• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.287-303
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• 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
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.355-364
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• 2004

A study on the weathering grade classification has been performed for granite and granite gneiss in Korea. The qualitative classification criteria of weathering were reviewed and then modified with field studies for the weathered rock masses. The thin section observations and XRD analyses for the different weathering grades rock samples showed the petrographical and petrophysical difference with respect to the weathering : the proportion of weathering-resistant minerals suck at quartz and orthoclase has a tendency to increase with the development of weathering, but that of weathering-sensible minerals such as anorthite and biotite is decreased. The ranges of physical and mechanical rock properties for different weathering grades were obtained from the laboratory rock tests and field tests for the studied rocks. And then, along with $RDI_{sq}$(Fookes et al., 1988), the weathering index $I_{a}$, (Woo, 2003) has been developed in this study to demarcate the weathering grade. Those two indices rely mainly on the water absorption ratio of rock and on the different rock strength. The range of these weathering indices have been determined with the physical and mechanical rock properties that can be obtained from simple field or laboratory tests in 4 grades $I_{a}$＞ 7 for F, 3.5 ＜ $I_{a}$ ＜ 10 for SW, 1.0 $I_{a}$＜ 6.0 for MW and $I_{a}$＜ 2.5 for HW. Consequently, the weathering index could be utilized to classify quantitatively the rock weathering grade, especially for the studied granites and the granite gneiss in Korea.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.19-40
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• 2014

Rock rebound values and chemical compositions of Gamak island at Sangha, Gochang, Jeollabuk do are analysed as a part of geomorphic survey of that area. Some corestones are formed by deep weathering found from the summit of rock mass of Gamak island, while the rocks a part of weathering front are exposed at the foot of the island. Rebound values of rock increase toward coastal plain, so summit would be weak in resistance to erosion. It can be assumed that chemical weathering is more active at the summit by the chemical index of alteration and changes in chemical composition ratio. However it should be mentioned that the samples are taken from the surface of the rock mass that more fresh part will be exposed when the weathered parts are removed. The chemical composition and CIA values of the polygonal cracks found from on the surface of weathering rind showed that this part has values between those of the summit and the footslope. The bottom of weathering rind with polygonal cracks has higher CIA value than those of the surface. Though it supports the result from the Bisul Mt., there also difference in the ratio of SiO2. It looks caused by the difference in weathering environment and chemical difference in parent rock. In summary Gamak island is the remnants of weathering front after removal of weathered material. The removal processes are more active at the footslope where the coastal processes are stronger than the summit.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.5-17
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• 2000

The physical and mechanical properties of the sedimentary rocks deposited in Taegu and Kyongbuk region have been measured in the laboratory and at the field. Four kinds of rocks such as the shale, the mudstone, the siltstone and the sandstone were the object of this study. In sedimentary rock joint, bedding made it impossible to extract cores for uniaxial compressive test. Some correlations between the uniaxial compressive strength and the other characteristic values such as Point load index, Schmidt hammer rebound, Brazilian strength, P-wave velocity and Absorption ratio are made. The chemical and mineral compositions are also investigated by the XRF and XRD analysis. In addition, the weathering grade of rocks are classified by the quantitative indices of Point load index, Schmidt hammer rebound and Absorption ratio.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.425-443
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• 2004

Fluvial terraces is poorly developed along Bukhan River in Central Korea. Altitude from riverbed of T1 terraces are 18-29m, T2 terraces 2539m, respectively. Rubification index of T2 is 0.66, T1 is 0.54, and thickness of gravel weathering rind on gneiss of T2 are 14.0mm, granites of T2 are $\infty$, gneiss of T1 are 5.0mm and granites of T2 are 8.0mm, because weathering in deposits of T2 terraces, older than T1, is severer than T1 terraces. Since deposits in T2 have more active and longer weathering than T1, SiO$_2$/Al$_2$O$_3$ is 3.32 in T2 and 4.06 in T1, and SiO$_2$/R$_2$O$_3$ is 2.64 in T2 and 3.19 in T1. CIA(Chemical Index of Alteration) is 87.85％ in T2 and 85.88％ in T1. Kaolinite and halloysite are founded in deposits of T2 indicating high weathering, and are founded gibbsite made tv eluviation of kaolinite. However, deposits of T1 have no kaolinite, and are found plagioclase, weak mineral in weathering process. Comparing to previous researches by estimated age as altitude from riverbed, rubification index, thickness of gravel weathering rind, element contents and mineral composition, forming age of T2 terraces in Bukhan River are estimated in marine oxygen isotope stage 6 (130-190ka), and T1 terraces are marine oxygen isotope stage 4(59-74ka).

