• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.53-61
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• 2018

Low-salinity water based polymerflooding (LSPF) is one of promising enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method that has the synergetic effect of combining polymer injection method and low-salinity water injection method. In order to maximize EOR efficiency, it is essential to design low-salinity water appropriately considering the properties of polymer. In this aspect, the main purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of pH and $SO_4{^{2-}}$ ion which one of PDI (Potential Determining Ion) on oil production when applying LSPF to carbonate oil reservoir. First, the stability and adsorption of polymer molecule were analyzed in different pH of injection water and $SO_4{^{2-}}$ concentration in injection water. As a result, regardless of pH and $SO_4{^{2-}}$ concentration, when $SO_4{^{2-}}$ ion was contained in injection water, the stability of polymer solution was obtained. However, from the result of polymer retention analysis, in neutral state of injection water, since $SO_4{^{2-}}$ interfered the adsorption of polymer, the adsorption thickness of polymer was thinner as $SO_4{^{2-}}$ concentration was higher. On the other hand, when injection water was acidic as pH 4, the amount of polymer adsorption increased with the injection of polymer solution, so the mobility of polymer solution was greatly lowered. From the results of wettability alteration due to low-salinity water effect, in the case of neutral injection water injected, as $SO_4{^{2-}}$ concentration was increased, more oil which attached on rock surface was detached, altering wettability from oil-wet to water-wet. On the other hand, in acidic condition, due to complex effect of rock dissolution and polymer adsorption, wettability of the entire core system was less altered relatively to neutral condition. Therefore, it was evaluated that better EOR efficiency was obtained when injecting low-salinity water based polymer solution containing high concentration of $SO_4{^{2-}}$ with neutral condition, enhancing the oil production up to 12.3% compared to low-salinity water injection method.

• 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.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.383-395
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• 2020

The stratigraphical position of the Haengmae Formation can provide clues towards solving the hot issue on the Silurian formation, also known as Hoedongri Formation. Since the 2010s, there have been several reports denying the Haengmae Formation as a lithostratigraphic unit. This study aimed to clarify the lithostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic significance of the Haengmae Formation. The distribution and structural geometry of the Haengmae Formation were studied through geologic mapping, and the correlation of relative geologic age and the absolute age was performed through conodont biostratigraphy and zircon U-Pb dating respectively. The representative rock of the Haengmae Formation is massive and yellow-yellowish brown pebble-bearing carbonate rocks with a granular texture similar to sandstone. Its surface is rough with a considerable amount of pores. By studying the mineral composition, contents, and microstructure of the rocks, they have been classified as pebble-bearing clastic rocks composed of dolomite pebbles and matrix. They chiefly comprise of euhedral or subhedral dolomite, and rounded, well-sorted fine-grained quartz, which are continuously distributed in the study area from Biryong-dong to Pyeongan-ri. Bedding attitude and the thickness of the Haengmae Formation are similar to that of the Hoedongri Formation in the north-eastern area (Biryong-dong to Haengmae-dong). The dip-direction attitudes were maintained 340°/15° from Biryong-dong to Haengmae-dong with a thickness of ca. 200 m. However, around the southwest of the studied area, the attitude is suddenly changed and the stratigraphic sequence is in disorder because of fold and thrust. Consequently, the formation is exposed to a wide low-relief area of 1.5 km × 2.5 km. Zircon U-Pb age dating results ranged from 470 to 449 Ma, which indicates that the Haengmae Formation formed during the Upper Ordovician or later. The pebble-bearing carbonate rock consisted of clastic sediments, suggesting that the Middle Ordovician conodonts from the Haengmae Formation must be reworked. Therefore, the above-stated evidence supports that the geologic age of the Haengmae Formation should be Upper Ordovician or later. This study revealed that the Haengmae Formation is neither shear zone, nor an upper part of the Jeongseon Limestone, and is also not the same age as the Jeongseon Limestone. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the Haengmae Formation should be considered a unit of lithostratigraphy in accordance with the stratigraphic guide of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS).

