• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.87-99
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• 2013

The occurrence, mineralogical characteristics, and origin of the dolomite ores were investigated from major dolomite mines in South Korea. Mineralogical and textural properties of the ores and associated minerals were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, thin section petrography, and scanning electron microscopy. Dolomite ores were light to dark gray in color and mainly composed of dolomite in varying particle size with minor amounts of calcite, quartz and micas. Calcite, quartz, illite, feldspar, kaolin minerals, and chlorite occurred in local veins, dikes and alteration zones. Sepiolite and wollastonite occurred in the altered part of some mine. Asbestos minerals such as chrysotile and tremolite, however, were not identified in the present study. Reddish brown to yellow clay materials were mainly composed of illite, occasionally associated with kaolin minerals and smectite. These clay minerals might be a product of the local hydrothermal alteration related to the dyke intrusion and subsequent weathering. As well indicated in the previous studies, mineral composition, texture, and occurrence of the dolostone beds suggest their formation through the diagenesis of carbonate sediments deposited in the shallow sea during the Precambrian to Paleozoic period.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2017

Reddish brown clay-silt sediments covered granitoid weathering crust in the Jangdongri area, Naju, Korea. Mineralogical and geochemical properties of the ~2 m sediment section were investigated. The sediments were composed mainly of quartz (50%) and clay minerals (45%) with minor contents of K-feldspar, goethite, hematite, and gibbsite. The clay minerals were illite, illite-smectite mixed-layers, vermiculite, hydroxy-Al vermiculite, kaolinite, and halloysite. Mineral composition varied little through the section with the minor upward enrichment of plagioclase and chlorite. Abundant illitic clay minerals indicated the remote source of the sediments because clays derived by granite weathering in Korea were dominated by kaolin minerals. A comparison with the mineral composition of Asian dust (Hwangsa) suggested that plagioclase and K-feldspar disappeared by chemical weathering after deposition, resulting in the quartz and clay-rich sediments. Plagioclase and chlorite altered to kaolin and vermiculite, respectively. Goethite and hematite derived by the weathering of iron-bearing minerals stained the sediment to reddish brown color. The mineralogical and geochemical properties of the reddish brown clay-silt sediments were consistent with those of eolian deposits identified in Korea, supporting eolian origin of the Jangdongri sediments, requiring future confirmation including age dating and isotopic analysis.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.1 s.47
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• pp.31-38
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• 2006

Site environments bring about various different deterioration forms of stone cultural properties. The aim of this study is to document the influence of coarse grained sandy soil on the deterioration of stone cultural properties. Bulguksadabotap is a good example that demonstrates the problem with coarse grained sandy soil. The ground around the Bulguksadabotap is covered with coarse grained sandy soil and the pagoda is surrounded by the corridors. Coarse grained sandy soil float easily in the air and deposit in the complicated stone structure caused by strong wind in Gyeongju and numerous visitors. To explain the influence of coarse grained sandy soil on the deterioration, the coarse grained sandy soil and weathered stone pieces of Bulguksadabotap were analyzed by XRD, optical microscopy, SEM for mineralogical component and IC and ICP-AES for the soluble salts. The soil and weathered stone pieces include clay minerals, such as smectite and kaolinite, can expand with water and exert pressure on the stone. Small size of the clay minerals in the coarse grained sandy soil can easily penetrate into the weathered surfaces of the Bulguksadabotap. The weathered stone pieces also contain NaCl, which is known to contribute to increase the expandibility of clay minerals by providing with $Na^{+}$ or by dropping the equilibrium of relative humidity. These results indicates that coarse grained sandy soil is not proper to site environment for weathered stone cultural properties.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.3 no.1 s.4
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• pp.16-27
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• 1995

