• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.141-151
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• 2022

The 16 natural zeolites collected from Mongolia (6 types), the United States (1 type), and Korea (9 types) were characterized by XRD, XRF, TGA, DTA, and CEC analysis. All 16 samples are composite minerals. Two or more mineral phases co-exist and consist primarily of minerals such as clinoptilolite, heulandite, mordenite, and chabazite. In certain samples, minerals like illite and quartz were present as impurities. The XRF analysis showed that the 16 natural zeolites contain SiO₂, Al₂O₃, K₂O, CaO, Na₂O, MgO, and Fe₂O₃ oxides. The cation exchange capacity of the U-1 sample was 223.3 meg/100 g, which is higher than the rest of the samples. M-6 sample in Mongolian natural zeolite and K-1 sample in Korean natural zeolite showed the highest cation exchange capacity at 166.6 meg/100 g. As a result of thermal differential and thermos gravimetric analysis, all 16 samples showed excellent thermal stability up to 600℃.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.219-226
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• 2021

We examined component analysis and lead isotope ratio analysis to find out the relationship between the excavation and the production site of 25 bronze weapons from prehistoric ages. All 25 bronze weapons are ternary alloys of copper-tin-lead and lead is artificially added. The lead isotope ratios of 25 bronze weapons show that bronze are made by raw materials in the southern regions of the Korean Peninsula, including northern China. The raw materials of narrow-shaped bronze dagger are supplied in zone 1-3 and northern China. In addition, provenance of lead for bronze halberd and pearhead are the rest of the region except for zone 1 and zone 4. Silver are enriched in most samples and zinc and cobalt are deficient. Arsenic and antimony detected only specific samples and can be used as critical parameter for provenance study. Lead isotopes and trace elements of archaeological bronzes will provide conservation scientist with useful tool to study the provenance of raw materials

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.431-445
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• 2022

A quantitative phase analysis method of X-ray powder diffraction was studied to determine the mineral content of clay-rich rocks practically as well as effectively. For quantitative X-ray powder diffraction analysis of the clay-rich rocks, it is necessary to prepare whole-rock powder samples with a random orientation by side mounting method. In addition, for the identification of the clay minerals in the rock, it is required to prepare an oriented mount specimen with a clay particle size of 2 ㎛ or less, ethylene glycol treatment, and heat treatment. RIR (reference intensity ratio) and Rietveld method were used for the quantitative analysis of the clay-rich rocks. It was possible to obtain the total clay and the non-clay minerals contents from the whole-rock X-ray diffraction profiles using the RIR values. In addition, it was possible to calculate the relative content of each clay mineral from the oriented X-ray diffraction profiles of the clay particle size and assign it to the total clay. In the Rietveld method of whole-rock X-ray diffraction, effective quantitative values were obtained from the Rietveld diffraction patterns excluded the region of less than 10 degrees (2θ). Similar quantitative values were shown in not only the RIR but the Rietveld methods. Therefore, the analysis results indicate a possibility of a routine quantitative analysis of clay-rich rocks in the laboratory. However, quantitative analysis of clay minerals is still a challenge because there are numerous varieties of clay minerals with different chemical and structural characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.273-281
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• 2022

Mantle heterogeneity is closely related to the distribution and circulation of volatile components in the Earth's interior, and the behavior of volatiles in the mantle strongly influences the rheological properties of silicate rocks. In mantle xenoliths, these physicochemical properties of the upper mantle can be recorded in the form of microstructures and fluid inclusions. In this paper, I summarized and reviewed the results of previous studies related to the characteristics of microstructures and fluid inclusions from peridotite xenoliths beneath the Rio Grande Rift (RGR) in order to understand the evolution and heterogeneity of upper mantle. In the RGR, the mantle peridotites are mainly reported in the rift axis (EB: Elephant Butte, KB: Kilbourne Hole) and rift flank (AD: Adam's Diggings) regions. In the case of the former (EB and KB peridotites), the type-A lattice preferred orientation (LPO), formed under low-stress and low-water content, was reported. In the case of the latter (AD peridotites), the type-C LPO, formed under low-stress and high-water content, was reported. In particular, in the case of AD peridotites, at least two fluid infiltration events, such as early (type-1: CO₂-N₂) and late (type-2: CO₂-H₂O), have been recorded in orthopyroxene. The upper mantle heterogeneity recorded by these microstructures and fluid inclusions is considered to be due to the interaction between the North American plate and the Farallon plate.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.69-83
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• 2023

