• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.65-76
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• 2009

Little attention has been paid to Brazilian test for the estimation of uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus of rocks as an indirect method despite high availability of civil engineering parameters. This paper employed Brazilian test value to estimate two parameters of igneous rocks (granite, andesite, rhyolite) of Korea. High reliability of Brazilian test has been supported by the conclusions drawn from point load test and Schmidt hammer strike values. It has also been found that this method can be applied easily and rapidly to the estimation of uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus of rock cores when direct tests are not available.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.309-322
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• 2018

Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) occurs in rocks and soils as a result of natural weathering and human activities. It is proved that inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to increase risk of developing several diseases such as lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma. The parent rocks of asbestos have been mainly associated with (ultra)mafic and carbonate rock. The previous studies on NOA were mainly limited to (ultra)mafic rock-hosted asbestos, but studies on carbonate rock-hosted asbestos are relatively rare in S. Korea. Therefore, this study was aimed to examine mineralogical characteristics of carbonate rock-hosted NOA at three sites including Muju and Jangsu, Jeonbuk province and Asan, Chungnam province. Types of rocks at the three sites mainly consisted of Precambrian metasedimentary rocks, carbonate rock, and Cretaceous and Jurassic granites. Asbestos-containing carbonate rock samples were obtained for mineralogical characterization. XRD, PLM, EPMA, SEM and EDS analyses were used to characterize mineralogical characteristics of the carbonate rock-hosted NOA. From the carbonate rock, fibrous minerals were occurred acicular and columnar forms in the three sites. Fibrous minerals were composed of mainly tremolite and associated minerals included possibly asbestos containing materials (ACM) such as talc, vermiculite, and sepiolite. The length and aspect ratios of tremolite were similar to the standard asbestiform (length >$5{\mu}m$, length:width = 3:1). These results indicate that both non-asbestiform and asbestiform tremolite with acicular forms occurred in carbonate rocks at three sites. Geological and geochemical characteristics and mineral assemblages indicate tremolite and associated minerals might be formed by hydrothermal alternation and/or hydrothermal veins of carbonate rocks due to intrusion of acidic igneous rocks.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 1981

Some physical and chemical properties of forest soils in Korea were analyzed for providing the reasonable management methods of forest lands, Among 375 soil series surveyed until 1979, 93 soil series of forest soils were classified and analyzed according to their characteristics. Firstly soil data were classified into 5 categories by weathered products and secondly were classified and analyzed by parent rocks. The results are as follows: 1) In forest soils characterized by weathered products volcanic ash soils were proved to be the most fertile and alluvial soils were turned out to be the most infertile soils. Residual soils on mountain and hill were mostly on the average in all kinds of soil properties analyzed except total soil depth. 2) Igneous rocks developed rather infertile soils containing large amount of organic matter and available $P_2O_5$ with relatively deep soil depth and strong acidity. On the other hand sedimentary rocks produced rather shallow soils containing small amount of organic matter and available $P_2O_5$ but they were relatively fertile with weak acidity. 3) Among igneous rocks basalt and trachyte produced very fertile soils and granite and andesite produced slightly infertile soils. 4) Among sedimentary rocks limestone soils had high fertility neutral in acidity but low amount of available $P_2O_5$ 6) Alluvial sand produced generally very infertile soils with great soil depth comparing with the arable alluvial land with high fertility.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.5-19
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• 2019

