• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.329-344
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• 2002

Mineralogical and chemical characterization of some domestic bentonites, such as quantitative XRD analysis, chemical leaching experiments, pH and CEC determinations, were done without any separation procedures to understand their relationships among mineral composition, characteristics, and cation exchange properties. XRD quantification results based on Rietveld method reveal that the bentonites contain totally more than 25 wt% of impurities, such as zeolites, opal-CT, and feldspars, in addition to montmorillonite ranging 30～75 wt%. Cation exchange properties of the zeolitic bentonites are deeply affected by the content of zeolites identified as clinoptilolite-heulandite series. Clinoptilolite is common in the silicic bentonites with lighter color. and occurs closely in association with opal-CT. Ca is mostly the dominant exchangeable cation, but some zeolitic bentonites have K as a major exchangeable cation, The values of cation exchange capacity (CEC) determined by Methylene Blue method are comparatively low and have roughly a linear relationship with the montmorillonite content of the bentonite, though the correlated data tend to be rather dispersed. Compared to this, the CEC determined by Ammonium Acetate method, i.e.‘Total CEC’, has much higher values (50～115 meq/100 g). The differences between those CEC values are much greater in zeolitic bentonites, which obviously indicates the CEC increase affected by zeolite. Other impurities such as opal-CT and feldspars seem to affect insignificantly on the CEC of bentonites. When dispersed in distilled water, the pH of bentonites roughly tends to increase up to 9.3 with increasing the alkali abundance, especially Na, in exchangeable cation composition. However, some bentonites exhibit lower pH (5～6) so as to regard as ‘acid clay’. This may be due to the presence of $H^{＋}$ in part as an exchangeable cation in the layer site of montmorillonite. All the works of this study ultimately suggest that an assesment of domestic bentonites in grade and quality should be accomplished through the quantitative XRD analysis and the ‘Total CEC’measurement.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.139-151
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• 2009

Mineralogical characteristics of secondary precipitate formed at some mineral water springs in Gyeongbuk Province, Korea were studied in relation to water chemistry. The chemical water types of mineral water springs are mostly classified as $Ca-HCO_3$ type, but $Na(Ca)-HCO_3$ and $Ca-SO_4$ types are also recognized. Ca, Fe, and $HCO_3\;^-$ are the most abundant components in the water. The pH values of most springs lie in 5.76${\sim}$6.81, except Hwangsu spring having pH 2.8. Saturation indices show that all springs are supersaturated with respect to iron minerals and oxyhydroxides such as hematite and goethite. The result of particle size analysis shows that the precipitate is composed of the composite with various sizes, indicating the presence of iron minerals susceptible to a phase transition at varying water chemistry or the mixtures consisting of various mineral species. The particle size of the reddish precipitate is larger than that of the yellow brown precipitate. Based on XRD and SEM analyses, the precipitate is mostly composed of ferrihydrite (two-line type), goethite, schwertmannite, and calcite, with lesser silicates and manganese minerals. The most abundant mineral fanned at springs is ferrihydrite whose crystals are $0.1{\sim}2\;{\mu}m$ with an average of $0.5\;{\mu}m$ in size, characterized by a spherical form. It should be interestingly noted that schwertmannite forms at Hwangsu spring whose pH is very low. At Shinchon spring, Gallionella ferruginea, one of the iron bacteria, is commonly found as an indicator of the important microbial activity ascribed to the formation of iron minerals because very fine iron oxides with a spherical form are closely distributed on surfaces of the bacteria. A genetic relationship between the water chemistry and the formation of the secondary precipitate from mineral water springs was discussed.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.149-159
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• 2017

We investigated the mineralogical and chemical characteristics of oyster shell as the possible substitute for the limestone used as an absorbent of $SO_2$ gas. The oyster shells from Taean and Tongyeong were used for the comparison with limestone and those from Boyreong and Yeosu were additionally investigated. XRD results show that all shells are composed of calcite with the exception of the myostracum layer attached to adductor muscle and ligament, which is composed of aragonite. The marine sediments as impurities exist on the surface of shells or as inclusions in the shells. Calcite is the main mineral composition of the shell of barnacle which is also one of the impurities. The oyster shell is composed of three main layers; prismatic, foliated, and chalk. The oyster shell from Tongyeong with the largest shell size, has the smallest thickness of prismatic and foliated layers which contain protein called conchiolin, whereas that from Taean with the smallest shell size has the largest prismatic and foliated layers. The sizes of those two layers of the shells from Boryeong and Yeosu are larger than that from Tongyeong but smaller than Taean. Those differences are supposed to be due to the different growth environments because the oysters from Tongyeong are cultured under the sea while those from Taean are in the tidal zone. The oyster shells generally show higher amount of sulfur and phosphorus than limestone, mainly due to the composition of protein. Some elements such as Mg show significant variations in different layers. As for trace elements, Li shows much higher amount in oyster shells than limestone, suggesting the influence of the composition of the sea water on the formation of the oyster shells.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.163-172
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• 2019

