• Proceedings of the Korean Ceranic Society Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.58.1-58.1
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• 2000

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.395-406
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• 1997

Some RE (Zr, Nb, REE) ore deposits are located in the middle part of the Korean peninsula. Geotectonically, the RE ore deposits situated on the Kyemyeongsan Formation of northern margin of the Okcheon geosynclinal belt and in the transitional zone between Kyeonggi massif and Okcheon belt. The rare metal deposits distributed in Kyemyeongsan Formation which consists of schist and alkaline granite. The alkali granite has suffered extensive post-magmatic metasomatism and hydrothermal processes. The ore contains mainly Ce-La, Ta-Nb, Y, Y-Nb, Ti-Nb-(U), Nd-Th group minerals. Fergusonite, one of Nb-Y rich REE minerals belonging to the A-B oxides, is most common mineral in the rare metal deposits. The fergusonite bearing rocks may be devided into four types by occurrence features and mineral association, that is, zircon type, allanite vein, feldspar type, and fluorite type. Fergusonites show wide variations in optical properties, due to part of differences in their chemical composition (depending on the types), but also the degree of crystalinity of the individual specimens. Fergusonite metamicts enclosed in biotite are generally surrounded by well developed pleochroic haloes. Usually, fergusonite is accompanied with zircon and other REE-bearing minerals. Petrographical and chemical data are presented for fergusonites which collected different types. $Nb_2O_3$ and $Y_2O_3$ contents range from 48.51 to 53.01 wt.% and 29.18 to 42.02 wt.% respectively. Also, $ThO_2$, (1.83~6.93), $UO_2$, (0.17~2.84), ${\sum}RE_2O_3$ (except to Y) (1.11~8.73), and $TiO_2$, (0.19~1.19 wt.%) contents show variational compositions according to fergusonite types. The ${\sum}RE_2O_3$ of fergusonites are positive relation with $Y_2O_3$ and negative relaton with $ThO_2$ and $({\sum}{RE_2O_3}-{Y_2O_3})$. The $Nb_2O_3$ is sightly negative relation with $Ta_2O_3$. Back-scattered electron microscope images (BEI) of fergusonite show the mineral composition and textural feature is very complicated. The variation of Nb, Th and REE content of fergusonite and the modes of occurrence of mineral, suggests that REE may have been mobilized during the circulation of hydrothermal fluids related to contact metamorphism (metasomatism). The chemical variation of the fergusonites with occurrences and mineral association can be related to metasomatism of alkaline fluid was probably the dominant ore-forming process in Chungju district.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.365-374
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• 1998

Economic U- and Th-bearing pegmatite deposits occur in the Kyemyeongsan Formation, and are spatially closely associated with the Carboniferous alkali granite. The pegmatite is lithochemically alkaline and peralumious, and consists mainly of potassic feldspar and quartz with allanite and U- and Th-bearing minerals. Paragenetic stages of mineralization in the pegmatite are divided as follows: early silicate mineralization, main rare metal mineralization, and late silicate mineralization. Thorite, euxenite, fergusonite and uranpyrochlore are the predominant U- and Th-bearing minerals. Both the enrichments of Nb, Y, Th, U, and Ta and the depletions of Hf, Ba, and Rb in the pegmatite were resulted from magmatic differentiation. The increases of Na and Ca in uranpyrochlore, of Th and U in fergusonite, of Si, Th, U and Pb in thorite, and of Nb and Y in euxenite were possibly resulted from both later internal fractionation and hydrothermal alteration. The variation of chemical composition in a mineral species reflects the different pysico-chemical conditions during the crystallization.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.90-102
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• 2002

The studied Fe-REE ore consists of magnetite, ankerite, siderite, magnesite and strontianite as the major constituent, and monazite, columbite, fergusonite, apatite, aegirine-augite, Na-amphibole, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, molybdenite and barite as accessaries. Wall rock of ore deposits is replaced to fenite due to Na-metasomatism and mainly consists of sugary albite and Na-amphibole. Monazite $Ce_{0.49}La_{0.31}Pr_{0.14}Nd_{0.03}Gd_{0.03})PO_4$ is the main mineral for REE deposit and shows myrmekitic intergrowth with strontianite $Ca_{0.02-0.16}Sr_{0.84-0.98}CO_3$ and is corroded by carbonate minerals. Mineral forming sequence can be divided into early and late periods by the development of microfractures. The early period minerals such as magnetite, ankerite, magnesite, monazite and apatite show well developed networks of microfractures due to cataclastic deformation caused by enriched $CO_2$ gas in melts during emplacement. The late minerals of columbite, fergusonite, siderite molybdenite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite formed after the brecciation event and have little micro-fractures. Ankerite, magnesite, monazite, strontianite, barite and pyrite seem to be formed continuously from the ealy to the late period since they show textures both with well developed fractures and also with little fractures. Mineral chemistry, mineral assemblages such as various carbonate minerals, magnetite, REE minerals of monazite and fergusonite, Sr mineral of strontianite, and Nb minerals of columbite, myrmekitic texture of monazite and ankerite, and well developed fenite along ore deposits observed from this studied area strongly indicate that this Hongcheon Fe-REE ore deposits are formed from carbonatitic melt and its rock type is late differentiated Fe-carbonatite or ankerite-carbonatite.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.377-383
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• 1997

