• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.149-160
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• 2018

A large number of functional living products are being produced for eco-friendly or health-promoting purposes. In the manufacturing process, such products could be adulterated with raw materials with high radioactivity, such as monazite and tourmaline. Thus, it is essential to manage raw materials and products closely related to the public living. For proper management, an accurate radioactivity data of the processed products are needed. Therefore, it is essential to develop a rapid and validated analytical method. In this study, the concentration of the radioactive $^{238}U$ and $^{232}Th$ in building materials (e.g., tile, cement, paint, wall paper, and gypsum board) and living products (e.g., health products, textiles, and minerals) were determined and compared by ED-XRF and ICP-MS. By comparing the results of both methods, we confirmed the applicability of the rapid screening and precise analysis of ED-XRF and ICP-MS. In addition, $^{238}U$ and $^{232}Th$ levels were relatively lower in building materials than in living products. Particularly, $^{232}Th$ content in 6 of 47 living products exceeded (maximum $8.2Bq{\cdot}g^{-1}$) the standard limit of $^{232}Th$ content in raw material ($1.0Bq{\cdot}g^{-1}$).

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.95-111
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• 2012

This study investigated the relationship between the geochemical environment and the occurrence of natural radioactive materials (uranium and Rn-222) in borehole groundwater at an Icheon site. The drill core recovered from the study site consists mainly of biotite granite with basic dykes. The groundwater samples were collected at four different depths in the borehole using the double-packed system. The pH range of the groundwater was 6.5~8.6, and the chemical type was Ca-$HCO_3$. The ranges of uranium and Rn-222 concentrations in the groundwater were 8.81~1,101 ppb and 5,990~11,970 pCi/L, respectively, and concentrations varied greatly with depth and collection time. The ranges of uranium and thorium contents in drill core were 0.53~18.3 ppm and 6.66~17.5 ppm, respectively. Microscope observations and electron microprobe analyses revealed the presence of U and Th as substituted elements for major composition of monazite, ilmenite, and apatite within K-feldspar and biotite. Although the concentration of uranium and thorium in the drill core was not high, the groundwater contained a high level of natural radioactive materials. This finding indicates that physical factors, such as the degree of fracturing of an aquifer and the groundwater flow rate, have a greater influence on the dissolution of radioactive materials than does the geochemical condition of the groundwater and rock. The origin of Rn-222 can be determined indirectly, using an interrelationship diagram of noble gas isotopes ($^3He/^4He$ and $^4He/^{20}Ne$).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2011

Some industrial minerals used in domestic industries such as monazite, apatite, bauxite, and ilmenite belong to NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) because they show a high radioactivity. Products, semi-products, wastes, and by-products which show higher radioactivity than NORM belong to TENORM (Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials). Apatite used for manufacturing phosphate fertilizer in Namhae Chemical company belongs to NORM, and its by-product, phospo-gypsum, belongs to TENORM. A geological investigation is needed for the future environmental impact assessment of the Namhae Chemical company's site. According to survey results of the Namhae Chemical company's site, soil mineral composition indicated the mixture of minerals derived from the country rock (quartz, feldspar, mica, $l4{\AA}$ mineral, kaolin and amphibole) and minerals from the gypsum open-air storage yard (gypsum and apatite). Soil samples showed average content of U 4.6 ppm and Th 10 ppm, which are similar to average crustal abundances. They also show average contents of $^{40}K$ 191-1,166 Bq/kg, $^{226}Ra$ 15.6-710 Bq/kg, and $^{232}Th$ 17.4-72.7 Bq/kg, which indicate moderate levels of radio nuclide. But $^{226}Ra$ anomaly in the gypsum open storage yard is clearly confirmed and $^{232}Th$ anomaly is also confirmed in the east road side of the factory and nearby mountain areas. Soil external hazard indices ranged 0.24-2.01 with the average 0.54. Although most external hazard indices were lower than 1, which means radiation hazard index to be negligible, 5 samples out of total 40 samples showed higher values than 1, and further detailed investigation is needed.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.117-128
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• 2017

