• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.163-173
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• 2012

In this study, we determined the relative clay mineral composition of 51 surface sediments from SEYSM (Southeastern Yellow Sea Mud) (northern part 25, southern part 26) and 30 river sediments inflow to Yellow Sea using the semi-quantitative X-ray diffraction analyses. In addition to we analyzed illite characteristics of the same samples. The clay-mineral assemblage is composed of illite (61~75%), chlorite (14~24%), kaolinite (9~14%), and smectite (1~7%), in decreasing order. The average composition of each clay mineral is not different from northern part to southern part of SEYSM except a little higher kaolinite and lower smectite content in northern part. Smectite content generally has reverse relationship with illite content. Mineralogical characteristics of illite such as illite crystallinity index also is not different between two areas and show very narrow range (0.18~0.24 ${\Delta}^{\circ}2{\theta}$). Our results reveal that clay mineral composition and illite characteristics are nearly the same between northern and southern part of SEYSM. Characteristics of surface sediments in SEYSM is closer to Korean river sediments than Chinese Hanghe sediments, however it is necessary to investigate further study including Yangtze river sediments. This study conclude that most of surface sediments in SEYSM attribute to the supply of considerable amount of sediments from the nearby Korean rivers. The large sediment budget and high accumulation rate in the SEYSM can be explained by erosion and reworking of surface sediments in this area. Tidal and regional current system around SEYSM might contribute these erosional and depositional regimes.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.229-240
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• 2009

In Gosung, the symptoms similar to itai-itai disease from neighboring residents of the Samsanjeil mine have been social issues. Therefore, various researches on the behavior of heavy metals of the tailings impoundment of 280,000 ton in the Samsanjeil mine are required. In this paper, mineralogical and geochemical studies on the tailings at different depths in the Samsanjeil mine were investigated and the factors on the behavior of heavy metals were also studied. At two sampling sites (NN and SN), samples were collected at different depths down to 1 m. At NN sites, pH values decreased with depth, while those at SN sites did not show significant changes. XRD analysis showed that the main minerals in the tailings were quartz, microcline, muscovite, and chlorite with minor amount of gypsum. There were no noticeable changes in the mineral composition with depth. At NN sites, the amount of calcite was negligible, and jarosite, which usually occurs at acid soil or acid mine drainage at pH lower than 4, was identified. However, the samples at SN site contained relatively high contents of calcite with pyrite. Therefore, calcite seemed to buffer the acid and control pH at SN site. The contents of heavy metals in tailings were in the order of Cu > As > Zn > Pb > Co > Cr > Ni > Cd. The heavy metal concentrations in the tailings were closely related with pH changes. The concentrations of Cd and Co were much lower at NN site at which pH values are low than those at SN sites. Contrary to that, Cr and As which exist as oxyanions showed higher concentrations at SN sites. This result showed that the behaviors of heavy metals in our study area were controlled by pH which is influenced by the contents of calcite.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2013

A column experiment was carried out to study the reaction of Cr(VI) with organic carbon. Chemical analysis for the effluent collected at different times after the reaction of Cr(VI) with organic carbon in compost and SEM observation for the solid samples remaining after the reaction were conducted. Cr(VI) supplied to the column was not detected in the effluent from column at initial stage, but the concentration of Cr(VI) increased abruptly and maintained the initial supplied concentration (20 mg/kg), indicating that Cr(VI) was effectively removed from the solution at the first state. In general, the concentrations of cations and anions with the exception of $PO_4$ increased and decreased again. Considering that most of these ions were not detected or showed very low concentration, these ions are considered to originate from the organic carbon in the column. SEM observation showed that Cr was coprecipitated with Fe on the surface of organic carbon with small amount of other metals such as Mn, No, and Co. This indicated that on the reduction condition on the organic carbon, Cr(VI) was reduced to $Cr(OH)_3$ and coprecipitated with $Fe(OH)_3$, and that Fe is very important in the precipitation of Cr. After the soluble Fe and Mn are not dissolved any more, $Cr(OH)_3$ is not precipitated. Different from other ions, the concentrations of $PO_4$ decreased and increased, which was thought to be the result of the release of $PO_4$ from organic carbon and sorption on the precipitates. After the maximum sorption on the precipitates and no further release of Fe, the concentration of $PO_4$ returns to its original value measured for the ones released from the organic carbon.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.323-343
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• 2018