Yttria-stabilized TZP alloyed with pentavalent oxides $(Ta_2O_5,\;Nb_2O_5)$ were fabricated by the conventional sintering method at $1500^{\circ}C$ in air to construct the simplified ternary phase diagram. The phase stability of tetragonal -$ZrO_2$ from the quasi-binary system $ZrO_2-YTa(Nb)O_4$, which do not transform to monoclinic-$ZrO_2$ even for a wide range of grain size and annealing temperature, was investigated to determine composition region of the non-transformable $t-ZrO_2$ solid solution$(NT_{ss})$. Phase stability of $NT_{ss}$ was probably due to the enhanced stability of $_YTa(Nb)O4$ having the tetragonal fergusonite structure. It was experimentally found that mixtures having $NT_{ss}$ alloyed with $T_{ss}$ by weight%% showed both excellent phase stability of $t-ZrO_2$ and fracture toughness even though the calculated composition of the mixture /was located outside $NT_{ss}$ composition region.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.217-222
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• 2007

Microwave dielectric properties of $(1-x)CaWO_4-xYNbO_4$ ceramics have been investigated as a function of $YNbO_4$ content($0.05{\leq}x{\leq}0.4$). A single phase with tetragonal scheelite structure was obtained up to x=0.10 and then the secondary phase with fergusonite structure was increased. With the increase of $YNbO_4$ content, apparent densities of the specimens were decreased. This results were due to the lower theoretical density of $YNbO_4(5.581g/cm^3)$ than that of $CaWO_4(6.117g/cm^3)$. Dielectric constant(K) and quality factor(Qf) were decreased with $YNbO_4$ content which could be attribute to the decrease of density and the increase of secondary phase. Temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (TCF) of the specimens with the $YNbO_4$ content was depended on dielectric mixing rule.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.643-659
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• 2012

The Chungju Fe-REE deposit is located in the Kyemyeongsan Formation of the Ogcheon Group. The Kyemyeongsan Formation includes meta-volcanic rocks and pegmatite hosted REE deposit which show different kind of REE-containing minerals. The meta-volcanic rocks hosted REE deposits' main REE minerals are allanite, zircon, apatite, and sphene, whereas the pegmatite hosted REE deposits is mainly composed of fergusonite, and karnasurtite, zircon, thorite. The meta-volcanic rock hosted major REE mineral is allanite as the form of aggregation and contains 23.89-29.19 wt% TREO (Total Rare Earth Oxide), 4.71-9.92 wt% $La_2O_3$, 11.30-14.33 wt% $Ce_2O_3$, 0.11-0.29 wt% $Y_2O_3$, 0.15-0.94 wt% $ThO_2$, as a formula of (Ca, Y, REE, Th)$_{2.095}$(Mg, Al, Ti, Mn, $Fe^{3+})_{2.770}(SiO_4)_{2.975}(OH)$. Accompanying REE in a coupled substitution for $Ca^{2+}$ (M1 site) and $Al^{3+}-Fe^{2+}$ (M2 site) leads to a large chemical variety. Due to the allanite's high contents of Fe, it belongs to Ferrialanite. The pegmatite hosted deposit's domi-nant REE mineral is fergusonite as prismatic or subhedral grains associated with zircon, fluorite and karnasurtite. Geochemical composition of the fergusonite($YNbO_4$) suggests substitution of Y-REE and Y-Th in A-site, and Nb-Ta-Ti in B-site, furthermore the proportion of $Y_2O_3$ and $Nb_2O_5$ is oddly 1:1.5 comparing to the ideal ratio 1:1 and Nb is higher than Y, also A-site Y actively substitutes with REE. Karnasurtite in pegmatite variously ranges 9.16-22.88 wt% $Ce_2O_3$, 2.15-9.16 wt% and $La_2O_3$, 0.44-10.8 wt% $ThO_2$, as a calculated formula (Y, REE, Th, K, Na, Ca)$_{1.478}(Ti, Nb)_{1.304}$(Mg, Al, Mn, $Fe^{3+})_{0.988}$(Si, P)$_{1.431}O_7(OH)_4{\cdot}3H_2O$. Firstly the 870-860 Ma is the initial age of the supercontinent Rhodinia dispersal and subsequent A-1 type volcanism, which contains Fe, REE, and HFS(High Field Strength elements; Nb, Zr, Y etc.) elements in Fe-rich meta-volcanic rocks dominant Kyemyeongsan Formation, might mineralized allanite. Another synthesis is that regional metamorphism at late Paleozoic 300-280 Ma(Cho et al., 2002) might cause allanite mineralization. Also pegmatite REE mineralization highly related to the granite intrusion over the Chungju area in Jurassic(190 Ma; Koh et al., 2012). Otherwise above all, A-1 type volcanism at the same time of the Kyemyeongsan Formation development, regional metamorphism and pegmatite, might have caused REE mineralization. Although REE ore bodies display a close spatial association, each ore bodies display temporal distinction, different mineral assemblage and environment of ore formation.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.70-74
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• 2017

