• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.301-312
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• 2017

The concept of deep borehole disposal (DBD) for high-level nuclear wastes has been around for about 40 years. Now, the Department of Energy (DOE) in the United States (U.S.) is re-examining this concept through recent studies at Sandia National Laboratory and a field test. With DBD, nuclear waste will be emplaced in boreholes at depths of 3 to 5 km in crystalline basement rocks. Thinking is that these settings will provide nearly intact rock and fluid density stratification, which together should act as a robust geologic barrier, requiring only minimal performance from the engineered components. The Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (NWTRB) has raised concerns that the deep subsurface is more complicated, leading to science, engineering, and safety issues. However, given time and resources, DBD will evolve substantially in the ability to drill deep holes and make measurements there. A leap forward in technology for drilling could lead to other exciting geological applications. Possible innovations might include deep robotic mining, deep energy production, or crustal sequestration of $CO_2$, and new ideas for nuclear waste disposal. Novel technologies could be explored by Korean geologists through simple proof-of-concept experiments and technology demonstrations.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.83-93
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• 1996

A method is proposed to estimate aquifer parameters in a heterogeneous and anisotropic aquifer under steady-state groundwater flow conditions on the basis of maximum likelihood concept. Zonation method is adopted for parameterization, and estimation errors are analyzed by examining the estimation error covariance matrix in the eigenspace. This study demonstrates the ability of the proposed model to estimate parameters and helps to understand the characteristics of the inverse problem. This study also explores various features of the inverse methodology by applying it to a set of field data of the Taegu area. In the field example, transmissivities were estimated under three different zonation patterns. Recharge rates in the Taegu area were also estimated using MODINV which is an inverse model compatible with MODFLOW.The estimation results indicate that anisotropy of aquifer parameters should be considered for the crystalline rock aquifer which is the dominant aquifer system in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.284-287
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• 2005

The flow of groundwater in fractured medium is related to the geometric characteristics of the fracture system. And a fracture aperture and a fracture density are considered as important factor concerning the permeability. Data acquisition of the properties of fracture such as aperture and density is so difficult and has uncertainty. We also cannot know the fracture characteristics through the in-situ tests. We usually obtain the fracture information from a ultrasonic scan logging or borehole television indirectly. Using the deduced results, we can make the fracture system and simulate the groundwater flow and solute transport in the crystalline rock. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between the properties of fracture and hydraulic conductivities obtained at the same interval. The properties of fracture are examined by acoustic televiwer and hydraulic conductivities are obtained by constant Pressure injection test. The distributioin of fracture width and fracture frequency shows the log-normal probability plot. And, Results of correlation analysis explain that opened type fractures have proper relation with hydraulic conductivity. But, as though there are semi-opened type fractures or closed type fractures, those have the permeable structure.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.209-214
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• 2007

In Korean geology that crystalline rock is dominant, the properties of subsurface including the anisotropy are distributed complexly and changed abruptly. Because of such geological environments, cross-hole seismic traveltime tomography is widely used to obtain the high resolution image of the subsurface for the engineering purposes in the geotechnical sites. However, because the cross-hole tomography has a wide propagation angle coverage relatively, its data tend to include the seismic velocity anisotropy comparing with the surface seismic methods. It can cause the misinterpretation that the cross-hole seismic data including the anisotropic effects are analyzed and treated with the general processing techniques assuming the isotropy. Therefore, we need to consider the seismic anisotropy in cross-hole seismic traveltime tomography. The seismic anisotropic tomography algorithm, which is developed for evaluation of the velocity anisotropy, includes several inversion schemes in order to make the inversion process stable and robust. First of all, the set of the inversion parameters is limited to one slowness, two ratios of slowness and one direction of the anisotropy symmetric axis. The ranges of the inversion parameters are localized by the pseudo-beta transform to obtain the reasonable inversion results and the inversion constraints are controlled efficiently by ACB(Active Constraint Balancing) method. Especially, the inversion using the Fresnel volume is applied to the anisotropic tomography and it can make the anisotropic tomography more stable than ray tomography as it widens the propagation angle coverage.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.535-544
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• 2019

