• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.253-262
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• 2004

Construction of tunnels in a deep crystalline host rock for a potential High-Level Radioactive Waste(HLW) repository inevitably generates an excavation disturbed zone (EDZ). There have been a series of debates on whether a permeability in an EDZ increases or not and what would be the maximum depth of an EDZ. Recent studies show mixed opinions on permeability. However, there has been an international consensus on the thickness of an EDZ; 30 cm for TBM and 1 meter for controlled blast. One of the impacts of an EDZ is on determining the distance between adjacent deposition holes. The void gap by the excavation hinders relaxation of temperature profiles so that the current Korean reference designing distance between holes should be stretched out more to keep the maximum temperature in a buffer region below 100 degrees Celsius. The other impact of an EDZ is on the long-term post closure radiological safety. To estimate the impact, the reference scenario, the well scenario, is chosen. Released nuclides diffuse through a bentonite buffer region experiencing strong sorption and reach a fracture surrounded by a porous medium. Inside a fractured porous region, radionuclides migrate by advection and dispersion with matrix diffusion into a porous medium. Finally, they reach a well assumed to be a source of potable water for local residents. The annual individual dose is assessed on this well scenario to find out the significance of an EDZ. A profound sensitivity study was performed, but all results show that the impact is negligible. Even though the role of an EDZ turns out to be limited on overall safety assessment, still it is worthwhile to study the chemical role of an EDZ, such as a potential source for natural colloids, potential sealing of an open fracture by fine clay particles generated by the process of an EDZ, and alteration of a sorption mechanism by an EDZ in the future.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.151-159
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• 2012

The potential repository domains for A-KRS (Advanced Korean Reference Disposal System for High Level Wastes) in geological characteristics of KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) facility site were proposed to develop a repository system design and to perform the safety assessment. The host rock of KURT facility site is one of major Mesozoic plutonic rocks in Korean peninsula, two-mica granite, which was influenced by hydrothermal alteration. The topographical features control the flow lines of surface and groundwater toward south-easterly and all waters discharge to Geum River. Fracture zones distributed in study site are classified into order 2 magnitude and their dominant orientations are N-S and E-W strike. From the geological features and fracture zones, the potential repository domains for A-KRS were determined spatially based on the following conditions: (1) fracture zone must not cross the repository; and (2) the repository must stay away from the fracture zones greater than 50 m. The western region of the fracture zones in the N-S direction with a depth below 200 m from the surface was sufficient for A-KRS repository. Because most of the fracture zones in N-S direction were inclined toward the east, we expected to find a homogeneous rock mass in the western region rather than in the eastern region. The lower left domain of potential domains has more suitable geological and hydrogeological conditions for A-KRS repository.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7529-7536
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• 2013

Background and Aims: MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is reported to be overexpressed and to contribute to proliferation, apoptosis and gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). The aims of this study were to explore regulation of miR-21 expression by epigenetic change and its impact on chemoresistance and malignant properties of of pancreatic cancer. Materials and methods: We retrospectively collected 41 cases of advanced pancreatic cancer patients who were sensitive or resistant to gemcitabine and assessed levels of serum circulating miR-21 for correlation with cytotoxic activity. Histone acetylation in the miR-21 promoter was also studied in gemcitabine-sensitive and gemcitabine-resistant PDAC cells. Gemcitabine-resistant HPAC and PANC-1 cells were transfected with pre-miR-21 precursors (pre-miR-21) and antisense oligonucleotides (anti-miR-21), and were treated with TSA. Finally, invasion and metastasis assays were performed and alteration in mir-21, PTEN, AKT and pAKT level was evaluated in these cells. Results: Serum miR-21 levels were increased in gemcitabine-resistant PDAC patients compared with gemcitabine-sensitive subjects. The miR-21 levels were increased in 6 PDAC cells treated with gemcitabine significantly, associated with 50% inhibitory concentrations ($IC_{50}s$). Histone acetylation levels at miR-21 promoter were increased in PDAC cells after treatment with gemcitabine. Enhanced invasion and metastasis, increased miR-21 expression, decreased PTEN, elevated pAKT level were demonstrated in gemcitabine-resistant HPAC and PANC-1 cells. Pre-miR-21 transfection or TSA treatment further increased invasion and metastasis ability, decreased PTEN, and elevated pAKT levels in these two lines. In contrast, anti-miR-21 transfection could reverse invasion and metastasis, and PTEN and pAKT expressions induced by gemcitabine. Conclusions: MiR-21 upregulation induced by histone acetylation in the promoter zone is associated with chemoresistance to gemcitabine and enhanced malignant potential in pancreatic cancer cells.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.335-349
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• 2014

