• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.309-322
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• 2018

Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) occurs in rocks and soils as a result of natural weathering and human activities. It is proved that inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to increase risk of developing several diseases such as lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma. The parent rocks of asbestos have been mainly associated with (ultra)mafic and carbonate rock. The previous studies on NOA were mainly limited to (ultra)mafic rock-hosted asbestos, but studies on carbonate rock-hosted asbestos are relatively rare in S. Korea. Therefore, this study was aimed to examine mineralogical characteristics of carbonate rock-hosted NOA at three sites including Muju and Jangsu, Jeonbuk province and Asan, Chungnam province. Types of rocks at the three sites mainly consisted of Precambrian metasedimentary rocks, carbonate rock, and Cretaceous and Jurassic granites. Asbestos-containing carbonate rock samples were obtained for mineralogical characterization. XRD, PLM, EPMA, SEM and EDS analyses were used to characterize mineralogical characteristics of the carbonate rock-hosted NOA. From the carbonate rock, fibrous minerals were occurred acicular and columnar forms in the three sites. Fibrous minerals were composed of mainly tremolite and associated minerals included possibly asbestos containing materials (ACM) such as talc, vermiculite, and sepiolite. The length and aspect ratios of tremolite were similar to the standard asbestiform (length >$5{\mu}m$, length:width = 3:1). These results indicate that both non-asbestiform and asbestiform tremolite with acicular forms occurred in carbonate rocks at three sites. Geological and geochemical characteristics and mineral assemblages indicate tremolite and associated minerals might be formed by hydrothermal alternation and/or hydrothermal veins of carbonate rocks due to intrusion of acidic igneous rocks.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-47
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• 2003

Various applied-mineralogical characterization including measurements of surface area, size distribution, swelling index, and viscosity were done for some domestic bentonites in order to decipher the rheological properties and their controlling factors. The bentonites, which are Ca-type and relatively low-grade (rnontmorillonite contents: 30 ∼ 75 wt%), occur mostly as subhedral lamellas with the size range of 2 ∼ 4 $\mu\textrm{m}$. The size distribution of mineral fractions in bentonite suspension is dominant in the range of 10 ∼ 100 $\mu\textrm{m}$, and though rather complicated, exhibits roughly bimodal patterns. The feature is more conspicuous in the case of zeolitic bentonite. The bentonites have surface areas ranging 269 ∼ 735 $\m^2$/g, which are measured by EGME adsorption method. The EGME surface areas are nearly proportional to the rnontmorillonite contents, moisture contents, or total CEC. In the surface area measurements, zeolitic bentonites have slightly higher values than those zeolite- free types. The measured swelling index and viscosity of domestic bentonites are comparatively low in values. The swelling values of bentonites were measured to be 250∼500% at maximum by progressively mixing amounts of 2 ∼ 5 wt% Na$_2$CO$_3$, which varies depending on the contents of rnontmorillonite and other impurities, especially zeolite. Much amount of sodium carbonate is required for optimum swelling property of zeolitic bentonited which has usually strong Na- exchanged capacity. The bentonites, which are comparatively feldspar-rich and low in size and crystallinity, tend to be higher in viscosity values. Tn addition, the viscosity is largely higher in case of the bentonites with higher pH in suspension. However, the rheological properties of bentonites such as swelling index and viscosity do not show any obvious relationships with rnontmorillonite contents and mean particle size in suspension. In contrast, roughly speaking, the swelling index of bentonites is reversely proportional to the values of surface area which can be regarded as a collective physico-chemical parameter encompassing all the effects caused by mineral composition, surface charge, particle size, morphological farm, and etc. in bentonites. Thus, the rheological properties in bentonite suspension appear to be rather complicated characteristics which mainly depend on the flocculation of clay particles and the mode of particle association, i.e. quasicrystals, controlled by surface charge, morphology, size, and texture of rnon-tmorillonite, and which partly affected by the finer impurities such as zeolite.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.113-119
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• 1975

