• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.2 s.48
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• pp.63-69
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• 2006

When rocks are exposed to the near surface environment, they are broken down due to several factors such as physical and chemical weathering during the geologic time. The feldspar and mica, which are the main rock-forming minerals, are easily broken down relative to other minerals. In order to reproduce some weathered minerals similar to the ones exist in natural weathered granite, there was an experimental interaction between fresh minerals and acidic solution. In low pH condition, biotite initially dissolved and its surface structure broke down, whereas plagioclase dissolved and had a needle-shaped dissolved morphology with some precipitates composed of Al element. The minerals were deeply dissolved in a strong acid condition, showing the prominent dissolved structure. Some etch pits and dissolved textures developed on the natural mineral surfaces are similarly found in our experiment, suggesting the development of mineral dissolution and weathering texture by the influence of the mineral's intrinsic nature.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.53-66
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• 1998

Since weathered soils are made by weathering process, the characteristics of weathered soils are strongly related to the originated rock and its forming process. Investigations on the originated rock and the weathering environments that decide the forming process are indispensable for the appropriate analysis on weathered soils. In this study, forming process of weathered soil is investigated by geological viewpoint. Test results show that weathering of rock is closely related to the distribution of rock-forming mineral and forming process. Weathered granite soils have the isotropic in-situ stress state and shearing behavior caused by the non-directional characteristics of originated rock. And weathered gneiss soils have the directional characteristics that mechanical behavior is determined by internal discontinuities. It it proved that the weathering resistance of Quarte is greater than that of feldspar and mica, and it is concluded that the thickness of weathered region is greatly influenced by the distribution of rock-forming mineral.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Rock Mechanics Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.264-267
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• 2006

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.731-734
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• 2005

Cut slopes are collapsed in Korea every year. Cut slope collapses cause a loss of lives and assets. Many researchers make clear collapse factor of cut lope. Fresh rock weathered through reaction undergroundwater and groundwater. During weathering process, weathered minerals are created. Weathered minerals are analysed by X-ray diffraction meter. X-ray diffraction meter make possible quantity assessment of degree of weathering and indicator of potential collapse possibilities. This paper discuss possibilities of cut slope dangerous with analysis of weathered minerals of cut slope.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.165-178
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• 2015

Physical and chemical weathering degrades rock, affecting its structural properties and thus the stability of stone buildings or other structures. Confocal laser scan microscopy (CLSM) is used here to observe temporal changes in the surface roughness of rock samples under simulated accelerated weathering. Samples were pressurized to 50, 55, or 70 MPa using a pressure frame, and subjected to freeze/thaw cycling controlled by a thermostat. The temperature was cycled from -20℃ to 40℃ and back. After each 20 cycles, CLSM was used to assess the change in surface roughness, and roughness factors were calculated to quantify the progression of the surface condition over time. Variations in cross-section line-roughness parameters and surface-roughness parameters were analyzed for specific parts of the sample surfaces at 5× and 50× magnification. The result reveals that the highest and lowest values of the roughness factors are changed according to elapsed time. Freezing/thawing at high pressure caused larger changes in the roughness factor than at low pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2013

In this study, the characteristics of particle crash of decomposed granite soil sampled at Pocheon area were presented. The degree of weathering was artificially achieved by means of hydrofluoric acid. Weathering index was firstly determined by the analysis of mineral composition. Then, particle distribution, permeability tests were conducted. The results showed that weathering effects on particle crash over entire particle sizes. Comparative analysis on specific surface between $D_{10}$ and $D_{50}$ indicated that the smaller the particle size, the more the particle crash. In addition, the most particle crashing due to compaction appeared around the optimum moisture content. The incremental ratio of specific surface appeared to decrease as weathering proceeds, which means that the higher the weathering index the less the particle crash.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.255-264
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• 2021

