• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.67-79
• /
• 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
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.265-280
• /
• 2003

The Mugeuk mineralized area that associated with the pull-apart type Cretaceous Eumseong basin is composed of several gold-silver vein deposits that are emplaced in late Cretaceous biotite granite. The gold-silver deposits in the area show various hydrothermal alteration zones as well as Au/Ag ratios and ore mineralogy. The Geumbong mine showing relatively high gold fineness is composed of multiple veins and show alteration pattern; vein \longrightarrow phyllic \longrightarrow subphyllic \longrightarrow propylitic \longrightarrow subpropylitic zone. In contrast, The Taegeuk mines show the low fineness values, in far southern part are characterized by increasing tendency of simple and/or stockwork veins. The deposit displays alteration pattern; vein \longrightarrow propylitic \longrightarrow subpropylitic zone. Variations of alteration zone with depth show that phyllic zone are dominant in deeper level and propylitic zone sporadically overlapped by argillic zone are dominant in shallow level. The differences of alteration pattern between the gold-silver deposits are reflect the evolution of the hydrothermal fluids; the ore-forming fluids of the Geumbong mine are at relatively high temperature and salinity and highly-evolved meteoric water, developing phyllic zone, the Taegeuk mine containing greater amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters shows relatively low temperature and salinity in ore-forming fluids, developing propylitic zone. The various physicochemical environment for gold-silver mineralization in the Mugeuk mineralized area is due to proximity from heat source area (Mugeuk mine) to marginal area (Taegeuk mine) in a geothermal field. Therefore, it is suggested that the criteria for project exploration in the area are to focus on the area proximal to heat source and phyllic zone.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.279-291
• /
• 2009

Radon is a natural radionuclide originated from radioactive decay of radium in rocks and soil. It is colorless, odorless and tasteless elements that mainly distributed as gaseous phase in soil pore space. The present study analyzed the characteristics of long-term radon variation in granitic residual soil at Mt. Guemjeong in Guemjeong-gu, Busan and determined the effects of atmospheric temperature, rainfall and soil temperature and moisture. Periodic measurements of radon concentrations in soil gas were conducted by applying two types of in-situ monitoring methods (chamber system and tubing system). Radon concentration in soil gas was highest in summer and lowest in winter. The variations in soil temperature and atmospheric temperature were most effective factors in the long-term radon variations and showed positive co-relations. The air circulation between soil air and atmosphere by the temperature difference between soil and atmosphere was analyzed a major cause of the variation. However, other factors such as atmospheric pressure, rainfall and soil moisture were analyzed relatively less effective.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.162-179
• /
• 2007

Macheon Layered Intrusion (MLI) which intruded into Precambrian gneiss complex of the northern Jirisan area, southeastern part of Youngnam (or Sobaeksan) Massif, is a layered mafic-ultramafic complex of Triassic age (ca. 223 Ma). The MLI is divided into Layered Series and Laminated Series. Layered Series is subdivided into Central Zone (Lower Zone) consisting of olivine gabbros and Peripheral Zone (Middle or Upper Zone) consisting of hornblende gabbros based on the type of cumulus texture and the main mafic phase. The Central Zone of Layered Series comprises thinly laminated olivine gabbros and uniform or thickly laminated coarse olivine gabbros which consist of mela-gabbro, troctolite, leuco-troctolite, and anorthositic rocks. Laminated Series is also subdivided into quartz-bearing biotite-pyroxene gabbros and homblende diorite and both have variable amount of interstitial quartz and microcline. Laminated series display moderately to slightly developed igneous lamination which is defined by the planar alignment of lath-shape plagioclases. Chilled margin of quartz-bearing biotite-pyroxene gabbro with surrounding Precambrian gneisses insists shallower intrusion of more felsic cognate magma evolved in the deep a little later. Rocks of Layered Series have orthocumulus to adcumulus olivine, adcumulus to intercumulus plagioclase, and intercumulus to heteradcumulus pyroxene and hornblende. Magmatic modally grading, folding, and cross-lamination are not rarely occurred in thinly layered rocks. These textural characteristics define main mechanisms of the formation of layered and laminated structure in mafic-ultramafic rocks of Macheon Layered Intrusion are gravity settling and in-situ crystallization associated with slumping and density current.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.251-264
• /
• 2004

The Charnockite in Sancheong region is quarzofeldspathic rock containing orthopyroxene and garnet with a color dark than common granitic rocks. The Chamockite are mostly massive and medium to coarse-grained with K-feldspar phenocryst, but reveal weak foliation. The rock consist mainly of quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase and orhopyroxene, with biotite, garnet, and anthophyllite. In petrochemistry, the Chamockite has 61-65% $SiO_2$ contents, varying gradually into the margin contacted with orthogneiss, which have compositions of felsic igneous rocks. Major element show almost systematical variation with those of the marginal orthogneisses, except the hornblende gneiss and anorthosite. The Charnockite and orthogneisses show the tholeiitic differentiational trend. Trace and rare earth element abundance patterns in the Charnockite show remarkable negative Sr and Eu anomalies similar to orthogneisses, but different from the hornblende gneiss and anorthosite. Eu contents of the Charnockite are richer than that of orthogneisses. The metamorphic condition of the Charnockite were tested by an orthopyroxene-garnet geotherrnorneter and a plagioclase-garnet geobarometer. Estimated P-T conditions are about $761^{\circ}C$ and 7 kbar at peak metamorphism, but $653^{\circ}C$ and 6.4 kbar at retrograde metamorphism. This suggests that the Charnockite have from an early stage of high-grade metamorphism to represent the granulite facies and then to a late stage medium-grade metamorphism belonging to the amphibolite facies.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.287-303
• /
• 2009

