• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 1997

Two marine bivalve shells were collected from the eastern and western coastal regions of Korea, respectively. Stable oxygen and carbon isotope profiles are constructed using the incremental sampling along the axis of maximum growth to provide the continuous ${\delta}^{18}$O and ${\delta}^{13}$C records, which register the physical, biological and chemical properties of seawater where the organisms live. Cycles in the ${\delta}^{18}$O profiles are interpreted as annual along with the identification of annual growth bands; the maximum ${\delta}^{18}$O values correspond with the coldest temperature of seawater whereas the minimum ${\delta}^{18}$O values with the warmest temperature. The primary control on the amplitude of the ${\delta}^{18}$O profiles is seasonal variation of seawater temperature. The offset of the baseline between ${\delta}^{18}$O values of the two specimens is attributed to differences in both temperature and seawater ${\delta}^{18}$O values between two localities. The ${\delta}^{13}$C profiles show the similar seasonality of carbon cycling associated with phytoplankton productivity. The offset in the ${\delta}^{13}$C profiles between two specimens may be, as in the case of oxygen isotope profile, attributed to the different ${\delta}^{13}$C value of the seawater DIC (dissolved inorganic carbon) between the western coast and the eastern coast. Relationships between the shell isotopic composition and the coastal water properties of shell growth are readily interpreted from the ${\delta}^{18}$O-${\delta}^{13}$C pair diagram of the shell isotope data, similar to the use of salinity-${\delta}^{18}$O diagram for identifying water masses. The preliminary stable isotope results of this study suggest that mollusk shell isotope geochemistry may be useful to monitor the properties of water masses in the coastal and inner shelf setting around Korea and improve the interpretation of paleoceanography, provided the fossil mollusks are well preserved.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.107-118
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• 2019

Two assertions about the process the formation of the high-purity limestone in the Taebaeksan Basin, categorized into syngenetic and epigenetic origin, are verified on the basis of its oxygen-carbon stable isotopic characteristics. The carbonate rocks sampled from the selective six high-purity limestone mines and several outcrops in the Daegi formation are featured by various colors such as the gray, light gray and dark gray. They show a wide range of oxygen stable isotope ratios (4.5 ~ 21.6 ‰), but a narrow range of carbon stable isotope ratios (-1.1 ~ 0.8 ‰, except for vein calcite), which means that they had not experienced strong hydrothermal alteration. In addition, there is no difference in the range of the oxygen stable isotope ratios by mine and color, and it is similar to the range from surrounding outcrop samples. These results indicate that the effect of the hydrothermal alteration were negligible in the generation of high-purity limestone in deposit scale. Whereas, the carbonate rocks can be divided texturally into two groups on the basis of an oxygen isotope ratio; the massive-textured or well-layered samples (>15 ‰), and the layer-disturbed (or layer-destructed) and showing over two colors in one sample (<15 ‰). In the multi-colored samples, the bright parts are characterized by the very low oxygen stable isotope ratios, compared to the dark parts, implying the increase in brightness of the carbonate rocks could be induced by the interaction between hydrothermal fluid and rock. However, these can be applied in a small scale such as one sample and are not suitable for interpretation of the generation of high-purity limestone as a deposit scale. In particular, the high oxygen isotope ratios from the recrystallized white limestone suggest that hydrothermal fluids are also rarely involved during recrystallization process. In addition, the occurrences of the high-purity limestone orebody strongly support the high-purity limestone in the area are syngenetic rather than epigenetic; the high-purity limestone layers in the area show continuous and almost horizontal shapes, and is intercalated between dolomite layers. Consequently, the overall reinterpretation based on the sequential stratigraphy over the Taebaeksan basin would play an important role to find additional reserves of the high-purity limestone.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.477-494
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• 2008

