• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.599-612
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• 1995

Some REE ore deposits are located in the middle part the of Korean peninsula. Geotectonically, the REE ore deposits situated on the Kyemyeongsan Formation of northern margin of the Okcheon geosynclinal belt and in the transitional zone between Kyeonggi massif and the Okcheon belt, with a deep-seated fracture separating the two tectonic units. The Kyemyeongsan Formation are different in lithology and metamorphic grade from the Gyeonggi massif and the Okcheon super group. The sequence of Kyemyeongsan Formation is dominantly composed of acidic metavolcanic and volcaniclastic rocks associated with alkaline igneous rocks which are related to volcano-plutonism. The REE ore deposits contain mainly Ce-La, Ta-Nb, Y, Y-Nd and Nd-Th group minerals. More than 15 RE and REE minerals have been found in the deposits, such as allanite, fergusonite, thorite bestnaesite, euxenite, polyclase, monazite, columbite, (Nb)-rutile, okanoganite, sphene, zircon, illmenite and some other unknown minerals. According to the characteristics of the mineral association, the REE ore deposits may be divided into 4 ore types; Zircon-REE, allanite-REE, feldspar-REE and fluorite-REE type. The Sm-Nd isochron age of the REE ore is 330 Ma, and the Sm-Nd model age is 1.11 Ga with ${\varepsilon}_{Nd(t)}$ being - 2.9. This data suggest that the REE ore deposit was formed in the early Carboniferous, and the ore-forming material came from the mantle. The REE ores show distinct light REE enrichment with strong negative Eu anomaly. The REE patterns of schistose rocks from Kyemyeongsan Formation are similar to felsic volcanics from rifts or back arc basins in or near continental crust. The genesis of the REE ore deposit is quite complicated. Different geologic processes are displayed in the studied area; sedimentation, volcanic activity, metamorphism and hydrothermal replacement. Alkali granite has suffered extensive post-magmatic metasomatism of a high temperature to produce alkali metasomatites. Geochemical charateristics show that metasomatism of alkaline fluid was probably the dominant ore-forming process in Chungju district.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.51-56
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• 2008

The geologic age of the Okcheon metamorphic belt, used to be a longstanding puzzle, has been settled down to Neoproterozoic to Paleozoic with discovery of fossils and isotopic age dating of metavolcanic rocks. As isotopic ages become accumulated, there appeared a controversy over the age of peak metamorphism in the Okcheon metamorphic belt, i.e., a single late Permian-early Triassic metamorphism (CHIME allanite age and U-Pb age of metamorphic zircon), or earlier independent presence of early Permian metamorphism (U-Pb age of allanite within garnet porphyroblast). If we compare the isotopic ages that can represent metamorphism, the data for the latter have much larger error than those of the former with some overlap considering the error limits. It means that, the former, supported by two independent ages, is considered a better representation for the age of metamorphism of the Okcheon metamorphic belt. Therefore, I propose the idea of early Permian metamorphism should better be reserved until conclusive evidence appears. The late Permian-early Triassic metamorphic age suggest that the effect of continental collision influenced much of the middle part of Korean Peninsula, namely, the Imjingang belt, the Gyeonggi massif and the Okcheon belt.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.365-374
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• 1998

Economic U- and Th-bearing pegmatite deposits occur in the Kyemyeongsan Formation, and are spatially closely associated with the Carboniferous alkali granite. The pegmatite is lithochemically alkaline and peralumious, and consists mainly of potassic feldspar and quartz with allanite and U- and Th-bearing minerals. Paragenetic stages of mineralization in the pegmatite are divided as follows: early silicate mineralization, main rare metal mineralization, and late silicate mineralization. Thorite, euxenite, fergusonite and uranpyrochlore are the predominant U- and Th-bearing minerals. Both the enrichments of Nb, Y, Th, U, and Ta and the depletions of Hf, Ba, and Rb in the pegmatite were resulted from magmatic differentiation. The increases of Na and Ca in uranpyrochlore, of Th and U in fergusonite, of Si, Th, U and Pb in thorite, and of Nb and Y in euxenite were possibly resulted from both later internal fractionation and hydrothermal alteration. The variation of chemical composition in a mineral species reflects the different pysico-chemical conditions during the crystallization.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 1996

