• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.3 s.49
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• pp.163-169
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• 2006

Mineralogy and geochemistry of the sediment core from the seamount (2710 m below the sea level) just south of the Antarctic Polar Front were examined to draw paleoceanographic information in glacial-interglacial cycles. Smectite was most abundant clay mineral associated with illite and chlorite. Its content was slightly higher below 170 cm, suggesting a boundary between isotope stage 4 and 5. Si, Zr, Cs, Th, REE, $K_{2}O$, and $Al_{2}O_{3}$ show complete antithetical distribution with respect to $CaCO_{3}$ through the core. $SiO_{2}$ maxima and $CaCO_{3}$ minima at depths of 24, 136, and 176 cm are probably correlated with massive influx of ice-rafted debris during the advance of Antarctic ice shelves. Ni, Cu, and Ba show rather little correlation with $SiO_{2}$, suggesting their relation to biogenic debris, precipitation from seawater, or hydrothermal input. Particularly, Ba maxima tend to lag $10{\sim}20cm$ after $SiO_{2}$ maxima, probably due to rapid increase of productivity following deglaciation.

• Proceedings of the Mineralogical Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.66-66
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• 2003

King George island, Antarctica, is mostly covered by ice sheet and glaciers, but the land area is focally exposed for several thousand years after deglaciation. For a mineralogical study of chemical weathering in the polar environment, glacial debris was sampled at the well-developed patterned ground which was formed by long periglaclal process. As fresh equivalents, recently exposed tills were sampled at the base of ice cliff of outlet glaciers and at the melting margin of ice cap together with fresh bedrock samples. Fresh tills are mostly composed of quartz, plagioclase, chlorite, and illite, but those derived from hydrothermal alteration zone contain smectite and illite-smectite. In bedrocks, chlorite was the major clay minerals in most samples with minor illite near hydrothermal alteration zone and interstratified chlorite-smectite in some samples. Smectite closely associated with eolian volcanic glass was assigned to alteration in their source region. Blocks with rough surface due to chemical disintegration showed weathering rinds of several millimeter thick. Comparision between inner fresh and outer altered zones did not show notable change in clay mineralogy except dissolution of calcite and some plagioclase. Most significant weathering was observed in the biotite flakes, eolian volcanic glass, sulfides, and carbonates in the debris. Biotite flakes derived from granodiorite were altered to hydrobiotite and vermiculite of yellow brown color. Minor epitactic kaolinite and gibbsite were formed in the cleaved flakes of weathered biotite. Pyrite was replaced by iron oxides. Calcite was congruently dissolved. Volcanic glass of basaltic andesite composition showed alteration rim of several micrometer thick or completely dissolved leaving mesh of plagioclase laths. In the alteration rim, Si, Na, Mg, and Ca were depleted, whereas Al, Ti, and Fe were relatively enriched. Mineralization of lichen and moss debris is of much interest. They are rich of A3 and Si roughly in the ratio of 2:1 to 3:1 typical of allophane. In some case, Fe and Ti are enriched in addition to Al and Si. Transmission electron microscopy of the samples rich of volcanic glass showed abundant amorphous aluminosilicates, which are interpreted as allophane. Chemical weathering in the King George Island is dominated by the leaching of primary phyllosilicates, carbonates, eolian volcanic glass, and minor sulfides. Authigenesls of clay minerals is less active. Absence of a positive evidence of significant authigenic smectite formation suggests that its contribution to the clay mineralogy of marine sediments are doubtful even near the maritime Antarctica undergoing a more rapid and intenser chemical weathering under more humid and milder climate.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.141-153
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• 2023

Biological pump processes generated by diatom production in the surface water of the Southern Ocean play an important role in exchanging CO₂ gas between the atmosphere and ocean. In this study, the biogenic opal content of the sediments was measured to elucidate the variation in the primary production of diatoms in the surface water of the Southern Ocean since the last glacial period. A piston core (COR-1bPC) was collected from the Conrad Rise, which is located in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean. The sediments were mainly composed of siliceous ooze, and sediment lightness increased and magnetic susceptibility decreased in an upward direction. The biogenic opal content was low (38.9%) during the last glacial period and high (73.4%) during the Holocene, showing a similar variation to that of Antarctic ice core ΔT and CO₂ concentration. In addition, the variation of biogenic opal content in core COR-1bPC is consistent with previous results reported in the Antarctic Zone, south of the Antarctic Polar Front, in the Southern Ocean. The glacial-interglacial biogenic opal production was influenced by the extent of sea ice coverage and degree of water column stability. During the last glacial period, the diatom production was reduced due to the penetration of light being limited in the euphotic zone by the extended sea ice coverage caused by the lowered seawater temperature. In addition, the formation of a strong thermocline in more extensive areas of sea ice coverage led to stronger water column stability, resulting in reduced diatom production due to the reduction in the supply of nutrient-rich subsurface water caused by a decrease in upwelling intensity. Under such environmental circumstances, diatom productivity decreased in the Antarctic Zone during the last glacial period, but the biogenic opal content increased rapidly under warming conditions with the onset of deglaciation.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.290-317
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• 2013

The objectives of this study are to investigate the natural heritage and scientific value of various geosites on Udo Island, and to evaluate the sites as natural monuments and as world natural heritage properties. Udo Island includes a variety of geoheritage sites. Various land forms formed during the formation of the Someori Oreum formed by phreatomagmatic eruptions. The essential elements for the formation of Udo Island are the tuff cone, overflowing lava and overlying redeposited tuff sediments. Various coastal land forms are also present. About 6,000 years B.C., when sea-level rose close to its present level due to deglaciation since the Last Glacial Maximum, carbonate sediments have been formed and deposited in shallow marine environment surrounding Udo Island. In particular, the very shallow broad shelf between Udo Island and Jeju Island, less than 20 m in water depth, has provided perfect conditions for the formation of rhodoids. Significant amounts of rhodoids are now forming in this area. Occasional transport of these rhodoids by typhoons has produced unique beach deposits which are entirely composed of rhodoids. Additional features are the Hagosudong Beach with its white carbonate sands, the Geommeole Beach with its black tuffaceous sands and Tolkani Beach with its basalt cobbles and boulders. Near Hagosudong Beach, wind-blown sands in the past produced carbonate sand dunes. On the northern part of the island, special carbonate sediments are present, due to their formation by composite processes such as beach-forming process and transportation by typhoons. The development of several sea caves is another feature of Udo Island, formed by waves and typhoon erosion within tuffaceous sedimentary rocks. In particular, one sea cave found at a depth of 10 m is very special because it indicates past sea-level fluctuations. Shell mounds in Udo Island may well represent the mixed heritage feature on this island. The most valuable geoheritage sites investigated around Udo Isalnd are rhodoid depostis on beaches and in shallow seas, and Someori Oreum composed of volcanoclastic deposits and basalt lava. Beach and shallow marine sediments, composed only of rhodoids, appear to be very rare in the world. Also, the natural heritage value of the Someori Oreum is outstanding, together with other phreatomagmatic tuff cones such as Suwolbong, Songaksan and Yongmeori. Consequently, the rhodoid deposits and the Someori Oreum are worth being nominated for UNESCO World Natural Heritage status. The designation of Someori Oreum as a Natural Monument should be a prerequisite for this procedure.