• Title/Summary/Keyword: geologic characteristics

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An Analytical Study of Geologic Characteristics and Production- Related Problems of Beep Natural Gas Resources (심부 천연가스의 지질학절 부존 환경 특성과 생산관련 현안 문제점 분석 연구)

  • Chang Seungyong
    • 한국석유지질학회:학술대회논문집
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    • autumn
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    • pp.28-46
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    • 2001
  • Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbon gases and impurities such as nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide and a clean energy producing no pollution materials for combustion. Currently, the demand of the natural gas is rapidly increasing due to worldwide environmental problems. According to Hubbert's study in the past, the natural gas was predicted as rapidly depleted resources, and then the results led to high gas price and limitation of usage during 1980s. Afterward, the study of natural gas resources based on geology identified the additional natural gas resources that were not considered in Hubbert's study. They are unconventional gas, additional resources in the existed reservoirs, and natural gas in deep subsurface areas. Such additional resouces made the future of natural gas bright and pormised low and stable gas price in the future. Deep natural gas is defined as the gas existing at or below 15,000ft$(4,752{\cal}m)$ in depth from the surface. According to the study from the U.S. Geological Survey(USGS) in 1995, 1,412 TCF of technically recoverable natural gas was remained to be discovered or developed in the onshore of United States. A significant part of that resource base, 114 TCF, exists at deep sedimentary basins, and it shows wide distribution with various geological environments. In 1995, the deep gas contributed to $6.7\% of total supply amount of natural gas in the United States and is expected to be $18.7\% by 201.5. However, the development of the deep gas is a high risky business due to expensive investment and high portion of dry holes, although it is developed. Thus, for developing the deep gas economically, it is necessary to overcome many technical challenges. In this paper, for increasing success rate of the deep gas, 1) geologic and compositional characteristics, and production cost have been analyzed according to depth, 2) technical problems related to deep gas production have been summarized, and 3) finally future study areas for increasing application of the deep gas have been suggested. For reference, this paper was written based on the study results from USGS and Gas Research Institute(GRI), for the United States is doing the most active R&D in the deep gas area, and thus, has many reliable data.

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Geochemical Characteristics and Pollution Level of Heavy Metals of Asian Dust in Daejeon Area, 2007 (spring season) (2007년 봄철 대전지역에서 발생한 황사 및 대기부유물의 지구화학적 특성 및 중 금속의 오염도)

  • Lee, Pyeong-Koo;Youm, Seung-Jun;Bae, Beob-Geun
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.45 no.3
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    • pp.217-235
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    • 2012
  • We evaluated the geochemical characteristics and their potential pollution of Asian Dusts in Daejeon, Korea during spring 2007. Compared with the chemical compositions of soils in source area of Asian Dust, those of aerosols in Daejeon were enriched with trace elements (ten to hundred fold), inferring that pollutants from China have affected on local environment in adjoining country such as Korea. Chemical analysis of aerosols during Asian dust showed that fine particles ($PM_{2.5}$) contained high contents of trace elements such as Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, V, S, As, Cd, Co, Ni, Mo, Sb, Cs, Rb, Th, Sc and Y. In the case of TSP (Total Suspended Particle), Zr, Sr, Ba, Li, Th and U were contained much more than other trace elements. The contents of some elements (i.e. Li, Cs, Co, U, Cr, Ni, Rb, V, Th, Y, Sr and Sc) in aerosols collected in Asian Dust period, which are not likely enriched by air pollutants, were higher (2 - 4.2 fold) than those in Non Asian Dust period, indicating that these elements could be used as indicator elements for determining the occurrence of Asian Dust phenomena (especially, Sr, V, Cr & Li). In the case of Asian Dust coming through the big cities and/or industrial areas of China, the domestic aerosols had higher contents of trace elements (such as S, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Mo and As) than those from Northeastern China via North Korea, indicating that the transportation courses of air mass are very important to determine the pollution degrees. Using the enrichment factors of trace elements in aerosols during Asian Dust and Non Asian Dust, we identified that some elements (i.e. S, Zn, Cu, Pb, As, Mo and Cd) were most problematic in terms of environmental hazard aspects, and these elements could affect adverse effects on human health as well as ecosystem and surface environment (soil and water) through long-lived precipitation.