Asian dust (Hwangsa) deposited on the surface of the Korean Peninsula is difficult to recognize their existence in mountainous terrain undergoing active erosion and weathering. This study examined Asian dust sediments mixed in soils by analysing clay mineralogy, mineral composition, and microtextures of fine silt (< 20 ㎛) in the alkali feldspar granite area of Seoraksan. The fine silt was composed of detrital particles derived from bedrocks, Asian dust sediments, and their weathering products. Clay minerals of 2:1 structural type, chlorite, amphibole, epidote, and Ca-bearing plagioclase were identified as eolian mineral particles. During the weathering of the bedrock composed of quartz and alkali feldspars, albite was partially weathered to produce small amounts of gibbsite and kaolin minerals. Hydroxy-Al interlayered clay minerals were formed by the exchange and fixation of polynuclear Al cationic species into the interlayers of expandable 2:1 clay minerals dominated by illite-smectite series clay minerals. Contribution of Asian dust to the fine silt of soils was estimated around 70% on the basis of total contents of 2:1 phyllosilicates.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2017

Evaluation of the weathering index using the quantitative element composition of rocks is very effective in predicting the degree of weathering of rocks and the secondary weathering residuals. While the process of weathering varies according to the types of rocks, the study of weathering in Korea is concentrated on acidic igneous rocks. This study calculated the weathering indices using whole rock analysis (X-ray fluorescence analysis) of sandstone, mudstone, and shale belonging to clastic sedimentary rocks. The statistical significance of the indices was examined based on the correlation of the calculated weathering indices. Clastic sedimentary rocks showed higher significance of Wp, CIA, CIW and PIA weathering index indicating weathering of feldspar. Chemical Index of alteration (CIA) has the advantage of predicting weathering pathway and clay mineral production, but it is effective to consider chemical index of weathering index (CIW) simultaneously to improve accuracy. In order to reduce uncertainties due to carbonate rocks and to estimate the accurate weathering index, rock samples with high CaO content should be excluded from the evaluation of weathering index.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2017

Reddish brown clay-silt sediments covered granitoid weathering crust in the Jangdongri area, Naju, Korea. Mineralogical and geochemical properties of the ~2 m sediment section were investigated. The sediments were composed mainly of quartz (50%) and clay minerals (45%) with minor contents of K-feldspar, goethite, hematite, and gibbsite. The clay minerals were illite, illite-smectite mixed-layers, vermiculite, hydroxy-Al vermiculite, kaolinite, and halloysite. Mineral composition varied little through the section with the minor upward enrichment of plagioclase and chlorite. Abundant illitic clay minerals indicated the remote source of the sediments because clays derived by granite weathering in Korea were dominated by kaolin minerals. A comparison with the mineral composition of Asian dust (Hwangsa) suggested that plagioclase and K-feldspar disappeared by chemical weathering after deposition, resulting in the quartz and clay-rich sediments. Plagioclase and chlorite altered to kaolin and vermiculite, respectively. Goethite and hematite derived by the weathering of iron-bearing minerals stained the sediment to reddish brown color. The mineralogical and geochemical properties of the reddish brown clay-silt sediments were consistent with those of eolian deposits identified in Korea, supporting eolian origin of the Jangdongri sediments, requiring future confirmation including age dating and isotopic analysis.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.195-204
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• 2002

Mineralogy and the exposed surface area are two of the most important factors controlling dissolution and weathering rates of soils. The mixture of inorganic and organic materials of various size distributions and structures that constitute soils makes the calculation of weathering rates difficult. The surface area of soil minerals plays an important role in most of programs for calculating the weathering rates and critical loads. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurement is recommended for the measurement of specific surface area. However, BET values measured without organic matter removal are in fact those far all the N2-adsorbed surface areas, including the surfaces covered and aggregated with organisms. Surfaces occupied by organisms are assumed to be more reactive to weathering by organic activities. Therefore, the BET surface area difference before and after organic removal depicts the area occupied by organisms. The present study shows that the BET values after organic matter removal using $H_2$O$_2$ are larger than those without removal by 1.68~4.87 $m^2$/g. This implies that BET measurement without organic removal excludes the reactive area occupied by organisms and that the area occupied by organisms in soils is much larger than expected. It is suggested that specific surface area measurement for calculating weathering rates of mineral soils should be made before and after organic matter removal. The results of a column experiment are presented to demonstrate the potential retarding influence that this organic matter may have on mineral dissolution and weathering.