• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.301-314
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• 2000

Marine surface sediments in the vicinity of Samcheonpo coal-fired power plant were analyzed by a total analysis($HF+HNO_3+HClO_4$) and sequential extraction procedure for heavy metals in order to investigate the total concentrations and geochemical phases of heavy metals. The result showed that the concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn were within ranges typical for coastal areas, which reflected the mineralogical composition of the sediments in the studied area. However, the distributions of Cd, Co, Mn, Ni and Pb were rather different from the former, indicating that these heavy metals had a different origin, or that they were affected by a different geochemical mechanism. Chemical partitioning of heavy metals using sequential extraction procedure revealed that Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn were significantly bound to the residual phases of the sediments, whereas carbonate phases contained considerable amounts of Mn. The significant association of Pb with the exchangeable fraction also indicated that Pb was more mobile and bioavailable than Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.143-167
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• 1978

The Sangdong tungsten (mostly scheelite) mine is located on the southern limb of a major syncline, the Hambaeg syncline, in a thick sequence of lower Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in the mideastern part of south Korea. Productive scheelite mineralization in Sangdong area is confined to one single formation, the Myobong Slate. Four major ore beds, which have an lateral extension over than 1 km and were not heavily subjected to spatial disturbance, are developed in the Myobong Formation. The original materials of the ore-comprising horizones were probably of either calcareous or silceous sediments. The four ore beds, especially in the case of Main ore bed, display both lateral and vertical zoning. Association quartz-mica-scheelite is predominant in the central, while association hornblende-quartz-diopside-scheelite, diopside-garnet and wollastonite-garnet are developed in this order towards the periphery of the ore beds. Petrologically, two phases of thermometamorphism are recognized. The first phase is represented by the association wollastonite-garnet and diopside-garnet, while the second phase by the association hornblende-quartz-diopside-scheelite and quartz-mica-scheelite. The associations of the second phase do constitute prodctive ore. The high background value of tungsten in the area surrounding the Sangdong mine reveals that the area can be considered a geochemical zone enriched in tungsten. Studies on the trace element patterns were carried out to draw useful criteria for the purpose of future geochemical exploration in the area. The increasing trend of the ratio Rb $({\times}1000)/K_2O$ of the Myobong Slate towards the known mineralization area proved to be indicative for the presence of tungsten mineralization.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.545-554
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• 2017

Birnessite is one of the dominant Mn (oxyhydr)oxide phases commonly found in soil and deep ocean environments. It typically occurs as nano-sized and poorly crystalline aggregates in the natural environment. It is well known that birnessite participates in a wide variety of bio/geochemical reactions as a reactive mineral phase with structural defects, cation vacancies, and mixed valences of structural Mn. These various bio/geochemical reactions control not only the fate and transport of inorganic and organic substances in the environment, but also the formation of diverse Mn (oxyhydr)oxides through birnessite transformation. This review assessed and discussed about the phase transformation of birnessite under a wide range of environmental conditions and about the potential geochemical factors controlling the corresponding reactions in the literature. Birnessite transformation to other types of Mn (oxyhydr)oxides were affected by dissolved Mn(II), dissolved oxygen, solution pH, and co-existing cation (i.e., $Mg^{2+}$). However, there still have been many issues to be unraveled on the complex bio/geochemical processes involved in the phase transformation of birnessite. Future work on the detail mechanisms of birnessite transformation should be further investigated.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.373-382
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• 2008

First reported geochemical characteristics of mantle xneoliths (spinel peridotites) from Sunheul-ri, Jeju Island, provide important clues for understanding the lithosphere composition, equilibrium temperature, and the period of entrainment and transport of the xenoliths in the host magma. Core and rim of mineral phases in the xenoliths are constant chemical compositions as $Fo_{89-90}$ of olivines. The ranges of equilibrium temperature, obtained by two pyroxenes geothermometer, are about $951{\sim}1035^{\circ}C$ for Sunheul-ri spinel peridotite xenoliths and are similar to the range of equilibrium temperatures for the xenoliths from other sites in Jeju island. The period of entrainment and transport of the xenoliths in the host magma of Sunheul-ri mantle xenoliths is about 42 days.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.183-199
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• 2008