Contrasting Styles of Gold and Silver Mineralization in the Central and Southeastern Korea (한국 중부와 동남부지역 금·은광화작용의 성인적 특성)

  • Choi, Seon-Gyu;Choi, Sang-Hoon
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.28 no.6
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    • pp.587-597
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    • 1995
  • Two distinct precious-metal mineralizations actively occur at central and southeastern Korea which display consistent relationships among geologic, geochemical and genetic environments. A large number of preciousmetal vein deposits in the central Korea occur in or near Mesozoic granite batholiths elongated in a NE-SW direction. Whereas, gold and/or silver deposits in the southeastern Korea occur within Cretaceous volcanic and sedimentary rocks. However, most of the precious-metal deposits in the southeastern Korea show characteristics of the silver-rich deposits than the gold-rich deposits in the central Korea. Two epochs of main igneous activities are recognized: a) Jurassic Daebo igneous activity between 121 and 183 Ma, and b) Cretaceous Bulgugsa igneous activity between 60 and 110 Ma. Precious-metal mineralization took place between 158 and 71 Ma, coinciding with portions of the two magmatic activities. Contrasts in the style of mineralization, together with radiometric age data and differences in geologic settings reflect the genetically variable natures of hydrothermal activities from middle Jurassic to late Cretaceous time. The compilation and re-evaluation of these data suggest that the genetic types of hydrothermal precious-metal vein deposits in the central and southeastern Korea varied with time. The Jurassic and early Cretaceous mineralizations are characterized by the Au-dominant type, but tend to change to the Au-Ag and/or Ag-dominant types at late Cretaceous. The Jurassic Au-dominant deposits commonly show several characteristics; prominent associations with pegmatites, simple massive vein morphologies, high fmeness values in ore-concentrating parts, and a distinctively simple ore mineralogy such as Fe-rich sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, Au-rich electrum, pyrrhotite and/or pyrite. The Cretaceous precious-metal deposits are generally characterized by some- features such as complex vein morphologies, low to medium fmeness values in the ore concentrates, and abundance of ore minerals including Ag sulfosalts, Ag sulfides, Ag tellurides and native silver. Mineralogical and fluid inclusion studies indicate that the Jurassic Au-dominant deposits in the central area were formed at the high temperature (about $300^{\circ}$ to $500^{\circ}C$) and pressure (about 4 to 5 kbars), whereas mineralizations of the Cretaceous Au-Ag and Ag-dominant deposits were occurred at the low temperature (about $200^{\circ}$ to $350^{\circ}C$) and pressure (<0.5 kbars) from the ore fluids containing more amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters.

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Characteristics and Distribution Pattern of Carbonate Rock Resources in Kangwon Area: The Middle Carboniferous Yobong Formation in the Northern Part of Yeongwoleup, Kangwon, Korea (강원 지역에 분포하는 석회석 자원의 특성과 부존환경: 영월읍 북부 지역의 중기 석탄기 요봉층을 중심으로)

  • Park, Soo-In;Lee, Hee-Kwon;Lee, Sang-Hun
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.21 no.5
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    • pp.583-594
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    • 2000
  • The Middle Carboniferous Yobong Formation with North-South trending is distributed in the Yeongheungri and Samokri of Yeongwoleup, Kangwon Province, Korea. A light gray thick and massive pure limestone is developed in the middle part of the Yobong Formation and it has been exploited for a long time. This study was carried out to investigate the lithological characteristics and geochemical compositions of the limestones and to figure out how geologic structures control the disribution of the limestones of the formation. The limestones of the Yobong formation are characterized by the fine and dense textures and the light gray to light brown in color. The limestones are composed of crinoid fragments, small foraminifers, fusulinids, gastropods, ostracods, etc. Based on the amount of grains and matrix, the Yobong Limestone can be classified as fine packstones and wackestones. The chemical analysis of limestones of the Yobong Formation was carried out to measure the contents of CaO, MgO, Al$_2$O$_3$, Fe$_2$O$_3$ and SiO$_2$. The content of CaO ranges from 48.12 to 59.31% and its average is about 54.52%. The average content of MgO is about 0.32% and the coutents of Al$_2$O$_3$, Fe$_2$O$_3$ and SiO$_2$ are relatively low. The amounts of Al$_2$O$_3$, Fe$_2$O$_3$ and SiO$_2$ of the limestones vary according to the kinds of limestone and their stratigraphical horizons in the formation. Generally, the CaO content of the limestones of the Yobong Formation decreases towards the top of the formation. Using geometric and structural analysis, we determined five progressively overprinted phases of deformation recorded in the study area. The anticline and syncline formed during the first and fourth deformation had controlled the distribution pattern of the Yobong Limestone of the Yobong Formation. The structures of deformation D$_1$ consist of F$_1$ isoclinal folds and foliations. The D$_2$ deformation had formed the isoclinal interstratal F$_2$ folds and axial plane cleavages which are locally developed within mudstones. The structural elements of deformation D$_3$ are axial plane cleavages associated with recumbent F$_3$ folds. These structures are overprinted by meso-scale and regional F$_4$ folds which are regionally dominant. Finally, the structures of D$_5$ consist of the thrust faults and folds associated with the thrust faults.

