A Study on Geology of Clay Mineral Deposits of Pohang-Ulsan Area and their Physico-Chemical Properties

포항-울산간의 점토자원의 지질과 그 물리화학적 특성에 관한 연구

I. Purpose and Importance of the Study The purpose of the present study is to clarify to geological, mineralogical, and physico-chemical properties of the clay minerals deposits imbedded in the Tertiary sediments in the areas between. Pohang and Ulsan along southeastern coastal region of Korea. These clays are being mined and utilized for filter and insecticide after activation or simple pulverizing, nontheless activated clays are short coming as chemical industry in Korea has been rapidly grown in recent years. In spite of such increase in clay demand, no goological investigation on clay deposits nor physico-chemical properties of the clays have been carried out up to date. Consequently activated clays produced in Korea is not only of low grade but also of shortage in supply, so that Korea has to import activated clays of better grade. The importance of the present study lies, therefore, on that guiding principle could be laid down by knowing stratigraphical horizons, of clay deposits and fundamental data of improving grade of activated clays might be derived from the results of physico-chemical examinations. II. Contents and Scope of the study The contents of the study are pinpointed down in the following two subjects: 1) General geological investigation of Tertiary formations distributed in the areas between Pohang and UIsan, and detail geological study of the bentonitic clay deposits imbedded in them. 2) To clarifty physico-chemical characteristics of the clays by means of chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction and electron microscope. The scope of the study involves the following there points: i) Regional geological investigation-This investigation has been carried out in order to find out the distribution of Tertiary sediments and exact location of clay mineral deposits in the areas between Pohang and UIsan. ii) Detail geological investigation-This has been concentrated in and around the clay deposits which. had been found out by the regional investigation. iii) Laboratory researchs include i) age determination and correlation of Tertiary sediments by paleontological study, and ii) Chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopic studies on clays, samples taken from various clay deposits. III. Research Results and Suggestions 1) The geology of the area investigated is composed mainly of Janggi and Beomgokri groups of Miocene age in ascending order rested on the upper Silla system, Balkuksa granite and volcanic rocks of upper Cretaceous age as base. 2) Janggi group is composed in ascending order of Janggi conglomerate, Nultaeri rhyolitic tuff, Keumkwangdong shale, two beds of lignite-bearing formations which consist of alternation of conglomerate, sandstone and mudstone, and andesitic, rhyolitic, and basaltic tuff beds. 3) Beomgokri group is mainly composed of andesitic to rhyolitic tuff interlayered by conglomerate and tuffaceous sandstone. In the areas around boundary between North-and South Kyeongsang-do is distributed Haseori farmation which is composed of conglomerate, sandstone, mudstone and andesitic to rhyolitic tuff, and which is correlated to Eoilri formation of Janggi group. 4) Clay deposits of the area are interbedded in Eoilri, Haseori, Nultaeri tuff, Keumkwangdong shale, upper and lower horizon of the lower lignite-bearing seam, and Keumori rhyolitic tuff formations of Janggi group; and are genetically classi.fied into four categories, that is, i) those derived from volcanic ash beds(Haseori and Daeanri deposits), ii) those of secondary residual type from rhyolitic tuff beds(Seokupri deposits), iii) Clay beds above and beneath the lignite seams, (Janggi and Keumkwangdong deposits), and iv) those derived from rhyolitic tuff beds(Sangjeong and Tonghae deposits). 5) Mineral constituents of clay deposits are, according to X-ray diffraction, montmorillonite accompanied in different degree by cristobalite, plagioclase, quartz, stilbite, and halloysite in rare occasion. The clays are grouped according to mineral composition into four types; i) those consist mostly of montmorillonite, ii) those composed of montmorillonite and cristobalite, iii) those composed of montmorillonite and plagioclase, and iv) those composed of montmorillonite, plagioclase and quartz. 6) Clays interbedded in Haseori formation and vicinity of lignite seams belong to the first type, are of good quality and derived either from volcanic ash bed, or primary clay beds near lignite seams. Clays belonged to other types are derived from weathering of rhyolitic tuff formations and their quality varies depending upon original composition and degree of weathering. Few clays in secondary residual type contain small amount of halloysite. 7) Judging from analytical data, content of silica($SiO_2$) varies proportionally with content of cristobalite, and alumina($Al_2O_3$) content does not vary with that of plagioclase, but increases in the sedimentary bedded type of deposits. 8) It is unknown whether or not these days could be upgraded by beneficiation since no grain size of these impurities nor beneficiation test had been studied. 9) Clay beds derived from valcanic ash layers or sedimentary layers at the vicinity of lignite seams are thin in thickness and of small, discontinueous lenticular shape, although they are of good quality; and those derived from rhyolitic tuff formations or residual type from tuff are irregular in both occurrence and quality. It is, therefore, not only very difficult but also meaningless to calculate its reserve, and reserve estimation, even if done, will greatly be deviated from practically minable one. Consequently, way of discovery and exploitation of clay deposits in the area under consideration is to check the geologically favorable areas whenever needed.