• 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.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2015

This study was carried out in order to investigate the mineralogical characteristics of the core sediments (03GHP-02 and HB13-2), obtained from the Ulleung Basin and Hupo Basin, Korea. The results on mineral compositions, clay mineral compositions, and the total contents and sequential extraction of different fractions of the phosphorus in core samples showed that those values are different in two cores and also at different depths. In both samples, mineral compositions were the same, composed mainly of quartz, microcline, albite, calcite, opal A, pyrite, and clay minerals (illite, chlorite, kaolinite, and smectite). However, the sample from Hupo Basin contains more opal A. Both samples, especially the ones from Hupo Basin contains more smectite than those reported from East Sea, indicating the influence of paleo-Hwangwei River and the Tertiary Formation of Korea Peninsula. For the samples from Uleung Basin, at 0.7-3.5 m range in depth, the low content of opal A and the low illite crystallinity index can be inferred to indicate the relatively cool climate, corresponding to the ice age. Also, the content of total phosphorus was low in those samples. It was reported that East Sea at that time was isolated from the neighboring seas due to the decrease of the sea level, and as a result, the influx of sediments was supposed to be little through the strait and rivers. For the samples from Hupo Basin, there is no significant changes in clay mineral composition and the distribution of phosphorus with increasing depth. This little change can be interpreted to indicate that the sediments comprising the core might be deposited in a relatively short period of time or deposited in sedimentary environment in which there's no significant changes in sediment supplies. The values of crystallinity index of clay minerals are high in those samples, indicating that it was relatively warm during that time. Although the increase of fluctuation pattern can be observed, showing that the climate of this period often changed, it is supposed that it was generally warm.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.335-348
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• 2016

The fluvial Tamna Formation, consisting of conglomerate, sandstone and mudstone layers, is widely distributed in Jeiu Island. Various sizes of quartz crystals were identified from most of the Tamna Formation, including the mudstone layer. XRD analysis also shows that the mudstone layer is composed of various minerals, quartz, plagioclase, K-feldspar, mica, magnetite, hematite, olivine, amphibole, gibbsite, calcite, analcime and clay minerals such as illite, kaolinite, vermiculite, smectite, chlorite, $10{\AA}$-halloysite. There is a tendency showing that the more amount of kaolinite, vermiculite, and chlorite is present where the more amount of quartz crystals is present. It is likely that the main source materials contributing to the Tamna Formation were from the parental rocks containing abundant quartz grains, suggesting that the Tamna Formation could not be related to Jeju volcanic rocks, but possibly to pre-existing basement rocks. Thus, we propose that the Tamna Formation was formed from the materials derived from both pre-existing basement rocks and Jeju volcanic rocks, which were subsequently affected by diagenesis, hydrothermal alteration and weathering process.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.175-188
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• 1998

This paper describes the internal structures and K-Ar ages of fault gouges collected from the Dongnae fault zone. This fault zone is internally zoned and occurs in the multiple fault cores. A fault core consists of thin gouge and narrow cataclastic zones that are bounded by a much thicker damage zone. Intensity of deformation and alteration increases from damage zone through cataclastic zone to gouge zone. It is thought that cataclasis of brittle deformation was the dominant strain-accomodation mechanism in the early stage of deformation to form the gouge zone and that crushed materials in the regions of maximum localization of fault slip subsequently moved by cataclastic flow. Deformation mechanism drastically changed from brittle processes to fluid-assisted flow along the gouge zone as the high porosity and permeability of pulverzied materials during faulting facilitated the influx of the hydrothermal fluids. Subsequently, the fluids reacted with gouge materials to form clay minerals. Fracturing and alteration could have repeatedly taken place in the gouge zone by elevated fluid pressures generated from the reduction of pore volume due to the formation of clay minerals and precipitation of other materials. XRD analysis revealed that the most common clay minerals of the gouge zones are illite and smectite with minor zeolite and kaolinite. Most of illites are composed of 1Md polytype, indicating the products of hydrothermal alteration. The major activities of the Dongnae fault can be divided into two periods based upon K-Ar age data of the fault gouges : 51.4∼57.5Ma and 40.3∼43.6Ma. Judging from the enviromental condition of clay mineral formation, it is inferred that the hydrothermal alteration of older period occured at higher temperature than that of younger period.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 1989