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.35 no.6_3
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• pp.1261-1271
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• 2019

In case of Korea, limestone is very useful in various industries. These limestones are mainly produced in Gangwon-do. The study area, which is located in Okgye-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, is Okcheon metamorphic belt where abundant limestone, dolomite stone, and high-grade limestone are produced. The purpose of this study is to distinguish between calcite and dolomite among the limestone which is one of the representative carbonate rocks using the spectral characteristics. For this study,spectral characteristics were measured in the field and laboratory using FieldSpec® 3 spectrometer equipment from Analytical Spectral Device Inc. (ASD). In the field, the reflectance was measured below 50 cm from rock surface, and in the laboratory, the reflectance was measured in the rock surface, the polished surface, and the rock powder. As a result, absorption wavelengths of calcite and dolomite were significantly different around 2,330 nm. In particular, the absorption wavelength band position of dolomite appeared before 2,330 nm wavelength compared to calcite. The study could be used as a basis data for analysis of high-grade calcite limestone.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2017

Evaluation of the weathering index using the quantitative element composition of rocks is very effective in predicting the degree of weathering of rocks and the secondary weathering residuals. While the process of weathering varies according to the types of rocks, the study of weathering in Korea is concentrated on acidic igneous rocks. This study calculated the weathering indices using whole rock analysis (X-ray fluorescence analysis) of sandstone, mudstone, and shale belonging to clastic sedimentary rocks. The statistical significance of the indices was examined based on the correlation of the calculated weathering indices. Clastic sedimentary rocks showed higher significance of Wp, CIA, CIW and PIA weathering index indicating weathering of feldspar. Chemical Index of alteration (CIA) has the advantage of predicting weathering pathway and clay mineral production, but it is effective to consider chemical index of weathering index (CIW) simultaneously to improve accuracy. In order to reduce uncertainties due to carbonate rocks and to estimate the accurate weathering index, rock samples with high CaO content should be excluded from the evaluation of weathering index.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.241-254
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• 2017

The Stone Guardian and Memorial Tablets from the Muryeong Royal Tomb are composed of the same kind of plutonic igneous rocks, the so-called hornblendite. Color of the rocks show greenish gray, and both of them occurred with medium-grained granular texture. The rock-forming minerals composed mainly of amphibole and plagioclase. Magnetic susceptibility of the Stone Guardian is 0.15 to 0.63 (mean $0.42{\times}10^{-3}SI\;unit$), the King's Stone Memorial Tablet is 0.11 to 0.38 (mean $0.24{\times}10^{-3}SI\;unit$) and the Queen's Stone Memorial Tablet ranges from 0.10 to 0.33 (mean $0.18{\times}10^{-3}SI\;unit$). The rocks of the artifacts are hard to find in the Gongju area. Large scaled out crop of hornblendite is not distributed, but found in many places that the form of dike. The lithology and occurrences indicate that the artifacts are made of plutonic rock rather than dike. Reddish brown and pale brown contaminants, are also distributed on the surface of the Stone Guardian and Memorial Tablets. The reddish brown color is due to Fe oxide, and the pale brown color occurs due to the elution of Ca. The reddish brown contaminants are influenced by the internal components of the rock and oxidation of burial iron accessories. In contrast, the pale brown contaminants are considered to have flown from the carbonate materials used in the Royal Tomb, with a little added Fe oxide. Physical and chemical deterioration operate intricately in the Stone Guardian and Memorial Tablets. Physical deterioration is extremely rare and chemical deterioration is stable except for a part of the Stone Guardian and the front of the Queen Stone Memorial Tablet.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.3 s.178
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• pp.213-227
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• 2006

