• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2018

A gravity core (RS14-C2) was collected at site RS14-C2 in the continental slope to the east of Pennell-Isellin Bank of the Ross Sea (Antarctica) during PNRA XXIX (Rosslope II Project) Expedition. In order to trace the sediment source, magnetic susceptibility (MS), sand fraction, and clay mineral compositions were analyzed, and AMS $^{14}C$ ages were dated. Core sediments consist mostly of hemipelagic sandy clay or silty clay including ice-rafted debris (IRD). AMS $^{14}C$ age of core-top indicates the modern and Holocene sediments. Based on AMS $^{14}C$ dating, sediment color, MS and sand fraction, core sediments are divided into interglacial and glacial intervals. The interglacial brown sediments are characterized by low MS and sand fraction, whereas the glacial gray sediments are characterized by high MS and sand fraction. Among clay mineral compositions of core sediments, illite is highest (61.8~76.7%), and chlorite (15.7~21.3%), kaolinite (3.6~15.4%), and smectite (0.9~5.1%) are in decreasing order, and these compositions are also divided into the interglacial and glacial/deglacial intervals. During the glacial period, the high content of illite and chlorite indicate sediment supply from the bedrocks of Transantarctic Mountains under the Ross Ice Sheet. In contrast, because of decreasing supply of illite and chlorite by the glacial retreat, smectite and kaolinite contents increased relatively during the interglacial period. During the interglacial period, smectite may be transported additionally by the northeastward flowing surface current from the coast of Victoria Land in the western Ross Sea. Kaolinite may be also supplied to the continental slope by the Antarctic Slope Current from the kaolin-rich metasedimentary rock outcropped on the Edward VII Peninsula.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.163-173
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• 2012

In this study, we determined the relative clay mineral composition of 51 surface sediments from SEYSM (Southeastern Yellow Sea Mud) (northern part 25, southern part 26) and 30 river sediments inflow to Yellow Sea using the semi-quantitative X-ray diffraction analyses. In addition to we analyzed illite characteristics of the same samples. The clay-mineral assemblage is composed of illite (61~75%), chlorite (14~24%), kaolinite (9~14%), and smectite (1~7%), in decreasing order. The average composition of each clay mineral is not different from northern part to southern part of SEYSM except a little higher kaolinite and lower smectite content in northern part. Smectite content generally has reverse relationship with illite content. Mineralogical characteristics of illite such as illite crystallinity index also is not different between two areas and show very narrow range (0.18~0.24 ${\Delta}^{\circ}2{\theta}$). Our results reveal that clay mineral composition and illite characteristics are nearly the same between northern and southern part of SEYSM. Characteristics of surface sediments in SEYSM is closer to Korean river sediments than Chinese Hanghe sediments, however it is necessary to investigate further study including Yangtze river sediments. This study conclude that most of surface sediments in SEYSM attribute to the supply of considerable amount of sediments from the nearby Korean rivers. The large sediment budget and high accumulation rate in the SEYSM can be explained by erosion and reworking of surface sediments in this area. Tidal and regional current system around SEYSM might contribute these erosional and depositional regimes.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.175-183
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• 2020

There have rarely been performed for the clay mineralogy of the East Sea sediments except for few studies about paleoenvironmental aspect. This study inferred the provenance of sediments based on the clay mineral characteristics and distribution pattern for the 120 sediment samples collected by the box corer from the Gangneung-Donghae area between 2017-2019. The relative proportions of the four major clay minerals are abundant in the order of illite, chlorite, kaolinite, and smectite. The continental shelf sediments below water depth 150 m have more chlorite and kaolinite content and better illite crystallinity, but less illite and smectite content, and S/I index than those of continental slope sediments. Clay mineral composition of the continental shelf sediments are influenced by the adjacent continental geology, because north site (Gangneung area) has more chlorite but south site (Donghae area) has more kaolinite. These characteristics and distribution pattern of clay minerals indicate that the provenance of sediments are different between continental shelf and continental slop. The continental shelf sediments may be introduced the study area by the adjacent small rivers whereas the continental slope sediment might be supplied by current from the south of the study area.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.153-163
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• 2020