Volcanic Ash Soils are widely distributed in Jeju island, and constitute the important upland soils which are either presently being cultivated or are suitable for reclaiming. The characteristics of Volcanic Ash Soils according to data made available by previous studies in Jeju and the outside of the country are as following: The most conspicuous mineralogical property is the presence of amorphous mineral colloids. The colloids have large and highly reactive surface to which the common physical and chemical properties are related. Soils are low in bulk density and higher both in porosity and permeability. Accumulation of humus in the upper part of soil is found in great quantity. Cation exchange capacity is high mainly due to high humus content, but the absorbing intensity of ammonium and potassium is weaker than that of crystalline clays. The phosphate absorption coefficient is extremely high and deficiency of minor element may occur both crops and animals. Soils are densely populated with actinomycetes and anaerobic bacteria. Nitrification and activity of urease are distinctly stronger than that of non-Volcanic Ash Soils.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.393-398
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• 1997

Batch sorption experiments were carried out to investigate the sorption characteristics of $^{90}$ Sr onto domestic granite(HG) and tuff(TF) samples. The effect of three independent variables ([Sr], Vo1/Wt], [pH]) on the sorption was investigated. (Sr) played as the most significant variable for the $^{90}$ S $r^{2+}$ sorption onto HG, whereas [pH] had the greatest effect among three variables onto TF. Tuff shooed much greater sorption than granite, which ues accounted for their differences in mineralogical properties. The selectivity of $^{90}$ Sr was much lower than that of $^{l37}$Cs.s.s.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.379-391
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• 1991

The studied Cretaceous granties are widely distributed at the southern Mungyeong area in the southwestern part of Ogcheon Fold Belt. From the mineralogical and geochemical compositions, it is suggested that they show the characteristics of I-type and magnetite-series and formed under the conditions of high oxygen fugacity. The mineral chemistry of plagioclase, alkali feldspar and biotite in the granites by EMPA, was revealed as albite to oligoclase, microcline to microcline perthite and orthoclase perthite, and annite compositions, respectively. The granites have the distribution patterns of enriched LREE and depleted HREE, and show Eu negative anomalies suggesting mainly due to the feldspar fractionation in the residual magma. The geochemical data of Eu, EU/$^*Eu$, Sm and Gd suggest that the granites of the area have more abundant alkali feldspar crystallization than plagioclase. From the geochemical characteristics of Sr/Ba, La/Sm vs. Ce/Yb and other trace element evidences, the granites were the late stage products of differentiation and fractionated from a homogeneous parental granitic magma.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.479-488
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• 2014

Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) from disturbance of rocks and soils has been overlooked as a source of exposure that could potentially have a detrimental impact on human health. But, few researches on mineralogical characteristics of NOA occurred in soils have been reported in Korea. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the mineralogical characteristics of NOA occurred in soils at Daero-ri area, Seosan, Chungnam Province, Korea. Sedimentation method was used for particle size separation of the asbestos-containing soils. XRD and PLM analyses were used to characterize mineralogical characteristics and mineral assemblages in soils. SEM-EDS and TEM-EDS analyses were used to characterize mineral morphology and chemical composition. Particle size analyses of the asbestos-containing soils showed they were composed of 26-93% sand, 4-23% silt and 3-70% clay. Soil texture of the soils was mainly sand, sandy loam, sandy clay, and clay. PLM analyses of the soil showed that most of the soil contained asbestiform tremolite and actinolite. The average content of asbestos in the soil was 1.5 wt. %. Therefore, the soil can be classified into asbestos-contaminated soils based on U. S. Environmental Protection Agency classification (content of asbestos in contaminated soil > 1%). Morphologically different types of tremolite such as long fibrous, needle-like, fiber bundle, bladed and prismatic forms co-existed. Prismatic tremolite was dominant in sand fraction and asbestiform tremolite was dominant in silt fraction. This study indicates that the prismatic form of tremolite transform gradually into a fibrous form of tremolite due to soil weathering because tremolite asbestos was mainly existed in silt fraction rather than sand fraction.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2018

