• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2018

There would be a possibility of uranium contamination around the nuclear power plants and the underground waste disposal sites, where the uranium could further migrate and diffuse to some distant places by groundwater. It is necessary to understand the biogeochemical behaviors of uranium in underground environments to effectively control the migration and diffusion of uranium. In general, various kinds of microbes are living in soils and geological media where the activity of microbes may be closely connected with the redox reaction of nuclides resulting in the changes of their solubility. We investigated the adsorption and precipitation behaviors of dissolved uranium on some solid materials using hydrogen gas as an electron donor instead of organic matters. Although the effect of hydrogen gas did not appear in a batch experiment that used granite as a solid material, there occurred a reduction of uranium concentration by 5~8% due to hydrogen in an experiment using bentonite. This result indicates that some indigenous bacteria in the bentonite that have utilized hydrogen as the electron donor affected the behavior (reduction) of uranium. In addition, the bentonite bacteria have showed their strong tolerance against a given high temperature and radioactivity of a specific waste environment, suggesting that the nuclear-biogeochemical reaction may be one of main mechanisms if the natural bentonite is used as a buffer material for the disposal site in the future.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.231-242
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• 2010

In order to assess applicability of debris flow simulation on natural terrain in Korea, this study introduced the DEBRIS-2D program which had been developed by Liu and Huang (2006). For simulation of large debris flows composed of fine and coarse materials, DEBRIS-2D was developed using the constitutive relation proposed by Julien and Lan (1991). Based on the theory of DEBRIS-2D, this study selected a valley where a large debris flow was occurred on July 16th, 2006 at Deoksanri, Inje county, Korea. The simulation results show that all mass were already flowed into the stream at 10 minutes after starting. In 10minutes, the debris flow reached the first geological turn and an open area, resulting in slow velocity and changing its flow direction. After that, debris flow started accelerating again and it reached the village after 40 minutes. The maximum velocity is rather low between 1 m/sec and 2 m/sec. This is the reason why debris flow took 50 minutes to reach the village. The depth change of debris flow shows enormous effect of the valley shape. The simulated result is very similar to what happened in the field. It means that DEBRIS-2D program can be applied to the geologic and topographic conditions in Korea without large modification of analysis algorithm. However, it is necessary to determine optimal reference values of Korean geologic and topographic properties for more reliable simulation of debris flows.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.55-68
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• 2008

At present underground structures such as road tunnels, railway tunnels, underground petroleum storages and radioactive waste storages are being constructed in numerous places in Korea. For the construction of underground structrues, it should be accounted for natural factors (geology, hydrogeology, soil, vegetation, topography and drainage patterns) and human-social factors (land use, urbanization, population, culture and transportation). Especially, hydrogeology should be regarded as an important factor for evaluating the safety of underground structures and their impact to groundwater system around the structures. This study aimed to recognize hydrogeological characteristics of shallow formations in the area from Dongrae crossway to Seo-Dong where 45 boreholes were drilled for the construction of Line-3 subway in Busan Megacity. Slug tests for unsaturated and saturated zones were conducted on 30 boreholes in the study area. From the result of the slug tests, it was identified that average zonal hydraulic conductivity in the unsaturated zone was higher than that in the saturated zone. Besides, the slug test result in the saturated zones may reflect hydraulic properties of the upper most part of the saturated zones.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2016

Diatoms were studied from the trench sediments around Bangudae petroglyphs in order to better understand the depositional environment before and after the construction of Sayeon dam in Ulsan. There were no diatoms produced from the sediments before the dam construction while the diatoms were produced from the sediments (depth of trench 228 cm) after the construction of the dam. Seventy-five species of diatoms of 27 genera were identified in the trench sediments. The number of diatom valves per gram of dry sediment ranged from $0.2-5.8{\times}10^5g^{-1}$. Four diatom assemblage zones were identified according to the frequency of critical taxa as follows: assemblage zone I, from 228 to 150 cm; assemblage zone II, from 150 to 122 cm; assemblage zone III, from 122 to 62 cm; and assemblage zone IV, from 62 to 0 cm. In addition, based on the environmental indicator species, an analysis was carried out to measure eutrophication, acidity and $Cl^-$ value. Results of the eutrophication and $Cl^-$ values were as follows. Based on the lower 74 cm horizons, the degree of eutrophication middle-high to $Cl^-$ values were lower, upper horizons appeared to eutrophication in the low, and $Cl^-$ values were high. Acidification from low horizons of 122 cm showed a neutral-alkaline degree whereas it exhibited acid in the upper part. In particular, regarding nutrients (TP and TN), the index taxa showed a higher TP value at 175 cm while higher TN value at 62 cm.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.540-552
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• 1997