Mineral and geochemical analysis were conducted on two sections (~3.5 m) of red-brown claysilt sediments covering the gneiss and granite weathering zones in Suwon-si for establishing Quaternary paleoenvironmental changes in Korea. The sections were divided into four sedimentary layers (Unit 1-4) by vertical changes in mineral composition and chemical composition. The lowermost unit 1 was a sandy sediment with a high K-feldspar content with a significant contribution of weathered bedrock. Unit 2 was a transition layer showing intermediate characteristics. Unit 3 was a reddish brown clay-silt sediment, with a total clay content of 58% on average, and the main clay minerals were illite-smectite mixed layer minerals and hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite/smectite. Unit 3 contained almost no plagioclase, while the content of kaolin minerals derived by the plagioclase weathering was higher than in the other layers. Unit 4 had similar mineral composition and chemical properties to Unit 3, but had a higher content of plagioclase and chlorite and lower content of kaolin minerals. The chemical compositions of the sections were compared with those in other regions of Korea, suggesting the eolian origin of Units 3 and 4. The paleoenvironmental change in the sedimentary section of this region was interpreted as follows. Weathered products of gneiss and granite, which are bedrocks of this region, were eroded and deposited as sandy sediments in the periphery to form the lower layers (Unit 1, 2), followed by the deposition of the claysilty rich eolian sediments (Unit 3) during the glacial. Unit 3 was chemically weathered during the warm humid climate during the last interglacial, developing a reddish brown color. After that, a eolian sediment layer (Unit 4) was deposited during the last glacial.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.113-125
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• 1999

In this study the occurrence and mineralogical characteristics of clay minerals from the Munhyun-dong landslide area in Pusan city were examined by XRD, SEM, and chemical analyses. Several types of clay minerals such as halloysite, vermiculite, mica/vermiculite interstratified mineral, vermiculite/smectite interstratified mineral, kaolinite and illite are found abundantly in the area. The occurrence of clay minerals suggest that they have been formed by weathering of andesite which is the bedrock of the area. It is believed that halloysite was formed in the early stage of weathering, and vermiculite, mica/vermiculite interstratified mineral and mica/vermiculite interstratified mineral were formed in the middle stage, and finally, kaolinite was formed. The clay minerals occurring in the central part of the landsliding area and within the slip surface are dominated by expandable minerals such as halloysite, vermiculite and vermiculite/smectite interstratified mineral. These clay minerals expand by absorbing water and effectively decrease the shear resistance of the rock mass, and therefore, they could be an important factor for the landslide. The analyses of geology and mineralogical characteristics of the area suggest that the landslide was caused by combination of various factors including steep slope, heavy rainfall, abundant joints, alteration of the rocks, and occurrence of expandable clay minerals. The result of this study suggests that the investigation for the prevention of possible landslide must include the examination of clay mineralogy as well as the site geology.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.158-167
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• 1994

The various weathering products derived from andesitic rocks in the Guweol mountain area of Pusan have been studied in order to investigate the occurrence, characteristics and evolutional trend of clay minerals in the weathered rock and soil using mainly X-ray powder diffraction method. Kaolinite and halloysite are very abundant in the weathered rocks and soils derived from andesitic rocks of this area. Also, $12{\AA}$- and $14{\AA}$-minerals occur in the considerable amount. $12{\AA}$-minerals have been identified as mica/vermiculite interlayer minerals showing the $25{\AA}$ basal reflection. Their crystal sizes are relatively big showing more than 10 micron in diameter. Two types of $14{\AA}$-mineral, which are vermiculite/smectite interlayer mineral and Al-vermiculite, have been observed. Kaolin minerais consist of kaolinite, $10{\AA}$ and $7{\AA}$ halloysite. Kaolinite relatively dominates in the strongly weathered soil of the area. In contrast with kaolinite. $12{\AA}$- and $14{\AA}$-minerals such as vermiculite/smectite and mica/vermiculite interlayer minerals tend to occur in the weakly to intermediately weathered products. Based on their occurrences, it strongly suggests that they are intermediate products in the course of the weathering process from the parent materials into the kaolin mineral.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.199-211
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• 1997