Considering the natural phenomenon in which steep slopes ($65^{\circ}{\sim}85^{\circ}$) consisting of rock mass remain stable for decades, slopes steeper than 1:0.5 (the standard of slope angle for blast rock) may be applied in geotechnical conditions which are similar to those above at the design and initial construction stages. In the process of analysing the stability of a good to fair continuum rock slope that can be designed as a steep slope, a general method of estimating rock mass strength properties from design practice perspective was required. Practical and genealized engineering methods of determining the properties of a rock mass are important for a good continuum rock slope that can be designed as a steep slope. The Genealized Hoek-Brown (H-B) failure criterion and GSI (Geological Strength Index), which were revised and supplemented by Hoek et al. (2002), were assessed as rock mass characterization systems fully taking into account the effects of discontinuities, and were widely utilized as a method for calculating equivalent Mohr-Coulomb shear strength (balancing the areas) according to stress changes. The concept of calculating equivalent M-C shear strength according to the change of confining stress range was proposed, and on a slope, the equivalent shear strength changes sensitively with changes in the maximum confining stress (${{\sigma}^{\prime}}_{3max}$ or normal stress), making it difficult to use it in practical design. In this study, the method of estimating the strength properties (an iso-angle division method) that can be applied universally within the maximum confining stress range for a good to fair continuum rock mass slope is proposed by applying the H-B failure criterion. In order to assess the validity and applicability of the proposed method of estimating the shear strength (A), the rock slope, which is a study object, was selected as the type of rock (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary) on the steep slope near the existing working design site. It is compared and analyzed with the equivalent M-C shear strength (balancing the areas) proposed by Hoek. The equivalent M-C shear strength of the balancing the areas method and iso-angle division method was estimated using the RocLab program (geotechnical properties calculation software based on the H-B failure criterion (2002)) by using the basic data of the laboratory rock triaxial compression test at the existing working design site and the face mapping of discontinuities on the rock slope of study area. The calculated equivalent M-C shear strength of the balancing the areas method was interlinked to show very large or small cohesion and internal friction angles (generally, greater than $45^{\circ}$). The equivalent M-C shear strength of the iso-angle division is in-between the equivalent M-C shear properties of the balancing the areas, and the internal friction angles show a range of $30^{\circ}$ to $42^{\circ}$. We compared and analyzed the shear strength (A) of the iso-angle division method at the study area with the shear strength (B) of the existing working design site with similar or the same grade RMR each other. The application of the proposed iso-angle division method was indirectly evaluated through the results of the stability analysis (limit equilibrium analysis and finite element analysis) applied with these the strength properties. The difference between A and B of the shear strength is about 10%. LEM results (in wet condition) showed that Fs (A) = 14.08~58.22 (average 32.9) and Fs (B) = 18.39~60.04 (average 32.2), which were similar in accordance with the same rock types. As a result of FEM, displacement (A) = 0.13~0.65 mm (average 0.27 mm) and displacement (B) = 0.14~1.07 mm (average 0.37 mm). Using the GSI and Hoek-Brown failure criterion, the significant result could be identified in the application evaluation. Therefore, the strength properties of rock mass estimated by the iso-angle division method could be applied with practical shear strength.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.277-290
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• 2016

Deep geological cross-sectional data is generally not common nor easy to construct, because it is expensive and requires a great deal of time. As a result, geological interpretations at depth are limited. Many scientists attempt to construct geological cross-sections at depth using geological surface data and geophysical data. In this paper, we suggest a method for constructing cross-sections from limited geological surface data in a target area. The reason for this study is to construct and interpret geological cros-sections at depth to evaluate heat flow anomaly along the Yangsan fault. The Yangsan Fault passes through the south-eastern part of the Korean Peninsula. The cross-section is constructed from Sangbukmyeon to Unchonmyeon passing perpendicularly through the Yangsan Fault System trending NW-SE direction. The geological cross-section is constructed using the following data: (1) Lithologic distributions and main structural elements. (2) Extensity of sedimentary rock and igneous rock, from field mapping. (3) Fault dimension calculated based on geometry of exposed surface rupture, and (4) Seismic and core logging data. The Yangsan Fault System is composed of the Jain fault, Milyang fault, Moryang fault, Yangsan fault, Dongnae fault, and Ingwang fault which strike NNE-SSW. According to field observation, the western section of the Yangsan fault bounded by igneous rocks and in the eastern section sedimentary rocks are dominant. Using surface fault length we infer that the Yangsan Fault System has developed to a depth of kilometers beneath the surface. According to seismic data, sedimentary rocks that are adjacent to the Yangsan fault are thin and getting thicker towards the east of the section. In this study we also suggest a new method to recognize faults using core loggings. This analysis could be used to estimate fault locations at different scales.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2017

Evaluation of the weathering index using the quantitative element composition of rocks is very effective in predicting the degree of weathering of rocks and the secondary weathering residuals. While the process of weathering varies according to the types of rocks, the study of weathering in Korea is concentrated on acidic igneous rocks. This study calculated the weathering indices using whole rock analysis (X-ray fluorescence analysis) of sandstone, mudstone, and shale belonging to clastic sedimentary rocks. The statistical significance of the indices was examined based on the correlation of the calculated weathering indices. Clastic sedimentary rocks showed higher significance of Wp, CIA, CIW and PIA weathering index indicating weathering of feldspar. Chemical Index of alteration (CIA) has the advantage of predicting weathering pathway and clay mineral production, but it is effective to consider chemical index of weathering index (CIW) simultaneously to improve accuracy. In order to reduce uncertainties due to carbonate rocks and to estimate the accurate weathering index, rock samples with high CaO content should be excluded from the evaluation of weathering index.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.251-264
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• 2004

