• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.771-784
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• 2007

This study shows the weathering characteristics of mica-schist affected by faulting and metamorphism through laboratory tests. Frozen-thaw test, which simulate the physical-chemical weathering processes in the laboratory, shows the important influence of foliation developed in mica-schist, resulting in $20{\sim}40%$ reduction of UCS according to weathering grade of rock. Slaking durability test was carried out for different weathering grade rock specimens and indicated that the specimens from fault area had a low durability index compared to other relatively fresh samples. XRD analysis allowed to estimate the dynamic evolution of mineral composition through wet-dry cycle in which the chlorite was the most important mineral leached out during slaking test. The creep test indicated that the main deformation produced along the foliation plane. The compacted clay minerals between discontinuity planes influence on the discontinuity shearing properties and result in a big difference between peak shear strength and residual strength. The results of laboratory tests on mica-schist show the possibility of a important deformation along the foliation plane or discontinuity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.51
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• pp.17.1-17.10
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• 2021

Our previous study on the binding activity between Cel5H and clay minerals showed highest binding efficiency among other cellulase enzymes cloned. Here, based on previous studies, we hypothesized that the positive amino acids on the surface of Cel5H protein may play an important role in binding to clay surfaces. To examine this, protein sequences of Bacillus licheniformis Cel5H (BlCel5H) and Paenibacillus polymyxa Cel5A (PpCel5A) were analyzed and then selected amino acids were mutated. These mutated proteins were investigated for binding activity and force measurement via atomic force microscopy (AFM). A total of seven amino acids which are only present in BlCel5H but not in PpCel5A were selected for mutational studies and the positive residues which are present in both were omitted. Of the seven selected surface lysine residues, only three mutants K196A(M2), K54A(M3) and K157T(M4) showed 12%, 7% and 8% less clay mineral binding ability, respectively compared with wild-type. The probable reason why other mutants did not show altered binding efficiency might be due to relative location of amino acids on the protein surface. Meanwhile, measurement of adhesion forces on mica sheets showed a well-defined maximum at 69±19 pN for wild-type, 58±19 pN for M2, 53±19 pN for M3, and 49±19 pN for M4 proteins. Hence, our results demonstrated that relative location of surface amino acids of Cel5H protein especially positive charged amino acids are important in the process of clay mineral-protein binding interaction through electrostatic exchange of charges.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.531-541
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• 1997

Unconsolidated sediments of Youngjong Island were investigated to consider the vertical distribution of clay minerals and their origin. At least three sedimentation units can be recognized by color, magnetic susceptibility, and pH. X-ray diffraction analysis of clay size fraction reveals that illite is the most abundant phase (52.06%), and chlorite (27.16%), kaolinite (16.92%), smectite (3.86%) occur next to it. Detailed XRD study suggests that illitic materials contain fairly large amount of ordinary muscovite derived from the mica schist in Youngjong Island and adjacent area. The relative amount of kaolinite and chlorite is less than those of samples from estuary mouth of several rivers that flow to Yellow Sea and South Sea. Especially smectite content of the present sample is much higher than those of estuary sediments. These indicate that the unconsolidated sediments of tidal-flat deposit in Youngjong Island are largely affected by marine influence and partly affected by sediment in influx from China. However, some degree of source of this unconsolidated sediments is inland origin from adjacent estuary sediment and in situ or nearby weathered materials.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.219-228
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• 1981

To clarify influences of silicious raw materials on mineralogcal and petrological properties in clinkering process clay, shale, quartzite, sand and coal ash have been used as silicious raw materials. The tests on thermal properties, reactivity and burnability of raw mixtures which have different silicious raw materials respectively have been made by means of X-ray diffractometry, differential thermal analysis, optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Limestone contains coarse crystalline grains which show 0.1-1.0mm and its decarbonation temperature is 86$0^{\circ}C$. Reaction temperatures among raw mixtures have been determined by X-ray diffractometry and their results are as follows; clay minerals under 1, 00$0^{\circ}C$, mica group, 100$0^{\circ}C$-110$0^{\circ}C$, feldspar group, 1, 10$0^{\circ}C$-1, 20$0^{\circ}C$ and quartz 1, 20$0^{\circ}C$-1, 30$0^{\circ}C$. Burnabilities of raw mixtures of different temperatures have been found that they mainly depend upon their mineral contents in silicious raw materials and their order is as follows; $clay\geq shale\gg quartzite \geq sand$.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.113-120
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• 2023