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Experimental Study on the Hysteresis of Suction Stress in Unsaturated Sand (불포화 모래의 흡입응력 이력현상에 대한 실험적 연구)

  • Song, Young-Suk;Choi, Jin-Su;Kim, Gyo-Won
    • The Journal of Engineering Geology
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.145-155
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    • 2012
  • The matric suction and volumetric water content of Jumunin standard sand with a relative density of 60% were measured using an Automated Soil-Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC) apparatus during both drying and wetting processes. The test time for the drying process was longer than that for the wetting process, because the flow of water is likely to be protected by air trapped in voids within the soils during the drying process. Based on the matric suction and volumetric water content, the SWCC was estimated using the model proposed by van Genuchten (1980). For the drying process, the unsaturated fitting parameters ${\alpha}$, n, and m were 0.399, 8.586, and 0.884, respectively; for the wetting process, the values were 0.548, 5.625, and 8.220, respectively. The hysteresis phenomenon occurred in the SWCCs, which means the SWCC of the drying process is not matched with the SWCC of the wetting process. Using these unsaturated parameters, we estimated the Suction Stress Characteristic Curve (SSCC), based on the relationship between suction stress and the effective degree of saturation. The suction stress showed a rapid decrease when the matric suction exceeds the Air Entry Value (AEV). Therefore, the effective stress of unsaturated soils is different from that of saturated soils when the matric suction exceeds the AEV. The suction stress of the drying process exceeds that of the wetting process for a given effective degree of saturation. The hysteresis phenomenon was also recognized in SSCCs. The hysteresis phenomenon of SSCCs arises from that of SWCCs, which is induced by the ink bottle effect and the contact angle effect. In the case of a sandy slope, the suction stress is positive and acts to enhance the slope stability as the water infiltrates the ground, but is negative when the suction stress exceeds the AEV. The results obtained for the wetting process should be applied in analyses of slope stability, because the process of water infiltration into ground is similar to the wetting process.

Study on Landslide Flume Tests Using Stability Analysis of the Unsaturated Infinite Slope (불포화 무한사면의 안정해석을 활용한 산사태 모형실험에 관한 연구)

  • Song, Hyo-Sung;Chae, Byung-Gon;Song, Young-Suk;Choi, Jung-Hae;Seo, Won-Gyo;Woo, Ik
    • The Journal of Engineering Geology
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    • v.29 no.4
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    • pp.541-552
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    • 2019
  • In this study, landslide flume tests were performed to analyze characteristics of ground characteristics and landslide occurrence due to rainfall infiltration. As test materials, weathered granite soil and gneiss soil, the most frequent landslides in Korea, were used, and landslides were triggered by heavy rain (Intensity = 200 mm/hr). The measurement sensors were installed with 3 sets at toe, slope, top part and shallow (GL-0.2 m), middle (GL-0.4 m), and deep (GL-0.6 m) depth in the slope and measured at 10 second intervals. After landslide flume tests, the slope stability analysis was performed by applying the unsaturated soil theory based on the change of ground characteristics and compared with actual landslide occurrence from flume test. As a result of the analysis, factor of safety reflected the landslide occurrence from flume test and factor of safety decreased as rainfall infiltration, leading to slope failure. Finally we compared to the factor of safety below 1 and actual landslide occurrence time, the average difference was 1,600 seconds for weathered granite soil and 5,400 seconds for weathered gneiss soil.

Experimental Study on the Unsaturated Characteristics of Dredging Soils at Saemangeum Area (새만금지역 준설토의 불포화 특성에 대한 실험적 연구)

  • Song, Young-Suk;You, Seung-Kyong
    • Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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    • v.10 no.3
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    • pp.25-32
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    • 2011
  • The matric suction and volumetric water content of dredging soils obtained from Saemangeum area were measured by the automated Soil-Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC) apparatus under both drying and wetting conditions. Based on the test result, SWCCs of the dredging soils were estimated by the van Genuchten(1980) model. The matric suction of drying process is larger than that of wetting process at a same effective degree of saturation. The suction stresses for various matirc suctions were estimated using Lu and Likos(2006) model and the Suction Stress Characteristic Curves (SSCC) were predicted using the independent parameter of SWCC. The suction stress of drying path was increased and decreased, while the suction stress of wetting path was continuously decreased with increasing the effective degree. Also, the suction stress of drying path is larger than that of wetting path at a same effective degree of saturation. The Hydraulic Conductivity Function(HCF) was also predicted by the van Genuchten(1980) model. The hydraulic conductivity was increased with increasing the volumetric water content. The hydraulic conductivity of drying path is larger than that of wetting path at a same matric suction. According to the results of SWCCs and SSCCs, the hysteresis phenomenon of suction stress or matric suction during both drying and wetting paths was occurred. The main reason of hysteresis phenomenon is a ink bottle effect of water among soil particles.