As a part of study on geological disposal of radioactive waste, hydrogeochemical characteristics of deep granitic groundwater in Korea were investigated through the construction of a large geochemical dataset of natural water, the examination on the behaviour of dissolved constituents, and the consideration of phase stability based on thermodynamic approach. In granitic region, the contents of total dissolved solids increase progressively from surface waters to deep groundwaters, which indicates the presence of more concentrated waters at depth due to water-rock interaction. The chemical composition of groundwater evolves from initial $Ca^{2＋}$－(C $l^{－}$＋S $O_4$$^{2-}$) or $Ca^{2＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ type to final N $a^{＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ or N $a^{＋}$－(C $l^{－}$＋S $O_4$$^{2-}$) type, via $Ca^{2＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ type. Three main mechanisms seem to control the chemical composition of groundwater in the granitic region; 1) congruent dissolution of calcite at shallower depth, 2) calcite precipitation and incongruent dissolution of plagioclase at deeper depth, and 3) kaolinite-smectite or/and kaolinite-illite reaction at equilibrium at deeper depth. The behaviour of dissolved major cations (C $a^{2＋}$, $K^{＋}$, $Mg^{2＋}$, M $a^{＋}$) and silica is likely to be controlled by these reactions.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 1997

A column study using artificial acid rain was conducted to evaluate the buffering capacities in soil layer and host rock. In an effort to compare the effect of composition of host root two valleys of which compositions of host rock are different were chosen within the study area and the pHs of the water flowing in the valleys were measured from May, 1996 to October, 1996. The pHs of the artificial acid rain prepared by adding appropriate amounts of both sulfuric and nitric acids to distilled water were 3, 4, and 5, and the column effluents were analyzed for major cations and anions. The cation exchange capacities(CECs) of A Horizon and the B Horizon were 9.68 and 6.16 meq/100g, respectively, Compared to the B Horizon, the pH in the column effluent of A Horizon with larger CEC was higher. The sums of $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^{+}$in the column effluents gradually decreased, indicating the loss of CEC by acid rain. The field study showed that pHs of the surface water in the valleys increased as the water flows downwards. The magnitude of this buffering capacity was greater for the valley in which smectite in addition to kaolinite and illite was a weathered product of host rocks. This also indicates that host rock as well as soil layer retains the buffering capacity.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2016

Asian dust (Hwangsa) interacts with light, atmospheric gas, aerosol, and marine ecosystem, affecting Earth climate. Mineralogical properties are essential to understand the interaction between the dust and environments. In this study, we examined the mineralogical properties of Asian dust collected at Deokjeok Island, Incheon, Korea in February 22, 2015. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses showed that phyllosilicate minerals (62 wt%) dominate the Asian dust. Illite-smectite series clay minerals (55%) were common with minor chlorite (5%) and kaolinite (2%). Non-phyllosilicate minerals were quartz (18%), plagioclase (10%), K-feldspar (4%), calcite (4%), and gypsum (1%). Similar results were obtained by mineral quantification using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). Transmission electron microscopy combined with EDS confirmed illite-smectite series clay minerals as the dominant phyllosilicate type. Morphological analyses using SEM showed clay agglomerates, clay-coated quartz, feldspars, and micas. Gypsum grains were common on the particle surface, while calcite nanofibers, previously reported as common on the surface, were rare, indicating the reaction of calcite and acidic atmospheric pollutants to form gypsum. The analytical result of 2015 Asian dust would contribute to the establishment of mineralogical base for the modeling of the interaction between Asian dust and environments.