This study is focused on characterization of the physio-chemical and mineralogical properties, investigation of their vertical changes in the tailing profile of the Guryoung mining area, classification of the profile into distinct zones, and condition conceptual model of physio-chemical conditions and phases-water relationships controlling the element behaviors in the tailings. The upper part of the groundwater is characterized by the high contents of $Fe_2O_3$ and $SO_3$ for whole rock analysis, low pH, and the occurrence of jarosite, schwertmannite and Fe-oxyhydroxide as the secondary mineral phases. The tailing profile can be divided into the covering soil, jarosite zone, Fe-sulfate zone, Fe-oxyhydroxide and gypsum-bearing pyrite zone, calcite-bearing pyrite zone, soil zone, and weathered zone on the based of the geochemical and mineralogical characteristics. The profile can be sampled into the oxidized zone and the carbonate-rich primary zone with the dramatic changes in pH and the secondary mineral phases. The conceptual model proposed for the tailing profile can be summarized that the oxidation of pyrite is the most important reaction controlling the changes in pH, the dissolution of the primary silicates and carbonates, the precipitation of secondary mineral phases, acid-neutralizing, and heavy metal behaviors through the profile.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.14-24
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• 2021

Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) system uses groundwater thermal energy for cooling and heating of buildings, and it is also often utilized to provide warm water to crops and plants for the purpose of enhancing agricultural yields. This study investigated the potential influences of a ATES system on the geochemical properties of groundwater by simulating the variation of hydrochemistry and saturation index of groundwater during ATES operation. The test bed was installed at an agricultural field, which is mainly composed of an groundwater-rich alluvial plain. The simulation results showed no significant precipitation of mineral phases such as manganese-iron oxide, carbonate and sulfate around the ATES test bed, as well as no debasement of other important water quality parameters. The implementation of ATES system in the study area was appropriate and effective for utilizing the thermal energy of groundwater for agricultural use.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.399-410
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• 2022

The solubility and species distribution of radionuclides in groundwater are essential data for the safety assessment of deep underground spent nuclear fuel (SNF) disposal systems. Americium is a major radionuclide responsible for the long-term radiotoxicity of SNF. In this study, the solubility of americium compounds was evaluated in synthetic groundwater (SynDB3), simulating groundwater from the DB3 site of the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel. Geochemical modeling was performed using the ThermoChimie_11a thermochemical database. Concentration of dissolved Am(III) in Syn-DB3 in the pH range of 6.4-10.5 was experimentally measured under over-saturation conditions by liquid scintillation counting over 70 d. The absorption spectra recorded for the same period suggest that Am(III) colloidal particles formed initially followed by rapid precipitation within 2 d. In the pH range of 7.5-10.5, the concentration of dissolved Am(III) converged to approximately 2×10^-7 M over 70 d, which is comparable to that of the amorphous AmCO₃OH(am) according to the modeling results. As the samples were aged for 70 d, a slow equilibrium process occurred between the solid and solution phases. There was no indication of transformation of the amorphous phase into the crystalline phase during the observation period.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.543-553
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• 2010

This study was focused on the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of field soil of the Baekje Kingdom from K wongbawigol site in Jeongdongri, Buyeo and whether the bricks from Songsanri Tombs and Muryung's Royal Tomb were made of soil from this site. Soil samples show the similar size fraction as a silt loam and acidic soil, whereas some samples have the enrichment of organic matter, P and S. Also, they have similar geochemical behavior of elements and similar mineral phases consisting of quartz, plagioclase, orthoclase, vermiculite, mica and kaolinite. The enrichment of iron oxide is found in some soil layer, including the iron oxide mottling and precipitation along plant roots and they are attributed to repeat oxidation and reduction environments due to flooding and drainage of field soil. It's anthropogenic alteration by human activity. Especially, it is assumed that the concentration of the iron oxides found in bricks from Muryung's Royal Tomb and Songsanri Tombs is the additional evidence that soil in this study is probably the raw materials of those bricks.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 1997

The reaction path of water-gneiss in 200m borehole at the Soorichi site of Yugu Myeon, Chungnam was simulated by the EQ3NR/EQ6 program. Mineral composition of borehole core and fracture-filling minerals, and chemical composition of groundwater was published by authors. In this study, chemical evolution of groundwater and formation of secondary minerals in water-gneiss system was modelled on the basis of published results. The surface water was used as a starting solution for reaction. Input parameters for modelling such as mineral assemblage and their volume percent, chemical composition of mineral phases, water/rock ratio reactive surface area, dissolution rates of mineral phases were determined by experimental measurement and model fit. EQ6 modelling of the reaction path in water-gneiss system has been carried out by a flow-centered flow through open system which can be considered as a suitable option for fracture flow of groundwater. The modelling results show that reaction time of 133 years is required to reach equilibrium state in water-gneiss system, and evolution of present groundwater will continue to pH 9.45 and higher na ion concentration. The secondary minerals formed from equeous phase are kaolinite, smectite, saponite, muscovite, mesolite, celadonite, microcline and calcite with uincreasing time. Modeling results are comparatively well fitted to pH and chemical composition of borehole groudwater, secondary minerals identified and tritium age of groundwater. The EQ6 modelling results are dependent on reliability of input parameters: water-rock ratio, effective reaction surface area and dissolution rates of mineral phases, which are difficult parameters to be measured.

• 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.