This study defines the mineralogical, micro-textural and geochemical characteristics for the carbonate rocks and discusses the fluids that have affected the depositional environment of the Lower Makgol Formation in Seokgaejae section. Based on analysis of X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (SEM-EDS), Electron Probe Micro Analyzer-Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EPMA-WDS) and Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), carbonate miorofacies in the basal and the lower members of the Makgol Formation are distinguished and classified into four types. Type 1 dolomite (xenotopic interlocking texture) and Type 2 dolomite (idiotopic interlocking texture) have relatively high Mg/Ca ratio, flat REE pattern, low Fe and Mn. Extensively interlocking textures in these dolomites indicate constant supply of Mg ion from hypersaline brine. Type 3 and Type 4 dolomite (scattered and loosely-aggregated texture) have relatively moderate Mg/Ca ratio, MREE enriched pattern, low to high Fe and Mn. These partial dolomitization indicate limited supply of Mg ion under the influx of meteoric water with seawater. Also, the evidence of Fe-bearing minerals, recrystallization and relatively high Fe and Mn in Type 4 indicates the influence of secondary diagenetic fluids under suboxic conditions. Integrating geochemical data with mineralogical and micro-textural evidence, the discrepancy between the basal and the lower members of the Makgol Formation indicates different sedimentary environment. It suggest that hypersaline brine have an influence on the basal member, while mixing meteoric water with seawater have an effect on the lower member of the Makgol Formation.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 2007

The consumption of artificially crushed sands exceeds more than 30 percent of the domestic sand supply in South Korea, and its rate is still increasing. For the manufacture of crushed sand granites and granitic gneisses are preferred, fine fractions (i.e. sludge, particles finer than 63 microns) are removed by use of flocculation agents, and its amount occupy about 15 wt%. The sludges consist of quartz, feldspars, micas, chlorite/vermiculite, kaolinites, smectites and occasionally calcite. Among the clay minerals micas are usually predominant, and $14{\AA}$ minerals, kaolinites and smectites are rather scarce. Jurassic granites usually contain more kaolinites and smectites than those of Cretaceous to Tertiary granites, probably due to longer geologic ages. On the other hand, sludge from Precambrian gneiss does not contain kaolinites and smectites. Chemical analyses for the granites and their sludges show rather clear differences in most of major chemical components. Except for $SiO_2,\;Na_2O\;and\;K_2O$, all other components represent rather clear increase. Decrease of $SiO_2$ content is attributed to the relative decrease of quartz in the sludges. And the $Na_2O decrease is caused by a relatively stronger weathering property of albite compared to Ca plagioclase. The $K_2O$ content shows rather small differences throughout the whole samples. The increases of $Al_2O_3$ and other major components resulted from weathering processes and most of colored components are also concentrated in the sludges. Particle size analyses reveal that the sludges are categorized as sandy loams in a sand-silt-clay triangular diagram. The sludge is now classified as industrial waste because of its impermeability, and this result was also confirmed by rather higher hydraulic conductivities. For the environmental problems, and accomplishing effective sand manufacture, more fresh rocks with little weathering products must be chosen.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.303-312
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• 2023

The determination of the oxidation states of metal elements in manganese nodules sheds light on the understanding of the formation mechanism of nodules, providing insights into the paleo-environmental conditions such as the redox potential of the aqueous system. This study aims to reveal the oxidation states and chemical bonding of manganese in the natural polymetallic nodules, utilizing conventional X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Specifically, shallow manganese nodules from the Siberian Arctic Sea, effectively recording mineralogical variations, were used in this study. Detailed analysis of XPS Mn 2p spectra showed changes in the manganese oxidation state from the center to the outer parts of the nodules. The central part of the nodules showed a higher Mn⁴⁺ content, approximately 67.9%, while the outermost part showed about 63% of Mn⁴⁺ due to an increase in the Mn³⁺+Mn²⁺. The decrease in the Mn oxidation state with the growth is consistent with the previously reported mineralogical variations from todorokite to birnessite with growth. Additionally, the O 1s spectra presented a predominance of Mn-O-H bonds in the outer layers compared to the center, suggesting hydration by water in the layered manganates of outer layers. The results of this study demonstrate that XPS can be directly applied to understand changes in paleo-environmental conditions such as the redox states during the growth of manganese nodules. Finally, future studies using high-resolution synchrotron-based XPS experiments could achieve details in oxidation states of manganese and trace metal elements.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2010