Occurrence characteristics and existing forms of U-Th containing minerals in KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) granite are investigated to understand long-term behavior of radionuclides in granite considered as a candidate rock for the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. KURT granite primarily consists of quartz, feldspar and mica. zircon, REE(Rare Earth Element)-containing monazite and bastnaesite are also identified. Besides, secondary minerals such as sericite, microcline and chlorite including quartz vein and calcite vein are observed. These minerals are presumed to be accompanied by a post-hydrothermal process. U-Th containing minerals are mainly observed at the boundaries of quartz, feldspar and mica, mostly less than $30{\mu}m$ in size. Quantitative analysis results using EPMA (Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer) show that 74.2 ~ 96.5% of the U-Th containing minerals consist of $UO_2$ (3.39 ~ 33.19 wt.%), $ThO_2$ (41.61 ~ 50.24 wt.%) and $SiO_2$ (15.43 ~ 18.60 wt.%). Chemical structure of the minerals calculated using EPMA quantitative analysis shows that the U-Th minerals are silicate minerals determined as thorite and uranothorite. The U-Th containing silicate minerals are formed by a magmatic and hydrothermal process. Therefore, KURT granite formed by a magmatic differentiation is accompanied by an alteration and replacement owing to a hydrothermal process. U-Th containing silicate minerals in KURT granite are estimated to be recrystallized by geochemical factors and parameters such as temperature, pressure and pH owing to the hydrothermal process. By repeated dissolution/precipitation during the recrystallization process, U-Th containing silicate minerals such as thorite and uranothorite are formed according to the variation in the concentrated amount of U and Th.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.163-178
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• 2011

A test borehole was drilled in the Cheongwon area to investigate the relationship between geochemical environment and the natural occurrence of radioactive materials (uranium and Rn-222) in borehole groundwater. The borehole encountered mainly biotite schist and biotite granite, with minor porphyritic granite and basic dykes. Six groundwater samples were collected at different depths in the borehole using the double-packed system. The groundwater pH ranges from 5.66 to 8.34, and the chemical type of the groundwater is Ca-$HCO_3$. The contents of uranium and Rn-222 in the groundwater are 0.03-683 ppb and 1,290-7,600 pCi/L, respectively. The contents of uranium and thorium in the rocks within the borehole are 0.51-23.4 ppm and 0.89-62.6 ppm, respectively. Microscope observations of the rock core and analyses by electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) show that most of the radioactive elements occur in the biotite schist, within accessory minerals such as monazite and limenite in biotite, and in feldspar and quartz. The high uranium content of groundwater at depths of -50 to -70 m is due to groundwater chemistry (weakly alkaline pH, an oxidizing environment, and high concentrations of bicarbonate). The origin of Rn-222 could be determined by analyzing noble gas isotopes (e.g., $^3He/^4He$ and $^4He/^{20}Ne$).

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.261-276
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• 2016

The occurrence of natural radioactive materials such as uranium and radon-222 in groundwater was examined with hydrogeochemistry and geology at ○○ village in the Yongin area. Two rounds of 19 groundwater and 5 surface water sampling were collected for analysis. The range of pH value in groundwaters was 5.81 to 7.79 and the geochemical types of the groundwater were mostly Ca(Na)-HCO₃ and Ca(Na)-NO₃(Cl)-HCO₃. Uranium and radon-222 concentrations in the groundwater ranged from 0.06 to 411 μg/L and from 5.56 to 903 Bq/L, respectively. Two deep groundwaters used as common potable well-water sources exceeded the maximum contaminant levels of the uranium and radon-222 proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Three groundwater samples from residential areas contained unsuitable levels of uranium, and 12 groundwater samples were unsuitable due to radon-222 concentrations. Radioactive materials in the unsuitable groundwater are naturally occurring in a Jurassic amphibole- and biotite-bearing granitic gneiss. High uranium and radon-222 groundwater concentrations were only observed in two common wells; the others showed no relationship between bedrock geology and groundwater geochemical constituents. With such high concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive materials in groundwater, the affected areas may extend tens of meters for uranium and even farther for radon-222. Therefore, we suggest the radon-222 and the uranium did not originate from the same source. Based on the distribution of radon-222 in the study area, zones of higher radon-222 concentrations may be the result of diffusion through cracks, joint, or faults. Surface radioactivity and uranium concentrations in the groundwater show a positive relationship, and the impact areas may extend for ~200m beyond the well in the case of wells containing high concentrations of uranium. The highest uranium and thorium concentrations in rock samples were detected in thorite and monazite.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.16-35
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• 2008