A long core (RS15-LC48) was collected at a site in the continental rise between the Southern Ocean and the Ross Sea (Antarctica) during the 2015 Ross Sea Expedition. The mineralogical characteristics and the origin of clay minerals in marine sediments deposited during the Quaternary in the Ross Sea were determined by analyzing sedimentary facies, variations in grain size, sand fraction, mineralogy, clay mineral composition, illite crystallinity, and illite chemical index. Core sediments consisted mostly of sandy clay, silty clay, or ice rafted debris (IRD) and were divided into four sedimentary facies (units 1-4). The variations in grain size distribution and sand content with depth were very similar to the variations in magnetic susceptibility. Various minerals such as smectite, chlorite, illite, kaolinite, quartz, and plagioclase were detected throughout the core. The average clay mineral composition was dominated by illite (52.7 %) and smectite (27.7 %), with less abundant clay minerals of chlorite (11.0 %) and kaolinite (8.6 %). The IC and illite chemical index showed strong correlation trends with depth. The increase in illite and chlorite content during the glacial period, together with the IC and chemical index values, suggest that sediments were transported from the bedrocks of the Transantarctic Mountains. During the interglacial period, smectite may have been supplied by the surface current from Victoria Land, in the western Ross Sea. High values for IC and the illite chemical index also indicate relatively warm climate conditions during that period.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.477-490
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• 2010

The Gagok stratabound skarn deposit is the result of the intrusion of the Cretaceous granitic pluton into the Paleozoic calcareous rocks. The subvolcanic intrusion ranges in composition from quartz monzonite to granite porphyry with I-type, calc-alkaline and weakly peraluminous characteristics. Both endoskarn and exoskarn are developed at the Gagok Zn-(Pb) deposit, with more exoskarn than endoskarn. Geochemical and mineralogical characteristics in the Seongok and Wolgok orebodies can be treated in terms of self-organization. Sphalerites in the Gagok ore can also incorporate minor amounts of Mn, Cd, Cu and In. Trace element concentrations in different orebodies vary because fractionation of a given element into sphalerite is influenced by formation temperature and the amount of sphalerite in the ore. A group of high In/Zn and Cd/Zn ratios in ores, and low Mn/Fe ratios in sphalerites are correlated with proximal processes of a magmatic source. The pattern of minor/trace element variations in ores and sphalcrites can be used for petrogenetic interprctation, e.g., orebody zonation related to crystallization temperature and fluid d sources.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.89-101
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• 2016

This study investigated spectral characteristics of heavy metal contaminated soil samples in the vicinity of abandoned Boksu mine. Heavy metal concentrations including arsenic, lead, zinc, copper and cadmium were analyzed by XRF analysis. As a result, all of the soil samples excluding control sample were over-contaminated based on the counter measure standard. The XRD results revealed that quartz, kaolinite and smectite were detected for all of the soil samples and heavy metals in soil were adsorbed on clay minerals such as kaolinite and smectite. The spectral analyses confirmed that spectral reflectance of near-infrared and shorter portion of shortwave-infrared spectrum decreases as heavy metal concentration increases. Moreover, absorption depths at 2312 nm and 2380 nm, the absorption features of clay minerals, decreases with higher heavy metal concentration indicating adsorption of heavy metal ions with clay minerals. It indicates that spectral features and heavy metal contamination of soil samples have high correlations.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.365-374
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• 2003

