• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.371-382
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• 2022

Carbonates are inorganic ligands that are abundant in natural groundwater. They strongly influence radionuclide mobility by forming strong complexes, thereby increasing solubility and reducing soil absorption rates. We characterized the spectroscopic properties of Am(III)-carbonate species using UV-Vis absorption and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy. The deconvoluted absorption spectra of aqueous Am(CO₃)₂^- and Am(CO₃)₃^3- species were identified at red-shifted positions with lower molar absorption coefficients compared to the absorption spectrum of aqua Am³⁺. The luminescence spectrum of Am(CO₃)₃^3- was red-shifted from 688 nm for Am³⁺ to 695 nm with enhanced intensity and an extended lifetime. Colloidal Am(III)-carbonate compounds exhibited absorption at approximately 506 nm but had non-luminescent properties. Slow formation of colloidal particles was monitored based on the absorption spectral changes over the sample aging time. The experimental results showed that the solubility of Am(III) in carbonate solutions was higher than the predicted values from the thermodynamic constants in OECD-NEA reviews. These results emphasize the importance of kinetic parameters as well as thermodynamic constants to predict radionuclide migration. The identified spectroscopic properties of Am(III)-carbonate species enable monitoring time-dependent species evolution in addition to determining the thermodynamics of Am(III) in carbonate systems.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.549-565
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• 2022

Severe acid rains can be a major source for geotechnical and environmental problems in any soil depending on the acid type and concentration. Hence, this study investigates the individual severe effects of sulfuric, hydrochloric and nitric acids on the geotechnical properties of real field soil through a series of experimental laboratory tests. The laboratory program consists of experimental tests such as consistency, compaction, unconfined compression, pH determination, electrical conductivity, total dissolved salts, total suspended solids, gypsum and carbonates contents. The experimental tests have been performed on the untreated soil and individual acid treated soil for acid concentrations range of 0% to 20% by weight. In addition, a unique hyperbolic mathematical model has been used to predict significant geotechnical characteristics for acid treated soil. The plastic and liquid limits and optimum moisture content have been increased under the effect of all the used acids whereas the maximum dry density and unconfined stress-strain behavior have been decreased with increasing the acid concentrations. Moreover, the used hyperbolic mathematical model has predicted all the geotechnical characteristics very well with a very high coefficient of determination (R²) value and lowest root mean square error (RMSE) estimate.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.317-333
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• 2012

The Yeongweol Group is a Lower Paleozoic mixed carbonate-siliciclastic sequence in the Taebaeksan Basin of Korea, and consists of five lithologic formations: Sambangsan, Machari, Wagok, Mungok, and Yeongheung in ascending order. Sequence stratigraphic interpretation of the group indicates that initial flooding in the Yeongweol area of the Taebaeksan Basin resulted in basal siliciclastic-dominated sequences of the Sambangsan Formation during the Middle Cambrian. The accelerated sea-level rise in the late Middle to early Late Cambrian generated a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic slope or deep ramp sequence of shale, grainstone and breccia intercalations, representing the lower part of the Machari Formation. The continued rise of sea level in the Late Cambrian made substantial accommodation space and activated subtidal carbonate factory, forming carbonate-dominated subtidal platform sequence in the middle and upper parts of the Machari Formation. The overlying Wagok Formation might originally be a ramp carbonate sequence of subtidal ribbon carbonates and marls with conglomerates, deposited during the normal rise of relative sea level in the late Late Cambrian. The formation was affected by unstable dolomitization shortly after the deposition during the relative sea-level fall in the latest Cambrian or earliest Ordovician. Subsequently, it was extensively dolomitized under the deep burial diagenetic condition. During the Early Ordovician (Tremadocian), global transgression (viz. Sauk) was continued, and subtidal ramp deposition was sustained in the Yeongweol platform, forming the Mungok Formation. The formation is overlain by the peritidal carbonates of the Yeongheung Formation, and is stacked by cyclic sedimentation during the Early to Middle Ordovician (Arenigian to Caradocian). The lithologic change from subtidal ramp to peritidal facies is preserved at the uppermost part of the Mungok Formation. The transition between Sauk and Tippecanoe sequences is recognized within the middle part of the Yeongheung Formation as a minimum accommodation zone. The global eustatic fall in the earliest Middle Ordovician and the ensuing rise of relative sea level during the Darrwillian to Caradocian produced broadly-prograding peritidal carbonates of shallowing-upward cyclic successions within the Yeongheung Formation. The reconstructed relative sea-level curve of the Yeongweol platform is very similar to that of the Taebaek platform. This reveals that the Yeongweol platform experienced same tectonic movements with the Taebaek platform, and consequently that both platform sequences might be located in a body or somewhere separately in the margin of the North China platform. The significant differences in lithologic and stratigraphic successions imply that the Yeongweol platform was much far from the Taebaek platform and not associated with the Taebaek platform as a single depositional system. The Yeongweol platform was probably located in relatively open shallow marine environments, whereas the Taebaek platform was a part of the restricted embayments. During the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic amalgamations of the Korean massifs, the Yeongweol platform was probably pushed against the Taebaek platform by the complex movement, forming fragmented platform sequences of the Taebaeksan Basin.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.289-301
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• 1997