Up-conversion (UC) and down-conversion (DC) luminescence of $LuNbO_4:0.18Yb^{3+}$, $xEr^{3+}$ (x = 0.01-0.07) powders were investigated. Post-annealed powders were composed of a single $LuNbO_4$ phase with a monoclinic fergusonite structure, whereas as-calcined powders contained a small amount of the $Li_3NbO_4$ impurity phase. Under near infrared radiation, the UC spectra of the post-annealed powders exhibited the strong green and weak red emission peaks assigned to the transition of $^2H_{11/2}/^4S_{3/2}$ and $^4F_{9/2}$ to the ground state ($^4I_{15/2}$) of $Er^{3+}$ ions, respectively; the green and red emission intensities were approximately 330 and 270% stronger, respectively, than those of the as-calcined powders. A two-photon UC process was involved in the emission as a result of an energy transfer from $Yb^{3+}$ to $Er^{3+}$. Under ultraviolet radiation, the DC spectra exhibited broad blue and sharp green emission bands. The DC mechanism was explained using self-activated $[NbO_4]^{3-}$ niobates and an energy transfer from $[NbO_4]^{3-}$ to $Er^{3+}$.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.599-612
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• 1995

Some REE ore deposits are located in the middle part the of Korean peninsula. Geotectonically, the REE ore deposits situated on the Kyemyeongsan Formation of northern margin of the Okcheon geosynclinal belt and in the transitional zone between Kyeonggi massif and the Okcheon belt, with a deep-seated fracture separating the two tectonic units. The Kyemyeongsan Formation are different in lithology and metamorphic grade from the Gyeonggi massif and the Okcheon super group. The sequence of Kyemyeongsan Formation is dominantly composed of acidic metavolcanic and volcaniclastic rocks associated with alkaline igneous rocks which are related to volcano-plutonism. The REE ore deposits contain mainly Ce-La, Ta-Nb, Y, Y-Nd and Nd-Th group minerals. More than 15 RE and REE minerals have been found in the deposits, such as allanite, fergusonite, thorite bestnaesite, euxenite, polyclase, monazite, columbite, (Nb)-rutile, okanoganite, sphene, zircon, illmenite and some other unknown minerals. According to the characteristics of the mineral association, the REE ore deposits may be divided into 4 ore types; Zircon-REE, allanite-REE, feldspar-REE and fluorite-REE type. The Sm-Nd isochron age of the REE ore is 330 Ma, and the Sm-Nd model age is 1.11 Ga with ${\varepsilon}_{Nd(t)}$ being - 2.9. This data suggest that the REE ore deposit was formed in the early Carboniferous, and the ore-forming material came from the mantle. The REE ores show distinct light REE enrichment with strong negative Eu anomaly. The REE patterns of schistose rocks from Kyemyeongsan Formation are similar to felsic volcanics from rifts or back arc basins in or near continental crust. The genesis of the REE ore deposit is quite complicated. Different geologic processes are displayed in the studied area; sedimentation, volcanic activity, metamorphism and hydrothermal replacement. Alkali granite has suffered extensive post-magmatic metasomatism of a high temperature to produce alkali metasomatites. Geochemical charateristics show that metasomatism of alkaline fluid was probably the dominant ore-forming process in Chungju district.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.407-413
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• 2003

The geology of the Apdong Nb-Ta deposit, is hosted by alkali metasomatites, consist of Upper Proterozoic sedimentary rocks, alkali syenites(Hoamsan intrusive) of Phyonggang Complex(late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic), Jurassic granite and Quaternary basalt. Alkali syenites are distinguished as alkali amphibole-pyroxene syenite, alkali amphibole-biotite syenite, biotite-nepheline syenite, biotite syenite, and quartz-alkali amphibole-pyroxene syenite. Alkali metasomatites are the products of intense post-magnatic metasomatism, and form the Nb-Ta ore bodies as the belt, irregular vein and lenticular types in the southern part of Hoamsan intrusive. The ore mineralization is characterized by the occurrence of pyrochlore, zircon, and small amounts of columbite, fergusonite. magnetite, fluorite, molybdenite, ilmenite, titanite, apatite, and monazite. Pyrochlore is one of the niobium/tantalum oxides and contains substantial amounts of rare earths and radioactive elements. The compositional varieties of pyrochlore can be defined: (1) enriched in tantalum, uranium and cerium, (2) substantially tantalum- and fluorine-poor, and (3) enriched in thorium or barium. The geochemical characteristics, ore textures and mineral occurrences indicate that alkali metasomatism of the mineralizing fluid was the dominant ore-forming process.