The Early Miocene Temblor Formation forms an important sandstone reservoir at Kettleman North Dome oil field, California. Sandstones are mostly arkosic in composition except deepest sandstones containing much volcanic rock fragments. Arranged in paragenetic sequence prior to feldspar alteration, the Temblor sandstones contain cements of early calcite, dolomite, quartz, albite, mixed-layer ohloriteismectite (C/S) and smectite, and anhydrite. Diagenetic changes associated with feldspar are albitization of plagioclase, late calcite and laumontite cementation and grain replacement, plagioclase dissolution, and kaolinite cementation. Plagioclase albitization and late calcite and laumontite cementation in Temblor sandstones occurred at the time of maximum burial with temperatures up to $130^{\circ}C$. Volcanic plagioclases were selectively albitized. Most diagenetic changes are interpreted to have occurred before the maior uplift which occurred within the last one million years ago. Since then to the time of hydrocarbon emplacement plagioclase dissolution and kaolinite cementation occurred. This reaction occurred in relatively closed system due to the occurrence of kaolinite next to the site of plagioclase dissolution. Unaltered part of volcanic plagioclase and plutonic plagioclase which escaped albitization during maximum burial were preferentially dissolved to make plagioclase porosity. Secondary porosity resulting from dissolution of plagioclase and carbonate and anhydrite cements was mainly produced by formation waters containing organic acids released during atagenesis of organic matter.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.611-631
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• 1999

Enviromental geochemisty and heary metal contamination at the Kongjueil mine creek were underaken on the basis of physicohemical properties and mineralogy for various kinds of water (surface, mine and ground water),soil, precipitate and sediment collected of April and December in 1998. Hydrgeochemical composition of the water samples are characterized by relatively significant enricant of Ca+Na, alkiali ions $NO_3$ and Cl inground and surfore water, wheras the mine waters are relatively eneripheral water of the mining creek have the characteristics of the (Ca+Mg)-$(HCO_3+SO_4)$type. The pH of the mine water is high acidity (3.24)and high EC (613$\mu$S/cm)compared with those of surface and ground water. The range of $\delta$D and $\delta^{18}O$ values (relative to SMOW) in the waters are shpwn in -50.2 to -61.6% and -7.0 to -8.6$\textperthousand$(d value=5.8 to 8.7). Using computer program, saturation index of albite, calcite, dolomite in mine water are nearly saturated. The gibbiste, kaolinite and smectite are superaturated in the surface and ground water, respectively. Calculated water-mineral reaction and stabilities suggest that weathing of silicate minerals may be stable kaolinite owing to the continuous water-rock reaction. Geochemical modeling showed that mostly toxic heavy metals may exist larfely in the from of metal-sulfate $(MSO_4\;^2)$and free metal $(M^{2+})$ in nmine water. These metals in the ground and surface water could be formed of $CO_3$ and OH complex ions. The average enrichment indices of water samples are 2.72 of the groundwater, 2.26 of the surface water and 14.15 of the acid mine water, normalizing by surface water composition at the non-mining creek, repectively. Characteristics of some major, minor and rate earth elements (Al/Na, K/Na, V/Ni, Cr/V, Ni/Co, La/Ce, Th/Yb, $La_N/Yb_N$, Co/Th, La/Sc and Sc/Th) in soil and sediment are revealed a narrow range and homogeneous compositions may be explained by acidic to intermediate igneous rocks. And these suggested that sediment source of host granitic gneiss colud be due to rocks of high grade metamorphism originated by sedimentary rocks. Maximum concentrations of environmentally toxic elements in sediment and soil are Fe=53.80 wt.% As=660, Cd=4, Cr=175, Cu=158, Mn=1010, Pb=2933, Sb=4 and Zn=3740 ppm, and extremely high concentrations are found are found in the subsurface soil near the ore dump and precipitates. Normalizing by composition of host granitic gneiss, the average enerichment indices are 3.72 of the sediments, 3.48 of the soils, 10.40 of the precipitates of acid mine drainage and 6.25 of the soils near the main adit. The level of enerichment was very severe in mining drainage sediments, while it was not so great in the soils. mineral composition of soil and sediment near the mining area were partly variable being composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, chlorite, vermiculite, bethierin and clay minerals. reddish variable being composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, chlorite, vermiculite, bethierin and clay minerals. Reddish brown precipitation mineral in the acid mine drainage identifies by schwertmanite. From the separated mineralgy, soil and sediment are composed of some pyrite, arsenopyite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, malachite, goethite and various kinds of hydroxied minerals.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.29-42
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• 2018

