• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.431-445
• /
• 2022

A quantitative phase analysis method of X-ray powder diffraction was studied to determine the mineral content of clay-rich rocks practically as well as effectively. For quantitative X-ray powder diffraction analysis of the clay-rich rocks, it is necessary to prepare whole-rock powder samples with a random orientation by side mounting method. In addition, for the identification of the clay minerals in the rock, it is required to prepare an oriented mount specimen with a clay particle size of 2 ㎛ or less, ethylene glycol treatment, and heat treatment. RIR (reference intensity ratio) and Rietveld method were used for the quantitative analysis of the clay-rich rocks. It was possible to obtain the total clay and the non-clay minerals contents from the whole-rock X-ray diffraction profiles using the RIR values. In addition, it was possible to calculate the relative content of each clay mineral from the oriented X-ray diffraction profiles of the clay particle size and assign it to the total clay. In the Rietveld method of whole-rock X-ray diffraction, effective quantitative values were obtained from the Rietveld diffraction patterns excluded the region of less than 10 degrees (2θ). Similar quantitative values were shown in not only the RIR but the Rietveld methods. Therefore, the analysis results indicate a possibility of a routine quantitative analysis of clay-rich rocks in the laboratory. However, quantitative analysis of clay minerals is still a challenge because there are numerous varieties of clay minerals with different chemical and structural characteristics.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.17-25
• /
• 2016

The rocks exposed on the surface undergo expedite weathering process due to the effects of climatic process, etc. and the weathering process changes the properties of minerals, thereby lowering the stability of rocks. Therefore, it is important to examine the composition of minerals in order to investigate the resistance of rocks against weathering, which is performed by weathering sensitivity analysis. And microscopic flaking test was performed for the bored samples in this study and the composition of minerals that are vulnerable to weathering was measured through mode analysis. The lithological and mineralogical weathering factors were evaluated through this process. Furthermore, the degree of progress of weathering was identified by quantitatively measuring the actual mineral composition of rocks through X-Ray diffraction analysis and identifying the secondary minerals through observation with a scanning electron microscope. This analyzing the weathering sensitivity was analyzed to be capable of determining appropriate indicators that can determine weather resistance and predicting the weathering grade using chemical weathering speed.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.467-477
• /
• 2014

Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) occurs in rocks and soils as a result of natural weathering and human activities. The asbestos have been associated with ultramafic and mafic rocks, and carbonate rock. The previous studies on NOA were mainly limited to ultramafic and mafic rock-hosted asbestos in Korea. But, studies on carbonatehosted asbestos are relatively rare. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to investigate mineralogical characteristics of carbonate-hosted and metapelite-hosted NOA and to examine genesis of NOA occurred in the both rocks. The study area was Daerori, Seosan, Chungnam Province, Korea. The major rock formation consisted of limestone and schist which have been known to contain asbestos. Sampling was performed at outcrop which contained carbonate rock showing acicular asbestos crystals as well as pegmatitic intrusion that contacted with carbonate rock. PLM, XRD, EPMA, and EDS analyses were used to characterize mineral assemblages, mineralogical characteristics, and crystal habits of amphiboles and other minerals. BSEM images were also used to examine the genesis of asbestos minerals. The amphibole group was observed in all of the carbonate rocks, and actinolite and tremolite were identified in all rocks. These mineral habits were mainly micro-acicular crystals or secondary asbestiform minerals on the surface of non-asbestiform minerals appearing split end of columnar crystals produced by weathering. BSEM images showed residual textures of samples. The residual textures of carbonate rocks showed dolomite-tremolite-diopside mineral assemblages that formed during prograde metasomatism stage. Some carbonate rock also showed diopside-tremolite-talc mineral assemblages which were formed during retrograde metasomatism stage, as the residual textures. In result the presence of asbestos actinolite-tremolite in the carbonate rocks were confirmed in the areas where actinolite-tremolite asbestos was influenced by low temperature hydrothermal solution during metasomatism stage. These asbestos minerals showed the acicular asbestiform minerals, but even non-asbestiform minerals, a bundle or columnar shape, could transform to asbestiform minerals as potential NOA by weathering because the end of columnar shape of non-asbestiform minerals appeared as multiple acicular shaped fibers.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 1991

