• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.97-99
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• 2004

To understand the geochemical processes controlling the distribution of nitrate and other agricultural constituents in an alluvial aquifer, hydrogeological and hydro geochemical studies were carried out in an agricultural area within Cheonan. In this selected field, nitrate concentrations were very wide in range but was locally attenuated significantly down to very low levels (<1.0 mg/L). Abrupt removal of nitrate coincided with the pattern of redox change and thus indicated that geochemical processes occurring during and after recharge events control the behavior and distribution of nitrate and other redox-sensitive chemical species.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1563-1573
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of vanadium in Jeju Island groundwater, focusing on the spatio-temporal patterns and geochemical controlling factors of vanadium. For this, we collected two sets of groundwater data: 1) concentrations of major constituents of 2,595 groundwater samples between 2008 and 2014 and 2) 258 groundwater samples between December 2006 and June 2008. The concentrations of groundwater vanadium were in the range of $0.2{\sim}71.0{\mu}g/L$ (average, $12.0{\mu}g/L$) and showed local enrichments without temporal/seasonal variation. This indicated that vanadium distribution was controlled by 1) the geochemical/mineralogical composition and dissolution processes of original materials (i.e., volcanic rock) and 2) the flow and chemical properties of groundwater. Vanadium concentration was significantly positively correlated with that of major ions ($Cl^-$, $Na^+$, and $K^+$) and trace metals (As, Cr, and Al), and with pH, but was negatively correlated with $NO_3-N$ concentration. The high concentrations of vanadium (>$15{\mu}g/L$) occurred in typically alkaline groundwater with high pH (${\geq}8.0$), indicating that a higher degree of water-rock interaction resulted in vanadium enrichment. Thus, higher concentrations of vanadium occurred in groundwater of $Na-Ca-HCO_3$, $Na-Mg-HCO_3$ and $Na-HCO_3$ types and were remarkably lower in groundwater of $Na-Ca-NO_3$(Cl) type that represented the influences from anthropogenic pollution.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.167-177
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• 2007

We measured the salinity, pH, and concentrations of $^{222}Rn$ and nutrients in groundwater in the southeastern coastal aquifer off Busan from March to September 2005 to evaluate its submarine discharge and geochemical characteristics. Salinity in coastal groundwater increased sharply at 20 m depth and exceeded 25 ppt below 40 m during the study period, indicating that a strong transition zone between fresh groundwater and seawater developed between 20 and 40 m depths. Fresh groundwater in the upper layer of this transition zone was characterized by high pH, $^{222}Rn$, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and low dissolved inorganic silicate (DSi) relative to seawater in the lower layer. In addition, the vertical profiles of the $^{222}Rn$, DIN, and DIP concentrations imply that a strong advective groundwater flow occurs along the interface of fresh groundwater and seawater near 20 m depth. The geochemical constituents in coastal groundwater also showed strong seasonal variation, with the highest concentrations in summer (June 2005) due to the changes of groundwater recharge and sea level. This implies that the input of terrestrial chemical species into the coastal ocean through submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) could change seasonally. To ascertain the seasonal variation of SGD and SGD-driven chemical species fluxes, and associated ecological responses in the coastal ocean, more extensive studies are necessary using various SGD tracers or seepage meters in the future.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.371-382
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• 2016

Saltwater intrusion in coastal regions can be detected by using numerous geochemical constituents in groundwater. However, insufficient numbers of groundwater data can often make us difficult to interpret saltwater intrusion. Probability statistics technique enables statistical prediction using a limited numbers of water quality data for a wider range and can make to effectively evaluate saltwater intrusion through a characterized distribution of probability. This study evaluated saltwater intrusion by applying probability statistics to the chemical constituents in groundwater, coastal discharge, and stream water in the coastal areas of Busan City. By the result of the study, it is proven that Na⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, SO₄²⁻, and Cl⁻, abundantly contained in seawater, are valuable indicators for evaluating saltwater intrusion. On the other hand, it is judged that Si⁴⁺, Fe²⁺, NO₃⁻, and PO₄³⁻, showing similar probability distribution in groundwater, coastal discharge, and stream water, are not appropriate indicators for the detection of saltwater intrusion.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.25-37
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• 2014

The volcanic type of geothermal water is linked intimately to active or potentially active volcanoes and takes place near the plate boundaries. In contrast to the volcanic type, the geothermal water in Korea has a non-volcanic origin. Korea's geothermal water is classified into the residual magma (RM) type and deep groundwater (DG) type according to the criterion of $35^{\circ}C$. This study reviewed the relationship between the physical and chemical features of the 281 geothermal water sources in South Korea in terms of the specific capacity, water temperature, and chemical compositions of two different basements (igneous rock and metamorphic rock) as well as the geological structures. According to the spatial relationship between the geothermal holes and geological faults, the length of the major fault is considered a key parameter determining the movement to a deeper place and the temperature of geothermal water. A negligible relationship between the specific capacity (Q/s) and temperature was found for both the RM type and DG type with the greater specific capacities of the RM- and DG-igneous types than the RM- and DG-metamorphic types. No relationship was observed between Q/s and the chemical constituents ($K^+$, $Na^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $HCO_3{^-}$, and $SiO_2$) in the DG-igneous and DG-metamorphic types. Furthermore, weak relationship between temperature and chemical constituents was found for both the RM type and DG type.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.19-22
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• 2004

Two-dimensional modeling studies using TOUGHREACT were conducted to investigate the coupling between flow and transport developed as a consequence of differences in density, dissolution/ precipitation, and medium heterogeneity. The model includes equilibrium reactions for aqueous species, kinetic reactions between tile solid phases and aqueous constituents, and full coupling of porosity and permeability changes resulting from precipitation and dissolution reactions in porous media. Generally, the evolutions in the concentrations of the aqueous phase are intimately related to the reaction-front dynamics. Plugging of the medium contributed to significant transients in patterns of flow and mass transport.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.9-27
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• 2018