The Boguk cobalt mine is located within the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Sedimentary Basin. Major ore minerals including cobalt-bearing minerals (loellingite, cobaltite, and glaucodot) and Co-bearing arsenopyrite occur together with base-metal sulfides (pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, etc.) and minor amounts of oxides (magnetite and hematite) within fracture-filling $quartz{\pm}actinolite{\pm}carbonate$ veins. These veins are developed within an epicrustal micrographic granite stock which intrudes the Konchonri Formation (mainly of shale). Radiometric date of the granite (85.98 Ma) indicates a Late Cretaceous age for granite emplacement and associated cobalt mineralization. The vein mineralogy is relatively complex and changes with time: cobalt-bearing minerals with actinolite, carbonates, and quartz gangues (stages I and II) ${\rightarrow}$ base-metal sulfides, gold, and Fe oxides with quartz gangues (stage III) ${\rightarrow}$ barren carbonates (stages IV and V). The common occurrence of high-temperature minerals (cobalt-bearing minerals, molybdenite and actinolite) with low-temperature minerals (base-metal sulfides, gold and carbonates) in veins indicates a xenothermal condition of the hydrothermal mineralization. High enrichment of Co in the granite (avg. 50.90 ppm) indicates the magmatic hydrothermal derivation of cobalt from this cooling granite stock, whereas higher amounts of Cu and Zn in the Konchonri Formation shale suggest their derivations largely from shale. The decrease in temperature of hydrothermal fluids with a concomitant increase in fugacity of oxygen with time (for cobalt deposition in stages I and II, $T=560^{\circ}C-390^{\circ}C$ and log $fO_2=$ >-32.7 to -30.7 atm at $350^{\circ}C$; for base-metal sulfide deposition in stage III, $T=380^{\circ}-345^{\circ}C$ and log $fO_2={\geq}-30.7$ atm at $350^{\circ}C$) indicates a transition of the hydrothermal system from a magmatic-water domination toward a less-evolved meteoric-water domination. Sulfur isotope data of stage II sulfide minerals evidence that early, Co-bearing hydrothermal fluids derived originally from an igneous source with a ${\delta}^{34}S_{{\Sigma}S}$ value near 3 to 5‰. The remarkable increase in ${\delta}^{34}S_{H2S}$ values of hydrothermal fluids with time from cobalt deposition in stage II (3-5‰) to base-metal sulfide deposition in stage III (up to about 20‰) also indicates the change of the hydrothermal system toward the meteoric water domination, which resulted in the leaching-out and concentration of isotopically heavier sulfur (sedimentary sulfates), base metals (Cu, Zn, etc.) and gold from surrounding sedimentary rocks during the huge, meteoric water circulation. We suggest that without the formation of the later, meteoric water circulation extensively through surrounding sedimentary rocks the Boguk cobalt deposits would be simple veins only with actinolite + quartz + cobalt-bearing minerals. Furthermore, the formation of the meteoric water circulation after the culmination of a magmatic hydrothermal system resulted in the common occurrence of high-temperature minerals with later, lower-temperature minerals, resulting in a xenothermal feature of the mineralization.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2008

The sub-salt imaging technique becomes more crucial to detect the hydro-carbonates in petroleum exploration as the target reservoirs get deeper. However, the weak reflections from the sub-salt structures prevent us from obtaining high fidelity sub-salt image. As an effort to overcome this difficulty, we applied the waveform inversion by implementing multi-grid technique to the sub-salt imaging. Through the comparison between the conventional waveform inversion using fixed grid and the multi-grid technique, we confirmed that the waveform inversion using multi-grid technique has advantages over the conventional fixed grid waveform inversion. We showed that the multi-grid technique can complement he velocity estimation result of the waveform inversion for imaging the sub-salt structures, of which velocity model cannot be obtained correctly by the conventional fixed grid waveform inversion.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.183-199
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• 1990

Ore deposits of Dongwon mine are composed of numerous gold and silver veins emplaced in sedimentary rocks of Cambrian Choseon Supergroup and granitoids of Cretaceous age. Ore veins of the mine can be divided into gold and silver veins on the base of vein structure, mineral assemblage and vein trends. Mutual relationships between gold and silver veins are uncertain. Gold veins are simple veins which are composed of base-metal sulfides, and electrum with quartz and ankerite. On the other hand, silver veins are complex veins which reveal three distinct stages of mineral deposition based on vein structure; stage I, deposition of small amounts of oxides and pyrite with quartz; stage II, deposition of base-metal sulfides, small amounts of Ag-bearing minerals, calcite and quartz; stage III, deposition of base metal sulfides, electrum, Ag-sulfosalts, native silver, carbonates and quartz. Homogenization temperature and salinity of fluid inclusion from quartz of gold vein are as follows; $229^{\circ}$ to $283^{\circ}C$, 4.7 to 6.4 wt.% equivalent NaCI. The ore mineralogy suggests that temperature(T) and sulfur fugacity($fs_2$) of the formation of the gold vein and stage III of silver vein are estimated as T ; $294^{\circ}$ to $318^{\circ}C$, $fs_2\;10^{-9.4}$ to $10^{-10.1}$ atm. and T; $240^{\circ}$ to $279^{\circ}C$, $fs_2;10^{-11.1}$ to $10^{-17.3}$ atm. respectively. Pressure condition during gold vein formation estimated from data of ore mineralogy and fluid inclusion range 500 to 750 bar.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.182-191
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• 1999