Shale and mudstone in Daegu-Gyungbuk area have low strength and resistance to weathering compared to other rocks. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate their strength depending on the degree of saturation and crack development. In this study, shales and mudstones were collected from several construction sites in Daegu-Gyungbuk area. Their basic material properties such as porosity, SEM, chemical component, and durability were tested. A porosity (absorptivity) of mudstone was 31% (25%), which was 6 (8) times higher than that of shale. Some mudstone was easily disintegrated with water and it consisted of highly-active clay mineral such as smectite type. These rocks were prepared by small cube specimens for unconfined compression test. An unconfined compressive strength of dry rock was compared with saturated one. Microwave oven was operated step by step to stimulate void water within a saturated rock, which resulted into high temperature and micro crack initiation within rocks. A strength of microwaved rocks was compared with operation time and crack initiation. As a result, the average unconfined compressive strength of dry and saturated shale was 62 and 33 MPa, respectively. The strength of mudstone for each condition was 11 and 4 MPa. When a rock became saturated, its strength decreased by 47% and 64% for shale and mudstone at average. In addition to saturation, a rock was in the microwave for 15 secs, its strength decreased into 49% for shale and 52% for mudstone. When a microwave oven operated up to 20 sec, a rock was crushed into several pieces and its temperature was approximately 200 degrees.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.151-160
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• 2021

2:1 clay minerals such as smectite incorporating ammonium were extracted to investigate the ammonium behavior and nitrogen isotope characteristics for two different sediment cores which were collected from shimmering sites on seafloor of the Wakamiko crater, southwestern Japan. Inorganic nitrogen contents in clay fraction were estimated by calibration curve based on consistently decreasing carbon and nitrogen ratio during the treatment to decompose organic materials, after removing inorganic carbon. The results show that the proportions of inorganic nitrogen for total nitrogen in clay fraction of SWS site(Core#1094MR: av. 18.2%) are higher than those in SES site(Core#1093MG: av. 11.5%). Relatively good crystallinity of the former suggests that exchangeable ammonium was transformed to non-exchangeable ammonium during more evolving diagenetic process. Nitrogen isotope variance of clay fraction(SES site: Core#1093MG: -4.4 ~ +0.2 ‰, av. -2.4 ‰; SWS site: Core#1094MR: -0.7 ~ +3.0 ‰, av. +1.5 ‰) during sequential decomposition of exchangeable ammonium suggests that heat flow derived from deep magma led to nitrogen isotope fractionation between dissolved ammonium and ammonia in the fluids involved in the formation of 2:1 clay mineral incorporating ammonium with local temperature variation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.497-510
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• 2022

Monthly monitoring, 3D scan survey, and electrical resistivity survey were conducted from January 2018 to August 2022 to identify the cause of rockfall occurring in Daljeon-ri Columnar Joint (Natural Monument No. 415), Pohang. A total of 3,231 rocks fell from the columnar joint over the past 5 years, and 1,521 (47%) of the falling rocks were below 20 cm in length, 978 (30.3%) of 20-30 cm, and 732 (22.7%) of rocks over 30 cm. While the number of rockfalls by year has decreased since 2018, the frequency of rockfalls bigger than 30 cm tends to increase. Large-scale rockfalls occurred mainly during the thawing season (March-April) and the rainy season (June-July), and the analysis of the relationship between cumulative rainfall and rockfall occurrence showed that cumulative rainfall for 3 to 4 days is also closely related to the occurrence of rockfall. Smectite and illite, which are expansible clay minerals, were observed in XRD analysis of the slope material (filling minerals) in the columnar joint, and the presence of a fault fracture zone was confirmed in the electrical resistivity survey. In addition, the confirmed fault fracture zone and the maximum erosion point analyzed through 3D precision measurement coincided with the main rockfall occurrence point observed by the BTC-6PXD camera. Therefore, the main cause of rockfall at Daljeon-ri columnar joint in Pohang is a combination of internal factors (development of fault fracture zones and joints, weathering of rocks, presence of expansive clay minerals) and external factors (precipitation, rapid thawing phenomenon), resulting in large-scale rockfall. Meanwhile, it was also confirmed that the Pohang-Gyeongju earthquake, which was continuously raised, was not the main cause.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.202-212
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• 1992

