• 한국지구과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.02a
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• pp.64-64
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• 2002

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.2B
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• pp.161-170
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• 2006

A tracer test technique using a radioisotope was proposed to investigate pollutant mixing characteristics in rivers. The main advantages of radioisotope as a tracer in field tests are that it can be detected easily, and that its detection range is quite large. Also, using the radioisotope, the amount sorbed by the bed material and the biota may be a minimum. Field tracer tests were conducted at seven different sites in natural rivers with various meandering pattern. Based on the acquired data, the behavior of the tracer cloud in the intermediate-field was examined two-dimensionally, and dispersion coefficients were calculated using several evaluation methods. Results revealed that the tracer cloud was transported skewed to the outer bank and dispersion coefficients in bends were larger than those in straight reaches.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.100-104
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• 1994

The rock matrix diffusion provides a retarding mechanism for sorbing and especially non-sorbing radionuclides. It has to be verified not only theoretically and experimentally but also from natural phenomena, before the mechanism can be incorporated fully into transport codes. The natural analogue studies, such as the concentration variation of radionuclides in profiles perpendicular to fluid-conducting fractures and to intrusive contact zones, have been believed to provide a validation. In thermal alteration zones of Naeduckri granite intruded by a pegmatite, large alkali and alkaline earth elements such as K, Rb, Sr, and Ba were moderately migrated during thermal alteration. Li, V. and Nb were also migrated about 9cm in width from the contact between the granite and the pegmatite. The concentration variation of these elements in thermally altered zones seems to be resulted from the local migration due to the re-equilibration among the elements released from the breakdown of primary minerals in the granite. Most of these natural analogue studies simply show only the concentration variation of elements without detailed informations on the diffusion time and other important data fir interpreting the behaviour of radionuclides, because of the absence of appropriate minerals for age data. Despite this problem, natural analogue studies will be needed for transport models of radionuclides in safety assessment.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.535-550
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• 2014

The origins and varieties of natural radioactive materials, including uranium and radon-222, were examined in a drilled borehole extending to a depth of 120 m below the surface in the Goesan area. In addition to core samples, eight groundwater samples were collected at different depths, using a double packer system and bailer, and their geochemical characteristics were determined. Most of the rock samples from the drilled core consisted of granite porphyry, with sedimentary rocks (slate, carbonate, or lime-silicates) and pegmatite occurring in certain sections. The pH of samples varied from 7.8 to 8.4, and the groundwater was of a Na-$HCO_3$type. Uranium and thorium concentrations in the core were < 0.2-14.8 ppm and 0.56-45.0 ppm, respectively. Observations by microscope and an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) showed that the mineral containing the natural radioactive materials was monazite contained in biotite crystals. The uranium, which substituted for major elements in the monazite, appeared to have dissolved and been released into the groundwater in a shear zone. Concentrations of Radon-222 in the borehole showed no close relationship with levels of uranium. The isotopes of noble gases, such as helium and neon, would be useful for analyzing the origins and characteristics of the natural radioactive materials.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.289-302
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• 2023

The study area was Gangnim-myeon, Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do, composed of the Chiaksan gneiss complex, and it was revealed that the concentrations of uranium (U) and thorium (Th) within the groundwater of the study area exceeded their water quality standards. Hence, artificial weathering experiments were conducted to elucidate mineralogically the mechanisms of their leaching using drilling cores obtained from the corresponding groundwater aquifers. First of all, the mineralogical compositions of core samples were observed, and the results indicated that the content of clinochlore, a member of the chlorite group of minerals that can form through low- and intermediate-temperature metamorphisms, was relatively higher. In addition, the Th concentration was measured ten times higher than that of U. The results of artificial weathering experiments suggested that the Th concentrations gradually increased through the dissolution of radioactive-element-bearing minerals up to the first day, and then they tended to decrease. It could be attributed to the fact that Th was leached with the dissolution of thorite, which might be a secondary mineral, and then dissolved Th was re-precipitated as the various forms of salt, such as sulfate. Even though the U content was lower than that of Th in the core samples, the U concentration was one hundred times higher than that of Th after the weathering experiments. It is likely caused by the gradual dissolution and desorption of U included in intensively weathered thorite or adsorbed as a form of UO₂²⁺ on the mineral surface. In addition, the leaching tendency of U and Th was positively correlated with the bicarbonate concentration. However, the concentrations between U and Th in groundwater exhibited a relatively lower correlation, which might result from the fact that they occurred from different sources, as aforementioned. Among various kinetic models, the parabolic diffusion and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were confirmed to best fit the dissolution kinetics of both elements. The period that would be taken for the U concentration to exceed its drinking-water standard was inferred using the regressed parameters of the best-fitted models, and the duration of 29.4 years was predicted in the neutral-pH aquifers with relatively higher concentrations of HCO₃, indicating that U could be relatively quickly leached out into groundwater.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.299-300
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• 2002