Stable isotope analyses on lake or wetland sediments are useful to reconstruct paleoclimate. Organic and inorganic carbonates obtained from lake sediment are isotopically analyzed to get oxygen and carbon isotopic ratios. Oxygen isotope ratios can be used to quantitatively and qualitatively reconstruct paleo-temperature or humidity while carbon isotope ratios be used to reveal environmental changes around the lake or human impacts on the area. Peat mosses in peat bogs are nice samples for the carbon isotope analysis, which derives paleo-temperature and paleo-atmospheric $CO_2$ changes. In coastal area, the reconstruction of past sea-level is possible because terrestrial originated organic matter is carbon isotopically different from marine originated organic matter. Also, scientists can do research on Asian Monsoon based on the fact that $\delta^{13}C$ of C3 plants and C4 plants are consistently different each other and that they are distributed differently with respect to salinity. In Korea, paleoenvironmental studies using stable isotopes are not popular yet because of low academic interests on the methodology and difficulties of obtaining proper sediment samples. Interesting results can be produced to answer paleoenvironmental questions of Korea if scientists isotopically analyze sediment cores from a paleo-lake such as Hanon in Jeju island, peat bogs such as Mujechi-Neup and Yong-Neup, and coastal wetlands.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 1984

Representative sulphide samples from the Sangdong skarn orebody and quartz veins show relatively narrow ranges of sulphur isotope values ranging from $^+5.5$ to $^+6.9$ permil and average $^+5.0$ permil with a standard deviation of 0.77 permil. Much higher temperature isotopic temperatures than homogenization temperatures may indicate even minerals in contact did not form together in isotopic equilibrium. Under conditions of formation of the skarn and quartz veins, ${\delta}^{34}\;H_2S$ ranges from $^+4.5$ to $^+5.3$ permil, suggesting a magmatic origin for the sulphur. Carbon and oxygen isotope values seem to show some of the spread of increasing ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of the interbedded limestone with distance from the central zone of the Sangdong mineralization. Negative values of ${\delta}^{13}C$ fluids appear to be typical of many ore deposits including those of magmatic origin. Calculated ${\delta}^{18}C$ values of the fluids are typical of those derived from magmatic sources.

• 한국지구과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.02a
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• pp.115-125
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• 2005

Carbon isotopic composition of a stream (Odaecheon Stream) monitored over 7 months from July 2004 to January 2005 in Gangweon Province ranges from -9.24 to -4.69‰. Strong negative correlation between ${\delta}^{13}C_{DIC}$ and water temperature suggests that temperature is a dominant factor controlling ${\delta}^{13}C_{DIC}$ in the Odaecheon Stream. The variation pattern of ${\delta}^{13}C_{DIC}$ was thought to be caused by fractionation of C isotope between stream water and atmosphere and more fractionation at reduced temperature. More fractionation of C isotope between stream water and atmosphere at reduced temperature resulted in increase of ${\delta}^{13}C_{DIC}$ of stream water in winter compared to summer. Photosynthesis and respiration of aqueous biota seem to affect little in ${\delta}^{13}C_{DIC}$ as indicated by little variation of dissolved oxygen and reverse variation pattern of Eh in the stream and scarce aqueous biota in stream water. pH seems to be controlled by $CO_2{2}$ exchange between stream water and atmosphere. During summer more $CO_2{2}$ exchange between stream water and atmosphere resulted in decrease in pH value.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 1980

${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{18}O$ values were determined for the Paleozoic limestones (Great Linestone Series) from the Taebaegsan region and the age-unknown limestones (Janggun Formation) from the Janggun mine, Korea. Limestones of the Great Limestone Series exhibit a range of carbon isotopic composition from -4.5 +1.3‰ with a mean ${\delta}^{13}C$ value of -1.1‰, relative to the PDB standard, and of oxygen isotpic composition from +8.8 to +23.3‰ with a mean ${\delta}^{18}O$ value of +16.0‰, relative to the SMOW, falling into the normal marine limestone range according to Keith and Weber (1964), and Degens and Epstein(1964). Carbon isotopic composition of limestones of the Great Limestone Series becomes progressively lighter from Pungchon limestone of middle Cambrian age to mid-Ordovician Maggol limestone, possibly due to change in depositional environment in the Taebaegsan basin. Variation in isotopic composition of limestones from Hwajeol to Dumugal formation offers the possibility or deposition in shallow sea environment, in which fresh waters were added in several stages. Janggun limestone of unknown age may be corelated with the Paleozoic limestones of Great Limestone Series as infered from the istopic composition ranging from -2.8 to + 0.7‰ of ${\delta}^{13}C$ and +13.4 to +22.4‰ of ${\delta}^{18}O$.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.39
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• pp.39-58
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• 2006

