• Title/Summary/Keyword: Mineral exploration

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A Case Study of Geometrical Fracture Model for Groundwater Well Placement, Eastern Munsan, Gyeonggido, Korea (지하수개발을 위한 단열모델 연구사례(경기도 문산 동쪽지역))

  • Choi Sung-Ja;Chwae Uee-Chan;Kim Se-Kon;Park Jun-Beom;Sung Ki-Sung;Sung Ik-Whan
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.39 no.2 s.177
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    • pp.163-171
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    • 2006
  • This study is the case of groundwater development based on the geometrical fracture model of target area established only through geological fracture mapping technique. A fracture mapping of $9km^2$, eastern Munsan, has been conducted to determine geological and hydrological factors for new water well placement in the Gyeonggi gneiss complex. Geophysical exploration was not applicable because of small restricted area and dense underground utilities at the site. Form line mapping on the basis of foliation orientation and rock type revealed a synform of NS fold axis bearing to the south. An EW geological cross-section passed through the site area shows a F2 synform as a double-wall ice cream spoon shape. Three regional faults of $N20^{\circ}E,\;N30^{\circ}W$, and NS have been dragged into the site to help understand extensional fault paths. The $N20^{\circ}E$ fault with dextral sense is geometrically interpreted as a western fault of two flexural conjugate type-P shear faults in the F2 synformal fold. The NE cross-section reveals that a possible groundwater belt in the western limb of super-posed fold area is formed as a trigonal prism within 100 m depth of the intersectional space between the $N20^{\circ}E$ fault plane and the weakly sheared plane of transposed foliation. Another possible fault for water resource strikes $N40^{\circ}E$. Recommended sites for new water well placement are along the $N20^{\circ}E\;and\;N40^{\circ}E$ faults. As a result of fracture mapping, 145 ton/day of water can be produced at one well along the $N20^{\circ}E$ fault line. Exploration of groundwater in the area is succeeded only using with geological fracture mapping and interpretation of geological cross-section, without any geophysical survey. Intersection of fault generated with the F2 synformal fold and foliation supply space of groundwater reserver.

Analysis of Research Trends in the Journal of Economic and Environmental Geology: 1968-2017 (학술지 자원환경지질 게재논문의 연구동향 분석연구 (1968-2017))

  • Heo, Chul-Ho;Kim, Seong-Yong
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.51 no.3
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    • pp.249-277
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    • 2018
  • This study aims to review the research trend of articles published in the journal of Economic and Environmental Geology(EEG) over a period of 50 years from 1968 to 2017. Based on the literature review, Research theme as analytical criteria was adopted. 1,886 academic articles were analyzed and classified by decade, by change period of journal name, and by volume(in sets of 10 volumes). Results indicate that from the foundation of journal to the present, the article in the field of petrology and geochemistry covers the highest proportion as 30.4%, the next best things are in the fields of metallic ore deposit(18.3%) and geophysics and exploration(14.9%). Based on the change period of journal name, the field of petrology and geochemistry have the most obvious difference in the number of articles. Until 1993 as before the change of journal name from Mining Geology to Economic and Environmental Geology, the coverage percentage in the field of petrology and geochemistry is 21.5%(N=121). However, after 1994 changed to Economic and Environmental Geology, the coverage percentage in the field of petrology and geochemistry is 34.1%(N=452). According to the analytical result in case of volume and research theme, the number of articles in the field of petrology and geochemistry have the abrupt increase from the volume number in 21 to 30. However, the number of articles in the field of metallic and nonmetallic ore deposit have the decreasing tendency toward the recent volume. In order to explore again the 50 years history of Economic and Environmental Geology, we mainly analyzed the articles quantitatively using the criteria as research theme. Based on these analyses, this review aims to offer the beginning for the exploration of the development subject in the future.