We study metamorphism of metasedimetary rocks and origin and evolution of leucogranite form Samcheok area, northeastern Yeongnam massif, South Korea. Metamorphic rocks in this area are composed of metasedimentary migmatite, biotite granitic gneiss and leucogranite. Metasedimentary rocks, which refer to major element feature of siliclastic sediment, are divided into two metamorphic zones based on mineral assemblages, garnet and sillimanite zones. According to petrogenetic grid of mineral assemblages, metamorhpic P-T conditions are $740{\sim}800^{\circ}C$ at $4.8{\sim}5.8\;kbar$ in the garnet zone and $640-760^{\circ}C$ at 2.5-4.5kbar in sillimanite zone. The leucogranite (Imwon leucogranite) is peraluminous granite which has high alumina index (A/CNK=1.31-1.93) and positive discriminant factor value (DF > 0). Thus, leucogranite is S-type granite generated from metasedimentary rocks. Major and trace element diagram ($R_1-R_2$ diagram and Rb vs. Y+Nb etc.) show collisional environment such as syn-collisional or volcanic arc granite. Because Rb/sr ratio (1.8-22.9) of leucogranites is higher than Sr/Ba ratio (0.21-0.79), leucogranite would be derived from muscovite dehydrate melting in metasedimentary rocks. Leucogranites have lower concentration of LREE and Eu and similar that of HREE relative to metasedimentary rocks. To examine difference of REEs between leucogranites and metasedimentary rocks, we perform modeling using volume percentage of a leucogranite and a metasedimenatry rock from study area and REE data of minerals from rhyolite (Nash and Crecraft, 1985) and melanosome of migmatite (Bea et al., 1994). Resultants of modeling indicate that LREE and HREE are controlled by monazites and garnet, respectively, although zircon is estimated HREE dominant in some leucogranite without garnet. Because there are many inclusions of accessary phases such as monazite and zircon in biotites from metasedimentary rocks. leucogranitic magma was mainly derived from muscovite-breakdown in metasedimenary rocks. Leucogranites can be subdivided into two types in compliance with Eu anomaly of chondrite nomalized REE pattern; the one of negative Eu anomaly is type I and the other is type II. Leucogranites have lower Eu concetnrations than that of metasedimenary rocks and similar that of both type. REE modeling suggest that this difference of Eu value is due to that of components of feldspars in both leucogranite and metasedimentary rock. The tendency of major ($K_2O$ and $Na_2O$) and face elements (Eu, Rb, Sr and Ba) of leucogranites also indicate that source magma of these two types was developed by anatexis experienced strong fractionation of alkali-feldspar. Conclusionally, leucogranites in this area are products of melts which was generated by muscovite-breakdown of metasedimenary rock in environment of continetal collision during high temperature/pressure metamorphism and then was fractionated and crystallized after extraction from source rock.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.223-234
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• 2019

The geology of the Samdeok Mo deposit consists of Paleozoic Hwajeonri formation, Kowoonri formation, Suchangri formation, Iwonri formation, Hwanggangri formation, Cretaceous, leucocratic porphyritic granite and granitic porphyry. This deposit consists of three quartz veins that filled NS oriented fractured zones in Suchangri formation. Quartz veins vary from 0.05 m to 0.3 m in thickness and extend to about 400 m in strike length. Quartz veins occur as massive, breccia, and cavity textures. Wallrock alteration has silicification, sericitization, argillitization and chloritization. The mineralogy of the quartz veins consists of quartz, fluorite, white mica, biotite, apatite, monazite, rutile, ilmenite, molybdenite, chalcopyrite, Fe-Mg-Mn oxide and Fe oxide. White mica from Samdeok Mo deposit occurs as fine or coarse grains in quartz vein and hostrock and has four mineral assemblages (I type: quartz, molybdenite, Fe oxide and Fe-Mg-Mn oxide, II type: quartz, Fe oxide and Fe-Mg-Mn oxide, III type: quartz and biotite, and IV type: quartz). The structural formular of white mica from quartz vein is $(K_{0.89-0.60}Na_{0.05-0.00}Ca_{0.01-0.00}Sr_{0.02-0.00})_{0.94-0.62}(Al_{1.54-1.12}Mg_{0.36-0.18}Fe_{0.26-0.09}Mn_{0.04-0.00}Ti_{0.02-0.00}Cr_{0.02-0.00}Zn_{0.01-0.00})_{1.91-1.72}(Si_{3.40-3.11}Al_{0.92-0.60})_{4.00}O_{10}(OH_{1.68-1.42}F_{0.58-0.32})_{2.00}$, but white mica of I type has higher FeO content, and lower $SiO_2$ and MgO contents than white micas of other types. Also, compositional variations in white mica from the Samdeok Mo deposit are caused by phengitic or Tschermark substitution ($(Al^{3+})^{VI}+(Al^{3+})^{IV}{\leftrightarrow}(Fe^{2+}{\text{ or }}Mg^{2+})^{VI}+(Si^{4+})^{IV}$) and direct $(Fe^{3+})^{VI}{\leftrightarrow}(Al^{3+})^{VI}$ substitution.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

