• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.257-273
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• 2023

Hydrochemical characteristics and microbial communities of spring (Samtong), surface water, and groundwater in Cheorwon, Korea, were analyzed. Field surveys and water quality analyses were undertaken at 10 sampling points for five spring, two surface, and three groundwater samples on 15 December 2022. Hydrochemical analysis revealed that most water samples were Ca-HCO₃ type and that water-rock interactions were the predominant mineral source. Radon concentrations were <1 kBq m^-3 for surface water, 1~10 kBq m^-3 for spring water, and 1~1,000 kq m^-3 for groundwater. Microbial cluster analysis showed that the main phyla were Proteobacteria, Planctomyceta, Verrucomicrobia, Acidobacteria, and Actinomycetota.Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis indicated that water temperature, pH, and Si content were closely related to microorganism content. NMDS and canonical correspondence analysis results revealed that environmental factors affecting spring water were temperature, and Mg and Si concentrations, particularly for Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria, and Pseudomonas brenneri. Both hydrochemical and microbial community analyses yielded similar results at some spring and groundwater sampling points, likely due to the effects of a basalt aquifer.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.467-477
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• 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 Ecology and Environment
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.345-353
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• 2018

Hibernation is regarded as a physiological and behavioral adaptation that permits the survival of animals such as bats during seasonal periods of energy shortage. This study investigated the hibernation period of Plecotus ognevi in the temperate climate zone and the relationship between the thermal preference and hibernating process of bats. We hypothesized that the hibernation period of bats is closely related to the external temperature and temperature preference of bat species in the temperate region. To verify this hypothesis, we surveyed the distribution of the P. ognevi population in South Korea, and the temperature preference and the characteristics of hibernacula of P. ognevi. We predict that hibernation in the bat will begin when the external temperature drops below the thermal preference of the species and will leave from hibernation when the external temperature is higher than the thermal preference. P. ognevi hibernated in roosts maintained in low temperature ambient conditions with $-3.5{\sim}7.5^{\circ}C$). The body temperatures (averaged $3.01{\pm}1.30^{\circ}C$, ranged $0.1{\sim}7.8^{\circ}C$) of hibernating bats were closely related to the rock surface temperatures rather than the ambient temperatures. The bats began to hibernate in late November and final arousals occurred in mid-March, so that the total length of the hibernation was 115~120 days. The period of hibernation was strongly influenced by fluctuations in the external mean temperature. This study suggests that the onset and termination of P. ognevi hibernation is due to the interaction between the temperature of the hibernacula and that of the external environment and is based on the thermal preference of the bats. The study also suggests that the hibernation strategy such as thermal preference and hibernation periods of this species affect to distribution as bat species adapting to a severely climate.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.32-46
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• 2000

Hydrogeochemical and isotope ($\delta$$^{18}$ O, $\delta$D, $^3$H, $\delta$$^{13}$ C, $\delta$$^{34}$ S, $^{87}$ Sr/$^{86}$ Sr) studies of various kinds of waters (thermal groundwater, deep groundwater, shallow groundwater, and surface water) from the Yusung area were carried out in order to elucidate their geochemical characteristics such as distribution and behaviour of major/minor elements, geochemical evolution, reservoir temperature, and water-rock interaction of the thermal groundwater. Thermal groundwater of the Yusung area is formed by heating at depth during deep circlulation of groundwater and is evolved into Na-HCO$_3$type water by hydrolysis of silicate minerals with calcite precipitation and mixing of shallow groundwater. High NO$_3$contents of many thermal and deep groundwater samples indicate that the thermal or deep groundwaters were mixed with contaminated shallow groundwater and/or surface water. $\delta$$^{18}$ O and $\delta$D are plotted around the global meteoric water line and there are no differences between the various types of water. Tritium contents of shallow groundwater, deep groundwater and thermal groundwater are quite different, but show that the thermal groundwater was mixed with surface water and/or shallow groundwater during uprising to surface after being heated at depths. $\delta$$^{13}$ C values of all water samples are very low (average -16.3$\textperthousand$%o). Such low $\delta$$^{13}$ C values indicate that the source of carbon is organic material and all waters from the Yusung area were affected by $CO_2$ gas originated from near surface environment. $\delta$$^{34}$ S values show mixing properties of thermal groundwater and shallow groundwater. Based on $^{87}$ Sr/$^{86}$ Sr values, Ca is thought to be originated from the dissolution of plagioclase. Reservoir temperature at depth is estimated to be 100~1$25^{\circ}C$ by calculation of equilibrium method of multiphase system. Therefore, the thermal groundwaters from the Yusung area were formed by heating at depths and evolved by water-rock interaction and mixing with shallow groundwater.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.192-202
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• 1998