Coastal and offshore structures such as ports and offshore wind farms will often need to be built on fine-grained sediments. Geotechnical properties associated with sediment compressibility are key parameters for marine construction designs especially on soft grounds, which involve clay-mineral dominated fines that can consolidate and settle significantly in response to engineered and environmental loads. We conduct liquid limit tests and 1D consolidation tests with fine-grained soils (silica silt, mica, kaolin and bentonite) and biogenic soils (diatom). The pore fluids for the liquid limit tests include deionized water and a series of brines with NaCl salt concentrations of 0.001 m, 0.01 m, 0.1 m, 0.6 m and 2.0 m, and the pore fluids for the consolidation tests deionized water, 0.01 m, 0.6 m, 2 m. The salt concentrations help the liquid limits of kaolin and bentonite decrease, but those of diatom slightly increase. The silica silt and mica show minimal changes in liquid limit due to salt concentrations. Accordingly, compression indices of soils follow the trend of the liquid limit as the liquid limit determined the initial void ratio of the consolidation test. Diatoms are more likely to be broken than clastic sediments during to loading, and diatom-rich sediment is therefore generally more compressible than clastic-rich sediment.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.147-163
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• 2000

The mineralogy and chemical composition of reddish to brownish yellow residual soils, so called "Hwangto" have been examined according to representative host rocks. The result of the study indicates that Hwangto consists of 40-80% clay minerals and various minerals such as quartz, feldspar, hornblende, goethite, and gibbsite. Clay minerals include kaolinite, halloysite, illite, hydroxy interlayered vermiculite (HIV), mica/vermiculite interstratifield mineral and chlorite. The mineralogical constituents and contents of Hwangto were different depending on the types of host rocks. Moreover, the Jurassic granitic rocks contain relatively more kaolin minerals, whereas the Cretaceous granitic rocks contain more HIV and illite. In addition, reddish Hwangto contains relatively more kaolinite and HIV, and yellowish Hwangto contains more illite and halloysite. It is suggested that feldspars and micas of host rocks were chemically weathered into illite, halloysite, illite/vermiculite interstratified minerals, and HIV, and finally into kaolinite. Compared with their host rocks, the major chemical compositions of Hwangto tend to contain more $Al_2O_3,\;Fe_2O_3,\;H_2O$ in amount and less Ca, Mg, and Na. Hwangto contains relatively high amount of trace elements, P, S, Zr, Sr, Ba, Rb, and Ce including considerable amount of Li, V, Cr, Zn, Co, Ni, Cu, Y, Nb, La, Nd, Pb, Th in excess of 10 ppm. Relatively high amount of most trace elements were detected in the Hwangto. The major and minor chemical compositions of the Hwangto were different depending on the types of host rocks. However, their difference was in the similar range compared with the compositions of host rocks.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.284-289
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• 2014

Farmers in highlands in South Korea pile up 20 to 30 cm of saprolites, mostly granite- or granite-gneiss-weathered materials, on surface of arable lands every three to five years to compensate eroded soil and sometimes to discontinue soil-borne diseases. Immediate increases of infiltration and percolation rates are expected with coarse textured saprolites while soil drainage becomes poorer in a long-term. In this study, we analyzed mineralogical characteristics and micro-morphology of plow pan to investigate processes making impermeable layers. Soil samples were collected from plow pan, usually located at approximately 20 cm soil depth and at the lower part of piled saprolites, in arable lands in Hoenggye 5-ri, Daekwanryeong-myeon, Gangwon-do (N37.7, E128.7) in which saprolites were added 2, 4, and 8 years ago; saprolites were transported from similar areas. The saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased over time. Based on soil thin section pedography, quartz and feldspar accounted for a majority of minerals. The size of feldspar decreased and macropores became filled with clay or silt particles over time, which implies that macropores were packed with particles weathered from feldspar. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that intensity of feldspar decreased over time and the reverse was true for kaolinite and illite, indicating that feldspar and mica weathering induced formation of kaolinite and illite. Conclusively, deteriorated drainage by formation of impermeable layers in farms with piled saprolites was caused by accumulation of clay minerals such as kaolinite and illite in macropores; illite and kaolinite can be formed by weathering of mica and feldspar, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.158-167
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• 1994

The various weathering products derived from andesitic rocks in the Guweol mountain area of Pusan have been studied in order to investigate the occurrence, characteristics and evolutional trend of clay minerals in the weathered rock and soil using mainly X-ray powder diffraction method. Kaolinite and halloysite are very abundant in the weathered rocks and soils derived from andesitic rocks of this area. Also, $12{\AA}$- and $14{\AA}$-minerals occur in the considerable amount. $12{\AA}$-minerals have been identified as mica/vermiculite interlayer minerals showing the $25{\AA}$ basal reflection. Their crystal sizes are relatively big showing more than 10 micron in diameter. Two types of $14{\AA}$-mineral, which are vermiculite/smectite interlayer mineral and Al-vermiculite, have been observed. Kaolin minerais consist of kaolinite, $10{\AA}$ and $7{\AA}$ halloysite. Kaolinite relatively dominates in the strongly weathered soil of the area. In contrast with kaolinite. $12{\AA}$- and $14{\AA}$-minerals such as vermiculite/smectite and mica/vermiculite interlayer minerals tend to occur in the weakly to intermediately weathered products. Based on their occurrences, it strongly suggests that they are intermediate products in the course of the weathering process from the parent materials into the kaolin mineral.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.611-631
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• 1999