Understanding Purposes and Functions of Students' Drawing while on Geological Field Trips and during Modeling-Based Learning Cycle (야외지질답사 및 모델링 기반 순환 학습에서 학생들이 그린 그림의 목적과 기능에 대한 이해)

  • Choi, Yoon-Sung
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.42 no.1
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    • pp.88-101
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    • 2021
  • The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the meaning of students' drawings in outdoor classes and modeling-based learning cycles. Ten students were observed in a gifted education center in Seoul. Under the theme of the Hantan River, three outdoor classes and three modeling activities were conducted. Data were collected to document all student activities during field trips and classroom modeling activities using simultaneous video and audio recording and observation notes made by the researcher and students. Please note it is unclear what this citation refers to. If it is the previous sentence it should be placed within that sentence's punctuation. Hatisaru (2020) Ddrawing typess were classified by modifying the representations in a learning context in geological field trips. We used deductive content analysis to describe the drawing characteristics, including students writing. The results suggest that students have symbolic images that consist of geologic concepts, visual images that describe topographical features, and affective images that express students' emotion domains. The characteristics were classified into explanation, generality, elaboration, evidence, coherence, and state-of-mind. The characteristics and drawing types are consecutive in the modeling-based learning cycle and reflect the students' positive attitude and cognitive scientific domain. Drawing is a useful tool for reflecting students' thoughts and opinions in both outdoor class and classroom modeling activities. This study provides implications for emphasizing the importance of drawing activities.

Environmental Characteristics of Natural Radionuclides in Groundwaters in Volcanic Rock Areas: Korea (국내 화산암 지역 지하수 중 자연방사성 물질에 대한 환경 특성)

  • Jeong, Do Hwan;Kim, Moon Su;Ju, Byoung Kyu;Hong, Jung Ki;Kim, Dong Su;Kim, Hyun Koo;Kim, Hye Jin;Park, Sun Hwa;Han, Jin Seok;Kim, Tae Seung
    • Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.36-45
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    • 2013
  • We analyzed natural radionuclides in 80 wells in volcanic rock areas and investigated environmental characteristics. Uranium and radon concentrations ranged from ND to $9.70{\mu}g/L$ (median value: 0.21) ${\mu}g/L$, 38~29,222 pCi/L (median value: 579), respectively. In case of gross-${\alpha}$, 26 samples exceeded MDA (minimum detectable activity, < 0.9 pCi/L) value and the activity values ranged from 1.05 to 8.06 pCi/L. The radionuclides concentrations did not exceed USEPA MCL (maximum contaminant level) value of Uranium ($30{\mu}g/L$) and gross-${\alpha}$ (15 pCi/L). But Rn concentrations in 4 samples exceeded USEPA AMCL (Alternative maximum contaminant level, 4,000 pci/L) and one of them showed a significantly higher value (29,222 pCi/L) than the others. The levels of uranium concentrations in volcanic rock aquifer regions were detected in order of andesite, miscellaneous volcanic rocks, rhyolite, basalt aquifer regions. Radon, however, was detected in order of miscellaneous volcanic rocks, rhyolite, andesite, basalt aquifer regions. The correlation coefficient between uranium and radon was r = 0.45, but we found that correlations of radionuclides with in-situ data or major ions were weak or no significant. The correlation coefficient between the depth of wells and uranium concentrations was a slightly higher than that of depth of wells and radons. Radionuclide concentrations in volcanic rock aquifers showed lower levels than those of other rock aquifers such as granite, metamorphic rock aquifers, etc. This result may imply difference of host rock's bearing-radioactive-mineral contents among rock types of aquifers.

Occurrence of Arsenic, Strontium, and Selenium in Drinking Water in Kyungpook Province, Korea, in Relation to Geologic Formations (경북지역의 먹는 물에서 지질에 따른 비소, 스트론튬, 셀레늄 검출 특성)

  • Lee, Heageun;Cha, Sangdeok;Choi, Jeonhak;Kim, Younghun
    • Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.55-60
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    • 2015
  • As the water supply system has been installed over the country, the management of drinking water could be easier and controlled by experts. This helps to supply safe water to public. However, in rural area, small scale water treatment systems or groundwater haves been used as drinking water supplier. The drinking water including groundwater contains various contaminants. Private or small scale water treatment system can be contaminated with heavy metals such as arsenic, selenium and strontium which are usually originated from natural source. Arsenic, selenium and strontium have been determined from the goundwater, small scale water treatment system in the Kyungpook area. The results have been compared with the Korean and international standards. The results were analyzed on the geological characteristics of the area. Among the total of 1,412 samples, 76 samples showed higher concentration of arsenic than WHO guideline and the Korean drinking water standard. Total 4 samples had higher contents of selenium than WHO guideline which was $10{\mu}g/L$. In the analysis of geological characteristics, arsenic was highly released from a few area and which are in order of biotite granodiorite > biotite granite > daegu formation. Selenium has been highly released from biotite granite > black shale > diluvium.