The Unsang gold deposit has been one of the three largest deposits (Daeyudong, Kwangyang) in Korea. The geology of this deposit consists of series of host rocks including Precambrian metasedimentary rock and Jurassic Porphyritic granite. The deposit consists of Au-bearing quartz veins which filled fractures along fault zones in Precambrian metasedimentary rock and Jurassic Porphyritic granite, which suggests that it is an orogenic-type deposit. Quartz veins are classified as 1) galena-quartz vein type, 2) pyrrhotite-quartz vein type, 3) pyrite-quartz vein type, 4) pegmatic quartz vein type, 5) muscovite-quartz vein type and 6) simple quartz vein type based on mineral assembles. The studied quartz vein is pyrite-quartz vein type which occurs as sericitization, chloritization and silicification. The white mica from stylolitic seams of laminated quartz vein occurs as fine or medium aggregate associated with white quartz, pyrite, chlorite, rutile, monazite, apatite, K-feldspar, zircon and calcite. The structural formular of white mica from laminated quartz vein is (K0.98-0.86Na0.02-0.00Ca0.01-0.00Ba0.01-0.00 Sr0.00)1.00-0.88(Al1.70-1.57Mg0.22-0.09Fe0.23-0.10Mn0.00Ti0.04-0.02Cr0.01-0.00V0.00Ni0.00)2.06-1.95 (Si3.38-3.17Al0.83-0.62)4.00O10(OH2.00-1.91F0.09-0.00)2.00. It indicated that white mica of laminated quartz vein has less K, Na and Ca, and more Si than theoretical dioctahedral micas. Compositional variations in white mica from laminated quartz vein are caused by phengitic or Tschermark substitution [(Al3+)VI+(Al3+)IV <-> (Fe2+ or Mg2+)VI+(Si4+)IV] and direct (Fe3+)VI <-> (Al3+)VI substitution. The structural formular of chlorite from laminated quartz vein is((Mg1.11-0.80Fe3.69-3.14Mn0.01-0.00Zn0.01-0.00K0.07-0.01Na0.01-0.00Ca0.04-0.01Al1.66-1.09)5.75-5.69 (Si3.49-2.96Al1.04-0.51)4.00O10 (OH)8. It indicated that chlorite of laminated quartz vein has more Si than theoretical chlorite. Compositional variations in chlorite from laminated quartz vein are caused by phengitic or Tschermark substitution (Al3+,VI+Al3+,IV <-> (Fe2+ or Mg2+)VI+(Si4+)IV) and octahedral Fe2+ <-> Mg2+ (Mn2+) substitution. Therefore, laminated quartz vein and alteration minerals of the Unsan Au deposit was formed during ductile shear stage of orogeny.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.115-127
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• 2020

The Unsang gold deposit has been one of the three largest deposits (Daeyudong and Kwangyang) in Korea. The deposit consists of Au-bearing quartz veins filling fractures along fault zones in Precambrian metasedimentary rock and Jurassic Porphyritic granite, which suggests that it might be an orogenic-type. Based on its mineral assemblages and quartz textures, quartz veins are classified into 1)galena-quartz, 2)pyrrhotite-quartz, 3)pyrite-quartz, 4)pegmatic quartz, 5)muscovite-quartz, and 6)simple quartz vein types. The pyrite-quartz vein type we studied shows the following alteration features: sericitization, chloritization, and silicification. The quartz vein contains minerals including white quartz, white mica, chlorite, pyrite, rutile, calcite, monazite, zircon, and apatite. Rutile with euhedral or medium aggregate occur at mafic part from laminated quartz vein. Two types of rutile are distinguishable in BSE image, light rutile is texturally later than dark rutile. Chemical composition of rutile has 89.69~98.71 wt.% (TiO₂), 0.25~7.04 wt.% (WO₃), 0.30~2.56 wt.% (FeO), 0.00~1.71 wt.% (Nb₂O₅), 0.17~0.35 wt.% (HfO₂), 0.00~0.30 wt.% (V₂O₃), 0.00~0.35 wt.% (Cr₂O₃) and 0.04~0.25 wt.% (Al₂O₃), and light rutile are higher WO₃, Nb₂O₅ and FeO compared to the dark rutile. It indicates that dark rutile and light rutile were formed at different stage. The substitution mechanisms of dark rutile and light rutile are suggested as followed : dark rutile [(V³⁺, Cr³⁺) + (Nb⁵⁺, Sb⁵⁺) ↔ 2Ti⁴⁺, 4Cr³⁺ (or 2W⁶⁺) ↔ 3Ti⁴⁺ (W⁶⁺ ↔ 2Cr³⁺), V⁴⁺ ↔ Ti⁴⁺], light rutile [2Fe³⁺ + W⁶⁺ ↔ 3Ti⁴⁺, 3Fe²⁺ + W⁶⁺ ↔ Ti⁴⁺ + (V³⁺, Al³⁺, Cr³⁺) +Nb⁵⁺], respectively. While the dark rutile was formed by cations including V³⁺, V⁴⁺, Cr³⁺, Nb⁵⁺, Sb⁵⁺ and W⁶⁺ by regional metamorphism of hostrock, the postdating light rutile was formed by redistribution of cations from predating dark rutile and addition of Fe²⁺ and W⁶⁺ from Au-bearing hydrothermal fluid during ductile shear.