The Pocheon skarn deposit, located at the northwestern part of the Precambrian Gyeonggi massif in South Korea, occurs at the contact between the Cretaceous Myeongseongsan granite and the Precambrian carbonate rocks, and is also controlled by N-S-trending shear zone. The skarn distribution and mineralogy reflects both structural and lithological controls. Three types of skarn formations based on mineral assemblages in the Pocheon skarn exist; a sodiccalcic skarn and a magnesian skarn mainly developed in the dolostone, and a calcic skarn developed in the limestone. Iron mineralization occurs in the sodic-calcic and magnesian skarn zone, locally superimposed by copper mineralization during retrograde skarn stage. The sodic-calcic skarn is composed of acmite, diopside, albite, garnet, magnetite, maghemite, anhydrite, apatite, and sphene. Retrograde alteration consists of tremolite, phlogopite, epidote, sericite, gypum, chlorite, quartz, calcite, and sulfides. Magnesian skarn mainly consists of diopside and forsterite. Pyroxene and olivine are mainly altered to tremolite, with minor phlogopite, talc, and serpentine. The calcic skarn during prograde stage mainly consists of garnet, pyroxene and wollastonite. Retrograde alteration consists of epidote, vesuvianite, amphibole, biotite, magnetite, chlorite, quartz, calcite, and sulfides. Microprobe analyses indicate that the majority of the Pocheon skarn minerals are enriched by Na-Mg composition and have high $Fe^{3+}/Fe^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}/Fe^{2+}$, and $Al^{3+}/Fe^{2+}$ ratios. Clinopyroxene is acmitic and diopsidic composition, whereas garnet is relatively grossular-rich. Amphiboles are largely of tremolite, pargasite, and magnesian hastingsite composition. The prograde anhydrous skarn assemblages formed at about $400^{\circ}{\sim}500^{\circ}C$ in a highly oxidized environment ($fO_2=10^{-23}{\sim}10^{-26}$) under a condition of about 0.5 kbar pressure and $X(CO_2)=0.10$. With increasing fluid/rock interaction during retrograde skarn, epidote, amphibole, sulfides and calcite formed as temperature decreased to approximately $250^{\circ}{\sim}400^{\circ}C$ at $X(CO_2)=0.10$.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.83-100
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• 2022