Baekasan Acheon cave located in Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do is a natural limestone cave only found in this province. In this study, the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of speleothems collected from Baekasan Acheon cave were identified and the capability of carbonate mineral formation by aerobic microorganisms enriched from the cave and the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of carbonate minerals formed by the microorganisms were investigated. The samples of sediments (clay) and speleothems (shelfstone and cave coral) were collected at three sites in the cave. The samples of shelfstone and cave coral were identified mainly as carbonate mineral, Mg-rich calcite, and clay minerals were composed of quartz, muscovite, and vermiculite by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. To cultivate the carbonate forming microorganisms, parts of the sediment and speleothems were placed in D-1 medium containing urea, respectively, and the growth of microorganisms was observed under the aerobic condition at room temperature. The capability of carbonate mineralization of the cultured Baekasan Acheon cave microorganisms was examined through adding 1% (v/v) of the cultured microorganisms and calcium sources, Ca-acetate or Ca-lactate, into the D-1 medium. XRD analysis showed that the microorganisms cultured in cave deposits formed calcium carbonate ($CaCO_3$) under all conditions, and these microbial carbonate minerals included calcite and vaterite. The morphological characteristics and chemical composition of biologically formed minerals were observed by SEM-EDS showed various crystal forms such as rhomboid, spherical, perforated surface with Ca, C, and O of major chemical components. The existence of such microorganisms in the cave can contribute the formation of carbonate minerals, and it is likely to affect the geochemical cycles of carbon and calcium in the cave.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.253-266
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• 2016

Objectives: This study is for characteristics of asbestos occurrence (NOA, naturally occurring asbestos) from the Gapyeong area and its host rocks, serpentinites. Methods: Representative samples are collected from the serpentinite bodies, following degrees of hydrothermal alteration and metamorphism, after about 2 year field trips. Mineralogical, morphological and optical characteristics of the asbestos and host rocks are confirmed by PLM, XRD EPMA and SEM results. Results: The serpentinites are dunites and harzburgites, and host asbestos, including chrysotile, tremolite and actinolite. The asbestos chrysotiles are found as veins ranging from several millimeters to several centimeters in thickness, while asbestos-tremolite and -actinolite occur along cracks and fractures ranging up to ten centimeters in thickness. The chryostiles occur mainly as cross and slip fibers, while the amphibole asbestos is found as vein, slip and oblique fibers. More tremolitic grains are colorless and commonly show elongated or fiber shapes, whereas the magnesio hornblende grains mainly show light green and occur as subhedral to euhedral diamond grains. Conclusions: Overall characteristics of serpentinites from the Gapyeong area are similar to worldwide orogenic-related Alpine type ultramafic rocks serpentinized and serpentinites in South Chungcheong-do Province, Korea, and occurrences of asbestos are similar to those of the ultramafic bodies in South Chungcheong-do Province.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.75-86
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• 2018

This study analyzed precipitation environment, heavy metal concentration, mineral composition, and spectral characteristics associated with heavy metal concentration and mineral composition for the reddish brown precipitates occurred in the drainage of Dogye mining station. The pH of the reddish brown precipitates ranges from 7.59 to 7.94 resulting neutral. XRF analysis reveals that the precipitates has high Fe concentration, and contaminated with Ni, Cu, and Zn. Dolomite, calcite, goethite, magnetite, kaolinite, pyrophyllite, quartz and aluminum isopropoxide were identified based on XRD analysis. As a result of spectral analysis associated with heavy metal contamination, visible reflectance increases and infrared reflectance decreases with a increase in heavy metal concentration. The spectral characteristics of the reddish brown precipitates is turned out to be manifested by goethite, magnetite, kaolinite, pyrophyllite and aluminum isopropoxide.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.2 s.52
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• pp.71-81
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• 2007

The marble-type dolomite from the Jasung Mine, which was farmed by duplicated affects of contact metamorphism and subsequent hydrothermal alteration, corresponds to a high-purity dolomite ranging up to above 98wt.% in dolomite contents. The dolomite contain minor impurities such as quartz, muscovite, and pyrite. It is characteristic that the dolomite is fairy Fe-rich corresponding to 0.4 wt.% due to the presence of pyrite of possible hydrothermal origin. The dolomite is nearly white-colored and constituting with subhedral crystals ranging $0.35{\sim}0.46mm$M in size, forming equigranular texture. Compared to the typical high-Ca limestone from the Pungchon Formation, the powder characteristics of dolomite is rather superior in milling efficiency, yields of fine particles, and size distribution. In addition, except for iron contents, the dolomite powder is no less superior than the limestone in quality and characteristics as fillers with respects to not only whiteness, oil absorption, and specific surface area but also shape characters such as elongation ratio, aspect ratio, and sphericity. This good characteristics of dolomite powder seem to be originated basically from comparatively higher grade and crystallinity of dolomite. Higher iron contents and the presence of sulfides prevents the dolomite from application for uses by thermal treatment, except for metallic manufacture. However, if proper ore separation procedure is available, the dolomite can be sufficiently utilized as substitutes for high-Ca limestone in most fields of filler industries.