We investigated the geochemistry and environmental isotopes of granite-bedrock groundwater in the Yeongcheon diversion tunnel which is located about 300 m below the land surface. The hydrochemistry of groundwaters belongs to the Ca-HCO$_3$type, and is controlled by flow systems and water-rock interaction in the flow conduits (fractures). The deuterium and oxygen-18 data are clustered along the meteoric water line, indicating that the groundwater are commonly of meteoric water origin and are not affected by secondary isotope effects such as evaporation and isotope exchange. Tritium data show that the groundwaters were mostly recharged before pre-thermonuclear period and have been mixed with younger surface water flowing down rapidly into the tunnel along fractured zones. Based on the mass balance and reaction simulation approaches, using both the hydrochemistry of groundwater and the secondary mineralogy of fracture-filling materials, we have modeled the low-temperature hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in the area. The results of geochemical simulation show that the concentrations of Ca$\^$2＋/, Na$\^$＋/ and HCO$_3$and pH of waters increase progressively owing to the dissolution of reactive minerals in flow paths. The concentrations of Mg$\^$2＋/ and K$\^$＋/ frist increase with the dissolution, but later decrease when montmorillonite and illitic material are precipitated respectively. The continuous adding of reactive minerals, namely the progressively larger degrees of water/rock interaction, causes the formation of secondary minerals with the following sequence: first hematite, then gibbsite, then kaolinite, then montmorillonite, then illtic material, and finally microcline. During the simulation all the gibbsite is consumed, kaolinite precipitates and then the continuous reaction converts the kaolinite to montmorillonite and illitic material. The reaction simulation results agree well with the observed, water chemistry and secondary mineralogy, indicating the successful applicability of this simulation technique to delineate the complex hydrogeochemistry of bedrock groundwaters.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2011

Geothermal energy is believed to be an important source among the renewable energy sources to provide the base load electricity. Although there has been a drastic increase in the use of geothermal heat pump in Korea, there is no geothermal power plant in operation in Korea. Fortunately, the first EGS (Enhanced Geothermal System) Project in Korea has started in Dec 2010. This five year project is divided into two stages; two years for exploration and drilling of 3 km depth to confirm the minimum target temperature of 100 degrees, and another three years composed drilling 5 km doublet, hydraulic stimulation of geothermal reservoir with expected temperature of 180 degrees (40 kg/s) and construction of MW geothermal power plant in the surface. This EGS project would be a landmark effort that invited a consortium of industry, research institutes and university with expertises in the fields of geology, hydrogeology, geophysics, geomechanics and plant engineering.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.363-372
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• 2022

Precast concrete is an effective method to increase the construction quality and construction speed by optimizing and making the manufacturing conditions similar. In order to more effectively produce a fireproof material-integrated precast duct slab, the purpose of this study was to determine whether the fire resistance performance of the fireproof layer is maintained when a method of increasing the curing rate using a hardening accelerator is used. As a result of performing a fire resistance performance test on specimens classified according to whether or not the hardening accelerator was included, increase of temperature inside the specimen was high in the specimens using the hardening accelerator, and the section loss of the fireproof layer occurred locally on the surface exposed to fire heating. In conclusion, it is judged that the fireproof layer in the case where the strength at 3th day of age is gained within 1 day curing age using a hardening accelerator does not guarantee sufficient fire resistance performance in the conditions used in this study.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