This study reviews recent shell midden studies in Korea. With more interest in biological materials, recent shell midden studies have attempted to reconstruct palaeoenvironment, and understand subsistence economy, the formation processes and function of sites and past culture. Especially, one of the major topics in prehistoric Korean shell midden studies is the transitional process from hunter-gatherer to farmer. To solve these questions related with shell middens, new sampling strategies and excavation techniques have been adopted. Analytical methods combined with scientifical technologies also have been introduced to shell middle studies. These methods indude stable isotope analyses(Oxygen isotope and Carbon and Nitrogen isotope analyses) and growth-line analysis, etc.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.4 s.173
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• pp.421-434
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• 2005

Abstract Based onthe characteristics of Carlin-type gold deposit in Nevada district, a potential in Korea is evaluated to the Yemi area where is structurally controlled by folds and trust fault. The fault of high angles are combined with a more permeable rocks such as the Yemi breccia and laminated silty limestone. The pattern of enrichment factors for Tl, Sb, As, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mo and W of limestones in the southern area are geochemically similar with those reported from the Carlin-type Bold deposit. Moreover, the oxygen and carbon isotopes show a hydrothermal alteration is widely developed in this area. According to the result of geophysical interpretation, stable isotope, alteration mineralogy, geochemical study, and geological structure, this mineralized zone may be extended to the M direction, so a detailed systematic exploration is required to identify this alteration zone.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.169-177
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• 1987

The Manjang copper magnetite-fluorite orebodies are imbedded within the limestone beds of the Hwajonri Formation. The ore deposits are characterized by magnetite-fluorite bearing skarn orebody in the west orebody and copper sulfide veins of the central and main orebodies. This study includes fluid inclusion geothermometry, salinity analysis, stable isotope analysis, and application of phase rule to mineral associations in skarn ore. Ore minerals are closely associated with the skarn silicates such as garnet, wollastonite and epidote. Magnetite and fluorite are remarkable in the west orebody whereas chalcopyrite is dominate in the central and main orebodies where pyrite and pyrrhotite also appear as sulfide gangues. Homogenization temperature and salinity of fluid inclusions are measured ranging between $240^{\circ}C$ and $350^{\circ}C$, 6.3~12.9 wt. percent in quartz and $220^{\circ}C$ and $350^{\circ}C$, 8.5~9.9wt. percent in fluorite, respectively. This indicates that the filling temperature and salinity are higher in quartz than in fluorite with the tendency of both to be linearly decreased suggesting an attribution of meteoric water to the mineralization. $T-fo_2$ diagram in the Ca-Fe-Si system at 1 kb and $Xco_2$=0.02 shows that the mineral assemblages with decreasing temperature are andradite-hedenbergite-calcite, hedenbergite-andradite-quartz, magnetite-andradite-quartz, and magnetite-quartz-calcite, indicating that magnetite crystallizes mostly late skarn stage at lower temperature. According to the carbon and oxygen isotopic values of the host limestone and calcite in ores, the sourec of carbon might be mixture of host limestone and deep seated carbons. Sulfur isotope data imply that ore fluids be relatively homogeneous in sulfur isotopic composition, mainly derived from igneous source.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.71-88
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• 2001

The Geochemica] and isotope studies on the $CO_2$-rich water from the Shinchon area were carried out. The Shinchon $CO_2$-rich water belongs to Ca(Na)-$HCO_3$ type showing very high $P_{CO_{2}}$ ( $10^{-0.35}$ ~ $10^{0.29}$ atm) and TDS (835-3,144 mg/L). The results of geochemical and isotope analysis indicate that $CO_2$ gas is originated from the deep seated source such as mantle or magmatic gases. The $CO_2$-rich water was evolved by interaction with deep-seated granite and major water-rock interaction was dissolution of p]agioclase resulting high Na content of $CO_2$-rich water. Precipitation and dissolution of secondary calcite might be accompanied with the dissolution of plagioclase maintaining Na/Ca ratio. High contents of K and $SO_4$ indicate that the geochemical characteristics of $CO_2$-rich water were partially affected by interaction with upper sedimentary rock during uprising to surface. N03 and tritium contents suggest that the $CO_2$-rich water was mixed with low $CO_2$ groundwater at some locations. The oxygen-hydrogen isotopes show that all water samples were derived from meteoric waters and the $CO_2$-rich water was isotopically re-equilibrated with lighter $CO_2$ gas. Although some carbon isotope data show isotopically heavy values, carbon isotope data indicate that the $CO_2$ gas was possib]y derived by deep source.