A total of 139 surface sediment samples, collected from the continental shelf and slope off the southeastern coast of Korea, were analyzed in order to understand their grain-size, mineral composition and organic carbon content. Based on the grain-size characteristics, five surface sedimentary facies were distinguished: sand, clay, mud, sand-mud mixed, and sand-clay mixed facies. The sand facies appears to be composed mostly of relict sand. For mud, most of which seem to be of recent origin, two different sources were suggested, based principally on their areal distribution pattern and the local hydrographic conditions. Heavy mineral composition of the fine-sand size fraction allowed us to distinguish different sand populations from the study area. On the whole, the Hupo Bank sediments showed a high content of garnet, while the sediments from the northern part of the continental shelf were characterized by a relatively high content of metamorphic minerals (kyanite, sillimanite, andalusite, staurolite). Among clay minerals, the most abundant was illite, with chlorite, kaolinite and smectite following in decreasing order. Organic carbon contents in the sediments of the study area were generally high and showed an average value of 1.94%. The sediment grain-size exerted a strong influence on the organic carbon content. The highest organic carbon content, on the other hand, was found in the continental slope sediments.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.41-54
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• 2012

The weathering process of rocks leads to the reduction of geotechnical bearing capacity. The weathering of granite is frequently used to refer to the degradation of geotechnical property in the design and construction of infra-structure. In this study, the range of values of CIA (chemical index of alteration) and the change of mineral compositions by weathering have been analysed with igneous rock, which covers 45.5% in South Korean territory. Several weathering indices were studied for various rocks found in Korea and significant relationships between different indices were delineated via statistical analysis. The applicability of CIA was found to be the most significant among all weathering indicies. The composition of illite, the secondary weathering residual, generally increases for the felsic rock, and swelling clay material is not included. The weathering of felsic rock will follow a sequential process, starting from bed rock, illite, and chlorite to kaoline. The mafic rock will show weathering process, from bed rock, smectite, and chlorite to kaoline. The intermediate rocks such as andesite and tuff will show similar weathering procedure and the composition of kaoline, chlorite, and smectite tends to increase more than that of illite when the mafic rock is dominated. This means the increase of rock material which has high CEC (cation exchange capacity) during secondary weathering process. However, the characteristics of a specific rock cannot be completely analyzed using merely CIA, since it is exclusively based on chemical composition and corresponding alteration. The CIA can be used to quantify the weathering process in a limited range, and further considerations such as rock composition, strength characteristics will be required to configure the comprehensive weathering impact on any specific region.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.189-197
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• 2012

Geochemical composition of fracture filling minerals and groundwater was investigated to characterize geochemical characteristics of groundwater system at the KURT site. Minerals such as calcite, illite, laumontite, chlorite, epidote, montmorillonite, and kaolinite, as well as I/S mixed layer minerals were detected in the minerals extracted from the fracture surfaces of the core samples. The groundwater from the DB-1, YS-1 and YS-4 boreholes showed alkaline conditions with pH of higher than 8. The electrical conductivity (EC) values of the groundwater samples were around $200{\mu}S/cm$, except for the YS-1 borehole. Dissolved oxygen was almost zero in the DB-1 borehole indicating highly reduced conditions. The Cl- concentration was estimated around 5 mg/L and showed homogeneous distribution along depths at the KURT site. It might indicate the mixing between shallow groundwater and deep groundwater. The shallow groundwater from boreholes showed $Ca-HCO_3$ type, whereas deep groundwater below 300 m from the surface indicated $Na-HCO_3$ type. The isotopic values observed in the groundwater ranged from -10.4 to -8.2‰ for ${\delta}^{18}O$ and from -71.3 to -55.0‰for ${\delta}D$. In addition, the isotope-depleted water contained higher fluoride concentration. The oxygen and hydrogen isotopic values of deep groundwater were more depleted compared to the shallow groundwater. The results from age dating analysis using $^{14}C$ indicated relatively younger (2000~6000yr old) groundwater compared to other european granitic groundwaters such as Stripa (Sweden).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.267-278
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• 2013