We analyzed the distribution area of debris slopes in Mudeungsan (Mt. Mudeung) National Park by comparing aerial photos of the past (1966) and the present (2017) and identified the vegetation characteristics that affect the change in the area of the debris slopes by investigating the vegetation status of the debris slopes and the surrounding areas. The area of debris slopes in Mt. Mudeung appears to have been reduced to a quarter of what it used to be. Debris slopes here have decreased at an average rate of 2.3 ha/yr over 51 years by vegetation covers. Notably, most of the small-area debris slopes in the low-inclination slopes disappeared due to active vegetation coverage. However, there are still west-facing, south-west-facing, south-facing, and large-area debris slopes remaining because the sun's radiant heat rapidly raises the surface temperature of rock blocks and dries moisture, making tree growth unfavorable. Because of these locational characteristics, the small-scale vegetation in the middle of Deoksan Stony Slope, which is the broadest area, showed distinct characteristics from the adjacent forest areas. Sunny places and tree species with excellent drying resistance were observed frequently in Deoksan Stony Slope. However, tree species with high hygropreference that grow well in valleys with good soil conditions also prevailed. In some of these places, the soil layer has been well developed due to the accumulation of fine materials and organic matter between the crevices of the rock blocks, which is likely to have provided favorable conditions for such tree species to settle and grow. At the top of Mt. Mudeung, on the other hand, the forest covered the debris slopes, where Mongolian oaks (Quercus mongolica) and royal azaleas (Rhododendron schlippenbachii), which typically grow in the highlands, prevailed. This area was considered favorable for the development of vegetation for the highlands because the density of rock blocks was lower than in Deoksan Stony Slope, and the soil was exposed. Moreover, ash trees (Fraxinus rhynchophylla) and Korean maple trees (Acer pseudosieboldianum) that commonly appear in the valley areas were dominant here. It is probably due to the increased moisture content in the soil, which resulted from creating a depressive landform with a concave shape that is easy to collect rainwater as rock blocks in some areas fell and piled up in the lower region. In conclusion, the area, density of the rock blocks, and distribution pattern of rock block slopes would have affected the vegetation development and species composition in the debris slope landform.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 1995

The Kamkye Cu-Pb-Zn-Au-Ag deposits occur as quartz veins that filled fault-related fractures of NW system developed in the Cretaceous Gyeongsang basin. Three major stages of mineral deposition are recognized: (1) the stage I associated with wall rock alteration, such as sericite, chlorite, epidote and pyrite, (2) the early stage II of base-metal mineralization such as pyrite, hematite, and small amounts of sphalerite and chalcopyrite. and the middle to late stage II of Cu-As-Sb-Au-Ag-S mineralization, such as sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena with tetrahedrite, tennantite, pearceite, Pb-Bi-Cu-S system, argentite and electrum. (3) the stage III of supergene mineralization, such as covellite, chalcocite and malachite. K-Ar dating of alteration sericite is a late Cretaceous ($74.0{\pm}1.6Ma$) and it may be associated with granitic activity of nearby biotite granite and quartz porphyry. Fluid inclusion data suggest a complex history of boiling, cooling and dilution of ore fluids. Stage II mineralization occurred at temperatures between 370 to $220^{\circ}C$ from fluids with salinities of 8.4 to 0.9 wt.% NaCl. Early stage II($320^{\circ}C$, 2.0 wt.% NaCl) may be boiled due to repeated fracturing which opened up the hydrothermal system to the land surface, and which resulted in a base-metal sulfide. Whilst the fractures were opened to the surface, mixing of middle-late stage II ore fluids with meteoric waters resulted in deposition of Cu-As-Sb-Au-Ag minerals from low temperature fluids(${\leq}290^{\circ}C$). Boiling of ore fluids may be occured at a pressure of 112 bar and a depth of 412 m. Equilibrium thermodynamic interpretation of sphalerite-tetraherite assemblages in middle stage II indicates that the ore-forming fluid had log fugacities of $S_2$ of -6.6~-9.4 atm.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1356-1361
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• 2004

High temperature superconducting coated conductor has a structure of ///. The buffer layer consists of multi-layer, this study reports the deposition method and optimal deposition conditions of YSZ(Yttria-stabilized zirconia) layer which plays a important part in preventing the elements of substrate from diffusing into the superconducting layer. YSZ layer was deposited by DC reactive sputtering technique using water vapor for oxidizing deposited elements on substrate. To investigate optimal thickness of YSZ film, four YSZ/CeO$_2$/Ni samples with different YSZ thickness(130 nm, 260 nm, 390 nm, and 650 nm) were prepared. The SEM image showed that the surface of YSZ layer was getting to be rougher as YSZ layer was getting thicker and the growth mode of YSZ layer was columnar grain growth. After CeO$_2$ layer was deposited with the same thickness of 18.3 nm on each four samples, YBCO layer was deposited by PLD method with the thickness of 300 nm. The critical currents of four samples were 0, 6 A, 7.5 A, and 5 A respectively. This shows that as YSZ layer is getting thicker, YSZ layer plays a good role as a diffusion barrier but the surface of YSZ layer is getting rougher.