The sorption of $AsO_4,\;SeO_3,\;CrO_4$ on schwertmannite and thermal analysis of sorbed samples were carried out. The results of sorption experiments showed that sorption characteristics of those three oxyanions on schwertmannite can be divided into two groups. The extent of sorption of $AsO_4$ and $SeO_3$ were 100% at up to 1 mM solution concentration, and they increased no more significantly. This can be interpreted as $AsO_4$ and $SeO_3$ substituting $SO_4$ in schwertmannite strucure by the ratio of 1 : 1. The extent of the sorption of $CrO_4$ was much lower than those of other two oxyanions. Thermal analysis was performed using two kinds of sorbed samples at 0.1 and 1.25 mM concentrations. The results of the thermal analysis showed that the samples sorbed by three different oxyanions have different thermal characteristics. The samples sorbed by $AsO_4$ showed smaller weight loss around $600^{\circ}C$ than the original loss of pure schwertmannite, and it is attributed to the substitution of $AsO_4$ for $SO_4$, which was caused by the loss of $SO_4$, than pure schwertmannite due to the substitution of $SO_4$ by $AsO_4$. It also showed additional weight loss around $600^{\circ}C$ due to the decomposition of $AsO_4$ at that temperature. The weight loss of samples sorbed by $SeO_3$ started at slightly lower temperature than that sorbed by $SO_4$ and kept that loss at wider temperature range, probably indicating that the decomposition of $SeO_3$ occurs at slightly lower temperature. However, for the samples sorbed by $CrO_4$, the weight loss caused by the decomposition of $SO_4$ was also smaller and there was no additional weight loss at higher temperature due to the thermal stability of $CrO_4$, indicating that $SO_4$ was also substituted by $CrO_4$ in schwertmannite. Sorption experiment and thermal analysis indicate that $CrO_4$ sorbs on schwertmannite by substiuting $SO_4$, but the affinity to $SO_4$ or instability of $CrO_4$ in scwertmannite structure probably prohibit perfect 1 : 1 substitution.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2016

This study evaluates landslide susceptibility using statistical analysis by SVM (support vector machine) and the illite index of clay minerals extracted from ASTER(advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer) imagery which can be use to create mineralogical mapping. Landslide locations in the study area were identified from aerial photographs and field surveys. A GIS spatial database was compiled containing topographic maps (slope, aspect, curvature, distance to stream, and distance to road), maps of soil properties (thickness, material, topography, and drainage), maps of timber properties (diameter, age, and density), and an ASTER satellite imagery (illite index). The landslide susceptibility map was constructed through factor correlation using SVM to analyze the spatial database. Comparison of area under the curve values showed that using the illite index model provided landslide susceptibility maps that were 76.46% accurate, which compared favorably with 74.09% accuracy achieved without them.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2012

The 1M and $2M_1$ stacking sequences are the most frequently encountered in the illite species among the possible 6 polytypes. The $1M_d$, derived from the 1M polytype which exhibits a variable degree of disorder in the stacking sequence, is also observed in illite samples. In this paper, the author introduces and reviews the theoretical background of the quantitative analysis method of illite polytypes, and considers the possibility to determine the fault age and its reactivation age using K/Ar age-dating based on the quantification of illite polytypes in the fault system. For the increase of the accuracy and precision of the illite age analysis method, the occurrence, identification, and mineralogical characterization of illite polytypes should be defined in detail. The broadening effect of (hkl) reflections, due to disordering of 1M polytype and the presence of I/S minerals with expandability, are also considered as the main parameters controlling the quantification of illite polytypes using the WILDFIRE(C)simulation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.289-298
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• 1984

Uraniferous black slates of the Okchon sequence occur in Koesan (northeast) through Miwon-Boun (middle) to the southwest off Taejon (southwest) within the Okchon fold belt. The Uraniferous balck slates in the southwest off Taejon are particularly well developed in Chubu (northeast) and Moksso-ri (middle) areas whereas they are less developed in Jinsan (southwest) area. The uraniferous beds range from less than a meter to 40 meters in thickness and range from less than 0.02% $U_3O_8$ (cut-off-grade) to 0.05% $U_3O_8$ in the southwestern district off Taejon. Electron microprobe analysis of uranium-minerals found in graphitic slate samples enables to estimate their major compositions semi-quantitatively so that uraninite, ferro-uranophane and chlopinite are tentatively identified. Uranium-minerals are closely associated with carbon and metal sulfides. Correlation analysis of trace element concentrations revealed that U and F.C., and U and Mo are lineary correlative respectively and their correlation coefficients are positively high whereas those of U and V, U and Mn, and U and Zr are negatively low, implying that uranium mineralization has been closely related with concentrations of carbon and molybdenum. Stable isotope analyses of pyrite sulfur range widely from +11.5% to -23.3% in ${\delta}^{34}S$ values whereas those of graphite carbon fall within a narrow range between -23.3% and -28.9% in ${\delta}^{13}C$ values. The wide range of ${\delta}^{34}S$ values suggests that the sulfur could be of meteoric origin rather than of igneous source. The narrow range of ${\delta}^{13}C$ values, which are close to those of coal, indicates that the graphite is organic carbon in origin. Therefore, it is concluded that the uranium mineralization in the Okchon sequence took place primarily in sedimentary environment rich in organic matter and sulfide ion, both of which served as the reducing agents to convert soluble uranyl complex to insoluble uranium dioxide.