The sorption of UO$_{2}$$^{2+}$ onto goethite and kaolinite under various experimental conditions was successfully interpreted using surface complexation modeling (SCM). The SCM approach used in this work is the triple-layer model (TLM) in which weakly bonded ions are modeled as outer-sphere (ion-pair) complexes and strongly bonded ions as inner-sphere (surface coordination) complexes. The change of ionic strength did not affect the U(VI) sorption onto goethite, thus the formation of inner-sphere surface complexes, (FeO)$_2$UO$_2$ and (FeO)$_2$(UO$_2$)$_3$OH$_{5}$ was assumed to simulate the effects of ionic strength and goethite concentration. On the other hand, the U(VI) sorption onto kaolinite showed ionic strength dependence, thus the formation of AlO-UO$_{2}$$^{2+}$(outer-sphere complex) and SiO(UO$_2$)$_3$OH$_{5}$ (inner-sphere complex) was assumed to simulate the experimental data. In the presence of carbonates, the sorption of U(VI) onto kaolinite decreased in the weakly alkaline pH range. This was well simulated assuming the formation of a outer-sphere surface complex, A1OH$^{2+}$- (UO$_2$)$_2$CO$_3$OH$_3$. Since SCM approach uses thermodynamic data such as surface complexation constants, it is more predictive than empirical modeling approach in which conditional values such as partition coefficient are used. used.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.20
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• pp.55-65
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• 2007

Black surface layers collected from stone pagodas were analyzed to study the effects of carbon compounds on the blackening of stone surface layer. The total amounts of carbon was measured through elemental analyser. Organic and elemental carbon were measured by combustion ihrornatographic $CO_2$ determination after elimination of carbonates carbon with acid treatment. The elemental carbon concentration in the black surface layer measured 0.52wt.%. This value is not sufficient to explain the complete blackening of stone surface. To trace the origin of carbon in black surface layer on the stone pagoda, aerosol samples for PM 10 were collected at the near sites of the pagoda. The major components of them were soluble ions(42.8wt.%), carbon(38.4 wt.%) and crustal matter(16wt.%). From the high content(13wt.%) of elemental carbon in aerosol ran be deduced that it may be a prime origin for the elemental carbon in the black surface layer on the stone pagoda. The crustal matter in aerosol can be also a origin of silicate mineral in black surface layer and plays a important role in the darkening of black surface layer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2000

Bioconversion of fumarate to succinate was anaerobically conduced in a synthetic medium containing glycerol as a hydrogen donor and fumarate as a hydrogen acceptor. We investigated the effects of pH, carbon and nitrogen sources, conversion substrate, and other culture conditions on the production of succinate using a nwely isoloated Enterococcus facalis PKY1. Addition of a variety of carbonates to the medium significantly increasd the rates of production of succinate. The production of succinate and cell growth were relatively satisfactory in the pH range of 7.0-7.6. By using glycerol as a hydrogen donor, high purity succinate was produced with few byproducts. Yeast extract as a sole nitrogen source was the most effective for producing succinalte. As a result, the optimum condition of biconversion was obtained at a medium containing 20g/I glycerol, 50 g/l fumarate, 15 g/l yeast extract, 10 g/l $K_2HPO_4$, 1 g/I NaCl, 50ppm $MgCl_2{\cdot}6H_2O$, 10ppm $FeSo_4{\cdot}7H_2O$, and 5 g/I $Na_2CO_3$ at pH 7.0-7.6. Under the optimum condition, a succinate concentration of 153 g/I was produced in 36 h. The total volumetric production rate and the molar yield of succinate were 4.3 g/l/h and 85%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.212-222
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• 1997

Geochemistry of metasedimentary groundwaters and spar waters has been studied in comparison with that of granitic groundwaters in Korea. Metasedimentary groundwaters show $Ca^{2+]$-${HCO_3}^-$ type at depth and low sodium concentrations compared with granitic groundwaters, which is due to the lack of plagioclase in their aquifer mineralogy and, therefore, the predominant reaction of calcite dissolution. According to factor analysis, metasedimentary groundwaters at 100~300 m depth are represented by 1) the dissolution of calcite and Mg-carbonates, 2) transformation of kaolinite to illite, and 3) the presence of sodium as not the product of plagioclase dissolution but a artificial pollutant. Discriminant function between the granitic and metasedimentary groundwaters shows a good discriminating ability with 81.8%, and groundwaters of volcanic aquifer, which has abundant plagioclase, are included in the granitic group by this function. Spa water samples show the result of active water-rock interaction due to high temperature.