The Charnockite in Sancheong region is quarzofeldspathic rock containing orthopyroxene and garnet with a color dark than common granitic rocks. The Chamockite are mostly massive and medium to coarse-grained with K-feldspar phenocryst, but reveal weak foliation. The rock consist mainly of quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase and orhopyroxene, with biotite, garnet, and anthophyllite. In petrochemistry, the Chamockite has 61-65% $SiO_2$ contents, varying gradually into the margin contacted with orthogneiss, which have compositions of felsic igneous rocks. Major element show almost systematical variation with those of the marginal orthogneisses, except the hornblende gneiss and anorthosite. The Charnockite and orthogneisses show the tholeiitic differentiational trend. Trace and rare earth element abundance patterns in the Charnockite show remarkable negative Sr and Eu anomalies similar to orthogneisses, but different from the hornblende gneiss and anorthosite. Eu contents of the Charnockite are richer than that of orthogneisses. The metamorphic condition of the Charnockite were tested by an orthopyroxene-garnet geotherrnorneter and a plagioclase-garnet geobarometer. Estimated P-T conditions are about $761^{\circ}C$ and 7 kbar at peak metamorphism, but $653^{\circ}C$ and 6.4 kbar at retrograde metamorphism. This suggests that the Charnockite have from an early stage of high-grade metamorphism to represent the granulite facies and then to a late stage medium-grade metamorphism belonging to the amphibolite facies.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.108-120
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• 1996

This study reports petrography and geochemical characteristics of the Cretaceous volcanic rocks that are distributed in the vicinity of the Cheonsungsan area, Yangsan-Gun, Gyeongsangnam-Do. The Cretaceous volcanic rocks composed of andesitic rocks, Wonhyosan tuff, Cheonsungsan tuff in ascending order. Sedimentary rock is the basement in the study area cofered with volcanic rocks. These volcanic rocks are Wonhyosan tuff and Cheonsungsan tuff that represented the early phase of the Bulgugsa igneous activity. Wonhyosan tuff are classified into dacite tuff and dacite welded tuff based on the rock texture and their mineral composition. They are covered with Cheonsungsan tuff. Dacite tuff composed of lithic lapilli ash-flow tuff and vitric ash-flow tuff. Most dacite welded tuff are lapilli ash-flow tuff. Cheonsungsan tuff overlying the Wonhyosan tuff consists of rhyolite tuff and rhyolite welded tuff. Rhyolite tuff are lithic crystal ash-flow tuff and crystal vitric ash-flow tuff with somewhat accidental fragments of andesitic and sedimentary rocks. Rhyolite welded tuff is distinguishe from rhyolite tuff by is typical eelded fabrics and its rock color. According to petrochemical data, the volcanic rocks in study area belong to high-K orogenic suties. On the discriminant diagrams such as La/Yb versus Th/Yb, these rocks falls into the discriminant fields for the normal continental margin arc.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.241-254
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• 2017

The Stone Guardian and Memorial Tablets from the Muryeong Royal Tomb are composed of the same kind of plutonic igneous rocks, the so-called hornblendite. Color of the rocks show greenish gray, and both of them occurred with medium-grained granular texture. The rock-forming minerals composed mainly of amphibole and plagioclase. Magnetic susceptibility of the Stone Guardian is 0.15 to 0.63 (mean $0.42{\times}10^{-3}SI\;unit$), the King's Stone Memorial Tablet is 0.11 to 0.38 (mean $0.24{\times}10^{-3}SI\;unit$) and the Queen's Stone Memorial Tablet ranges from 0.10 to 0.33 (mean $0.18{\times}10^{-3}SI\;unit$). The rocks of the artifacts are hard to find in the Gongju area. Large scaled out crop of hornblendite is not distributed, but found in many places that the form of dike. The lithology and occurrences indicate that the artifacts are made of plutonic rock rather than dike. Reddish brown and pale brown contaminants, are also distributed on the surface of the Stone Guardian and Memorial Tablets. The reddish brown color is due to Fe oxide, and the pale brown color occurs due to the elution of Ca. The reddish brown contaminants are influenced by the internal components of the rock and oxidation of burial iron accessories. In contrast, the pale brown contaminants are considered to have flown from the carbonate materials used in the Royal Tomb, with a little added Fe oxide. Physical and chemical deterioration operate intricately in the Stone Guardian and Memorial Tablets. Physical deterioration is extremely rare and chemical deterioration is stable except for a part of the Stone Guardian and the front of the Queen Stone Memorial Tablet.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.455-469
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• 2007

The study area, Bonggil-ri, Gyeongju, SE Korea, is composed of Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, and Tertiary igneous rocks and dykes. A research on fracture developing history and density distribution was carried out on well exposed Tertiary granites. The fractures developed in this area have the following sequence; NW-SE trending duo-tile shear bands (set a), NNW-SSE trending extensional fractures (set d), WNW-ESE trending extensional or normal fractures (set b), NE-SW trending right-lateral fractures (set c), WNW-ESE trending reverse fault reactivated from normal faults (set e) and NW-SE trending left-lateral faults reactivated from shear bands (set a) under brittle condition. According to the result of fracture density analysis, the fracture density in this area depends on rock property rather than rock age, and also higher fracture density is observed around fault damage zones. However, this high fracture density may also be related to the cooling process associated with dyke intrusion as well as rock types and fault movement. Regardless of the reason of the high fracture density, high fracture density itself contributes to fluid flow and migration of chemical elements.