Forest fires increase the risk of subsequent soil erosion and mass movement in burned areas, even under rainfall conditions below landslide alert thresholds, by destroying plants and vegetation and causing changes to soil properties. These effects of forest fires can alter runoff in burned areas by altering soil composition, component minerals, soil water repellency, soil mass stability, and soil fabric. Heat from forest fires not only burns shallow organic matter and plants but also spreads below the surface, affecting soil constituents including minerals. This study analyzed X-ray diffraction and physical properties of topsoil and subsoil obtained from both burned and non-burned areas to identify the composition and distribution of clay minerals in the soil. Small amounts of mullite, analcite, and hematite were identified in burned soils. Vermiculite and mixed-layer illite/vermiculite (I/V) were found in topsoil samples from burned areas but not in those from non-burned areas. These findings show changes in soil mineral composition caused by forest fires. Expansive clay minerals increase the volume of soil during rainfall, degrading the structural stability of slopes. Clay minerals generated in soil in burned areas are therefore likely to affect the long-term stability of slopes in mountainous areas.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2023

On painting cultural properties to which Orpiment, a traditional yellow mineral pigment, is applied, the color's degeneration is frequently observed. To identify the cause of the degeneration, this study takes a look into orpiment and the various pigments that are mixed into it (Lead White, Lead Red, and Cinnabar) in powder and painting state. The pigment was mixed with Argyo glue and then applied to korean traditional paper and silk. Considering the possibility that alum causes the discoloration, it was applied to the specimen. With a UV tester, the powders and the painted specimens were subjected to a light resistance test in three phases (96 hour). Color changes were measured with a colorimeter and minerals, chemical composition and structural changes were analysed by XRD, SEM/EDS and Raman spectrometers. While the color change of pure Orpiment powder according to the light resistance test was small, the colored specimen became darker. The color change was large in the Orpiment colored on the silk and in the alum-treated specimen. In Orpiment powder was produced white arsenolite as altered orpiment after UV test. In the mixed powder of Orpiment and Lead White were detected only the constituent minerals of Orpiment and Lead White, and no altered substances were produced. Whereas after the UV test, orpiment and arsenolite, which were altered substances of orpiment, and the constituent minerals of Lead White were detected. In the case of mixing the two pigments in the powder state, darkening did not occur even by the UV test. However, the specimens colored with the mixed powder were darkened by the UV test. The color change of Orpiment was different depending on the mixed pigment and base material. The color change was greater in the case of alum treatment than in the case without alum treatment, and it was found that alum also had an influence on the color change of Orpiment.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2023

Todorokite is a manganese oxide mineral containing Mg²⁺ in a tunnel structure in which MnO₆ octahedra share corners. In order to investigate the suitability and efficiency of high temperature-treated todorokite as a material for adsorption and fixation of Cs, Cs was ion exchanged and the amount of leached Cs from todorokite was measured. The todorokite used in this study was synthesized by transforming Na-birnessite to Mg-buserite and used as a precursor. After high temperature treatment, Cs exchanged todorokite changed to birnessite and hausmannite as the temperature increased. The amount of leached Cs was investigated for Cs exchanged todorokite which was reacted with distilled water and 1 M NaCl solution at different reaction times. In general, for the samples reacted with 1 M NaCl solution, the fixation of Cs was quite effective, although the amount of leached Cs was greater due to the ion exchange reaction with Na. As the treatment temperature increased, the amount of leached Cs increased and then decreased again, which was related to the mineral phases formed at each temperature. As birnessite was formed, the amount of leached Cs increased, but as birnessite decreased, that decreased again. As the mineral phase changed to hausemanite, the amount of Cs decreased rapidly. The results of our study show that Cs exchanged todorokite can be used as a material that effectively fixes Cs and prevents its diffusion by high temperature treatment.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2023