This study demonstrated the ability of a Landsat-8 OLI multispectral data to identify and delineate hydrothermal alteration zones around auriferous prospects within the crystalline basement, North-western Nigeria. Remote sensing techniques have been widely used in lithological, structural discrimination and alteration rock delineation, and in general geological studies. Several artisanal mining activities for gold deposit occur in the surrounding areas within the basement complex and the search for new possible mineralized zones have heightened in recent times. Systematic Landsat-8 OLI data processing methods such as colour composite, band ratio and minimum noise fraction were used in this study. Colour composite of band 4, 3 and 2 was displayed in Red-Green-Blue colour image to distinguish lithologies. Band ratio ${\frac{4}{2}}$ image displayed in red was used to highlight ferric-ion bearing minerals(hematite, goethite, jarosite) associated with hydrothermal alteration, band ratio ${\frac{5}{6}}$ image displayed in green was used to highlight ferrous-ion bearing minerals such as olivine, amphibole and pyroxenes, while ratio ${\frac{6}{7}}$ image displayed in blue was used to highlight clay minerals, micas, talc-carbonates, etc. Band rationing helped to reduce the topographic illumination effect within images. The result of this study showed the distribution of the lithological units and the hydrothermal alteration zone which can be further prospected for mineral reserves.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.380-390
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to scientifically analyze the rocks of the Obongsan Mountain in Boseong, Jeollanam-do, which contains the largest extant quarry of Gudlejang (flat stone for heating) in Korea, and to scientifically determine the petrological characteristics of the area and the reasons for its use as a quarry. The rocks in the quarry are composed of light-green lapilli tuff, containing various types of lithic fragments and crystalline fragments in a vitreous matrix consisting of the fine feldspar crystals. The main constituent minerals were identified as quartz, plagioclase, mica, chlorite and opaque minerals. When the major element compositions were plotted on a Na₂O+K₂O versus SiO₂ diagram, all samples were situated in the same compositional area as rhyolite. In addition, the result of magnetic susceptibility measurement also showed a similar range of values, of 1.30 ~ 4.85 (×10^-3 SI), indicating that samples were fractionated from the same magma. Both rock types showed similar apparent specific gravity values of 2.32 ~ 2.60. In particular, plate-shaped joints are well developed in the Obongsan Mountain area, and many areas exhibit talus terrain. In conclusion, the rocks of this area is interpreted to used for a site of Gudlejang quarrying, because the rocks were easily obtainable due to the terrain characteristics, and their petrological properties made them suitable for use as Gudlejang stone.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.2717-2724
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• 2020

Silicon, especially silicon in the form of SiO₂, is a major component of rocks. Final spent fuel storages, which are being designed, are located in suitable rock formations in the Earth's crust. Reduction of the uncertainty of silicon neutron scattering and capture is needed; improved silicon evaluations have been recently produced by the ORNL/IAEA collaboration within the INDEN project. This paper deals with the nuclear data validation of that evaluation performed at the LR-0 reactor by means of critical experiments and measurement of reaction rates. Large amounts of silicon were used both as pure crystalline silicon and SiO₂ sand. The critical moderator level was measured for various core configurations. Reaction rates were determined in the largest core configuration. Simulations of the experimental setup were performed using the MCNP6.2 code. The obtained results show the improvement in silicon cross-sections in the INDEN evaluations compared to existing evaluations in major libraries. The new Thermal Scattering Law for SiO₂ published in ENDF/B-VIII.0 additionally reduces the discrepancy between calculation and experiments. However, an unphysical peak is visible in the neutron spectrum in SiO₂ obtained by calculation with the new Thermal Scattering Law.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.25-38
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• 2019

The Muju-Seolcheon area, which is known to be located in the boundary of Ogcheon Belt and Ryeongnam Massif (OB-RM), consists of age unknown or Precambrian metamorphic rocks (MRs) [banded biotite gneiss, metasedimentary rocks (black phyllite, mica schist, crystalline limestone, quartzite), granitic gneiss, hornblendite], Mesozoic sedimentary and igneous rocks. In this paper are researched the structural characteristics of each deformation phase from the geometric and kinematic features and the developing sequence of multi-deformed rock structures of the MRs, and is considered the boundary location of OB-RM with the previous geochemical, radiometric, structure geological data. The geological structure of this area is at least formed through four phases (Dn-1, Dn, Dn+1, Dn+2) of deformation. The Dn-1 is the deformation which took place before the formation of Sn regional foliation and formed Sn-1 foliation folded by Fn fold. The Dn is that which formed the Sn regional foliation. The predominant Sn foliation shows a NE direction which matches the zonal distribution of MRs. A-type or sheath folds, in which the Fn fold axis is parallel to the direction of stretching lineation, are often observed in the crystalline limestone. The Dn+1 deformation, which folded the Sn foliation, took place under compression of NNW~NS direction and formed Fn+1 fold of ENE~EW trend. The Sn foliation is mainly rearranged by Fn+1 folding, and the ${\pi}$-axis of Sn foliation, which is dispersed, shows the nearly same direction as the predominant Fn+1 fold axis. The Dn+2 deformation, which folded the Sn and Sn+1 foliations, took place under compression of E-W direction, and formed open folds of N-S trend. And the four phases of deformation are recognized in all domains of the OB-RM, and the structural characteristics and differences to divide these tectonic provinces can not be observed in this area. According to the previous geochemical and radiometric data, the formation or metamorphic ages of the MRs in and around this area were Middle~Late Paleproterozoic. It suggests that the crystalline limestone was at least deposited before Middle Paleproterozoic. This deposition age is different in the geologic age of Ogcheon Supergroup which was recently reported as Neoproterozoic~Late Paleozoic. Therefore, the division of OB-RM tectonic provinces in this area, which regards the metasedimentary rocks containing crystalline limestone as age unknown Ogcheon Group, is in need of reconsideration.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 1994

