• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.3 s.45
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• pp.205-214
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• 2005

Some Quaternary faults developed in the eastern block of the Ulsan fault are Gaegok 1, Gaegok 2, Singye, Madong, Wonwonsa and Jinhyeon faults, which are characterized by thin gouge and narrow cataclasitic tones. This study was performed to emphasize the role of mineral alteration and microtexture in response to hydrothermal alteration of fault gouges during fault activity, using XRD, EPMA, BSE (backscattered electron image), and K-Ar age dating methods. Alteration minerals in fault gouges were formed in the age range of $44.3\~28.9Ma$ by hydrothermal alteration attributed to fault activity. XRD results show that fault gouges consist predominantly of clay minerals, quartz and feldspars. Clay minerals formed in the gouge zones are mainly composed of smectite with trace chlorite, illite and kaolinite. The evidence to support the hydrothermal alteration of preexisting minerals due to fault activity are easily recognized at the host rocks in contact with gouges zones. Injected gouge and calcite veins indicate that they were originated from multiple deformation by repeated fault activity. Gouge with green or greenish grey color, for example Jinhyeon fault, contains higher $Al_2O_3$ and lower MgO and CaO compared to those with reddish color. Various colors of fault gouge are intimately related to the chemical compositions of main constituent mineral as well as mineral assemblage.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.203-215
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• 2011

Geochemical and mineralogical properties of a contamited soil should be taken into account to decide a remediation strategy for a given contaminant because development and optimization of soil remedial technologies are based on geochemical and mineralogical separation techniques. The objective of this study was to investigate the geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of arsenic-contaminated soils. The arsenic-contaminated soil samples were obtained from Chonam gold mine, Gwangyang, Chonnam, Particle size analysis, sequential extraction, and mineralogical analyses were used to characterize geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of the As-contaminated soils. Particle size analyses of the As-contaminated soils showed the soils contained 17-36% sand, 25-54% silt, 9-28% clay and the soil texture were sandy loam, loam, and silt loam. The soil pH ranged from 4.5 to 6.6. The amount of arsenic concentrations from the sequential soil leaching is mainly associated with iron oxides (1 to 75%) and residuals (12 to 91%). Major minerals of sand and silt fractions in the soils were feldspar, kaolinite, mica, and quartz and minor mineral of which is an iron oxide. Major minerals of clay fraction were composed of illite, kaolinite, quartz, and vermiculite. And minor minerals are iron oxide and rutile. The geochemical and mineralogical analyses indicated the arsenic is adsorbed or coprecipitated with iron oxides or phyllosilicate minerals. The results may provide understanding of geochemical and mineralogical characteristics for the site remediation of arsenic-contaminated soils.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.497-510
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• 2022

Monthly monitoring, 3D scan survey, and electrical resistivity survey were conducted from January 2018 to August 2022 to identify the cause of rockfall occurring in Daljeon-ri Columnar Joint (Natural Monument No. 415), Pohang. A total of 3,231 rocks fell from the columnar joint over the past 5 years, and 1,521 (47%) of the falling rocks were below 20 cm in length, 978 (30.3%) of 20-30 cm, and 732 (22.7%) of rocks over 30 cm. While the number of rockfalls by year has decreased since 2018, the frequency of rockfalls bigger than 30 cm tends to increase. Large-scale rockfalls occurred mainly during the thawing season (March-April) and the rainy season (June-July), and the analysis of the relationship between cumulative rainfall and rockfall occurrence showed that cumulative rainfall for 3 to 4 days is also closely related to the occurrence of rockfall. Smectite and illite, which are expansible clay minerals, were observed in XRD analysis of the slope material (filling minerals) in the columnar joint, and the presence of a fault fracture zone was confirmed in the electrical resistivity survey. In addition, the confirmed fault fracture zone and the maximum erosion point analyzed through 3D precision measurement coincided with the main rockfall occurrence point observed by the BTC-6PXD camera. Therefore, the main cause of rockfall at Daljeon-ri columnar joint in Pohang is a combination of internal factors (development of fault fracture zones and joints, weathering of rocks, presence of expansive clay minerals) and external factors (precipitation, rapid thawing phenomenon), resulting in large-scale rockfall. Meanwhile, it was also confirmed that the Pohang-Gyeongju earthquake, which was continuously raised, was not the main cause.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.17-29
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• 2009

There has been an increase in the investigation of deep sea sediments with a consequent increase in the amount of energy required to undertake these investigations. The geotechnical characteristics of Ulleung Basin sediment are explored by using depressurized specimens following methane production tests carried out on pressured core samples obtained at 2,100 m water depth and 110 m below sea floor. Geotechnical index tests, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscope are conducted to identify the geotechnical index parameters, clay mineralogy, chemical composition, and microstructure of the sediments. Compressibility, and elastic and electromagnetic wave parameters are investigated for two samples by using a multi sensing instrumented oedometer cell. The strength chatracteristics are obtained by the direct shear tests. The dominant clay minerals are mostly kaolinite, illite, chlorite, and calcite. The SEM shows a well-developed flocculated structure of the microfossil. Void ratio, electrical resistivity, real permittivity, conductivity, and shear wave velocity show bi-linear behavior with the effective vertical stress: as the vertical effective stress increases. The friction angle obtained by the direct shear test is about $21^{\circ}$, which is similar to the value observed in the Ulleung Basin sediments. This study shows that the understanding of the behavior acting on the diatomaceous marine sediment is important because it often maintains the useful energy resources such as gas hydrate and so will be the new engineering field in the next generation.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2023

