• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.185-199
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• 2023

This study aimed to predict the effects of water ecology on the supply of hydrothermal energy to model a housing complex in Eco Delta Smart Village in Busan. Based on the results, engineering measures were recommended to minimize problems due to possible temperature variations on the supply of hydrothermal energy from the river. The current distribution of fish, benthic macroinvertebrates, and phytoplankton in the Pyeonggang Stream was monitored to determine their effects on water ecology. In the research area, five species and three families of fish were observed. The dominant species was Lepomis macrochirus, and the subdominant species was Carassius auratus. Twenty-five species and 21 families of benthic macroinvertebrates were found. The distribution of aquatic insects was poor in this area. The dominant species were Chironomidae sp., Lymnaea auricularia, Appasus japonicus, and Caridina denticulata denticulata in February, May, July, and October. Dominant phytoplankton were Aulacoseira ambigua and Nitzschia palea in February and May. Microcystis sp. was dominant in July and October. The health of the ecology the Pyeonggang Stream was assessed as D (bad) according to the benthic macroinvertebrate index (BMI). Shifts in the location of the discharge point 150 m downstream from intake points and discharge through embedded rock layer after adding equal amounts of stream water as was taken at the beginning were suggested to minimize water temperature variations due to the application of hydrothermal energy. When the scenario (i.e., quantity of water intake and dilution water, 1,600 m³/d and water temp. difference ±5 ℃) was realized, variations in water temperature were assessed at -0.19 ℃ and 0.59 ℃ during cooling and heating, respectively, at a point 10 m downstream. Water temperatures recorded at -0.20 ℃ and 0.68 ℃ during cooling and heating, respectively, at a point 10 m upstream. All stream water temperatures after the application of hydrothermal energy recovered within 24 hours. Future work on the long-term monitoring of ecosystems is suggested, particularly to analyze the influence of the water environment on hydrothermal energy supply operations.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.701-716
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• 2022

This study investigated the distribution behaviors of PM2.5 and PM10 at two air quality monitoring sites, Go-eup (GO) and Backseokeup (BS), located in Yangju City, South Korea. The amounts of emissions sources of pollutants were analyzed based on the Clean Air Policy Support System (CAPSS), and the contribution rates of neighboring cities were enumerated in Yangju. Yangju has a geological basin structure, and it is a city with mixed urban and rural characteristics. The emission concentration of particulate matter was affected by geological and seasonal factors for all sites observed in this study. Therefore, these factors should be considered when establishing policies related to particulate matter. Because the official GO and BS station sites in Yangju are both situated in the southern part of the city, the representativeness of both stations was checked using correlation analysis for the measurement of PM2.5 and PM10 by considering two more sites-those of Bongyang-dong (BY) and the Gumjun (GJ) industrial complex. The data included discharge amounts for business types 4 and 5, which were not sufficiently considered in the CAPSS estimates. Because the 4 and 5 types of businesses represent over 92.6% of businesses in this city, they are workplaces in Yangju that have a significant effect on the total air pollutant emission. These types of businesses should be re-inspected as the main discharge sources in industry, and basic data accumulation should be carried out. Moreover, to manage the emission of particulate matter, attainable countermeasures for the main sources of these emissions should be prepared in a prioritized fashion; such countermeasures include prohibition of backyard burning, supervision of charcoal kilns, and management of livestock excretions and fugitive dust in construction sites and on roads. The contribution rates by neighboring cities was enumerated between 6.3% and 10.9% for PM2.5. Cooperation policies are thought to be required with neighboring cites to reduce particulate matter.

• Atmosphere
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2022

Corona Virus Disease 19 pandemic (COVID-19) causes many deaths worldwide, and has enormous impacts on society and economy. The COVID-19 was caused by a new type of coronavirus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Cornonavirus 2; SARS-CoV-2), which has been found that these viruses can be effectively inactivated by ultraviolet (UV) radiation of 290~315 nm. In this study, 90% inactivation time of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was analyzed using ground observation data from Brewer spectrophotometer at Yonsei University, Seoul and simulation data from UVSPEC for the period of 2015~2017 and 2020. Based on 12:00-13:00 noon time, the shortest virus inactivation time were estimated as 13.5 minutes in June and 4.8 minutes in July/August, respectively, under all sky and clear sky conditions. In the diurnal and seasonal variations, SARS-CoV-2 could be inactivated by 90% when exposed to UV radiation within 60 minutes from 10:00 to 14:00, for the period of spring to autumn. However, in winter season, the natural prevention effect was meaningless because the intensity of UV radiation weakened, and the time required for virus inactivation increased. The spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 is related to various and complex interactions of several variables, but the natural inactivation of viruses by UV radiation presented in this study, especially seasonal differences, need to be considered as major variables.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.565-580
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• 2023