For the scientific and systematic study of sediment deposits along Yeongsan river, total 13 core samples were taken from Yeongsan river. The thickness of sediment deposits is 22.0m at YS 1, 20.0m YS 2, 18.5m YS 3, 12.0m YS 4, 3.0m YS 5, 5.5m YS 7, 3.0m YS 8, 5.9m YS 9, 5.0m YS 10 on main stream of Yeongsan river. The thickness of deposit is increasing from upstream to downstream. The composition of sediments dominates sandy gravel on the upstream and the lower part on the downstream, and mud deposits of $11m{\sim}16m$ thick on the upper part of on the downstream(YS 1, YS 2, and YS 3). Contents of organic carbon and calcium carbonates occur being contrary to each other toward upstream. The content of organic carbon increases upstream, that of calcium carbonates decreases. According to size analysis of sediment, the content of gravel increases and mud decreases from downstream to upstream. Sediment deposits can be divided into two types whether gravel is or not. But this boundary is clear in the downstream(YS 1$\sim$YS 4) but is vague in the upstream. The result of this study could be provided engineering, environment, and architecture with geological background as the essential basis.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.436-442
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• 2005

We have performed multiple geophysical surveys comprised of gravity, magnetic and resistivity methods at the Yangsan fault zone which runs through the Eonyang area, the eastern part of Kyeongsang in southeast Korea. The gravity and magnetic data provide information about geological structures. Furthermore, sections of electrical resistivity show the sharp contrast of electrical resistivity distribution across the fault zone. Since the fractured zone tends to be more conductive than fresh host rocks, the electrical resistivity survey is effective in determining the detailed structure of the fault zone. We have made gravity measurements at a total of 71 points alongside two profiles across the fault zone, and carried out an electrical resistivity survey with a dipole-dipole array at the same location using 40m dipole length. In addition, we have analyzed the aeromagnetic data on the corresponding area. The multiple geophysical properties appear to be abruptly changed in electrical resistivity, gravity and aeromagneticclearly show the different appearance across the fault zone. The fault is identified by its sub vertical attitude which is well known in the Yangsan fault zone. We have also confirmed that the magnitude of the response of the fault is much larger in the southern part of the survey area than the northern area. These results most likely to provide basic information for the further studies about the physical properties and the structures at the Yangsan fault.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.333-341
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• 2014

Since distribution and preservation of cultural artifacts in the submarine sediments are directly affected by not only ocean currents and tides, but also their composition, it is very important to investigate geological characteristics of sediments and ocean-sediment interactions for maritime archaeological survey. Physical properties of submarine sediments, which are collected by grab sampler and vibro-corer, are analyzed in order to investigate effects of submarine environment on development of maritime archaeological survey techniques. Result of physical property analysis showed that bulk density, shear strength, and magnetic susceptibility increase with depth, while water contents and porosity decrease with depth. Since the magnetic susceptibility of bedrock is about 40 times that of submarine sediments, it might impact greatly on the response of magnetic survey. Physical properties of sediments with depth and sediment classification by Folk's ternary diagram indicate that submarine sediment mainly consists of silt, and cultural artifacts can not penetrate no deeper than 1.5 m in sediments.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.85-100
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• 2010

Devonian Cairn Formation is one of the important hydrocarbon reservoirs in Alberta, Canada. However, the Cairn Formation, outcropped in the study area, is not prospective reservoir with poor porosity and permeability by some late diagenetic processes. In this study, geochemical characteristics of the Cairn Formation were studied to use these preliminary results for advanced geological and geophysical petroleum explorations in the near future. Rock-Eval pyrolysis showed that total organic carbon content is less than 0.3 wt.%, indicating a minor amount of bitumen and/or other hydrocarbons. The carbonates in the Cairn Formation are mainly composed of subhedral and anhedral dolomites. Pore sizes in the carbonate are various, ranging from nanometer to micrometer. Clastic sediments increase in the upper and lower parts of the Cairn Formation, probably due to changing its depositional conditions. The Cairn Formation can also be divided into several intervals based on Ca/Mg ratio in dolomite and degree of amount of calcite. These could be formed by different sedimentary environment, degree of cementation and recrystallization, different saline/fresh water, etc.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 1995