The geochemical evolution of mine drainage and leachate from waste rock dumps and stream water in Pb-As-rich abandoned Sechang mine area was investigated to elucidate mechanisms of trace metals. Total and sequential extractions were applied to estimate the distribution of trace metals in constituent phases of the waste rocks and to assess the mobility of trace metals according to physicochemical conditions. These discharged waters varied largely in chemical composition both spatially and temporally, and included cases with significant]y low pH (in the range 2.1-3.3), and extremely sulphate (up to 661 mg/l and metal contents (e.g. up to 169 mg/l for Zn, 27 mg/l for As, 3.97 mg/l for Pb, 2.99 mg/l for Cu, and 1.88 mg/l for Cd). Arsenic and heavy metal concentrations at the down-stream of Sechang mine have been decreased nearly to the background level in downstream sites (sites 8 and 16) without any artificial treatments. The oxidation of Fe-sulfides and the subsequent hydrolysis, of Fe(II), with precipitation of poorly crystallized minerals, constituted an efficient mechanism of natural attenuation which reduces considerably the transference of trace metals (i.e. Fe and As) to rivers. The dilution of drainage by mixing with pristine waters provoked an additional decrease of trace metal concentrations and a progressive pH increase. On the other hand, the most soluble cations (i.e. Zn) remained significantly as dissolved solutes until the pH was raised to approximately neutral values. With respect to ecotoxicity, it is likely that the Zn pollution is of particular concern in Sechang mine area. This was confirmed by the sequential extraction experiment, where Zn in wet waste-rock samples occurred predominantly in the exchangeable fraction (65-89% of total), while Pb was the highest in the reducible and carbonate fractions, and Cd, Cu and As in the residual fraction. Pb concentration in the readily available exchangeable fraction (34-48% of total) was dominated for dried waste rock samples. Considering the proportion of metals bound to the exchangeable and carbonate fractions, the comparative mobility of metals probably decreased in the order of Zn>Pb>Cd>As=Cu.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.21-35
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• 2011

Inorganic and organic geochemical characteristics of Devonian bitumen carbonates in Alberta were studied using two drilling cores, Saleski 03-34-88-20w4 and Saleski 08-01-88-20w4, taken from the Core Research Center of Canada. The results of elements analyses showed high Total Inorganic Carbon, low Total Nitrogen and Total Sulfur, and Rock-Eval pyrolysis showed double $CO_2$ peaks in the oxidation part. These mean that the Devonian bitumen carbonates are mainly composed of dolomite formed by diagenesis, and its crystal texture is dominantly subhedral to anhedral but often euhedral. Bitumen contents were 3.6~19.0% in Saleski 3-34-88-20w4 and 5.0~16.4% in Saleski 08-01-88-20w4, respectively. As samples color become dark, bitumen and Total Organic Carbon contents are generally increasing in two cores. The results of biomarker analyses showed that the contents of resins and asphaltenes were 5~28% higher than those of saturated hydrocarbon, interring that the bitumen has been heavily biodegradated. According to the results of carbon isotope analyses in each component of bitumen, asphaltenes had highest values and the others had constant values. However, their values were varied in the range of normal crude oil (-18~-30‰).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.323-343
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• 2018

This study defines the mineralogical, micro-textural and geochemical characteristics for the carbonate rocks and discusses the fluids that have affected the depositional environment of the Lower Makgol Formation in Seokgaejae section. Based on analysis of X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (SEM-EDS), Electron Probe Micro Analyzer-Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EPMA-WDS) and Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), carbonate miorofacies in the basal and the lower members of the Makgol Formation are distinguished and classified into four types. Type 1 dolomite (xenotopic interlocking texture) and Type 2 dolomite (idiotopic interlocking texture) have relatively high Mg/Ca ratio, flat REE pattern, low Fe and Mn. Extensively interlocking textures in these dolomites indicate constant supply of Mg ion from hypersaline brine. Type 3 and Type 4 dolomite (scattered and loosely-aggregated texture) have relatively moderate Mg/Ca ratio, MREE enriched pattern, low to high Fe and Mn. These partial dolomitization indicate limited supply of Mg ion under the influx of meteoric water with seawater. Also, the evidence of Fe-bearing minerals, recrystallization and relatively high Fe and Mn in Type 4 indicates the influence of secondary diagenetic fluids under suboxic conditions. Integrating geochemical data with mineralogical and micro-textural evidence, the discrepancy between the basal and the lower members of the Makgol Formation indicates different sedimentary environment. It suggest that hypersaline brine have an influence on the basal member, while mixing meteoric water with seawater have an effect on the lower member of the Makgol Formation.

• 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.