The East African Rift System(EARS) is known to be hosted epithermal Au-Ag deposits, and the best-known example is Main Ethiopian Rift Valley(MER) related to Quaternary bimodal volcanism. Large horst-graben system during rifting provides open space for emplacement of bimodal magmas and flow channel of geothermal fluids. In recent, large hydrothermally altered zones(Shala, Langano, and Allalobeda) and hot spring related to deeply circulating geothermal water have been increasing their importance due to new discoveries in MER and Danakil depression. The hot springs in Shala and Allalobeda occur as boiling pool and geyser on the surface, whereas some areas didn't observe them due to decreasing ground water table. The host rocks are altered to quartz, kaolinite, illite, smectite, and chlorite due to interaction with rising geothermal water. The hot springs in MER are neutral to slightly alkaline pH(7.88~8.83) and mostly classified into $HCO_3{^-}$ type geothermal water. They are strongly depleted in Au, and Ag, but show a higher Se concentration of up to 26.7 ppm. In contrast, siliceous altered rocks around hot springs are strongly enriched in Pb(up to 33 ppm, Shala), Zn(up to 313 ppm, Shala), Cu(up to 53.1 ppm, Demaegona), and Mn(up to 0.18 wt%t, Shala). In conclusion, anomalous Se in hot spring water, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Mn in siliceous altered rocks, and new discoveries in MER have been increasing potential for epithermal gold mineralization.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.1 s.47
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• pp.31-38
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• 2006

Site environments bring about various different deterioration forms of stone cultural properties. The aim of this study is to document the influence of coarse grained sandy soil on the deterioration of stone cultural properties. Bulguksadabotap is a good example that demonstrates the problem with coarse grained sandy soil. The ground around the Bulguksadabotap is covered with coarse grained sandy soil and the pagoda is surrounded by the corridors. Coarse grained sandy soil float easily in the air and deposit in the complicated stone structure caused by strong wind in Gyeongju and numerous visitors. To explain the influence of coarse grained sandy soil on the deterioration, the coarse grained sandy soil and weathered stone pieces of Bulguksadabotap were analyzed by XRD, optical microscopy, SEM for mineralogical component and IC and ICP-AES for the soluble salts. The soil and weathered stone pieces include clay minerals, such as smectite and kaolinite, can expand with water and exert pressure on the stone. Small size of the clay minerals in the coarse grained sandy soil can easily penetrate into the weathered surfaces of the Bulguksadabotap. The weathered stone pieces also contain NaCl, which is known to contribute to increase the expandibility of clay minerals by providing with $Na^{+}$ or by dropping the equilibrium of relative humidity. These results indicates that coarse grained sandy soil is not proper to site environment for weathered stone cultural properties.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.257-266
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• 2018

East China Sea (ECS) is known to be supplied with large amounts of sediments form Huanghe, Changjiang and various rivers in Korea. Many studies have been conducted to identify the effects of rivers and deposition process of ECS, but no consensus has been reached. In this study, clay minerals, rare earth elements (REEs) and grain size were analyzed to study the provenance and sedimentation environment of core 99MAP-P63 in ECS. Clay mineral contents of 99MAP-P63 are abundant in order of illite, chlorite, kaolinite, and smectite. The provenance of 99MAP-P63 sediments using clay minerals is interpreted as the Changjiang regardless of depth. As a result of REEs analysis, 99MAP-P63 sediments are very similar to Chinese rivers sediments. Therefore, the provenance of 99MAP-P63 is Changjiang, and the influence of Korean river seems to be insignificant. 99MAP-P63 sediments are generally classified as sandy silt, but the top of the core is divided into sand with a sand contents of 85 %. Compared with surrounding cores, sandy silt sediments arecorresponded to the low stand stage when sea-level was low, and the sediments were thought to have been supplied directly through the paleo-Changjiang. Sandy sediments in uppermost of core are corresponded to transgressive stage. Although distance from estuary was increased due to sea-level rise, it was possible to supply coarse sediments due to high bottom stress, and the paleo-Changjiang sediments deposited in study area were re-deposited.