현재 우리가 살고 있는 지구에는 인공적 또는 자연적으로 생성된 많은 방사성 핵종이 혼재하고 있으며 인간은 이러한 자연환경에 항상 노출되어 있다. 우라늄(U)과 토륨(Th)은 자연계에 존재하는 $\alpha$입자를 방출하는 방사성 원소이며 이들의 연속적인 $\alpha$ 및 $\beta$붕괴에 의하여 많은 방사성 핵종이 생성된다. 특히 대기중이나 토양, 암석에 함유되어 있는 U-238은 자발 붕괴하여 라돈(Rn-222)이 되고 라돈에 의하여 생성된 딸 핵종들이 호흡을 통하여 흡수되어 방사선 피폭을 유발한다고 알려져 있다. (중략)

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.547-555
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• 2023

Due to enhanced precision in uranium isotope measurements with MC-ICP-MS, there has been a surge in studies concerning the naturally occurring uranium isotope ratio (²³⁸U/²³⁵U) and its associated fractionation processes. Several researchers have highlighted that the ²³⁸U/²³⁵U ratio, previously assumed to be constant, can vary by several per mil depending on different natural fractionation processes. This review paper outlines the uranium isotope values (δ²³⁸U) for major terrestrial reservoirs and their variations. It discusses the range of δ238U values and uranium isotope fractionation seen in uranium ore deposits, based on deposit type and ore-forming conditions. In conclusion, this paper emphasizes the importance of studies on uranium ore deposits. Such deposits serve as natural simulation models vital for designing high-level radioactive waste repository sites.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2021

Subsurface rock produces heat from the decay of radioactive isotopes in constituent minerals and gamma-ray emissions, of which the magnitude is dominated by the contents of the major radioactive isotopes (e.g., U, Th, and K). The heat production is generally calculated from the rock density and contents of major isotopes, which can be determined by mass spectrometry of drilled core samples or rock fragments. However, such methods are not easily applicable to deep boreholes because core samples recovered from depths of several hundred meters to a few kilometers are rarely available. A geophysical logging technique for boreholes is available where the U, Th, and K contents are measured from the gamma-ray spectrum. However, this technique requires the density to be measured separately, and the measurement depth of the equipment is still limited. As an alternative method, a normal gamma-ray logging tool was adopted to estimate the heat production from the total gamma activity, which is relatively easy to measure. This technical report introduces the development of the proposed method for evaluating the heat production of a granitic rock mass with domestic commercial borehole logging tools, as well as its application to a ~2 km deep borehole for verification.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.307-314
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• 1997

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry(ICP/AES) was used for the determination of uranium and thorium in geological materials. Samples were predecomposed by mixed acid digestion technique. The separation of the uranium and thorium was achieved by systematic solvent extraction with TTA(thenoyltrifluoroacetone) and TOA (tri-n-octylamine) and back extraction into HCl. The results for standard rock sample, NIST SRM 278, showed a good agreement with those certified from NIST as well as found values by other non-destructive techniques. Additional purification for extracted portions was carried out by anion exchange chromatography for measurement of several natural radioisotopes of uranium and thorium by alpha spectrometry.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2004.05b
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• pp.409-413
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• 2004

자연하천에서의 횡혼합 특성을 분석하고 횡분산계수를 산정하기 위해서 추적자 실험을 실시하였다. 추적자 실험은 섬강에서 세번, 홍천강에서 두번, 청미천에서 한번, 총 여섯 군데에서 실행되었다. 각각의 실험에서 속도, 수심, 유속과 같은 수리량이 측정되었다. 추적자로서는 미량으로도 관측이 용이하며 병원에서 진찰용으로 사용할 만큼 인체에 해롭지 않은 방사성 동위원소 (I-131)를 사용하였다. 추적자 실험을 통해 얻어진 농도데이터와 수리량 데이터를 이용하여 횡분산계수를 산정하였으며 이때 모멘트 방법과 수정모멘트 방법 그리고 유관모형 추적법이 사용되었다. 세가지 방법을 이용하여 산정된 횡분산계수를 토대로 각각의 방법이 자연하천에서의 횡분산계수를 산정하는데 합당할지를 비교 분석하였다. 또한 여섯 경우의 지형이 다른 자연하천에서 구한 횡분산계수를 토대로 하천의 형상에 의해 하천에서의 횡분산 거동이 어떻게 달라지는가를 분석하였다.