The detailed crystal chemistry of ilmenite from the Hadong massif was studied by the EPMA, M ssbauer spectroscopy, and Rietveld structural refinement using X-ray powder diffraction data. The ilmenite-bearing anorthosite shows complicated mineral assemblage which consists of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, hornblende, biotite, chlorite, apatite, allanite, and zircon. Anorthite is andesine in composition (Ab 28-57), and clinopyroxene drops in ferro-hypersthene (Fs 62-70). Ilmenite is trigonal symmetry with R space group, whose structure shows the alternation of Fe2+ (M1 site) octahedral layer and Ti (M2 site) layer along c axis. M ssbauer spectroscopy indicates that there are three doubles which assigned to couple of Fe2+($\delta$=0.812, 0.890mm/sec) and one Fe3+($\delta$=0.303mm/sec) in octahedral sites. Their Fe3+/$\Sigma$Fe is 0.065 and chemical formula is established as Fe2+0.94Fe3+0.07Ti0.97O3 using both EPMA and M ssbauer analysis. Rietveld structural refinement reveals that site occupancies of Fe in M1 and Ti in M2 are 91.2% and 89.4%, respectively. This implies that Ti and Fe2+ are alternatively occupy M1 and M2 sites. In addition, smaller M2 site is more preferable to Fe3+ occupancy over M1.

• Geosciences Journal
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.921-938
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• 2018

The Motzfeldt intrusions in the Gardar Province, southern Greenland, split into syenitic plutonic and hypabyssal rocks, in which the latter include ring dykes and sheet intrusions. Sheet intrusions, considered as the source for rare earth elements (REE) and high field strength elements (HFSE), comprise sheets of peralkaline microsyenite (SPM), syenitic pegmatite (SP), and peralkaline microsyenite (PM). SP exhibits extremely high concentrations of REE and HFSE, which are positively correlated with increasing alkalinity from early towards late intrusion, caused by magmatic processes. In contrast, some of the SPM and PM are also significantly enriched in REE and HFSE, caused by post-magmatic fluids. The REE- and HFSE-rich phases in SP consist mainly of zircon and allanite with smaller amounts of pyrochlore in pseudomorph from the inferred eudialyte, whereas some of the PM and SPM consist of pyrochlore, REE-carbonate, and zircon in the matrix. The zircon grains in the Motzfeldt Sø Formation (MSF) syenite occur in interstitial spaces, exhibiting an association with magnetite and a bipyramidal form in texture. They are characterized by a highly fractured and embayed rim. Zircons from PM and SP are clearly enriched in Fe, Al, Ca, Na, Y, P, Hf, Y, P, Nb, Ta, and REE, and are depleted in Zr and Si in comparison with magmatic zircon. They also show a clear trend of higher LREE/HREE and $Eu/Eu^{\star}$ ratios, and lower $Ce/Ce^{\star}$ ratios, which define them as typical hydrothermal zircons. In contrast, zircons from the MSF syenite show a relatively lower LREE/HREE ratio and Eu and Ce anomalies of a similar magnitude compared with those from SP and PM. The occurrence and mineral composition of the zircon suggest that post-magmatic fluids have played an important role in the remobilization of REE and HFSE as well as the primary concentration of REE and HFSE, caused by magmatic processes.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.4141-4148
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• 2024