This study reports on the genesis and mineralogical characteristics of the clay minerals in the soils derived from the five major parent rocks of granite, granite-gneiss, limestone, shale, and basalt in Korea. The investigation on the mineralogical aspects of primary and secondary minerals of the rocks and coarse fractions in the soils have been already reported. In this report, the identification of clay minerals in the soil clay fractions was done through the analyses of chemical, X-ray diffraction, and thermal methods. The studies showed clearly that much of the clay minerals was evolved by the weathering of primary minerals and some were further developed by the transformation of secondary minerals. Cation exchange capacity(CEC) of the clay fractions increased with higher amotunts of vermiculite, chlorite, and illite, however, decreased with higher hydroxy octahedral sheet within the interlayer spaces of vermiculite even if dominant clay with vermiculite. Feldspars in the granite and granite-gneiss might be completely transformed to kaolin mineral, Illite, chlolrite, and vermiculite formed by the alteration of micas, amphibole, augite, and primary chlorile seem to be subsequently transformed to the mixed layer minerals such as illite/vermiculite, illite/chlorite, and chlorite/vermiculite. These weathering products may be ultimately transformed into kaolin minerals. The smectite minerals in the clay fractions of the soils developed on the limestone are considerably present and they seem to be formed directly by the precipitation from high Mg solution and/or by the transformation of vermiculite from micas and chlorite in the parent materials. Abundant presence of illite in the soil clays developed on the shale is considered to have inherited from the fine particles and more resistant hydrous muscovite. The weathering sequences of the hydrous muscovite were as follows according to the degree of soil development ; hydrous muscovite ${\rightarrow}$ illite/vermiculite mixed layer(Inceptisols, Daegu series) and hydrous muscovite ${\rightarrow}$ illite/vermiculite mixed layer ${\rightarrow}$ vermiculite ${\rightarrow}$ kaolin mineral(Alfisols, Buyeo series). The plagioclase in the basalt might be mostly weathered to kaolin minerais. The augite in the basalt is likely to be transformed through progressive stage of weathering, augite ${\rightarrow}$ chlorite ${\rightarrow}$ chlorote/vermiculite mixed layer ${\rightarrow}$ vermiculite ${\rightarrow}$ kaolin. Another weathering sequence of augite could be expected, augite ${\rightarrow}$ chlorite ${\rightarrow}$ illite by the presence of illite and illite/vermiculite mixed layer in the clay fractions. Vermiculite and gibbsite were quantified from thermogravimetry(TG) and kaolin minerals, from both TG and differerential thermal analysis (DTA). Vermiculite in Jangseong series from the limestone was the dominant clay mineral of 21.7 percent and had a range in the order of 9.2 percent in Buyeo series to 5.4 percent in Daegu series from the shale. The rest soils ranged from 8.8 to 28.3 percent. Kaolin minerals were the dominant clay mineral of 32.7 percent in Asan series from the granite-gneiss and Gueom series of 32.0 percent from the basalt. The soils from the limestone ranged from 9.4 to 14.9 percent. The rest soils ranged from 8.9 to 28.6 percent. Gibbsite were 3.9 and 2.3 percent for Weoljeong and Chahang series from the granite, respectively. In Asan and Cheongsan series from the giranite-gneiss were 1.4 and 4.5 percent, respectively, and 3.6 percent in Jangpa series from the basalt.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.67-81
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• 2012

The physical, chemical, and biological properties of clogging materials formed within groundwater wells in the Mt. Geumjeong area, Busan, Korea, were characterized. The particle size distribution (PSD) of clogging materials was measured by a laser analyzer. XRD, SEM, and TEM analyses were performed to obtain mineralogical information on the clogging materials, with an emphasis on identifying and characterizing the mineral species. In most cases, PSD data exhibited an near log-normal distribution; however, variations in frequency distribution were found in some intervals (bi-or trimodal distributions), raising the possibility that particles originated from several sources or were formed at different times. XRD data revealed that the clogging materials were mainly amorphous ironhydroxides such as goethite, ferrihydrite, and lapidocrocite, with lesser amounts of Fe, Mn, and Zn metals and silicates such as quartz, feldspar, micas, and smectite. Reddish brown material was amorphous hydrous ferriciron (HFO), and dark red and dark black materials were Fe, Mn-hydroxides. Greyish white and pale brown materials consisted of silicates. SEM observations indicated that the clogging materials were mainly HFO associated with iron bacteria such as Gallionella and Leptothrix, with small amounts of rock fragments. In TEM analysis, disseminated iron particles were commonly observed in the cell and sheath of iron bacteria, indicating that iron was precipitated in close association with the metabolism of bacterial activity. Rock-forming minerals such as quartz, feldspar, and micas were primarily derived from soils or granite aquifers, which are widely distributed in the study area. The results indicate the importance of elucidating the formation mechanisms of clogging materials to ensure sustainable well capacity.