A study was carried out to investigate the composition of rock-forming minerals and mineralogical characteristics of the five major parent rocks in Korea. The identification was done through the analyses of chemical. X-ray diffraction, thermal(DTA, TG), infrared spectroscopic, and microscopic methods. Among these methods, X-ray diffraction was considered to be the most rapid and effective way to identify minerals in the parent rocks. The main rock-forming minerals of the parent rocks were feldspars, quartz, and micas in granite and granite-gneiss, calcite and dolomite in limestone, quartz and calcite in shale, plagioclase and augite in basalt. A small amount of sesquioxides was identified as a accessory mineral by means of DTA from the parent rocks of Weoljeong series(granite) and Cheongsan series(granite-gneiss). The abrasion pH affecting the soil formation ranged from 7.5 to 8.4 in the parent rocks containing ferromagnesian minerals and carbonates. In the granite and granite-gneiss of which the main rock-forming minerals were feldspars and quartz with low content of biotite, the abrasion pH ranged from 6.2 to 6.4. In chemical composition of the parent rocks, Si, AI, and K oxides tented to increase with higher contents of quartz, feldspars, and muscovite, while Fe and Mg oxides with higher content of biotite, chlorite, amphiboles, and augite. Higher ignition loss in limestone and shale resulted in the release of $CO_2$ from calcite and/or dolomite.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.571-577
• /
• 1995

Several acid-sulfate clay deposits associated with silicic magmas occur in the Haenam area of the southwestern part of Korea. Geology of the studied area consists of tuffs, granitic rocks, quartz porphyry, rhyolite, andesite and sedimentary rocks. The granitic rocks and quartz porphyry intruded tuffs and sedimentary rocks. The rhyolite and tuffs around the mines have undergone hydrothermally weak or strong alteration. Gold contents with major and trace elements have been determined for a total of sixty-seven specimens of fresh igneous rocks, wall rocks and minerals such as dickite and alunite by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer and inductively coupled plasma. Gold is enriched in the alunite vein and the silicified zone, but is depleted in dickites and hydrothermally altered rocks with dickite of the Seongsan deposit. Gold is especially concentrated near the faults or conjunction area of two faults. High content of gold is shown in the mineral assemblages of alunitequartz- pyrite in the alunite vein and silicic zone of the Seongsan deposit compared with that of minerals and rocks from another deposits distributed in the studied area. Gold content in tuffs and dickites with pyrite is generally low. Gold content in silicified tuff tends to show positive correlations with content of As, Hg and Sb. Variation trends of Cd, Hg and Sb are similar to those of gold content. From the result of gold content variations, gold may be transported and concentrated by mineralizing solutions ascending along the cracks like fault. Therefore, it is important to survey alunite vein and silicified zone at the conjunction of faults, and to analyze pathfinder elements such as As, Hg and Sb for geological and geochemical exploration of gold in the studied deposits.

• Journal of Conservation Science
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.380-390
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study is to scientifically analyze the rocks of the Obongsan Mountain in Boseong, Jeollanam-do, which contains the largest extant quarry of Gudlejang (flat stone for heating) in Korea, and to scientifically determine the petrological characteristics of the area and the reasons for its use as a quarry. The rocks in the quarry are composed of light-green lapilli tuff, containing various types of lithic fragments and crystalline fragments in a vitreous matrix consisting of the fine feldspar crystals. The main constituent minerals were identified as quartz, plagioclase, mica, chlorite and opaque minerals. When the major element compositions were plotted on a Na₂O+K₂O versus SiO₂ diagram, all samples were situated in the same compositional area as rhyolite. In addition, the result of magnetic susceptibility measurement also showed a similar range of values, of 1.30 ~ 4.85 (×10^-3 SI), indicating that samples were fractionated from the same magma. Both rock types showed similar apparent specific gravity values of 2.32 ~ 2.60. In particular, plate-shaped joints are well developed in the Obongsan Mountain area, and many areas exhibit talus terrain. In conclusion, the rocks of this area is interpreted to used for a site of Gudlejang quarrying, because the rocks were easily obtainable due to the terrain characteristics, and their petrological properties made them suitable for use as Gudlejang stone.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.1-20
• /
• 1972

A large anorthositic mass outcropped as mushroom-like body extending up to 46km which occurs in the Hadong kaoline district of southern Korea. The anorthositic mass is in contact with the metamorphic, plutonic and sedimentary rocks. The metamorphic rocks are of granitic gneiss and banded gneiss, etc; the plutonic rocks are of gabbroic and dioritic rocks, schistose granite, syenite, diorite and granite. The sedimentary rocks include siltstone and pebbly sandstone of Lower Gyeongsang System, Cretaceous in age. The anorthositic mass shows a gradational contact with the metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, and is cut by the plutonic rocks except gabbroic and dioritic rocks. The anorthositic mass is leucocratic in the central portion of the mass, and, in turn, grades to rock phases in which ma/ic minerals are irregularly scattered, then to the well-lineated rock and finally to the banded gneiss. Lineation of the anorthositic mass is accordant with that of the surrounding banded gneiss, and the lineation continues toward the gneiss. In some places, the rock phases in which mafics are scattered is gradational with adjacent sedimentary rocks. The anorthositic mass in contact with gabbroic and dioritic rocks shows spotted features. Various replacement features seen under the microscope and paragenetic sequence of the mineral components in the anorthositic rocks cannot be considered as the origin of magmatic crystallization. From the field and microscopic observations, it is concluded that the anorthositic mass was formed from replacement of the metamorphic rocks and plutonic rocks by the anorthositic magma.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.105-112
• /
• 1994