Various deleterious chemicals can be introduced to existing concrete structures from various external sources. The deterioration of concrete by seawater attack is involved in complex processes due to various elements contained in seawater. In the present study, attention was paid to the formation of secondary minerals and characteristics of mineralogical and micro-structural changes involved in concrete deterioration caused by the influence of major seawater composition. The characteristics of deterioration occurred in existing concrete structures was carefully observed and samples were collected at many locations of coastal areas in Busan-Kyungnam. The petrographic, XRD, SEM/EDAX analyses were conducted to determine chemical, mineralogical and micro-structural changes in the aggregate and cement paste of samples. The experimental concrete deteriorations were performed using various chloride solutions (NaCl, CaCl, $MgCl_2$ and $Na_2SO_4$ solution. The experimental results were compared with the observation results in order to determine the effect of major elements in seawater on the deterioration. The alkalies in seawater appear to accelerate alkali-silica reaction (ASR). The gel formed by ASR is alkali-calcium-silica gel which known to cause severe expansion and cracking in concrete. Carbonation causes the formation of abundant less-cementitious calcite and weaken the cement paste. Progressive carbonation significantly affects on the composition and stability of some secondary minerals. Abundant gypsum generally occurs in concretes subjected to significant carbonation, but thaumasite ({$Ca_6/[Si(OH)_6]_2{\cdot}24H_2O$}${\cdot}[(SO_4)_2]{\cdot}[(CO_3))2]$) occurs as ettringite-thaumasite solid solution in concretes subjected to less significant carbonation. Experimentally, ettringite can be transformed to trichloroaluminate or decomposed by chloride ingress under controlled pH conditions. Mg ions in seawater cause cement paste deterioration by forming non-cementitious brucite and magnesium silicate hydrate (MSH).

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.355-364
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• 2008

Emerald deposit located on Itabira, Brazil is one of the major one in the world. We applied three different analytical approaches on Itabira emerald samples, (1) perpendicular to the c-axis, (2) parallel to the c-axis, (3) emerald pallet mixed with KBr, using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, to understand and compare spectroscopic characteristics of three Itabira emerald samples. Occurrence of $5,271\;cm^{-l}$ and $1,638\;cm^{-l}$ absorption peaks within $H_2O$-related range indicates that the samples belong to Type-II emerald. These emerald samples also display strong absorption peak generated from Type-IIa emerald preserving $H_2O-Na-H_2O$ sequence. $CO_2$- and Cl-related absorption peaks observed within specific range except for $H_2O$-related range. These observations and results suggest that FTIR analysis can be used for not on1y classification of emerald types, but also prediction of $Na_2O$ content within the emerald through comparison of relative peak intensity.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.195-204
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• 2017

For evaluation of adsorption characteristics of heavy metals, precipitates were collected from stream bottom in the Dalseong mine. The removal of some heavy metals such as As, Cu, and Cd from aqueous solution is studied using a precipitates taken from acid mine drainage. The yellowish brown (Munsell color 8.75YR 5/10) and dark brown (Munsell color 2.5YR 3/8) precipitates that collected from the study area consist mainly of schwertmannite and goethite, respectively. The percentage removal or adsorption capacity of metals depends on the initial concentration and characteristics of adsorbent. Removal efficiency of the adsorbents shows the order for metal ions of As > Cu > Cd. The adsorption efficiency by absorbent of precipitates in low concentration metal aqueous solution were observed 67.00-85.00% for As, 26.24-29.08% for Cd, and 7.67-12.82% for Cu. As the initial concentration of metal ions was increased from 1 to 10 mg/L, adsorption amount of adsorbent increased from 0.29 to 1.29 mg/g of Cu of schwertmannite, and from 0.24 to 1.97 mg/g of goethite.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.15-39
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• 2019

An ultramafic complex occurs as an isolated lenticular body in the Andong area. The Andong ultramafic complex comprises ultramafic and mafic rocks, but mainly peridotites. The complex extends for several kilometer to ENE direction, adjacent to the Andong fault line. This study is for petrochemistry of the peridotites within the ultramafic complex and characteristics of asbestos occurrences. The peridotites are igneous origin, ranging from lherzolite to wehrlites and are characterized by high Fo olivine ($Fo_{0.85-0.87}$), Mg clinopyroxene ($Mg_{87.5-93.5}$), and tremolitic to tschermakitic hornblende. Geochemically, these rocks show high magnesium number (mainly Mg = 85.3-87.38) and transitional element and low alkali element contents. The peridotites host asbestos, including chrysotile, tremolite and actinolite asbestos, but dominated by amphibole asbestos. The amphibole asbestos are found along small fault face, and cleavage and fracture showing several cm to ten cm in width as slip and oblique fibers, while the chryostiles occur at cleavage and vein showing several mm-cm in width as cross and slip fibers. They are confirmed by PLM, XRD and SEM results. Overall characteristics of peridotites from the Andong ultramafic complex and occurrences of the asbestos are similar to those of worldwide orogenic related Alpine type ultramafic rocks and serpentinized ultramafic bodies in Chungnam, Korea, respectively.