The study focused on syenogranite and its altered variety, and specifically monitored the activities of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K using NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectroscopy. Syenogranites in the study area in Egypt were investigated to determine their potential use in industries such as ornamental stones and ceramics. The main outcrops in the study area consist of metasediments, metavolcanics, metagabbro, syn-to late-orogenic granites, and post-orogenic granites (syenogranites). There are also numerous dikes and veins of various shapes and compositions that have intruded and penetrated all the older rocks in the area. The mean activity (± standard deviation, SD) of these radioelements in the granites is ²²⁶Ra (63 ± 71 Bq kg^-1), ²³²Th (76 ± 170 Bq kg^-1), and ⁴⁰K (1248 ± 532 Bq kg^-1) were found to be greater than the world average. The radiological hazards are mostly attributed to the γ-rays emitted by granitic rocks. The granites studied in this study deviate from international standards mainly due to the presence of minerals containing radioelements such as zircon, allanite, monazite, sphene titanite, apatite, thorite, samarskite, fergusonite, xenotime, columbite, apatite and fluorite. As a result, granitic rocks are unsuitable for home building.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.523-535
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• 1994

The strata-bound type iron ore bodies in the Chungju mine are interbedded with metamorphic rocks which are intruded by Mesozoic granitic rocks. The iron ore deposit occurs as layer or lens shape which are concordant with the metamorphic rocks. The iron ore is classified into banded and massive types based on the mode of texture and occurrence. Grain size and iron-oxides tend to become coarser toward massive ore than banded ore. Banded ores commonly contain internal layers defined by alternating magnetite- rich, hematite-rich, magnetite-hematite, and quartz-rich mesobands. The banded iron ore consists of hematite, magnetite, quartz, feldspar, and minor amounts of biotite, muscovite, chlorite, carbonates, epidote, allanite, and zircon. Massive ores which are characterized by high magnetite content occur in contact of granitic rocks. The massive iron ores consist mostly of magnetite and quartz, with minor amounts of hematite, pyrite, microcline, biotite, muscovite, chlorite, carbonates, epidote, allanite and zircon. Magnetite from banded and massive ores is almost pure $Fe_3O_4$ in composition, including 0.14 to 0.27 wt.% MnO and 0.10 to 0.15 wt.% MnO, respectively. Hematite of the ore contains 0.87 to 1.27 wt.% $TiO_2$ in banded ore and 3.44 to 6.96 wt.% $TiO_2$ in massive ore, respectively. Biotite shows a little compositional variation depending on ore types. Biotite of the banded ore has lower FeO, $TiO_2$ and $Al_2O_3$, and higher MgO and $SiO_2$ than the massive ore. The modes of occurrence and petrography of ore implies that massive ores might have been formed either under more reducing environments or higher temperature condition than banded ore. Banded ores might represent early episode of iron enrichment due to regional metamorphism. Massive ores might be related to the contact metamorphism resulting from late granitic intrusion.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.395-406
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• 1997

Some RE (Zr, Nb, REE) ore deposits are located in the middle part of the Korean peninsula. Geotectonically, the RE ore deposits situated on the Kyemyeongsan Formation of northern margin of the Okcheon geosynclinal belt and in the transitional zone between Kyeonggi massif and Okcheon belt. The rare metal deposits distributed in Kyemyeongsan Formation which consists of schist and alkaline granite. The alkali granite has suffered extensive post-magmatic metasomatism and hydrothermal processes. The ore contains mainly Ce-La, Ta-Nb, Y, Y-Nb, Ti-Nb-(U), Nd-Th group minerals. Fergusonite, one of Nb-Y rich REE minerals belonging to the A-B oxides, is most common mineral in the rare metal deposits. The fergusonite bearing rocks may be devided into four types by occurrence features and mineral association, that is, zircon type, allanite vein, feldspar type, and fluorite type. Fergusonites show wide variations in optical properties, due to part of differences in their chemical composition (depending on the types), but also the degree of crystalinity of the individual specimens. Fergusonite metamicts enclosed in biotite are generally surrounded by well developed pleochroic haloes. Usually, fergusonite is accompanied with zircon and other REE-bearing minerals. Petrographical and chemical data are presented for fergusonites which collected different types. $Nb_2O_3$ and $Y_2O_3$ contents range from 48.51 to 53.01 wt.% and 29.18 to 42.02 wt.% respectively. Also, $ThO_2$, (1.83~6.93), $UO_2$, (0.17~2.84), ${\sum}RE_2O_3$ (except to Y) (1.11~8.73), and $TiO_2$, (0.19~1.19 wt.%) contents show variational compositions according to fergusonite types. The ${\sum}RE_2O_3$ of fergusonites are positive relation with $Y_2O_3$ and negative relaton with $ThO_2$ and $({\sum}{RE_2O_3}-{Y_2O_3})$. The $Nb_2O_3$ is sightly negative relation with $Ta_2O_3$. Back-scattered electron microscope images (BEI) of fergusonite show the mineral composition and textural feature is very complicated. The variation of Nb, Th and REE content of fergusonite and the modes of occurrence of mineral, suggests that REE may have been mobilized during the circulation of hydrothermal fluids related to contact metamorphism (metasomatism). The chemical variation of the fergusonites with occurrences and mineral association can be related to metasomatism of alkaline fluid was probably the dominant ore-forming process in Chungju district.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.211-222
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• 2011