This study analyzed and compared the physicochemical characteristics of topsoil and subsoil of Grade 1 soil from an igneous rock area on the ecological and nature map. The water content and pH of the collected soil samples were measured, and X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction analyses were performed. The results showed that the water content of the topsoil was higher than that of the subsoil, and its pH was more acidic than that of the subsoil. According to the X-ray fluorescence analysis results, sample I9 was closest to kaolinite, while sample I7 was most distant from kaolinite. All other samples were located between samples I7 and I9. The X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the average content of clay minerals was higher in the topsoil than in the subsoil. The most notable clay minerals produced included illite, vermiculite, kaolinite, chlorite, and gibbsite. The results of this study will be used as a basic data for topsoil restoration to convert subsoil into topsoil.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.491-508
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• 2002

While about 80% of Jeju soils are classified as Andisols, the soils derived from volcanic ash in Dangsanbong are not Andisols. There is a significant difference of precipitation in localities of Jeju island. The study area is characterized by the lowest amount of annual rainfall in Jeju Island, and by the layered silicates as dominant solid phase in clay fraction. The purpose of this study was to characterize the mineralogy of the non-Andie soils in detail, especially hydroxy-interlayered silicates. Two major soil horizons are recognized in the soil profile developed in the Dangsanbong area, which can be designated as A and C. The soil pH($H_{2}0$), ranges from 6.6 to 7.3 increasing with depth, is higher than that of typical Andisols(pH<6.0). While the pH(NaF), ranges from 9.49 to 9.81, indicates that significant amount of amorphous phases might be present as exchanging complexes. It is estimated to about 1.542.88 wt% by using chemical selective dissolution. The organic content of surface horizon is about 2 wt%. This soil are composed of quartz, feldspar and olivine as major constituents with minor of silicate clays. Quartz is frequently observed in A and distinctly decreases in its amount with depth, while olivine is dominant phase in C and rarely observed in A. In the <0.2$\mu\textrm{m}$ size fraction, smectite and kaolinite/smectite interstratification are dominant with minor of illite. The amounts of smectite decrease with depth, while the amounts of kaolinite/smecite interstratification increase with depth, which indicates the trend of mineral transformation with increasing the degree of weathering. The proportion of kaolinite in kaolinite/smectite interstratification is about 85%, and is not changed significantly through the profile. In the 2-0.2$\mu\textrm{m}$size fraction, vermiculite, smectite, illite and kaolinite are major components with minor of chlorite. Most of chlorite are interstratified with smectite. Chlorite which is not interstratified with smectite occurs only in surface horizon. The proportion of the chlorite in the chlorite/smectite interstratification is 59-70(%) and increases with depth. Hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite(HIV) with hydroxy-Fe/AI in their interlayers occurs in both A and C horizon. The amounts of hydroxy-Fe/AI decrease with depth. Hydroxy-interlayered smectite(HIS) of which interlayers might be composed of hydroxy-Mg/Al occurs only in C horizon. As the results of mineralogical investigation for the soil profile in the study area, clay minerals might be changed and evolved through the following weathering sequences: 1) Smectite Kaolinite, HIS, Vermiculite, 2) Vermiculite HIV Chlorite.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.41-54
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• 2012

The weathering process of rocks leads to the reduction of geotechnical bearing capacity. The weathering of granite is frequently used to refer to the degradation of geotechnical property in the design and construction of infra-structure. In this study, the range of values of CIA (chemical index of alteration) and the change of mineral compositions by weathering have been analysed with igneous rock, which covers 45.5% in South Korean territory. Several weathering indices were studied for various rocks found in Korea and significant relationships between different indices were delineated via statistical analysis. The applicability of CIA was found to be the most significant among all weathering indicies. The composition of illite, the secondary weathering residual, generally increases for the felsic rock, and swelling clay material is not included. The weathering of felsic rock will follow a sequential process, starting from bed rock, illite, and chlorite to kaoline. The mafic rock will show weathering process, from bed rock, smectite, and chlorite to kaoline. The intermediate rocks such as andesite and tuff will show similar weathering procedure and the composition of kaoline, chlorite, and smectite tends to increase more than that of illite when the mafic rock is dominated. This means the increase of rock material which has high CEC (cation exchange capacity) during secondary weathering process. However, the characteristics of a specific rock cannot be completely analyzed using merely CIA, since it is exclusively based on chemical composition and corresponding alteration. The CIA can be used to quantify the weathering process in a limited range, and further considerations such as rock composition, strength characteristics will be required to configure the comprehensive weathering impact on any specific region.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2002

