• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2016

Tsogttsetsii area, an intrusive complex associated with Cu porphyry mineralization, is located in the Gurvansaikhan island arc terrane of the Central Asian Orogenic belt, Southern Mongolia. We performed a reconnaissance survey in Tsogttsetsii area. Cu mineralization in Tsogttsetsii area is porphyry Cu type related with alkali granite intruded in Permian. Mineralogical and textural properties of the ores and associated minerals were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, thin section petrography, and Scanning electron microscopy-Energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Ore minerals identified in polarizing microscope are magnetite, pyrite and bornite. Propylitic alteration zone occurs broadly in the area where malachite occurrences are shown to be spread intensively in alkali granite area. Quartz, sericite, chlorite and epidote were observed in the alteration zone samples. As results of XRD and SEM-EDS analysis, samples of copper oxides were composed mainly of malachite, cuprite and small amounts of quartz. Average and maximum Cu contents of samples collected from malachite occurrences area are 759 ppm and 6190 ppm, respectively. The characteristics of mineralization in Tsogttsetsii area is similar to Oyu Tolgoi Cu-Au (Mo) deposit and Tsagaan Suvarga Cu-Mo deposit which are 56 km south and 120 km northeast from Tsogttsetsii area, respectively. Characteristics of the study area, such as the geology, tectonic environment, lithology, mineralization, and alterations of the rocks within the survey area, resemble the characteristics of other porphyry deposits. Therefore further exploration including Induced Polarization (IP) survey for identifying subsurface orebody is required.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.507-515
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• 2014

Asbestos is designated as carcinogen minerals. Detoxification of asbestos is being conducted by physical and chemical treatments that lead the formation of non-fibrous mineral particles or phase transitions. Major researches have been performed on mineralogical properties of asbestos and possibilities of detoxification in Korea. More specific studies are needed to prove the form and crystal structure changes during the detoxification of asbestos via heat treatment. Therefore, we studied thermal effects on mineralogical characteristics of chrysotile and asbestiform tremolite using electron microscopy investigation. Electron microscopy investigation showed chrysotile fibers were fully transformed into rod-shaped forsterite at $850^{\circ}C$ in 2 hours, and asbestiform tremolite fibers were converted into non-fibrous diopside at $1050^{\circ}C$ in 2 hours. Fibrous asbestos were converted into rod-shaped minerals, which are non-asbestiform. However, compositions of both minerals were not changed before and after heat treatment. These results indicate that thermal treatment of asbestos completely broke down asbestos structure due to dehydroxylation and recrystallization. Thus, electron microscopy investigation can provide the useful information of shapes, crystal structure, and chemistries of the asbestos for the detoxification.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.14-24
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• 1994

The Sungsan clay deposits have been formed by the hydrothermal alteration of volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks of the Hwangsan Formation of Cretaceous age. Claystones are mainly composed of dickite, alunite, illitic minerals and tosudite. The mineralogical properties of clay minerals have been studied using X-ray diffraction analysis, electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis, and infrared absorption analysis. The physicochemical condition for the clay deposits also have been studied by the activity diagrams and mineral assemblages. Dickite, the dominant mineral in clay deposits, occurs generally as massive aggregates. It shows book-structure of well-defined hexagonal plates. Chemistry of dickite agrees with its ideal formula. Peak depth ratios in infrared absorption spectra were used for discrimination between pure and mixture of kaolin minerals. Five hydrothermal alteration zones are divided according to the mineral assemblages. From center to margin, alunite, dickite, illite and albite zones are discernible. Quartz zone occurs as small lenticular form in dickite zone. The formation of dickite and illite zones are promoted by decreasing $a_{k^+}$. An increase in $a_{H_{2}SO_{4}}$ or $a_{K_{2}SO_{4}}$ is required for the formation of alunite zone. Estimated temperature of formation ranges 110-270 $^{\circ}C$

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.277-288
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• 2004

Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is a chemical reaction between alkalies in cement and chemically unstable aggregates and causes expansion and cracking of concrete. In the Present study, we studied the effects of metakaolin, which is a newly introduced mineral admixture showing excellent pozzolainc reaction property, on the inhibition of ASR. We prepared mortar-bars of various replacement ratios of metakaolin and conducted alkali-silica reactivity test (ASTM C 1260), compressive strength test and flow test. We also carefully analyzed the mineralogical changes in hydrate cement paste by XRD qualitative analysis. The admixing of metakaolin caused quick pozzolanic reaction and hydration reaction that resulted in a rapid decrease in portlandite content of hydrated cement paste. The expansion by ASR was reduced effectively as metakaolin replaced cement greater than 15%. This resulted in that the amounts of available portlandite decreased to less than 10% in cement paste. It is considered that the inhibition of ASR expansion by admixing of metakaolin was resulted by the combined processes that the formation of deleterious alkali-calcium-silicate gel was inhibited and the penetration of alkali solution into concrete was retarded due to the formation of denser, more homogeneous cement paste caused by pozzolanic effect. Higher early strength (7 days) than normal concrete was developed when the replacement ratios of metakaolin were greater than 15%. And also, late strength (28 days) was far higher than normal concrete for the all the replacement ratios of metakaolin. The development patterns of mechanical strength for metakaolin admixed concretes reflect the rapid pozzolanic reaction and hydration properties of metakaolin.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.4 s.50
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• pp.311-324
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• 2006

In the Pohang-Gampo area, several diatomite beds occurred in mostly thinner than 1 m are embedded in the Pohang Formation of marine environment and the pyroclastic Eoil Formation. The diatomite from the Eoil Formation is constituting the high-grade ore altered slightly by diagenesis. In contrast, the diatomite intercalated within the upper horizon of the Yeonil Group is comparatively low-grade and highly altered in places. During diagenesis, an increasing of crystallinity of opal, i.e., the original mineral component of diatom, results in ultimately the mineral transition to quartz with accompanying a drastic change in morphology and texture of the altered diatomite. The diagenetic alteration appears to have undergone by way of the chemical diagenesis, which is largely controlled by degree of fluid contact, rather than burial diagenesis. For the diatomite from the Pohang-Gampo area, careful SEM observations, XRD, chemical analyses, and determination of specific surface area were done to identify the fossil species, mineral and chemical composition, and other physical properties in the view of assesment of grade and quality. The domestic diatomite ores are evaluated to be not good in grade and quality, compared to those of famous foreign localities. However, some diatomite deposits of marin,: origin from the Pohang Formation is constituting a peculiar clay-rich type, i.e., moler applicable to the special usage such as a manufacturing of lightweight brick. Because such a diatomite is frequently intercalated relatively as a thicker bed in the upper part of the Yeonil Group, a systematic and careful investigation should be done for the exploitation and development of an economic diatomite deposit of the moler type.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.4 s.50
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• pp.355-361
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• 2006

Artificially crushed sands occupy approximately 30 percent of the total consumption in South Korea. The demand for the crushed sands is expected to rise in the future. Most manufacturers use granitic rocks to produce the crushed sands. During the manufacturing process, fine fractions (i.e., sludges or particles smaller than 63 microns) are removed through the process of flocculation. The fine fraction occupies about 15% of the total weight. The sludges are comprised of quartz, feldspars, calcite, and various kinds of clay minerals. Non-clay minerals occupy more than 75 percent of the sluges weight, according to the XRD semi-quantification measurement. Micas, kaolinites, chlorite, vermiculite, and smectites occur as minor constituents. The sludges from Jurassic granites contain more kaolinites and $14{\AA}$-types than those from the Cretaceous ones. The chemical analysis clearly shows the difference between the parent rocks and the sludges in chemical compositions. Much of colored components in the sludges was accumulated as the weathering products. Particle size analysis results show that the sludges can be categorized as silt loam in a sand-silt-clay triangular diagram. This result was for her confirmed by the hydraulic conductivity data. In South Korea, the sludges remained after crushed sand production are classified as an industrial waste because of their impermeability, and which is caused by their high silt and clay fractions.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.153-162
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• 2009