In this study, we reviewed and summarized comprehensive roles and importance of natural analogue studies for demonstrating the safety and improving the reliability of the safety for the deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. We also investigated domestic and foreign status of natural analogue studies in order to study and substantiate complex and various radionuclide behaviors in subsurface disposal environments. In addition, we investigated and uranium behaviors in groundwater and rock in uranium deposits including domestic uranium deposits in Ogcheon Metamorphic Belt and biogeochemical interactions in geological environments. Although there are many limitations and uncertainties in directly using the information and data for uranium behaviors obtained from uranium deposits in the disposal safety assessment, the information and data can be utilized in the disposal safety assessment and safety case construction both in qualitative and partly quantitative ways.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.303-314
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• 1989

The electrum-silver-sulfide mineralization of the Geojae island area was deposited in three stages (I, II, and carbonate) of quartz and calcite veins that crosscut Late Cretaceous volcanic rocks and granodiorite(83 m.y.). Stages I and II were terminated by the onset of fractunng and breCCIation events. Fluid inclusion data suggest that the gold-sulfide-bearing stages I and II each evolved from an initial high temperature( near $370^{\circ}C$) to a later low temperature(near $200^{\circ}C$). Each of those stages represented a separate mineralizing system which cooled prior to the onset of the next stage. The relationship between homogenization temperature and salinity in stages I and II suggests a complex history of boiling, cooling and dilution. Evidence of boiling indicates a pressure of < 100 bars, corresponding to a depth of 500 to 1,250m assummg hthostatlc and hydrostatic pressure regimes, respectively. Fluid inclusion and mineralogical evidence suggest that the electrum-silver mineralization was deposited at a temperature of $220-260^{\circ}C$ from ore fluids with salinities between 1.9 and 8.1 equivalent wt.% NaCl. Total sulfur concentration is estimated to be $10^{-3}$ to $10^{-4}$ molal. The estimated $fs_2$ and $fo_2$ range from $10^{-11.8}$ to $10^{-14}$ atm and $10^{-35}$ to $10^{-36}$ atm, respectively. The chemical conditions indicate that the dominant sulfur species in the ore forming fluids was a reduced form($H_2S$). Rapid cooling and dilution of ore-forming fluids by mixing with less-evolved meteoric waters led to gold-silver deposition through the breakdown of the bisulfide complex($Au(HS)_2$) as the activity of $H_2S$ decreased.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.527-539
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• 2009

The Kumho River flows through volcanic and sedimentary rocks at upstream and downstream regions and also through industrial district including dyeing complex before it meets the Nakdong River, and as a result, many factors can influence the geochemistry of river water. The concentrations of dissolved ions generally increased as it flows downstream. The concentrations of cations are in the order of Ca>Na>Mg>K, and those of anions are $HCO_3$>$SO_4$>Cl>$NO_3$. These results show that the weathering of sandstone and shale containing carbonate including calcite caused the enrichment of Ca and $HCO_3$. At first 4 sampling sites, Si contents are relatively high mainly due to the weathering of silicate minerals of volcanic rocks. However, Na and $SO_4$ contents are higher at downstream sites due to the industrial and municipal sewage. Piper diagram also shows that the geochemical patterns changed from Ca-$HCO_3$ to Ca-Cl/Ca-$SO_4$ and Na-Cl/Na-$SO_4$ type. When comparing the samples collected in May and July, the concentrations of dissolved ions in July are generally lower than those in May, which indicates that dilution by precipitation played an important role. In July the relative concentration of Ca increased, indicating that Ca in soils probably from fertilizer were mixed into the river water by precipitation. The river waters are mainly from precipitation. The dissolved ions are mainly from weathering of carbonate minerals and pollutants from municipal sewage and discharged water from industrial complex. The composition of oxygen and deutrium isotope in July showed higher values, which is contrary to the amount effect, maybe due to Youngchon Dam. The nitrogen isotope showed lower values in July than those in May, which can be interpreted to indicate mixing of nitrate from soils and fertilizer in the cultivated land by the heavy rain. The isotope composition of nitrate increased downstream, indicating that the influence of sewage and animal manure also increased downstream.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.599-622
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• 2012

