• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.7-15
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• 2014

This study was conducted to understand the chemical characteristics of groundwater in carbonate areas of Korea. In this study, data on pH, electric conductivity (EC), $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Cl^-$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, and $HCO_3{^-}$ were collected from 97 wells which were installed in various carbonate rock regions of Korea. The pH values ranged from 5.7 to 9.9, and the average value was 7.3. The concentration range showed differences between the maximum value of $HCO_3{^-}$ and the medium to minimum values of $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $Cl^-$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, and $K^+$ in the study area. The average value of EC was $374{\mu}S/cm$, higher than in granite and gneiss areas, where the value is $176{\mu}S/cm$. Most of the groundwater was type $Ca-HCO_3$, and some was type $Mg-HCO_3$. The relationship between $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, and $HCO_3{^-}$, respectively, and EC showed relatively significant positive correlations compared to the other dissolved components. However, the determination coefficients for $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, and $K^+$ were very low less than 0.2. These results indicate that the source of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ is relatively simple (carbonate dissolution) compared to other sources. The sources of $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Cl^-$, $SO_4{^{2-}}$, and $HCO_3{^-}$ might be not only water-rock interactions, but also irrigation return flow, because many groundwater wells had been developed for irrigation purposes. Subsequently, the influence of agriculture on groundwater chemistry was evaluated using a cumulative plot of $SO_4{^{2-}}$. The threshold value of $SO_4{^{2-}}$ calculated from the cumulative frequency curve was 29.2 mg/L. Therefore, 12.4% of all the groundwater wells were affected by agricultural activity.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.175-192
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• 2001

We have collected hydrogeochemical data of shallow groundwaters in the Uljin area located at eastern coastal area of Korea. Geostatistical analysis (ANOVA test, cluster analysis, and factor analysis) of the collected data sets was pert'onned, in order to evaluate both the spatial and/or temporal variation of water quality data and the groundwater contamination, as weJl as the principal reactions occurring in the aquifer. Results of the ANOVA test show that regional water chemistry are not significantly changed spatially in eight watersheds. However, some ions such as $Ca^{2+}$, $HCO_{3}^{-}$ and $SO_{4}^{2-}$ show a meaningful watershed variation. Water chemistry variation according to sampling time (season) is not shown, except for $SO_{4}^{2-}$. The cluster analysis shows that significant water chemistry variation is eXplained by the distance from the coast. Factor analysis indicates that the water chemistry is changed according to various factors as follows: in the order of decreasing importance, water-rock interaction (mainly, carbonate dissolution), sea-salt spraying, and then contamination by fertilizers and agrochemicals.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.331-334
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• 2002

탄산수내 REEs의 함량과 거동특성을 알아보기 위해 암석시료, 탄산수 및 침전물에 대한 REEs 분석을 실시하였다. 탄산수가 산출되는 인접지에서 채취한 암석시료들은 물의 유형에 따라 큰 농도변화를 보여주지 않으며, 대체적으로 LREEs가 부화된 특성을 보여주고 있다. 유형에 따른 탄산수의 REEs 농도변화는 서로 상이한데, Na-HCO$_3$ 유형은 강한 HREE의 부화를 보여주지만, Ca-HCO$_3$ 유형은 HREE의 부화를 보여주지 않고 감소하는 경향을 보이며, 화학적으로 중간 유형에 속하는 Ca-Na-HCO$_3$ 유형 탄산수는 Eu을 제외하고는 전체적으로 flat한 분포를 보여준다. 탄산수에서 침전된 침전물과 침전물을 제거한 물의 REE의 유형은 침전물이 발생되기 전의 탄산수와 유사한 경향을 보이지만, 침전물의 발생으로 인한 특징적이고 강한 anomalies를 보여준다. 침전된 침전물의 REEs 특성은 침전물이 발생되기 전의 원 탄산수와 거의 유사한 분포특성을 보여준다. 반면에 침전물을 제거한 탄산수에서는 탄산염침전물의 침전과 연관되어 매우 강한 Eu anomalies를 보여주며, 대체적으로 HREE가 부화된 특성을 보여주었다. 탄산수내 가장 우세한 REE 종은 CO$_3$$^{2-}$ 종이며, CO$_3$$^{2-}$ 복합체 때문에 REEs의 분별작용 (HREE의 부화)이 일어나는 것으로 판단되 었다.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.207-225
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• 1999