The Zhenzigou Pb-Zn deposit, which is one of the largest Pb-Zn deposit in the northeast of China, is located at the Qingchengzi mineral field in Jiao Liao Ji belt. The geology of this deposit consists of Archean granulite, Paleoproterozoinc migmatitic granite, Paleo-Mesoproterozoic sodic granite, Paleoproterozoic Liaohe group, Mesozoic diorite and Mesozoic monzoritic granite. The Zhenzigou deposit which is a strata bound SEDEX or SEDEX type deposit occurs as layer ore and vein ore in Langzishan formation and Dashiqiao formation of the Paleoproterozoic Liaohe group. White mica from this deposit are occured only in layer ore and are classified four type (Type I : weak alteration (clastic dolomitic marble), Type II : strong alteration (dolomitic clastic rock), Type III : layer ore (dolomitic clastic rock), Type IV : layer ore (clastic dolomitic marble)). Type I white mica in weak alteration zone is associated with dolomite that is formed by dolomitization of hydrothermal metasomatism. Type II white mica in strong alteration zone is associated with dolomite, ankerite, quartz and alteration of K-feldspar by hydrothermal metasomatism. Type III white mica in layer ore is associated with dolomite, ankerite, calcite, quartz and alteration of K-feldspar by hydrothermal metasomatism. And type IV white mica in layer ore is associated with dolomite, quartz and alteration of K-feldspar by hydrothermal metasomatism. The structural formulars of white micas are determined to be (K_0.92-0.80Na_0.01-0.00Ca_0.02-0.01Ba_0.00Sr_0.01-0.00)_0.95-0.83(Al_1.72-1.57Mg_0.33-0.20Fe_0.01-0.00Mn_0.00Ti_0.02-0.00Cr_0.01-0.00V_0.00Sb_0.02-0.00Ni_0.00Co_0.02-0.00)_1.99-1.90(Si_3.40-3.29Al_0.71-0.60)_4.00O₁₀(OH_2.00-1.83F_0.17-0.00)_2.00, (K_1.03-0.84Na_0.03-0.00Ca_0.08-0.00Ba_0.00Sr_0.01-0.00)_1.08-0.85(Al_1.85-1.65Mg_0.20-0.06Fe_0.10-0.03Mn_0.00Ti_0.05-0.00Cr_0.03-0.00V_0.01-0.00Sb_0.02-0.00Ni_0.00Co_0.03-0.00)_1.99-1.93(Si_3.28-2.99Al_1.01-0.72)_4.00O₁₀(OH_1.96-1.90F_0.10-0.04)_2.00, (K_1.06-0.90Na_0.01-0.00Ca_0.01-0.00Ba_0.00Sr_0.02-0.01)_1.10-0.93(Al_1.93-1.64Mg_0.19-0.00Fe_0.12-0.01Mn_0.00Ti_0.01-0.00Cr_0.01-0.00V_0.00Sb_0.00Ni_0.00Co_0.05-0.01)_2.01-1.94(Si_3.32-2.96Al_1.04-0.68)_4.00O₁₀(OH_2.00-1.91F_0.09-0.00)_2.00 and (K_0.91-0.83Na_0.02-0.01Ca_0.02-0.00Ba_0.01-0.00Sr_0.00)_0.93-0.83(Al_1.84-1.67Mg_0.15-0.08Fe_0.07-0.02Mn_0.00Ti_0.04-0.00Cr_0.06-0.00V_0.02-0.00Sb_0.02-0.01Ni_0.00Co_0.00)_2.00-1.92(Si_3.27-3.16Al_0.84-0.73)_4.00O₁₀(OH_1.97-1.88F_0.12-0.03)_2.00, respectively. It indicated that white mica of from the Zhenzigou deposit has less K, Na and Ca, and more Si than theoretical dioctahedral mica. Compositional variations in white mica from the Zhenzigou deposit are caused by phengitic or Tschermark substitution [(Al³⁺)^VI+(Al³⁺)^IV <-> (Fe²⁺ or Mg²⁺)^VI+(Si⁴⁺)^IV] substitution. It means that the Fe in white mica exists as Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺, but mainly as Fe²⁺. Therefore, white mica from layer ore of the Zhenzigou deposit was formed in the process of remelting and re-precipitation of pre-existed minerals by hydrothermal metasomatism origined metamorphism (greenschist facies) associated with Paleoproterozoic intrusion. And compositional variations in white mica from the Zhenzigou deposit are caused by phengitic or Tschermark substitution [(Al³⁺)^VI+(Al³⁺)^IV <-> (Fe²⁺ or Mg²⁺)^VI+(Si⁴⁺)^IV] substitution during hydrothermal metasomatism depending on wallrock type, alteration degree and ore/gangue mineral occurrence frequency.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.259-273
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• 1992