The phase I soil geochemical exploration was carried out targeting around Chau Binh area far from about 14 km with southeastern direction from Quy Chau within Nghe An province. The interval of sampling are horizontal 300 m with 14 line and longitudinal 500 m with 15 line, resulting in 194 soil samples. Based on the result of the phase I soil geochemical exploration, the phase II detailed pitting survey was carried out targeting the grid point with high TREO content, resulting in 56 soil samples within 7 pits. The geology of survey area are consisted of Ban Chieng biotite granite complex and Dai Loc gneissic granite complex intruding Bu Khang formation comprising of schist, gneiss and limestone. Main mineralization in the study area have the characteristics of occurrence with tin, ruby and REE-bearing monazite(about 300 g/t) and xenotime(about 10 g/t) to be thought as occurring at the alteration zone of granite complex. In order to elucidate the source rock of monazite and xenotime confirmed from heavy sand, soil geochemical exploration was carried out. As a analysis result with ICP-MS on the soil samples from the phase I soil geochemical exploration, total REE oxide content of background amount to about 2 times of crustal abundance, enriching the heavy rare earth(about 2 times) and light rare earth(about 1.84 times). As a analysis result with ICP-MS on the soil samples from the phase II soil detailed pit survey, we identified outcrop considering as economic ore body at the grid point 4-7 pit with N40W attitude. As a synthetic consideration on the phase I soil geochemical exploration and phase II detailed pit survey, we tentatively designated areas considering as the extension of economic ore body with REE anomaly. In the near future, we have the plan to carry out the geophysical exploration and test drilling targeting the interval anticipated to the economic ore body.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2017

The Hadong-Sancheong Proterozoic anorthosite complex occurs in the southwestern region of the Ryongnam massif. The geology of the area mainly consists of metamorphic rocks of the Jirisan metamorphic complex as basement rocks, charnockite, and the Hadong-Sancheong anorthosite, which are intruded by the Mesozoic igneous rocks. Hadong-Sancheong anorthosite complex is divided into the Sancheong anorthosite and the Hadong anorthosite which occur at north-southern and south area of the Jurassic syenite, respectively. The Hadong Fe-Ti-bearing dike-like ore bodies developed intermittently in the Hadong anorthosite with north-south direction and extend about 14 km. The Hadong Fe-Ti-bearing ore bodies consist mainly of magnetite and ilmenite with rutile, titanite, and minor amounts of sulfides(pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite). The Hadong Fe-Ti-bearing ore bodies show a paragenetic sequence of magnetite-ilmenite ${\rightarrow}$ magnetite-ilmenite-pyrrhotite ${\rightarrow}$ ilmenite-pyrrhotite-rutile-titanite(and/or pyrite) ${\rightarrow}$ sulfides. Equilibrium thermodynamic interpretation of the mineral paragenesis and assemblages indicate that early Fe-Ti-bearing ore mineralization in the ore bodies occurs at about $700^{\circ}C$ which corresponds to oxygen fugacity of about $10^{-11.8}{\sim}10^{-17.2}$ atm with the decrease tendency of sulfur fugacity to about $10^0$ atm as equilibrium of $Fe_3O_4-FeS$. The change of ore mineral assemblages from Fe-Ti-bearing minerals to sulfides in late ore mineralization of the ore bodies indicates that oxygen fugacity would have slightly decreased to ${\geq}10^{-20.2}$ atm and increased sulfur fugacity to ${\geq}10^0$ atm.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.149-160
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• 2013

Volcanic activity commonly creates a highly complicated volcanic complex due to the admixture of lava flow and sedimentation of volcanic ash. The Song-Gok site is composed of volcanic rocks that collapsed at the lower part of the slope, in combination with several discontinuities in and around a fault. The results of projection analysis indicated the possibility of plane, wedge, and toppling failure in the failure section. The results of discontinuity modeling using the Distinct Element Method (DEM) revealed a total displacement of 207 mm and a joint shear displacement of 114 mm. The yield surface zone was verified at the fault plane of the failure section. In geotechnical terms, volcanic rock slopes are characteristically vulnerable to failure because of differential weathering among the various rock types, the effect of groundwater based on the permeability of the rocks, and the presence of systematic joints generated by the cooling and contraction of lava. When considering the stability of a volcanic rock slope, it is necessary to consider data such as the geological features of the rock, as obtained through detailed geological survey, and variations in discontinuities and rock blocks.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.722-735
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• 2002

In order to reveal sedimentary facies and geochemical characteristics on sediments distributed in upper intertidal zone, the southwestern coast of Korea, grain size and metal content analyses to the sediments were carried out. The grain size distribution of sediments shows very wide range from gravel to mud. The sediments are very well sorted to very poorly sorted and mostly positively skewed. Geochemical behavior of metals in the sediments is dependant on grain size, in part, but might be much controlled by complex submarine topography, highly varied tidal currents and surrounding land geology in the study area. Igeo (index of geoaccumulation) representing metal condensation in the sediments moderately/strongly polluted in Co and Cr and moderately polluted in Cu and Ni. But notable metal condensations are not found in the study area. So, it might be interpreted that grain size and metal content distribution tendencies in the sediments are considerably influenced by complex submarine topography, highly varied tidal currents and surrounding land geology.