Rock mass in Baekrokdam at the summit of Hallasan in Jeju island is composed of two volcanic rock types: Baekrokdam trachybasalt at the eastern region and Hallasan trachyte at the western region. On-going rockfall and subsequent collapse of Baekrokdam wall rock are closely linked to the weathering of trachyte distributed in the western region of Baekrokdam. Samples of Hallasan trachyte showing different weathering grades had been collected and the polarizing microscopic observation, X-ray diffraction analysis and analysis for chemical weathering had been conducted. Formation of secondary minerals, especially clay minerals, by chemical weathering has not been identified, but the change of chemical weathering indices indicated that chemical weathering process had been proceeded to the degree for increasing and decreasing the contents of some chemical components. Changes in physical and mechanical rock properties due to weathering has also been examined. Artificial weathering test of freezing-thawing reveals that the process of crack initiation and propagation deteriorated the mechanical characteristics of Hallasan trachyte and $D_B$ = 1.5 or porosity = $20{\sim}21%$ would be the ultimate limiting value induced by the mechanical weathering processes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.359-372
• /
• 2011

TA26 seamount, which is located at south part of Tonga arc, occurs widely hydrothermal plume and is area that sampled hostrock, hydrothermal ore and hydrothermal alteration rock for this study. Hostrocks are basalt and basaltic andesite. Altered rocks by hydrothermal solution consists of plagioclase, pyroxene, pyrite, ilmenite, amorphous silica, barite, smectite, iron sulfates, Fe-Si sulfates and Fe silicates. Gains and losses of major, trace and rare earth elements during wallrock alteration suggest that $K_2O$(+0.04~+0.45 g), $SiO_2$(-6.52~+10.56 g), $H_2O$(-0.03~+6.04 g), $SO_4$(-0.46~+17.54 g), S(-0.46~+13.45 g), total S(-0.51~+16.93 g), Ba(-7.60~+185078.62 g), Sr(-36.18~+3033.08 g), Ag(+54.83 g), Au(+1467.49 g), As(-5.80~+1030.80 g), Cd(+249.78 g), Cu(-100.57~+1357.85 g), Pb(+4.91~+532.65 g), Sb(-0.32~+66.59 g), V(-113.58~+102.94 g) and Zn(-49.56~+14989.92 g) elements are enriched from hydrothermal solution. Therefore, gained(enriched) elements(($K_2O$, $H_2O$, $SO_4$, S, total S, Ba, Sr, Ag, Au, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, V, Zn) represent a potentially tools for exploration of sea-floor hydrothermal deposits from the Tonga arc.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.499-510
• /
• 2015

Artificial accelerated weathering test evaluated rocks from near the circuit road of Ulleungdo island, approximately 120 km from east of the Korean Peninsula. The tests subjected rock specimens to conditions based on the climate of the island. The specimens (such as basaltic breccia, trachyte, volcanic breccia) were preliminarily classified using a TAS diagram (XRF data) and based on the constituent minerals (XRD data); they were further classified by weathering degree according to their absorption ratios. During the artificial accelerated weathering, the absorption ratio of most of the specimens increased, but the point-load strength did not decrease in most cases, except for the volcanic breccia. The greater initial absorption ratio of trachyte rock specimen in comparison with the other specimens led to a greater increase of its absorption ratio during the artificial accelerated weathering test. The volcanic breccia specimens showed the greatest increase of absorption ratio and the biggest reduction ratio of the point- load strength during the tests. These results could aid prediction of the weathering rate of rocks in Ulleungdo island subjected to weathering processes; trachyte which appears to accelerate with time, and volcanic breccia whose mechanical strength can largely decrease in a relative short period of time. Proper measures therefore appear necessary for the prevention of natural disaster such as rock fall and landslide around the circuit road.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.91-99
• /
• 2005

Acid Rock Drainage(ARD) is the product formed by the atmospheric(i.e. by water, oxygen and carbon dioxide) oxidation of the relatively common iron-sulphur mineral pyrite($FeS_2$). ARD causes the acidification and heavy metal contamination of water and soil and the reduction of slope stability. In this paper the generation characteristics and the prediction of ARD of various cut slopes were studied. An attempt to classify the rocks into several groups according to their acid generation potentials was made. Acid Base Accounting(ABA) tests, commonly used as a screening tool in ARD predictions, were performed. Fourteen rock samples were classified into PAF(potentially acid forming) group and four rock samples into NAF(non-acid forming) group. The chemical analysis of water samples strongly suggested that ARD with high content of heavy metals and low pH could pollute the ground water and/or stream water.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.507-512
• /
• 2022

The subjects of the study are the sedimentary rock slope of the Mesozoic Gyeongsang Supergroup, which has a high risk of failure. The rocks of the slope shall be sandstone, siltstone and dacite, and discontinuities shall develop beddings, shear joints, extension joints, and dacite dyke boundary planes. The type and scale of failure varies depending on the type of rock and the strike/dip of the discontinuities, but the planar failure prevails. Based on the face-mapping data, SMR, physical and mechanical testing of rocks, the critical equilibrium analysis, all representative sections required a countermeasure method because the acceptable safety factor during dry and rainy seasons were far below Fs=1.5 and Fs=1.2. After applying the countermeasure method, both the dry and wet conditions of the slope exceeded the allowable safety factor. In particular, the face-mapping data of the slope-face, the geological cross-sections of several representative sections perpendicular to the slope-face, and the critical equilibrium analysis and the presentation of countermeasure methods that have been reviewed based on them are expected to be reasonable tools for the slope stability.