A Microgravity for Mapping and Monitoring the Subsurface Cavities (지하 공동의 탐지와 모니터링을 위한 고정밀 중력탐사)

  • Park, Yeong-Sue;Rim, Hyoung-Rae;Lim, Mu-Taek;Koo, Sung-Bon
    • Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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    • v.10 no.4
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    • pp.383-392
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    • 2007
  • Karstic features and mining-related cavities not only lead to severe restrictions in land utilizations, but also constitute serious concern about geohazard and groundwater contamination. A microgravity survey was applied for detecting, mapping and monitoring karstic cavities in the test site at Muan prepared by KIGAM. The gravity data were collected using an AutoGrav CG-3 gravimeter at about 800 stations by 5 m interval along paddy paths. The density distribution beneath the profiles was drawn by two dimensional inversion based on the minimum support stabilizing functional, which generated better focused images of density discontinuities. We also imaged three dimensional density distribution by growing body inversion with solution from Euler deconvolution as a priori information. The density image showed that the cavities were dissolved, enlarged and connected into a cavity network system, which was supported by drill hole logs. A time-lapse microgravity was executed on the road in the test site for monitoring the change of the subsurface density distribution before and after grouting. The data were adjusted for reducing the effects due to the different condition of each survey, and inverted to density distributions. They show the change of density structure during the lapsed time, which implies the effects of grouting. This case history at the Muan test site showed that the microgravity with accuracy and precision of ${\mu}Gal$ is an effective and practical tool for detecting, mapping and monitoring the subsurface cavities.

Multi-purpose Geophysical Measurements System Using PXI (PXI를 이용한 다목적 물리탐사 측정 시스템)

  • Choi Seong-Jun;Kim Jung-Ho;Sung Nak-Hun;Jeong Ji-Min
    • Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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    • v.8 no.3
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    • pp.224-231
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    • 2005
  • In geophysical field surveys, commercial equipments often fail to resolve the subsurface target or even sometimes fail to be applied because they do not fit to the various field situations or the physical properties of the medium or target. We developed a geophysical measurement system, which can be easily adapted for the various field situations and targets. The system based on PXI with A/D converter and some stand alone equipment such as Network Analyzer was applied to borehole radar survey, borehole sonic measurement and electromagnetic noise measurement. The system for borehole radar survey consists of PXI, Network Analyzer, dipole antennas, GPIB interface is used for PXI to control Network Analyzer. The system for borehole sonic measurement consists of PXI, 24 Bit A/D converter, high voltage pulse generator, transmitting and receiving piezoelectric sensors. The electromagnetic noise measurement system consists of PXI, 24 Bit A/D converter, 2 horizontal component electric field sensors and 2 horizontal and 1 vertical component magnetic filed sensors. The borehole radar system has been successfully applied to detect the width of the artificial tunnel through which the borehole pass and to image buried steel pipe, while the commercial borehole radar equipment failed. The borehole sonic system was tested to detect the width of artificial tunnel and showed a reasonable result. The characteristic of electromagnetic noise was grasped at an urban area with the data from the electromagnetic noise measurement system. The system is also applied to characterize the signal distortion by induction between the electric cables in resistivity survey. The system can be applied various geophysical problems with a simple modification of the system and sensors.

Review on the Three-Dimensional Magnetotelluric Modeling (MT 법의 3차원 모델링 개관)

  • Kim, Hee-Joon;Nam, Myung-Jin;Song, Yoon-Ho;Suh, Jung-Hee
    • Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.148-154
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    • 2004
  • This article reviews the development of three-dimensional (3-D) magnetotelluric (MT) modeling. The 3-D modeling of electromagnetic fields is essential in understanding the physics of MT soundings, and in implementing an inversion method to reconstruct a 3-D resistivity image. Although various numerical schemes have been developed over the last two decades, practical methods have been quite limited. However, the recent rapid improvement in computer speed and memory, as well as the advance in iterative solution algorithms for a large system of equations, makes it possible to model the MT responses of complex 3-D structures, which have been very difficult to simulate before. The use of staggered grids in finite difference method has become popular, conserving a magnetic flux and an electric current and allowing for realistic discontinuous fields. The convergence of numerical solutions has been greatly accelerated by adopting Krylov subspace methods, proper preconditioning techniques, and static divergence corrections. The vector finite-element method using edge elements is also free from the discontinuity problem, and seems a natural choice for modeling complex structures including irregular topography because its flexibility allows one to capture full geometric complexity.