Enviromental geochemisty and heary metal contamination at the Kongjueil mine creek were underaken on the basis of physicohemical properties and mineralogy for various kinds of water (surface, mine and ground water),soil, precipitate and sediment collected of April and December in 1998. Hydrgeochemical composition of the water samples are characterized by relatively significant enricant of Ca+Na, alkiali ions $NO_3$ and Cl inground and surfore water, wheras the mine waters are relatively eneripheral water of the mining creek have the characteristics of the (Ca+Mg)-$(HCO_3+SO_4)$type. The pH of the mine water is high acidity (3.24)and high EC (613$\mu$S/cm)compared with those of surface and ground water. The range of $\delta$D and $\delta^{18}O$ values (relative to SMOW) in the waters are shpwn in -50.2 to -61.6% and -7.0 to -8.6$\textperthousand$(d value=5.8 to 8.7). Using computer program, saturation index of albite, calcite, dolomite in mine water are nearly saturated. The gibbiste, kaolinite and smectite are superaturated in the surface and ground water, respectively. Calculated water-mineral reaction and stabilities suggest that weathing of silicate minerals may be stable kaolinite owing to the continuous water-rock reaction. Geochemical modeling showed that mostly toxic heavy metals may exist larfely in the from of metal-sulfate $(MSO_4\;^2)$and free metal $(M^{2+})$ in nmine water. These metals in the ground and surface water could be formed of $CO_3$ and OH complex ions. The average enrichment indices of water samples are 2.72 of the groundwater, 2.26 of the surface water and 14.15 of the acid mine water, normalizing by surface water composition at the non-mining creek, repectively. Characteristics of some major, minor and rate earth elements (Al/Na, K/Na, V/Ni, Cr/V, Ni/Co, La/Ce, Th/Yb, $La_N/Yb_N$, Co/Th, La/Sc and Sc/Th) in soil and sediment are revealed a narrow range and homogeneous compositions may be explained by acidic to intermediate igneous rocks. And these suggested that sediment source of host granitic gneiss colud be due to rocks of high grade metamorphism originated by sedimentary rocks. Maximum concentrations of environmentally toxic elements in sediment and soil are Fe=53.80 wt.% As=660, Cd=4, Cr=175, Cu=158, Mn=1010, Pb=2933, Sb=4 and Zn=3740 ppm, and extremely high concentrations are found are found in the subsurface soil near the ore dump and precipitates. Normalizing by composition of host granitic gneiss, the average enerichment indices are 3.72 of the sediments, 3.48 of the soils, 10.40 of the precipitates of acid mine drainage and 6.25 of the soils near the main adit. The level of enerichment was very severe in mining drainage sediments, while it was not so great in the soils. mineral composition of soil and sediment near the mining area were partly variable being composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, chlorite, vermiculite, bethierin and clay minerals. reddish variable being composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, chlorite, vermiculite, bethierin and clay minerals. Reddish brown precipitation mineral in the acid mine drainage identifies by schwertmanite. From the separated mineralgy, soil and sediment are composed of some pyrite, arsenopyite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, malachite, goethite and various kinds of hydroxied minerals.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.58-72
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• 2001

The Cretaceous granite, andesite and sedimentary rocks are widely distributed in the northern Pusan area. The present study investigates mineralogical and geochemical charateristics of residual and cultivated soils derived from these rocks. The soils of granite area contain a large amount of quartz relative to clay minerals, whereas the soils of the andesite area contain more clay minerals than quartz. Clay minerals consist mainly of kaolin minerals illite hydroxy interlayered vermiculite interstratified mica/vermiculite and chlorite. Kaolin minerals are abundant in paddy soils while illite is abundant in less weathered soils. Si and K are major elements in the soils of granite area while Fe and Al in the soils of andesite area. In all the soils Ca, Mg and Na were generally depleted in comparison to those in parent rocks. Analysis data of trace element show that the enrichment pattern in soils depends on parent rock type with high oncentration of some elements over 100 ppm: Ba and Rb in granite area Zn, Bn, and V in andesite area, and Ba and V in sedimentary rock. In granite area, Rb and Th were greatly enriched in soil than in parent rocks. However, Cr, Ni and Sr commonly decrease, whereas Pb increases in all the soils. Exchangeable cation capacity(CEC) is relatively high in the soils of andesite are including abundant clay minerals. Collective evidences prove that the mineralogical and chemical compositions of soils are strongly dependent on the parent rock type. The mineralogy and chemistry of long cultivated soils are not significantly different from those of residual soils.