The Mireuksaji stone pagoda was built foundation in the reign of King Moo (AD 639) in the Baekje Kingdom of ancient Korea. The stone properties of the pagoda were quarried from Mountain Mireuk, which are medium to coarse-grained light gray biotite granite formed during the Jurassic, and are composed of quartz, feldspar, biotite, muscovite, apatite and allanite. It was strong relatively but became weak from prolonged weathering, and as a result its durability fell to $883kgf/cm^3$ (moderate weathering degree). In the process, cut-off (31%), deletion (57%) and crack (44%) occurred in foundation materials by the influence of bending, shear and compressive force. Hereat, the original materials were treated through a preservation process. As a result, approximately 74% of original materials have been able to be reused, inclusive of 55 materials that were to be partially replaced by new stones. On the other hand, it is inevitable that the other 26% including exterior stones and support-based stones have to be partially replaced by new stones. It implies that there is a need to find stones that are identical or similar to those of the pagoda. Consequently, a lithological study was conducted on stones in quarries located in Iksan and an investigation was made into their properties. The results showed that stones in the Hwangdeung area were most similar to those of the pagoda mineralogically and their properties were most stable.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.4 s.46
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• pp.167-179
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• 2006

Division of granites in the Galmal-Yeonbug area, northern Gyeonggi, can be grey hornblende biotite granite (JHBG), biotite granite (JBG) and pink hornblende biotite granite (CHBG) by lithofacies. JHBG of small stock occurs as medium-grained with grey color and minute sphene. JBG occurs as medium-grained and light grey to grey in the north-east part of the area. The main study target CHBG covers in the north-southeast part of the area, and occurs medium-to coarse-grained with pink color. CHBG shows partly minute miaroles, and pegmatitic pocket with druse texture. From the mineral age data (K-Ar method). JHBG and JBG and CHBG are the igneous activity products of Daebo orogeny with different Jurassic and Bulgugsa disturbance of Cretaceous, respectively. And the age data also agree with geologic occurrences and interpretations of the granites in the field. CHBG consists of quartz, plagioclase, alkali-feldspar, biotite, hornblende, allanite, apatite, zircon, some calcite and opaques. Among them, alkalifeldspar and calcite occur characteristically in mostly perthitic othoclase and secondary filling of minutely miarolitic cavity, respectively. In modal analysis and QAP diagram, CHBG plots in granite field, and especially boundary of monzo-and syeno-granite fields. From the major oxide variations, molar A/CNK, $SiO_{2}\;vs\;K_{2}O$, AMF and so on, CHBG belongs to the acidic, peraluminous and high-K calc-alkaline, and was late differentiation product of single granitic magma. Barium and strontium have also dominantly differentiation trend, and in CaO vs Sr and $K_{2}O$ vs Sr, Sr was more participitated in the fractionation of plagioclase than that of alkali-feldspar. Normalized REE concentrations to chondrite value have parallel and gradual LREE enrichment and HREE depletion patterns, and weak Eu negative anomalies and narrow ranges of normalized Eu can suggest that plagioclase fractionations occurred mildly in the whole CHBG.