Q-factor Estimation of Seismic Trace Including Random Noise using Peak Frequency-Shift Method (무작위 잡음이 포함된 탄성파 트레이스로부터 Peak Frequency-Shift 방법을 이용한 Q-factor 추정)

  • Kwon, Junseok;Chung, Wookeen;Ha, Jiho;Shin, Sungryul
    • Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.54-60
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    • 2018
  • The data acquired from seismic exploration can be used to detect the existence of oil and gas resources through appropriate processing and interpretation. The seismic attributes indicating the existence of resources are extracted from amplitude information, where the Q-factor representing intrinsic attenuation plays an useful role of hydrocarbon indicator. So, the accuracy of Q-factor estimation is very important to investigate the existence of resources. In this study, we calculated the Q-factor and analyzed the error rate through a numerical example. To mimic real data, random noise was added to the synthetic data. With the noise-added data, the Q-factor was estimated and the error rate was analyzed by using the spectral ratio method (SRM) and peak frequency shift method (PFSM). Both methods provided a relatively accurate Q-factor when the signal-to-noise ratio was 90 dB. However, the peak frequency shift method (PFSM) produced better results than the spectral ratio method (SRM) as the level of random noise increased.

Elastic Wave Modeling Including Surface Topography Using a Weighted-Averaging Finite Element Method in Frequency Domain (지형을 고려한 주파수 영역 가중평균 유한요소법 탄성파 모델링)

  • Choi, Ji-Hyang;Nam, Myung-Jin;Min, Dong-Joo;Shin, Chang-Soo;Suh, Jung-Hee
    • Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.93-98
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    • 2008
  • Abstract: Surface topography has a significant influence on seismic wave propagation in a reflection seismic exploration. Effects of surface topography on two-dimensional elastic wave propagation are investigated through modeling using a weighted-averaging (WA) finite-element method (FEM), which is computationally more efficient than conventional FEM. Effects of air layer on wave propagation are also investigated using flat surface models with and without air. To validate our scheme in modeling including topography, we compare WA FEM results for irregular topographic models against those derived from conventional FEM using one set of rectangular elements. For the irregular surface topography models, elastic wave propagation is simulated to show that breaks in slope act as a new source for diffracted waves, and that Rayleigh waves are more seriously distorted by surface topography than P-waves.

Application of SP Survey and Numerical Modeling to the Leakage Problem of Irrigation facilities (수리시설물 누수탐지에 대한 자연전위법 적용 및 수치 해석)

  • Song Sung-Ho;Kwon Byung-Doo;Yang Jun-Mo;Chung Seung-Hwan
    • Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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    • v.5 no.4
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    • pp.257-261
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    • 2002
  • We have carried out integrated research including field survey and numerical modeling to appraise the applicability of SP method to the leakage problems of irrigation facilities. The leakage pattern of the dike studied here can be classified into the three categories: leakage through the abutment, leakage by piping through dike, and leakage due to the composite effects of landslide and distortion of the dike structure. for the numerical modeling to interpret quantitatively SP survey results acquired at dike, we have modified the computer code proposed by Sill (1983) to apply to the leakage problems. The numerical studies match the characteristic patterns of SP anomalies according to the leakage types and appear to be very useful to interpret the leakage zone and path. The SP monitoring results were also well coincided with tidal variations observed at every embankment so we found the SP method is quite effective not only to detect the leakage zone but also to determine the leakage trend. The numerical modeling results also reproduced the SP anomalies due to seawater leakage in the embankment.