Cobalt can be released into the natural environment as industrial waste from the alloying industry and as acid mine drainage, and it is also a radionuclide (⁶⁰Co) that constitutes high-level radioactive waste. Smectite is a mineral that can be useful for adsorption and isolation of this element. In this study, Cheto-type montmorillonite (Cheto-MM), which is the source clays of The Clay Mineral Society (CMS) and already well-characterized, was used. The effect of the adsorption site affected by the presence of interlayer water on the adsorption of cobalt before and after dehydration by heating was evaluated and the adsorption mechanism of cobalt on Cheto-MM was studied by applying adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm models. The results showed that the adsorption characteristics changed with dehydration and subsequent shrinkage, and cobalt was found to be adsorbed at the edge of Cheto-MM for about 38% and adsorbed at the interlayer site for about 62%, suggesting that the cobalt adsorption of Cheto-MM is significantly influenced by the interlayer. By applying the adsorption kinetic models, the cobalt adsorption kinetics of Cheto-MM is explained by a pseudo-second-order model, and the concentration-dependent adsorption was best described by the Langmuir isotherm adsorption model. This study provides basic knowledge on the adsorption characteristic of cobalt on montmorillonite with different adsorption sites and is expected to be useful in predicting the adsorption behavior of smectite in high-level radioactive waste disposal sites in the future.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.54-66
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• 2023

Titanium's importance as a mineral resource is increasing, but the Korean industry depends on imports. Ilmenite is the principal titanium ore. However, research and development from raw materials have not been investigated yet in detail. Hence, measures to secure a stable titanium supply chain are urgently needed. Accordingly, through beneficiation technology, we evaluated the possibility of technological application for the efficient recovery of valuable minerals. As a result of the experiments, we confirmed that mineral particles existed as fine particles due to weathering, making recovery through classification difficult. Consequently, applying beneficiation technologies, i.e., specific gravity separation, magnetic separation, and flotation, makes it possible to recover valuable minerals such as hematite and rutile. However, there are limitations in increasing the quality and yield of TiO₂ due to the mineralogical characteristic of the hematite and rutile contained in titanium ore. Hametite is combined with rutile even at fine particles. Therefore, it is essential to develop mineral processing routes, to recover iron, vanadium, and rare earth elements as resources. On that account, we used grinding technology that improves group separation between constituent minerals and magnetic separation technology that utilizes the difference in magnetic sensitivity between fine mineral particles. The development of beneficiation technology that can secure the economic feasibility of valuable materials after reforming iron oxide and titanium oxide components is necessary.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.233-257
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• 2023

Asbestos minerals are found at rocks and soils of the Hongseong and Bibong serpentine mines, western part of Chungnam. The area consists of and metasediment, and Mesozoic igneous intrusives with minor age-known gneiss complexes and Mesozoic sediments. With detailed geological investigations, rock samples for the serpentinite and amphibolite areas are collected at sites containing asbestos. Representative asbestos and rock samples are analysed by PLM, XRD, SEM and EPMA. Serpentinites are found as steeply dipping faults with adjacent gneiss complex to the NNE direction. Repeated alteration, including serpenitization and talcification, is found at the emplacement direction for the serpentinite body. Amphibollites occur as intrusives and stratiforms within the Precambrian gneiss complex. Serpentinite and amphibolite (or amphibole schist) contain amphiboles either as asbestiform or non-asbestiform. Varying amounts of asbestos minerals, including chrysotile, tremolite asbestos and actinolite asbestos, are found within the serpentinites. The asbestos minerals are found near the cracks or fractures and along the bedding plane. They occur as cross fiber, slip fiber and mass fiber types. Varying amounts of amphibole asbestos minerals, such as tremolite and actinolite asbestos, are found within amphibolites and as a mass fiber type. Overall results suggest that rocks of the serpentine mines contain serpentine and amphibole type asbestos minerals originated from the hydrothermal alteration. Considering construction nearby the mines and environmental risks by the asbestos, additional land management plans are required.