Twenty water samples (eleven groundwater and nine geothermal water samples) were collected to elucidate hydrogeochemical characteristics of the groundwater and geothermal water in the Dongrae hot-spring area and its vicinity. Major and minor elements were analyzed for ground and geothermal water samples. Physicochemical properties of the groundwater and the geothermal water were examined and chemical composition of the two waters were compared. Factor and correlation analyses were carried out to simplify the physicochemical data into grouping some factors and to find interaction between them. The groundwaters belong to $Ca-HCO_3$ type, while the geothermal waters belong to Na-Cl type. The Na and Cl concentrations in the Dongrae hot-spring area are higher than those of other granite areas in South Korea. The Na/Cl weight ratio ranges from 0.7 to 1.3 for the geothermal waters. On the phase stability diagram groundwaters fall effectively in the field of stability of kaolinite, while geothermal waters fall in the stability field of microcline or kolinite depending on the chemical composition system. Based on the Na-K, Na-K-Ca and Na-K-Ca-Mg geothermometers, the geothermal reservoir is estimated to have equilibrium temperature between 115 and $145^{\circ}C$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.519-519
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• 2003

We performed a hydrochemical study on a total of 89 bedrock groundwaters collected from preexisting wells (30 to 300 m deep) in the Boeun area. Hydrochemical data showed significant variations in the area, due to varying degrees of anthropogenic pollution. The waters were mostly enriched in Ca and HCO$_3$ but locally contained significant concentrations of anthropogenic constituents in the general order of Cl >NO$_3$>SO$_4$. In particular, about 11% of the examined wells exceeded the drinking water standard with respect to nitrate. We consider that aquifers in the area are locally highly susceptible to the contamination related to agricultural activities. Diagrams showing the relationships between the summation of cations (∑cations) and the concentration of several anions with different origin (natural versus anthropogenic) were used to estimate the relative role of anthropogenic contamination. A good correlation was observed for the relationship between ∑cations and bicarbonate, indicating that water-rock interaction (namely, hydrolysis of silicate minerals) is most important to control the water quality. Thus, we made an assumption that the equivalent of dissolved cations for a water should be equal to the alkalinity, if the chemistry were controlled solely by a set of natural weathering reactions. If we excluded the equivalent quantities of cations and bicarbonate (natural origin) from the acquired data for each sample, the remainder therefore could be considered to reflect the degree of anthropogenic contamination. Finally, we performed a multiple regression approach for hydrochemical data using the ∑cations as a dependent variable and the concentration data of each anion (natural or anthropogenic) as an independent variable. Using this approach, we could estimate the relative roles of anthropogenic and natural processes. Rather than the conventional evaluation scheme based on water quality criteria, this approach will be more useful and reasonable for the evaluation of groundwater quality in a specific region and also can be used for planning appropriate protection and remedial actions.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.577-586
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• 2008

The formation of acid mine drainage is closely related to water chemistry and ochreous sprecipitates formed at the bottom of creeks because it is initially derived from the possible water-rock interaction in abandoned waste metals at the mine. According to analyses on water, precipitates, and alteration characters of ore metals in Dalseone mine, whitish precipitates formed at pHs above 5 while schwertmannite formed at pH $3{\sim}4$. Water chemistry vary with seasons. The water chemistry of the treatment site measured ir Octoter 2002 is characterized by lower pH, and higher Al, Zn, Cu contents relative to those in March, 2003. In the latter case, As and Cl contents are very high. $^{27}Al$ MAS NMR data show the presence of predominant octahedral Al in whitish precipitates. Metal ore minerals dissolve at margins, cleavage, or comer of crystals where reactive sites are potential. Pyrite dissolves, forming etch pits or smooth faces on the edge.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.627-642
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• 2022

The world's long reliance on fossil fuels (e.g., oil, coal, and natural gas) is severely changing its environment and climate. Energy research has focused on developing hydrogen as the most promising energy carrier and a key technology for sustainable energy development. Hydrogen can be classified as gray, blue, green, and otherwise according to the raw materials and methods used for production and processing. For the development of hydrogen energy, geologists are attempting to identify the mechanism of abiotic hydrogen generation by serpentinization or hydrothermal alteration. Teams in the United States, France, and Australia have researched laboratory-scale hydrogen production through water-rock interactions under various conditions, whereas there has been almost no research on abiotic hydrogen in South Korea. This paper reviews the current state of international research on hydrothermal alteration and offers suggestions for future investigations of abiotic hydrogen production in South Korea.