The present study is focused on the granite weathering and soil formation, and the heavy metal contamination in soils in the Onsan industrial area. For profile study, soil sampling was conducted on each depth and experimental analyses have been conducted on those samples. X-ray diffraction analyses show that clay minerals consist mainly of kaolin minerals, vermiculite, and minor illite. Most of kaolin minerals in the lower kiwi of the profile consist of halloysite as confirmed by formamide intercalation, but the content of halloysite decreases gradually toward the surface since it has been transformed to kaolinite in the upper part of the profile. Thermal treatment by heating at $110^{\circ}C,\;300^{\circ}C,\;and\;550^{\circ}C$ shows a diffuse and broad peak the between 10 and $14\;{\AA}$ region in X-ray diffractograms. This suggests the possible existence of the hydroxy-Al interlayerecl vermiculite. Na-citrate extraction method reaconfirms this result showing transition of $14\;{\AA}$ peak to $10\;{\AA}$ In by removing the interlayer materials and restoring the vermiculite to its original state. The occurrence of hydroxy-Al interlayered vermiculite is also supported by soil pH distribution room 3.9 In the lower part to 3.6 in the upper part of the profile. Sequential extraction experiment was conducted to investigate the states of heavy metals in soils. The experiment shows that relatively high amounts of heavy metals are concentrated in the upper part of the profile and that most of them are bound to Fe/Mn oxides and organic matters while less concentration in clay minerals. The result indicates that most of heavy metal pollutants are concentrated in the surface soil and that the low concentrations of heavy metals in clays are mainly due to the low adsorption capacities of clay minerals such as kaolin minerals and hydroxy-Al interlayered vermiculite in acidified soil condition.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 1999

A laboratory flume experiment, using turbulence-generating acryl tank and natural sediments, was conducted to investigate the effects of salinity, concentration of suspended sediment, turbulence and clay minerals on the flocculation and settling of fine-grained suspended sediments. While experiments were run, a sequence of water samples were taken near the bottom of the tank to analyze the variations of size distribution and relative contents of clay minerals. The results of the salinity experiment indicate that median settling velocity ($W_{50}$) increases linearly with salinity. Different settling processes of suspended sediments under variable concentrations appear to be predictable, depending upon the range of the suspension concentration. At concentrations less than 200 mg/l, $W_{50}$ is rarely varied with concentration probably because of the individual--grain settling mode. In the range of 200 to 13,000 mg/l show $W_{50}$ and concentration a good relationship following an empirical formula: $W_{50}=0.45C^{0.44}$. This relationship, however, no longer holds in concentrations exceeding 13,000 mg/l; instead, a more or less reverse one is shown. This result suggests an effect of hindered settling. The turbulence effect is somewhat different from that of concentration. Turbulence accelerates the flocculation and settling susepended sediments at low concentration (200 mg/l), whereas at high concentration turbulence breaks floes down and impedes the settling. Size distribution of suspended sediments sampled near the bottom of the tank tend to be more negatively skewed and leptokurtic in turbulent conditions compared to those in static conditions. The clay mineral analysis from the sequential water samples shows that over time the content of smectite decreases most rapidly with illite remaining concentrated in suspension. This means that smectite, among other clay minerals, plays the most effective role in the flocculation of fine-grained sediment in saline water.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.137-151
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• 2013

This study is focused on element behaviors and mineral compositions of the fault rock developed in Yongdang-ri, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju City, Korea, using XRF, ICP, XRD, and EPMA/BSE in order to better understand the chemical variations in fault rocks during the fault activity, with emphasis on dependence of chemical mobility on mineralogy across the fault zone. As one of the main components of the fault rocks, $SiO_2$ shows the highest content which ranges from 61.6 to 71.0%, and $Al_2O_3$ is also high as having the 10.8~15.8% range. Alkali elements such as $Na_2O$ and $K_2O$ are in the range of 0.22~4.63% and 2.02~4.89%, respectively, and $Fe_2O_3$ is 3.80~12.5%, indicating that there are significant variations within the fault rock. Based on the chemical characteristics in the fault rocks, it is evident that the fault gouge zone is depleted in $Na_2O$, $Al_2O_3$, $K_2O$, $SiO_2$, CaO, Ba and Sr, whereas enriched in $Fe_2O_3$, MgO, MnO, Zr, Hf and Rb relative to the fault breccia zone. Such chemical behaviors are closely related to the difference in the mineral compositions between breccia and gouge zones because the breccia zone consists of the rock-forming minerals including quartz and feldspar, whereas the gouge zone consists of abundant clay minerals such as illite and chlorite. The alteration of the primary minerals leading to the formation of the clay minerals in the fault zone was affected by the hydrothermal fluids involved in fault activity. Taking into account the fact that major, trace and rare earth elements were leached out from the precursor minerals, it is assumed that the element mobility was high during the first stage of the fault activity because the fracture zone is interpreted to have acted as a path of hydrothermal fluids. Moving toward the later stage of fault activity, the center of the fracture zone was transformed into the gouge zone during which the permeability in the fault zone gradually decreased with the formation of clay minerals. Consequently, elements were effectively constrained in the gouge zone mostly filled with authigenic minerals including clay minerals, characterized by the low element mobility.