The Seongsan mine is one of the largest dickite deposits in the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula. The main constithent minerals of the ore are dickite and quartz with accessory alunite, kaolinite and sericite. The geology around the Seongsan mine consists mainly of the late Cretaceous felsic volcanic rocks. In the studied area, these rocks make a synclinal structure with an axis of E-W direction plunging to the east. Most of the felsic volcanic rocks have undergone extensive hydrothermal alteration. The hydrothermally altered rocks can be classified into the following zones: Dickite, Dickite-Quartz, Quartz, Sericite, Albite and Chlorite zones, from the center to the margin of the alteration mass. Such zonal arrangement of altered rocks suggests that the country rocks, most of which are upper part of the rhyolite and welded tuff, were altered by strongly acid hydrothermal solutions. It is reasonable to consider that initial gas and solution containing $H_2S$ and other compounds were oxidized near the surface, and formed hydrothermal sulfuric acid solutions. The mineralogical and chemical changes of the altered rocks were investigated using various methods, and chemical composition of fifty-six samples of the altered rocks were obtained by wet chemical analysis and X.R.F. methods. On the basis of these analyses, it was found that some components such as $SiO_2$, $Al_2O_3$, $Fe_2O_3$, CaO, MgO, $K_2O$, $Na_2O$ and $TiO_2$ were mobilized considerably from the original rocks. The formation temperature of the deposits was estimated as higher than $200^{\circ}C$ from fluid inclusion study of samples taken from the Quartz zone. On the basis of the chemical composition data on rocks and minerals and estimated temperatures, the hydrothermal solutions responsible for the formation of the Seongsan dickite deposits were estimated to have the composition: $m_{K^+}=0.003$, $m_{Na^+}=0.097$, $m_{SiO_2(aq.)}=0.008$ and pH=5.0, here "m" represents the molality (mole/kg $H_2O$).

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.125-140
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• 2022

The Xiquegou Pb-Zn deposit is located at the Qingchengzi orefield which is one of the largest Pb-Zn mineralized zone in the northeast of China. The geology of this deposit consists of Archean granulite, Paleoproterozoinc migmatitic granite, Paleo-Mesoproterozoic sodic granite, Paleoproterozoic Liaohe group, Mesozoic diorite and Mesozoic monzoritic granite. The Xiquegou deposit which is a Triassic magma-hydrothermal type deposit occurs as vein ore filled fractures along fault zone in unit 3 (dolomitic marble and schist) of Dashiqiao formation of the Paleoproterozoic Liaohe group. Xiquegou Pb-Zn deposit consists of quartz, apatite, calcite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, marcasite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, stannite, galena, tetrahedrite, electrum, argentite, native silver and pyrargyrite. Wallrock alteration of this deposit contains silicification, pyritization, dolomitization, chloritization and sericitization. Based on mineral petrography and paragenesis, dolomites from this deposit are classified two type (1. dolomite (D₀) as wallrock, 2. dolomite (D₁) as wallrock alteration in Pb-Zn mineralization quartz vein ore). The structural formulars of dolomites are determined to be Ca_1.03-1.01Mg_0.95-0.83Fe_0.12-0.02Mn_0.02-0.00(CO₃)₂(D₀) and Ca_1.16-1.00Mg_0.79-0.44Fe_0.53-0.13Mn_0.03-0.00As_0.01-0.00(CO₃)₂(D₁), respectively. It means that dolomites from the Xiquegou deposit have higher content of trace elements compared to the theoretical composition of dolomite. The dolomite (D₁) from quartz vein ore has higher content of these trace elements (FeO, PbO, Sb₂O₅ and As₂O₅) than dolomite (D₀) from wallrock. Dolomites correspond to Ferroan dolomite (D₀), and ankerite and Ferroan dolomite (D₁), respectively. The structural formular of chlorite from quartz vein ore is (Mg_1.65-1.08Fe_2.94-2.50Mn_0.01-0.00Zn_0.01-0.00Ni_0.01-0.00Cr_0.02-0.00V_0.01-0.00Hf_0.01-0.00Pb_0.01-0.00Cu_0.01-0.00As_0.03-0.00Ca_0.02-0.01Al_1.68-1.61)_5.77-5.73(Si_2.84-2.76Al_1.24-1.16)_4.00O₁₀(OH)₈. It indicated that chlorite of quartz vein ore is similar with theoretical chlorite and corresponds to Fe-rich chlorite. Compositional variations in chlorite from quartz vein ore are caused by mainly octahedral Fe²⁺ <-> Mg²⁺ (Mn²⁺) substitution and partly phengitic or Tschermark substitution (Al^3+,VI+Al^3+,IV <-> (Fe²⁺ 또는 Mg²⁺)^VI+(Si⁴⁺)^IV).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 1994