As the groundwater flows along the fractures of crystalline rocks, it will be in contact with the fracture walls mostly coated by secondary minerals which are quite different form those of host rocks. The presence of fracture-filling minerals in crystalline rocks is important on the view point of radioactive waste disposal because of their great surface reactivity. The Surichi drill hole of 200 m in depth in the Yugu area composed mainly of Precambrian gneiss was selected to study the formation process of clay minerals on the fracture wall of gneiss, and their relation with present groundwater. The water-rock interaction in fractures resulted in the formation of gibbsite and clay minerals. They are formed by two different processes : (1) Incongruent dissolution of feldspar by groundwater diffused from a fracture path into rock matrix produced smectite and illite in situ, (2) on the wall of fracture, gibbsite, kaolinite, smectite and illite are formed by precipitation of dissolved species in groundwater. They show the paragenetic sequence such as gibbsite${\leftrightarrow}$kaolinite${\leftrightarrow}$smectite or illite. The paragenetic sequence of fracture-filling minerals was controlled by increase of pH of groundwater, decrease of fracture permeability by precipitation of fillings, and immobility of alkali or alkaline earths in groundwater. The groundwater from the Surichi borehole is a $Na-HCO_{3}$ type with pH range of 8.6-9.2. The sodium and bicarbonate in groundwater would be supplied by the dissolution of albite and calcite, respectively. The saturation index of groundwater and surface water calculated by WATEQ4F indicates that gibbsite and kaolinite are under precipitation to equilibrium state, and that smectite and illite are under equilibrium to redissolution environment. The stability relation of clay minerals in the $Na_{2}O-Al_{2}O_{3}-SiO_{2}-H_{2}O$ system shows that kaolinite is stable for all waters.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.104-114
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• 2000

This study was carried out to estimate current status of dust concentrations in the factories producing non-metallic products in Korea. Data were gathered from the environmental monitoring reports by 40 workplace environmental monitoring institutes and the questionnaire designed for the study by the authors. A total of 1838 dust samples from 368 plants were obtained from the reports and were analyzed with no data modifications. But data on asbestos, rock wool, and welding fumes were excluded in this evaluation. The factories were classified into eight groups according to the standard industrial classification scheme in Korea. The results of this study were as follows; 1. The factories included were glass, non-refractory ceramic, refractory ceramic ware, structural non-refractory clay and ceramic, cement and lime, articles of concretes, and stone. Mean(geometric mean) concentrations of total dust samples ranged from $1.75(0.84)mg/m^3$ to $5.87(2.84)mg/m^3$. Statistically significantly higher dust concentrations were found in the cement and lime industries compared with other industries. 2. The non-compliance rates were 15.2% in glass and 20.6% in other non-metallic mineral products industries. Although all institutions surveyed utilized the identical sampling and classification scheme for dusts as specified in the current occupational exposure limits, wide discrepancies were found in collecting samples and classifying dusts. Further problems were discovered in classifying dusts. A dust sample collected could be classified into any of the three groups regardless of silica content. The results of this study showed that dust concentrations in the non-metallic products industries varied widely. Also discovered was classification errors of dust types among workplace monitoring institutes. These errors could adversely affect the results of exposure assessments and the true nature of dust hazards. Further, no institutions performed respirable dust sampling and analysis of crystalline silica. In order to correct these malpractices, current standards of occupational exposure limits should be revised and tight supervision by the Ministry of Labour be suggested.