The main compositions of "Seokganju", a Korean traditional red mineral pigment, are iron oxides. To investigate its mineralogical and functional properties, we had got its ore from Juto cave in Ulreoung island, which was a famous field of it in Korean documents. The ore occurs as a paleosol between the olivine basalt and amphibole trachyte in discontinuously. It is reddish brown and yellowish brown and consists mainly of clay minerals with minor debris. Its reddish and yellowish brown color are due to the hematite and ferrihydrate, respectively. These iron oxides are precipitated as ferrihydrate from the ferrous water in the paleosol and partly changed to hematite. The color reproduced in timber by using seokganju pigment with traditional tools and methods is similar to that in heritage building. The moistureproofing and fire resistance of Ulreungdo seokganju is far better than that of artificial seokganju. Moreover, the combustion tests show that the artificial seokganju promote the ignition and combustion of the timber. Ulreungdo seokganju is regarded as a pigment with fungicidal efficacy because growth of two wood decay fungi (cov. and typ.) are inhibited in solid medium with it.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.183-199
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• 2008

This study is focused on characterization of the physio-chemical and mineralogical properties, investigation of their vertical changes in the tailing profile of the Guryoung mining area, classification of the profile into distinct zones, and condition conceptual model of physio-chemical conditions and phases-water relationships controlling the element behaviors in the tailings. The upper part of the groundwater is characterized by the high contents of $Fe_2O_3$ and $SO_3$ for whole rock analysis, low pH, and the occurrence of jarosite, schwertmannite and Fe-oxyhydroxide as the secondary mineral phases. The tailing profile can be divided into the covering soil, jarosite zone, Fe-sulfate zone, Fe-oxyhydroxide and gypsum-bearing pyrite zone, calcite-bearing pyrite zone, soil zone, and weathered zone on the based of the geochemical and mineralogical characteristics. The profile can be sampled into the oxidized zone and the carbonate-rich primary zone with the dramatic changes in pH and the secondary mineral phases. The conceptual model proposed for the tailing profile can be summarized that the oxidation of pyrite is the most important reaction controlling the changes in pH, the dissolution of the primary silicates and carbonates, the precipitation of secondary mineral phases, acid-neutralizing, and heavy metal behaviors through the profile.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.397-413
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• 2008

In Gaya area, the Boseong kaolin deposits exhibit locally unusual occurrences such as downward enrichment of kaoin minerals, characteristic hydrothermal alterations (illite and stilbite), and phase relations among kaolin minerals in addition to the extensive weathering of anorthositic country rocks. This indicates that the kaolin deposits seem to be genetically formed as a mixed hydrothermal and residual model. The kaolin ores can be divided into five types on the basis of differences in occurrence, mineral composition and characters. These consist of two types of high-grade ores ranging above 80% in grade and low-grade ores as low as less than 80% including feldspar residuals or the peculiar impurity phase of illite-vermiculite-stilbite. Halloysite and kaolinite are mostly coexisted in the Boseong kaolin, and these kaolin minerals exhibit diverse appearances in crystallinity and morphology. Such a diversity in mineral phase and crystallinity seems to be originated from the complexity in genesis. In addition to these diverse characters of the kaolin, its applied-mineralogical characteristics such as chemical composition, thermal properties, whiteness, viscosity, and etc. made it disadvantageous in terms of ore quality.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 1993

The clay minerals such as sericite, pyrophyllite, chlorite and smectite abundantly occur in the Bobae pottery stone mine in Pusan. In this study, the processes which are responsible for the formation of these minerals were studied by examing their occurrence and mineralogical properties. The so-called pottery stone of this mine is characterized by the predominance of sericite and quartz. The sericite of the pottery stone is mostly $2M-{1}$ type. And many of quartz particles are smaller than a few micron in diameter. The pottery stone also contained a small amount of pyrophyllite and muscovite. The pottery stone deposit occurs within the Cretaceous rhyodacite and is particularly well developed near the contact with the quartz porphyry which intrudes the rhyodacite. The fact implies that the pottery stone is the product of hydrothermal alteration of the rhyodacite by the intrusion of quartz porphyry. The pottery stone was formed by the alteration that accompanies the dissociation of feldspar and chlorite in parent rocks and subsequent formation of sericte and quartz. Smectite, laumontite and kaolinite occur locally within the altered rocks. These minerals were formed after formation of pottery stone. It is noteworthy that beidellite occurs as a pink-colored clay from the altered rocks in the mine.