In recent years, the sales of bottled spring water (BSW) have been drastically increasing in Korea and other countries, which accompanied great interests in conservation and reclamation of natural mineral water (NMW). In this study, management and research activities on NMW in Europe, USA, and Codex Alimentarius were reviewed. In each region, NMW is regulated with its own quality standards that differ from ordinary drinking water, and management actions are strictly implemented to protect water resources and to secure quality of NMW. Many studies on NMW were carried out for monitoring inorganic constituents including major and trace elements in national levels for bottled NMW, groundwater, and tap water in other countries. In Korea, NMW became commercialized in 1995 when BSW was legally approved as a drinking water. To further promote utilization of various types of NMW in Korea, regulations and policies for NMW need to be revised in accordance with international NMW management trends. Further, studies of NMW that compile a comprehensive set of physical and chemical parameters of NMW are also needed to properly understand occurrences, hydrogeological and geochemical processes of NMW, as well as to evaluate its potential use as a natural resource.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.199-211
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• 1997

As a part of study on geological disposal of radioactive waste, hydrogeochemical characteristics of deep granitic groundwater in Korea were investigated through the construction of a large geochemical dataset of natural water, the examination on the behaviour of dissolved constituents, and the consideration of phase stability based on thermodynamic approach. In granitic region, the contents of total dissolved solids increase progressively from surface waters to deep groundwaters, which indicates the presence of more concentrated waters at depth due to water-rock interaction. The chemical composition of groundwater evolves from initial $Ca^{2＋}$－(C $l^{－}$＋S $O_4$$^{2-}$) or $Ca^{2＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ type to final N $a^{＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ or N $a^{＋}$－(C $l^{－}$＋S $O_4$$^{2-}$) type, via $Ca^{2＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ type. Three main mechanisms seem to control the chemical composition of groundwater in the granitic region; 1) congruent dissolution of calcite at shallower depth, 2) calcite precipitation and incongruent dissolution of plagioclase at deeper depth, and 3) kaolinite-smectite or/and kaolinite-illite reaction at equilibrium at deeper depth. The behaviour of dissolved major cations (C $a^{2＋}$, $K^{＋}$, $Mg^{2＋}$, M $a^{＋}$) and silica is likely to be controlled by these reactions.

• Proceedings of the Mineralogical Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.54-54
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• 2003

The metasedimentary rocks together with various granitoids are the main constituents in Taebaeksan gneiss complex, northern Yeongnam Massif. Chemical compositions of sedimentary rocks may reflect the nature of the provenance and could be crucial for understanding the evolution of early continental crust. Previous workers have suggested that the provenance and tectonic studies based on the geochemistry of sediments are applicable to the Precambrian samples. In this study we analyzed the major, trace and REE elements of metasedimentary rocks to understand their provenance and tectonic setting during sedimentation. The overall geochemical characteristics of metasedimentary rocks are similar to those of average shale of the post-Archean. Major element chemistry indicates mature and sorted nature of the sediments. The degree of weathering in the source rocks the is not uniform, as inferred from a large scatter in chemical indices of weathering (CIW). The immobile trace elements such as Th, Sc, and REE can be used to discriminate various sedimentary processes. The Th/sc ratios (0.9 - 4.4) are larger than those of the upper crust and average shale, suggesting that the felsic source predominates. The contents of Ni and Cr and the variations in the ratio of compatible to incompatible elements are similar to the average post-Archean shale. Uniform chondrite-normalized REE pattern with the LREE enrichment (LaN/SmN = 4.9 ${\pm}$ 0.4) and slight negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu$\^$*/ = 0.7 ${\pm}$ 0.1) also support this observation. The presence of negative Eu anomaly indicates that intracrustal igneous processes involving plagioclase separation have affected the provenance rocks. The LREE enrichment implies the major role of felsic rocks in source rocks. The eNd (1.9 Ga) values of metasediment rocks vary from 9.4 to 6.7, corresponding to TDM of 2.9 - 2.7 Ga. On the other hand, the 147Sm/144Nd ratios are 0.1079 - 0.1101, corresponding to typical tettigenous sediments. The geochemical features of metasedimentary rocks such as high abundances of large ion lithophile elements, high ratios of Th/Sc and La/Sm, commonly high Th/U ratios, negative Eu anomalies, and negative eNd, suggest a provenance consisting virtually entirely of recycled upper continental crust in passive margin environment. Tectonic discrimination diagrams based upon major element compositions also support this suggestion. In conjunction with igneous activity and metamorphism in the convergent margin setting at 1.8 - 1. 9 Ga, the transition from passive margin to active margin characterize the Paleoproterozoic crustal evolution in northern Yeongnam Massif.

• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.43-49
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• 2007

The metals we are familiar with(Al, Ag, Au, Cu, Cd, Co, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn, etc) are common elements and conservative pollutants. Although metals are often vital constituents of the metabolism of living organisms(trace elements}, a number of them are toxic if their concentration exceeds a certain threshold. It has long been recognized that measurements of trace metals in natural waters are often subject to large errors in terms of precision and accuracy. Since 1975 in US and European countries, seawater concentration of many trace metals have been shown to be factors of 10-1,000 lower than those previously accepted. Vertical profiles have been found to be consistent with known biological, physical and/or geochemical processes. These are resulted from major advances in analytical instrumentation and methodology for trace elements, and greater attention has been given to assuring the elimination of contamination during sampling, storage, and analysis.