Lithium Extraction from Smectitic Clay Occurring in Lithium-bearing Boron Deposits in Turkey (터키 리튬 함유 붕소광상에서 산출하는 스멕타이틱-점토로부터의 리튬 추출)

  • Lee, Won-Jong;Yoon, Soh-joung;Chon, Chul-Min;Heo, Chul-Ho;Lee, Gill-Jae;Lee, Bum-Han;Cicek, Murat
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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    • v.29 no.4
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    • pp.167-177
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    • 2016
  • Smectitic clays, occurring in Kırka and Bigadiç boron evaporite deposits formed in Miocene playa lake environment in Turkey, contain $LiO_2$ 0.02-0.21% and 0.16-0.30%, respectively, and boron tailings are also reported to contain $LiO_2$ 0.04-0.26%. Lithium in smectitic clays was identified to be retained in hectorite. The XRD results revealed that hectorite was contained in 25.7% and 79.7% of Kırka and Bigadiç deposit samples respectively. In this study, we selected a clay sample from each deposit with lithium content of ~0.18% and estimated extractable lithium by acid treatment and roasting method commercially applicable to lithium resources, such as lepidolite and hectorite. When 1 g of crushed clay (particle size less than $74{\mu}m$) was reacted with 200 mL of 0.25 M HCl solution, the amount of lithium dissolved increased with the increase of reaction time up to 10 hours for both samples. Reaction time longer than 10 hours did not significantly increased the amount of lithium dissolved. After 10 hours of reaction, 89% of lithium in the clay sample from the Kırka deposit was dissolved, while 71% of lithium was dissolved from the Bigadiç deposit tailing sample. 87% of lithium in the clay sample from the Kırka deposit was extracted and 82% of lithium was extracted from the Bigadiç deposit tailing sample by the roasting extraction method, where clays were leached after a thermal treatment at $1,100^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours with $CaCO_3$ and $CaSO_4$.

Identification of Advanced Argillic-altered Rocks of the Haenam Area, Using by ASTER Spectral Analysis (ASTER 분광분석을 통한 해남지역 강고령토변질 암석의 식별)

  • Lee, Hong-Jin;Kim, Eui-Jun;Moon, Dong-Hyeok
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.44 no.6
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    • pp.463-474
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    • 2011
  • The Haenam epithermal mineralized zone is located in the southwestern part of South Korea, and hosts low sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag deposit (Eunsan-Moisan) and clay quarries (Okmaesan, Seongsan, and Chunsan). Epithermal deposits and accompanying hydrothermal alteration related to Cretaceous volcanism caused large zoned assemblages of hydrothermal alteration minerals. Advanced argillic-altered rocks with mineral assemblages of alunite-quartz, alunite-dickite-quartz, and dickite-kaolinite-quartz exposed on the Okmaesan, Seongsan, and Chunsan area. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), with three visible and near infrared bands, six shortwave infrared bands, and five thermal infrared bands, was used to identify advanced argillic-altered rocks within the Haenam epithermal mineralized zone. The distinct spectral features of hydrothermal minerals allow discrimination of advanced argillic-altered rocks from non-altered rocks within the study area. Because alunite, dickite, and kaolinite, consisting of advanced argillic-altered rocks within the study area are characterized by Al-O-H-bearing minerals, these acid hydrothermal minerals have a strong absorption feature at $2.20{\mu}m$. The band combination and band ratio transformation cause increasing differences of DN values between advanced argillic-altered rock and non-altered rock. The alunite and dickite-kaolinite of advanced argillic-altered rocks from the Okmaesan, Seongsan, and Chunsan have average DN values of 1.523 and 1.737, respectively. These values are much higher than those (1.211 and 1.308, respectively) of non-altered area. ASTER images can remotely provide the distribution of hydrothermal minerals on the surface. In this way good relation between ASTER spectra analysis and field data suggests that ASTER spectral analysis can be useful tool in the initial steps of mineral exploration.