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.381-391
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• 2011

Weathering can reduce rock strength and eventually affect the structural stability of a rock mass, which is important in the field of engineering geology. Several methods have been developed to evaluate the degree of weathering, including the chemical weathering index. In this study, we analyzed the weathering degree and characteristics of microtextures and pores in crystalline rocks (gneiss and granites) based on petrographic observations, the chemical weathering index, mineralogy by XRD, microtextural analysis by SEM/EDS, measurements of pore size and surface area by the BET method, and microporosity by X-ray CT. The formation of secondary minerals and microtexture in gneiss and granitic rocks are assumed to be affected by complex processes such as dissolution, precipitation, and fracturing. Hence, it is clear that some chemical weathering indices that are based solely on whole-rock chemistry (e.g., CIA and CWI) are unable to provide reliable assessments of the degree of weathering. Great care is needed to evaluate the degree of chemical weathering, including an understanding of the mineralogy and microtexture of the rock mass, as well as the characteristics of micropores.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.123-137
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• 2012

Reddish superficial materials in southern area of Korean Peninsula have been defined as lateritic red soil in Korea. In A-CN-K ternary plots, CaO and $Na_2O$ show similar linear distribution along a A-K line to kaolinite profile and laterite in southern Spain and Cameroon, respectively, and it means strong alteration. But $K_2O$ is weak alteration, plotting between muscovite and illite zone. Granitic reddish weathering mantles in study area show bulk distribution in center when plotted in A-CNK-Fm space, in contrast to laterite in Cameroon, plotting linearly in the middle along a A-FM line. Therefore, alteration of reddish saprolites in Southern Korea have not progressed as much as laterite. To define Reddish saprolite in southern Korean Peninsula as a lateritic red soil, more many studies are necessary.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.5-11
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• 2015

Recently the necessity of developing the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) for shallow foundation has been raised to implement to the domestic design codes related to geotechnical engineering since the limit state design is requested as international technical standard for the foundation of structures. In this study, applicability of LRFD for shallow foundation on weathered soils was investigated and resistance factor for this case was proposed. The quantitative analyses on the uncertainty and resistance bias for shallow foundation on weathered soil ground were performed by collecting the statistical data about domestic case studies for design and construction of shallow foundation. Reliability analyses for shallow foundation were first performed using FDA (First-order Design value Approach) method. Resistance factors were calibrated using the load factors obtained from the specifications of shallow foundations on weathered soil ground. The influence of the load factors developed in this study on the resistance factors were discussed by comparing with the resistance factor obtained from using AASHTO load factors.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2012

Red saprolites are appeared in granitic hills in Naju, Southern Korean Peninsula. These red saprolites were analyzed for their geochemistry, including CIA, A-CN-K and A-CNK-FM ternary plots, to understand the chemical weathering trend and rubefaction of the saprolites. These saprolites were compared with kaolinitic saprolites of Guadalquivir Basin in Spain formed under paleo-humid tropical conditions. Chemical Index of Alteration(CIA) value for Naju in Korea is 80, and 87 in Guadalquivir, suggesting moderate and strong weathering in both. Relative to kaolinitic saprolite of Guadalquivir in Spain, red saprolites in Naju are commonly weak loss of CaO, $Na_2O$, especially in $K_2O$. The A-CNK-FM ternary plots of Naju saprolites relative to Kaolinitic saprolites of Guadalquivir shows weak chemical alteration owing to slow removal of $K_2O$, but high mafic constituents, $Fe_2O_3$ and MgO, for most of the samples. In the saprolites of Naju, mafic oxides, $Fe_2O_3$ and MgO, become enriched because of the fast and massive removal of CaO, $Na_2O$ and $K_2O$ relative to other elements, resulting in rubefaction of the surface layer of the saprolites, so more redness than kaolinitic saprolites of Guadalquivir. It is found that the rubefaction of the saprolites is not necessarily proportional to chemical weathering intensity.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.311-318
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• 2010

We performed laboratory measurements of the mechanical properties and slake durability of Cretaceous shale from the Hwasun area, Korea, including highly weathered and fresh samples, yielding ranges of specific gravity of 2.14-2.88, dry density of 1.86-2.83(g/$cm^3$), water content of 0.12-6.36 (%), porosity of 1.33-20.49 (%), and absorption ratio of 0.51-8.5 (%). The absorption ratio shows a strong linear relation with porosity, expressed as Ab = 0.44P-0.09 (Ab: absorption ratio, P: porosity). Values of the slake durability index ($Id_2$) and point load intensity index ($Is_{(50)}$) of highly weathered to fresh shale are 90.07-99.33 (%) and 10.8-90.2(kg/$cm^2$), respectively. $Id_2$ is linearly related to $Is_{(50)}$, expressed as $Is(50)=1E-07e^{0.2033Id_2}$(kg/$cm^2$)($r^2=0.69$). This equation is a useful tool for estimating the $Id_2$ value for shale in the Hwasun area.