A train overturn accident occurred on March 1993 in the Gupo area, northern part of Pusan, unfortunately had taken a heavy toll of lives and caused a great loss of property as well. The reasons for the subsidence of the basement under the railroads, which presumed to be the main cause of the accident, have been investigated from many different angles, including conventional geotechnical investigation methods. The deduced nuin reasons of the subsidence were: 1. blasting for tunnel excavation (NATM) at about 39 meter under the railroads, and 2. unexpected change of bedrock conditions along the direction of tunnel. But this accident was derived nrranlv from the lack of geological and geotechnical information under railroad area because it was impossible to drill beneath the railroads. This paper introduces a new geophysical survey techniqueseisrnic geotomography, and shows some results of the method applying to investigate the underground structure of the accident area. This method not only overcomes the unfavourable environment which many conventional investigation methods cannot face, but produces an image of underground structure with high resolution. Furthermore, the outputs from geotomogaphic analysis could provide very valuable in-situ basic parameters (like seismic velocities, elastic moduli, etc.) which is essential to the design and construction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2004

This work carried out to define the characteristic of Cymbidium kanran habitat at Mt. Halla in Jejudo, Korea from the ecological point of view including geological and topographical features, air and soil temperature, relative humidity, fluctuations of light intensity, habitat vegetation, distribution altitude, area limit, and etc. And another goal of this study consider the conservation counterplan of the cymbidium habitat. Natural distribution areas of the cymbidium were observed more abundantly on the well drained south and east-facing slopes. Soil acidity was ranged from pH 4.1 to 5.3, and electric conductivity was ranged from 176.4 to 299.9 us/cm (average 215.3 us/cm). Base-saturation percentage of the habitat soil was below 50%, bulk density 0.42g/$cm^2$, particle density 2.05g/$cm^2$, humus content 26%, total nitrogen 0.82%, available phosphate 4.2 mg/kg, exchangeable potassium 0.63 Cmol/kg, calcium 0.44 Cmol/kg and magnesium 0.67 Cmol/kg. Annual mean air temperature was $15.4^{\circ}C$, however, air temperature was ranged $11.7{\sim}18.2^{\circ}C$ in spring, $21.2{\sim}23.8^{\circ}C$ in summer, $12.8{\sim}22.0^{\circ}C$ in fall and $5.5{\sim}7.8^{\circ}C$ in winter season. Annual mean soil temperature at depth of 10cm was $13.2^{\circ}C$ And minimum value was recorded $4.7^{\circ}C$ on January, and maximum value $22.5^{\circ}C$ on August. Relative humidity was ranged 90.8~94.7% in summer, 80.8~91.5% in fall and 77.6~84.2% in winter season. Minimum value was 56.5% on December, and maximum value was 100% on July and August. Light intensities were ranged from 400 to 1,800 lux at the greater part of Cymbidium kanran sites in Jejudo. Summer regarded as an lower light intensities was recorded to be range of 500~600 lux; however, autumn and winter were shown higher light regimes ranged from 3,500 to 3,800 lux. Therefore, one must be suprised that the cymbidium grow at the light condition of 6 lux (minimum) or 10,000 lux (maximum). Tree species keeping higher frequency rate and density were Eurya japonica, Camellia japonica, Castanopsis cuspidata, Carpinus laxiflora and Pinus densiflora. Number of trees growing in a 5${\times}$5m quardrat was 35 as an average, and proportion of evergreen versus deciduous was 5:1. Distribution altitude of the orchid habitat was ranged from 120m (low) to 840m (high) from sea level on the south facing slope of Mt. Halla, and was ranged eastern borderline of Gujwaup, Bukjejugun to western boundaries of Jungmundong, Seogwipo city. For the stable conservation of Cymbidium kanran habitat, sunlight regimes must be increased more by means of cutting trees or twigs in the site.