraphic sections show freshwater marsh. On the top of this, either brackish marsh or tidal flat/tidal stream was recorded. The pro-Holocene sediments consist of sand, mud, and sandy mud, The pre-Holocene configuration played an important role for developing the Holocene Paleoenvironmental changes. The irregular configuration of the pre-Holocene sediments consist of sand, mud, and sandy mud. The pre-Holocene configuration played an important role for developing the Holocene Paleoenvironmental changes. The irregular configuration of the pre-Holocene surface within short distances permitted the concurrent development of variable environments such as freshwater marsh, brackish marsh or salt marsh at similar elevations. The freshwater marsh in this case was formed in the areas of isolation, so saline-water cannot encroach upon these areas. This complex development of paleoenvironments leads to a difficulty in stratigraphic correlation and interpretation of local relative sea-level changes. The deposition of subsurface sediments was affected by sediment supply, compaction, fluvial activity, biological competition, local tectonics and isostacy, climate and local relative sea-level changes. It was interpreted that the positions in the changes from freshwater environments to brackish environments or ice versa are the turning points of transgressions and regressions. Therefore, multiple transgressions and regressions were identified in the stratigraphic sections of the study area.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2009

The distribution characteristics of heavy metals for surface sediments in east oceanic dumping area (EDA) and west oceanic dumping area (WDA) are evaluated by grain sizes, minerals, sedimentation rates and compositions of heavy metals. The mean grain sizes in EDA and WDA range from $7.95{\Phi}$ to $8.51{\Phi}$ and $7.42{\Phi}$ to $8.15{\Phi}$, respectively. These are mostly belonging to the M (mud) type. Minerals in the surface sediments consist of illite with chlorite, smectite, and kaolinite. Sedimentation rates estimated by $^{210}Pb$ method in EDA and WDA are 1.11 mm/yr$\sim$1.73 mm/yr and 1.87 mm/yr, respectively. According to the interrelationship, concentrations of Ni, Cu, Cr, and Zn are closely associated with mean grain size, Al, and Fe, whereas concentrations of Cd and Pb are poorly associated with ones. The enrichment factors of these elements are higher than 1.5, suggesting that the concentrations of Cd and Pb in the surface sediments are affected by anthropogenic sources. The $I_{geo}$-class numbers of Cd and Pb in the surface sediments are mostly classified in 2 to 4, showing moderate to strongly polluted. These numbers in EDA are higher than that of WDA, and the highest number is 4, indicative of the strongly polluted class. Our results show that the disposed wastes at EDA include mineralogical wastes, dredged materials from sewage disposals, and sludges from constructions having materials of WDA. The annual amount of oceanic dumping in EDA is double than that in WDA.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.511-525
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• 2003

The Okcheon Group in the southwestern part of the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt is subdivided into two distinct tectonostratigraphic units: the Boeun unit in the south and the Pibanryeong unit in the north. The Boeun unit consists of petites, psammites, carbonaceous petites, limestones and pebble-bearing quartzites. The Pibanryeong unit is composed of petites, well-sorted fine-grained psammites, carbonaceous psammites and quartzites. In order to outlining stratigraphy and depositional environments of the Okcheon Group, detailed stratigraphic sections were measured in three locations; one section(Gosan section) of the Boeun unit and two sections(Sorungjae and Hwangryeongzae sections) of the Pibanryeong unit. The Gosan section of the Boeun unit is interpreted to be deposited in the shallow marine environments, whereas the Sorungjae and Hwangryeonaiae sections of the Pibanryeong unit appear to be deposited in slope and deep basin environments. This result indicates rapid subsidence between deposition of the Boeun and Pibanryeong units in sedimentary environment. The trace of sedimentological environments in the Hwasan area was investigated by geochemical analysis of 109 metapelitic and psammitic rock samples. Distinct chemical variations of politic and psammitic rocks from the Boeun and Pibanryeong units in the study area are evident from plots of major elements and $A1_2O_3$/$SiO_2$ versus Basicity Index($Fe_2O_3{＋}MgO$)/($SiO_2{＋}K_2O{＋}Na_2O$). The rocks show a progressive chemical trend from the Boeun unit to the Pibanryeong unit on these diagrams. They in the southern sector of the Boeun unit display lower values and a comparatively wide range of $A1_2O_3$/$SiO_2$ and Basicity Index, as compared with those from the northern sector of the Boeun and Pibanryeong units. The southern sector of the Pibanryeong unit including narrow staurolite-bearing zone is characterized by values that are transitional between the Boeun and Pibanryeong units. These data, combined with depositional environment progressively deepened towards the northwest, support a half-graben model for the Okcheon basin, as proposed by Cluzel et al.(1990)

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2014

In coastal region, estuaries have complex environments where dissolved and particulate matters are mixed with marine water and substances. Suspended sediment (SS) dynamics in coastal water, in particular, plays a major role in erosion/deposition processes, biomass primary production and the transport of nutrients, micropollutants, heavy metals, etc. Temporal variation in suspended sediment concentration (SSC) can be used to explain erosion/sedimentation patterns within coastal zones. Remotely sensed data can be an efficient tool for mapping SS in coastal waters. In this study, we analyzed the variation in SSC in coastal water using the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) and Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) in Gyeonggi-bay. Daily variations in GOCI-derived SSC showed low values during ebb time. Current velocity and water level at 9 and 10 am is 37.6, 28.65 $cm{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and -1.23, -0.61 m respectively. Water level has increased to 1.18 m at flood time. In other words, strong current velocity and increased water level affected high SSC value before flood time but SSC decreased after flood time. Also, we compared seasonal SSC with the river discharge from the Han River and the Imjin River. In summer season, river discharge showed high amount, when SSC had high value near the inland. At this time SSC in open sea had low value. In contrast, river discharge amount from inland showed low value in winter season and, consequently, SSC in the open sea had high value because of northwest monsoon.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.111-122
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• 2014

For accurate laboratory evaluations of soil deposits, it is essential that the samples are undisturbed. An artificial ground-freezing system is the one of the most effective methods for obtaining undisturbed samples from sand deposits. The objective of this study is to estimate the shear strengths and the characteristics of elastic waves of frozen-thawed and unfrozen specimens through the undrained triaxial compression test. For the experiments, Jumunjin standard sands are used to prepare frozen and unfrozen specimens with similar relative densities (60% and 80%). The water pluviation method is used to simulate the fully saturated condition under the groundwater table. When thawing the frozen specimens, the temperature is measured every minute. After the specimens are completely thawed, undrained triaxial compression tests are conducted using the same procedures as for the unfrozen specimens. During the triaxial tests (saturation, consolidation, and shear phase), compressional and shear waves are measured. The results show that the freeze-thaw process has minor effects on the peak deviatoric stress and shear strength values, and that the process does not affect the internal friction angle. The compressional wave velocity increases with increasing B-value to 1800 m/s in the saturation phase, but tends to remain constant in the process of consolidation and shearing. The shear wave velocity decreases with increasing B-value in the process of saturation, but changes velocity in accordance with the change in effective stress in the processes of consolidation and shearing. The compressional wave velocity has similar values regardless of the freeze-thaw process, but values of shear wave velocity are slighly lower in frozen-thawed specimens than in unfrozen specimens. This study is a preliminary experiment for estimating the shear strength and characteristics of elastic wave velocity in undisturbed frozen specimens that have been obtained using the artificial ground-freezing method.