• 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 Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.93-107
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• 1998

Because of its stable quantity and quality, groundwater has long been a reliable source of drinking water for domestic users. Rapid economic growth and rising standards of living have in recent years put severe demands on drinking water supplies in Korea. Groundwaters that are currently being used for natural mineral water were hydrochemically evaluated and investigated in order to maintain their quality to satisfy strict health standards. There exist 15 natural mineral water plants in the Okcheon metamorphic belt. Characteristics of groundwaters are different from those of other areas in that electrical conductivity, hardness, contents of Ca, Mg and $HCO_3$are relatively high. The content of major cations is in the order of Ca>Mg, Na>K, whereas that of major anions shows the order of $HCO_3$>$SO_4$>Cl>F. The fact that the Ca-Mg-HCO$_3$type is mostly predominant among water types reflects that dissolution of carbonates that are abundantly present in the metamorphic rocks plays an important part in groundwater chemistry. Representative correlation coefficients between chemical species show Mg-$HCO_3$(0.92), Ca-$HCO_3$(0.88), Ca-Mg(0.80), Ca-Cl(0.78), Mg-$SO_4$(0.78), Ca-$SO_4$(0.71), possibly due to the effect by dissolution of carbonates, gypsum or anhydrite. Determinative coefficients between some chemical species represent a good relationship, especially for EC-(K+Na+Ca), Ca-$HCO_3$, Ca-Mg, indiacting that they are similar in chemical behaviors. According to saturation index, most chemical species are undersaturated with respect to major minerals, except for some silica phases. Groundwater is slightly undersaturated with respect to calcite and dolomite, whereas it is still greatly undersaturated with respect to gypsum, anhydrite and fluorite, Based on the Phase equilibrium in the systems $NA_2$O-$Al_2$$O_3$-$SiO_2$-$H_2$O and $K_2$O-$Al_2$$O_3$-$SiO_2$-$H_2$O, it is clear that groundwater is in equilibrium with kaolinite, evolved from the stability area of gibbsite during water-rock interaction. It is expected that chemical evolution of groundwater continue to proceed with increasing pH by reaction of feldspars, with calcite much less reactive.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.313-331
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• 2022

Natural or native abiotic molecular hydrogen (H₂) is a major component in natural gas, however yet its importance in the global energy sector's usage as clean and renewable energy is underestimated. Here we review the occurrence and geological settings of native hydrogen to demonstrate the much widesprease H₂ occurrence in nature by comparison with previous estimations. Three main types of source rocks have been identified: (1) ultramafic rocks; (2) cratons comprising iron (Fe²⁺)-rich rocks; and (3) uranium-rich rocks. The rocks are closely associated with Precambrian crystalline basement and serpentinized ultramafic rocks from ophiolite and peridotite either at mid-ocean ridges or within continental margin(Zgonnik, 2020). Inorganic geological processes producing H₂ in the source rocks include (a) the reduction of water during the oxidation of Fe²⁺ in minerals (e.g., olivine), (b) water splitting due to radioactive decay, (c) degassing of magma at low pressure, and (d) the reaction of water with surface radicals during mechanical breaking (e.g., fault) of silicate rocks. Native hydrogen are found as a free gas (51%), fluid inclusions in various rock types (29%), and dissolved gas in underground water (20%) (Zgonnik, 2020). Although research on H₂ has not yet been carried out in Korea, the potential H₂ reservoirs in the Gyeongsang Basin are highly probable based on geological and geochemical characteristics including occurrence of ultramafic rocks, inter-bedded basaltic layers and iron-copper deposits within thick sedimentary basin and igneous activities at an active continental margin during the Permian-Paleogene. The native hydrogen is expected to be clean and renewable energy source in the near future. Therefore it is clear that the origin and exploration of the native hydrogen, not yet been revealed by an integrated studies of rock-fluid interaction studies, are a field of special interest, regardless of the presence of economic native hydrogen reservoirs in Korea.