To investigate the migration behavior of contaminants in rocks. adsorption and diffusion experiments for Sr as a sorbing contaminant and for Cr-EDTA as a non-sorbing contaminant were carried out on granitic rocks. The Sr adsorption on separated minerals and crushed rocks tends to slightly increase with increasing pH. It also greatly decreases with the increase of ionic strength in NaCl solution. Among separated minerals, biotite and sericite have adsorbed much more amount of Sr than other rock-forming minerals, such as quartz, plagioclase, and potassic feldspar, because the specific surfaces and cation exchange capacities of phyllosilicates are generally much greater than those of the other rock-forming minerals. The intrinsic diffusion coefficients of Cr-EBTA for granitic rocks differ little from those of Sr. This indicates that they are independent of water-rock interactions. Experimental data show that the intrinsic diffusion coefficients are positively correlated with the porosities of the rocks. They are close to the theoretically predicted values, especially in pre-steady state diffusion region, with the increase of rock sample thickness.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.25-31
• /
• 1995

In Dongnam area, Cretaceous igneous rocks, such as diorite, porphyritic granite, and quartz porphyry intruded Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, such as Myobong slate and Pungchon limestone. The Dongnam Fe-Mo skarn deposits were imposed on the diorite(endoskarn) and the Myobong slate(exoskarn). The ore deposits consist mainly of magnetite and molybdenite with small amounts of sulfides, such as galena, sphalerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and pyrrhotite. The igneous rocks show nearly constant $^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb(18.80{\sim}19.06)$ and $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb(15.71{\sim}15.72)$ ratios. Their $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ ratios higher than the typical ratios of orogene suggest that the igeneous rocks were formed from lower crust(or mantle) - derived magma excessively contaminated by upper crustal materials such as high radiogenic Precambrian basement rocks. The lead isotopic compositions of the igneous rocks, the Pungchon limestone, and the ore minerals show a well defined linear in $^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb$ - $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ plot. The lead isotopic compositions of the igneous rocks are similar to those of magnetite and galena, which were formed at early skarn stage and significantly lower than those of altered quartz porphyry, molybdenites, and pyrite, which were formed at late epithermal alteration stage. Considering the systematic variation of the lead isotopic compositions in the ore minerals according to hydrothermal stages, the variation may be due to a relative variation in surrounding rock(Pungchon limestone) involvement in hydrothermal ore solution leaching the surrounding rock. Therefore, the variation of the lead isotopic compositions in ore minerals can be modeled in terms of the mixing of the leads derived from the igneous rocks as low radiogenic source and the surrounding rock(Pungchon limestone) as high radiogenic source.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
• /
• v.14 no.3 s.41
• /
• pp.141-148
• /
• 2005

Lead isotopic compositions are analyzed from the sulfide minerals of the Yeonhwa, Janggun and Uljin deposits and from host limestone, intrusives, and basement rocks to reveal the source of Pb in these deposits. In the $^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb$ vs $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ plot, Galenas from the Yeonhwa mine display relatively well defined positive linear array, similar to the Precambrian basement rocks of the Korean peninsula. A galena sample from the Uljin mine, Janggun limestone and the basement rocks also follow the variation of Yeonhwa mine. However, ore minerals from the Janggun mine, having relatively low $^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb$ values, reveal offset from such trend toward lower $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ values. Considering the fact that Mesozoic igneous rocks and ores within the Gyeongsang basin display considerably lower $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ values than basement rocks of the Korean peninsula, the deviation of Janggun ore minerals can be interpreted as to reflect mixing between leads from old continental crustal materials and from Mesozoic igneous rocks with more mantle signature. The lead of the Yeonhwa and Uljin mine, following trend of Precambrian basement rather well, seems to have been originated mostly from such basement. However, regarding that they occupy low $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ side of the variation trend of the basement, the possibility of having some leads derived from the Mesozoic igneous rocks cannot be excluded.