Several ultramafic bodies and ultramafic origin talc deposits are distributed in Chungnam province near the contact zone with Ogchun fold belt They occur as discontinued belt form with northeast trending, and most of them are more or less sepentinized. Major, trace, and rare earth elements analyses were made of the ultramafics from the study area to constrain their origin and genetic relationships. Compared to the primitive mantle estimates of privious workers, the correlations defined by the studied rock samples indicate similar Ni but very lower $Al_{2}O_{3}$, CaO and $TiO_{2}$ contents. It is inferred that source material of the studied rocks might be residual mantle which had undergone a large degree of partial melting event. The REE patterns show relatively flat to enriched in LREE (chondrite normalized La/Yb and Sm/Yb ratios are 1.1-5.2 and 1.2-1.6). Several alternative explaination are possible for LREE enrichment patterns in the studied ultramafic rocks such as 1) enrichment due to late stage alteration, 2) enriched pre-melting composition, and 3) mixing of two components. Based on the result, the LREE enrichment characteristic of the studied rocks might be result from the mixture of two geochemically distinct components; one is depleted residual mantle and the other component which determine the abundances of incompatible elements and responsible for the LREE enrichment.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.181-191
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• 2014

Olon Ovoot gold mine, Mongolia, is located in the Omnogobi province which is south 500 km from Ulaanbaatar. The mine area consists of the Devonian Bot-Uul khudag formation, the Upper Devonian intrusions, and the Upper Devonian or the Early Jurassic quartz veins. The quartz veins contain from 1 to 32 g/t gold with an average of 5 g/t gold. The quartz veins vary from 0.2 m to 25 m and are concordant or discordant with foliation of the green-schist. The mineralogy of the quartz veins is simple and consists of mainly of white massive quartz with partly transparent quartz in cavity. Quartz, sericite, chlorite, pyrite and carbonates(ankerite, dolomite and siderite) were observed in the alteration zone. Carbonate minerals occur as disseminated, coarse or fine grains with quartz, sericite, chlorite and pyrite near vein margin or within wall-rock xenoliths in quartz vein. Ankerite is present as later dark grey ankerite(13.51 to 16.89 wt.% FeO) and early white grey ankerite(16.67 to 19.90 wt.% FeO). The FeO contents of early ankerite are higher than those of later ankerite. Dolomite contains from 3.89 to 10.44 wt.% FeO and from 0.10 to 0.47 wt.% MnO. Dolomite is present as dark grey dolomite(4.06 to 6.87 wt.% FeO), light white grey dolomite(6.74 to 7.58 wt.% FeO) and grey white dolomite(7.33 to 10.44 wt.% FeO). The FeO contents of white grey dolomite are higher than those of dark grey dolomite. Siderite contains from 34.25 to 48.66 wt.% FeO, from 6.79 to 14.38 wt.% MgO, from 0.06 to 0.26 wt.% MnO and from 2.08 to 8.08 wt.% CaO.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.219-228
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• 2015

To secure water resources, dams are normally constructed on the upper - middle part of streams, and it generates physical disturbances such as habitat alteration and stream fragmentation. Such construction can restrict movement of aquatic organisms, especially for freshwater fish which is one of top predator in aquatic ecosystem, and cause genetic fragmentation and community change. In this study, to investigate impact of habitat alteration after dam construction on freshwater fish, we monitored fish community changes, and compared fish fauna between dam reservoir and inflows. Additionally, movement characteristics and habitat boundaries of four species were identified by radio telemetry method. The study was conducted in the Gunwi Dam which was constructed in December 2010. Radio telemetry was applied to Pungtungia herzi, Zacco platypus (living lotic and lentic), Silurus asotus (lentic preferred species) and Zacco koreanus (lotic preferred species). The number of species was remarkably decreased (4 family, 10 species) comparing with before the dam construction (7 family, 15 species). Specifically, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Niwaella multifasciata, Liobagrus mediadiposalis, Coreoperca herzi and Odontobutis platycephala that inhabit in the lotic environment were not collected in the study area. A total of 8 species were caught in both the dam reservoir and tributaries except 2 species (C. auratus and S. asotus). Sorenson's similarity between the reservoir and its tributaries was high (0.842). All of the radio tagged species stayed in the reservoir except S. asotus which moved to the tributary. These species mainly utilized the shallow littoral zone as a habitat. These results could be useful as a baseline data for efficient management of fishes in lakes.