• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.3 s.49
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• pp.197-207
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• 2006

In the coal-bearing formations of the Janggi Group, which are reported as typical clastic sediments, several beds of volcaniclastic rocks are actually found in the Yeongil area. The coal-bearing formations generally exhibit alternating lithologic characteristics of pyroclastic and epiclastic sedimentary facies. Tuff and tuffaceous sandstone rich in pumice fragments are characteristic in the coal-bearing fermations. Diagenetic minerals found in the pyroclastic rocks of the upper and lower coal-bearing formations are montmorillonite, clinoptilolite, opal-CT, and quartz. Several tuffaceous beds correspond to the low-grade ores of zeolites and bentonite, and moreover, these ores mostly occur as thin beds less than 1 m in thickness. Thus, the potential of altered tuffaceous rocks as the resources typical of zeolite and bentonite seems to be low. However, based on mineral composition and CEC determinations, it can be evaluated that these tuffaceous rocks mostly have the promising potential for utilization as the absorbent-functional mineral resources such as acid clays, if these low-grade ores plus adjacent tuffaceous rocks are collectively exploited.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.377-393
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• 2010

Pumiceous tuffs occurring in the Beomgockri Group are examined applied-mineralogical characteristics and their controling factors to evaluate their potentials as the adsorption-functional mineral resources. The pumiceous tuffs are diagenetically altered to low-grade zeolitcs and bentonites in the Janggi area. Compositional specialty due to the presence of pumice fragments induces the altered tuffs to exhibit the characteristic adsorption property combined with cation exchange capacity, specific surface area, and acidic pH. Unusual lower pH in the adsorption-functional mineral substances is turned out to be originated from the presence of H-smectite having $H^+$ in the interlayer site of the sheet structure. On account of disordered crystallinity resulting from the exchanged $H^+$ in the interlayer site, the smectite commonly forms crenulated edges in the planar crystal form and exhibits characteristic X-ray diffraction patterns showing comparatively lower intensities of basal spacings including (001) peak than conventional Ca-smectite. Based on the interpretation of paragenetic relations and precursor of the H-smectite, a genetic model of the peculiar clay mineral was proposed. The smectite formation may be facilitated resulting from the precipitation of opal-CT at decreasing pH condition caused by the release of H+ during diagenetic alteration of pumice fragments. Because of the acidic smectite, the low-grade mineral resources from the Beomgockri Group may be applicable to the adsorption industry as the raw materials of acid clays and bed-soil.

• Mineral and Industry
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2001

국내에서 천연 제올라이트는 부존자원으로서의 높은 잠재성에도 불구하고, 용도개발에 대한 연구개발이 부진하여 관련산업이 활성화되지 못하고 있는 실정이다. 환경개선용 기능성 소재로서의 천연 제올라이트의 응용이 앞으로 국내에서 천연 제올라이트의 부가가치 향상을 도모할 수 있는 효과적인 방안이 될 것으로 생각된다. 환경산업 분야에서는 천연 제올라이트가 합성 제올라이트와의 경쟁관계에서 유리한 위치를 점유할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다. 환경산업에서 천연 제올라이트의 새로운 수요처가 형성되면 기존의 저급한 용도보다 한 단계 향상된 부가가치의 창출이 가능할 것으로 여겨진다. 국내산 천연 제올라이트의 자원잠재성과 부가가치를 제고시키기 위해서 앞으로는 관련산업이 응용광물학적 지식기반 산업으로 전환되어야 한다. 또한 지금까지 국내에서 천연 제올라이트에 관례적으로 적용되어 왔던 화학조성 및 CEC 분석자료에 의거한 제올라이트의 품위 및 품질 평가 방식에서도 개선과 보완이 요구된다. 특히 X-선회절 정량분석, 전자현미경관찰, 선택적 이온교환 및 흡착특성과 관련된 실험 등을 통해서 천연 제올라이트의 품위와 품질이 보다 정밀하게 감정되고 평가되어야 할 것으로 여겨진다. 따라서 앞으로는 천연제올라이트의 부가가치 향상을 위한 연구개발과 산업응용은 반드시 제올라이트의 세공구조, 광물상, 광물 조성 및 특성에 대한 이해와 지식에 기반하여 이루어져야 할 것이다.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.201-213
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• 2003

The adsorption property and ability of domestic zeolites for some heavy metal ions (Ag, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn), which may cause a serious environmental problem in industrial wastewater, were evaluated on ore unit through a series of adsorption experiments together with careful examinations of mineral composition and properties of the zeolites. Though the adsorption behavior basically took place in the form of a cation exchange reaction, the higher CEC value does not necessarily to imply the higher adsorption capacity for a specific heavy metal. A general trend of the adsorption selectivity for heavy metals in the zeolites is determined to be as follow: $Ag\geq$Pb>Cr,Cu$\geq$Zn>Mn, but the adsorption properties of heavy metal ions somewhat depend on the species and composition of zeolite. Clinoptilolite tends to adsorb selectively Cu in case of Cr and Cu, whereas heulandite prefers Cr to Cu. A dominant adsorption selectivity of the zeolite ores for Ag and Pb is generally conspicuous regardless of their zeolite species and composition. The zeolite ores exhibit a preferential adsorption especially for $Ag^{+}$ so as not to regenerate when treated with $Na^{+}$ . In the adsorption capacity for heavy meta ions, the zeolites differ in great depending on their species: ferrierite>clinoptilolite>heulandite. Considering the CEC value of mordenite, the mordenite-rich ore appears to be similar to the clinoptilolite ore in the adsorption capacity. The adsorption capacity for heavy metals is not positively proportional to the CEC values of the zeolites measured by the exchange reaction with ammonium ion. In addition, the adsorption capacity roughly tends to depend on the zeolite contents, i.e., the grade of zeolite ore, but the trend is not consistent at all in some ores. These may be caused by the adsorption selectivity for some specific heavy metals, the presence of possible stacking micro-faults and natural cations such as K hardly to exchange in the zeolite. Considering the economic availability and functional effectiveness as natural zeolite resources, clinoptilolite ores could be applicable to utilize the domestic zeolites for the removal of heavy metals.