• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.481-489
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• 2022

Various types of karst topographies are found worldwide. Owing to their global distribution, karst areas have been extensively studied by scientists who investigate new discoveries by linking the characteristics of karst topographies with their own research fields. However, there have been only a few studies on karsts in the Republic of Korea, and little research exists on their hydrogeology. Fragmentary studies have been conducted on the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in limestone areas, the causes of high arsenic concentrations in groundwater, and the hydraulic conductivity of limestone areas. Research on hydrogeological characterization and flow mechanisms in these areas has only began recently. Identification and the proper management of available groundwater resources in karst (limestone) areas is essential as their unique geological characteristics render it difficult to construct reservoirs or dams at appropriate scales. We have reviewed prior work on karsts in the Republic of Korea to provide information that supports water resource security in the karst areas, to improve the understanding of the equitable use of water resources, and to identify the best management practices for groundwater resource resilience improvement.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.25-38
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• 2019

The Muju-Seolcheon area, which is known to be located in the boundary of Ogcheon Belt and Ryeongnam Massif (OB-RM), consists of age unknown or Precambrian metamorphic rocks (MRs) [banded biotite gneiss, metasedimentary rocks (black phyllite, mica schist, crystalline limestone, quartzite), granitic gneiss, hornblendite], Mesozoic sedimentary and igneous rocks. In this paper are researched the structural characteristics of each deformation phase from the geometric and kinematic features and the developing sequence of multi-deformed rock structures of the MRs, and is considered the boundary location of OB-RM with the previous geochemical, radiometric, structure geological data. The geological structure of this area is at least formed through four phases (Dn-1, Dn, Dn+1, Dn+2) of deformation. The Dn-1 is the deformation which took place before the formation of Sn regional foliation and formed Sn-1 foliation folded by Fn fold. The Dn is that which formed the Sn regional foliation. The predominant Sn foliation shows a NE direction which matches the zonal distribution of MRs. A-type or sheath folds, in which the Fn fold axis is parallel to the direction of stretching lineation, are often observed in the crystalline limestone. The Dn+1 deformation, which folded the Sn foliation, took place under compression of NNW~NS direction and formed Fn+1 fold of ENE~EW trend. The Sn foliation is mainly rearranged by Fn+1 folding, and the ${\pi}$-axis of Sn foliation, which is dispersed, shows the nearly same direction as the predominant Fn+1 fold axis. The Dn+2 deformation, which folded the Sn and Sn+1 foliations, took place under compression of E-W direction, and formed open folds of N-S trend. And the four phases of deformation are recognized in all domains of the OB-RM, and the structural characteristics and differences to divide these tectonic provinces can not be observed in this area. According to the previous geochemical and radiometric data, the formation or metamorphic ages of the MRs in and around this area were Middle~Late Paleproterozoic. It suggests that the crystalline limestone was at least deposited before Middle Paleproterozoic. This deposition age is different in the geologic age of Ogcheon Supergroup which was recently reported as Neoproterozoic~Late Paleozoic. Therefore, the division of OB-RM tectonic provinces in this area, which regards the metasedimentary rocks containing crystalline limestone as age unknown Ogcheon Group, is in need of reconsideration.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.274-282
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• 2016

Natural ventilation is employed in limestone mines that have been currently operated in Korea, and there has been a growing issue of a significantly weak airflow caused by the large-scale excavation. Thus, the air quality in the working area is considerably poor. In order to improve this circumstance, it is mainly required to examine ventilation performance. In this study, the examination of ventilation efficiency was conducted by using tracer gas method. The result of this work indicated detailedly the ventilation problems in research mine, in that extremely low air velocity, recirculation, and air change rate were evaluated quantitatively using tracer gas. Therefore the ventilation performance evaluation using tracer gas can be opted as a precise method to improve the working area in mines.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 2004

During excavation work for the construction of a highway bridge in a limestone area in Korea, several cavities were found, and construction work was stopped temporarily. Cavities under the bridge piers might seriously threaten the safety of the planned bridge, because they could lead to excessive subsidence and differential settlement of the pier foundations. In order to establish a method for reinforcement of the pier foundations, borehole radar reflection and tomography surveys were carried out, to locate cavities under the planned pier locations and to determine their sizes where they exist. Since travel time data from the crosshole radar survey showed anisotropy, we applied an anisotropic tomography inversion algorithm assuming heterogeneous elliptic anisotropy, in order to reconstruct three kinds of tomograms: tomograms of maximum and minimum velocities, and of the direction of the symmetry axis. The distribution of maximum velocity matched core logging results better than that of the minimum velocity. The degree of anisotropy, defined by the normalized difference between maximum and minimum velocities, was helpful in deciding whether an anomalous zone in a tomogram was a cavity or not. By careful examination of borehole radar reflection and tomography images, the spatial distributions of cavities were delineated, and most of them were interpreted as being filled with clay and/or water. All the interpretation results implied that two faults imaged clearly by a DC resistivity survey were among the most important factors controlling the groundwater movement in the survey area, and therefore were closely related to the development of cavities. The method of reinforcement of the pier foundations was based on the interpretation results, and the results were confirmed when construction work was resumed.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.410-415
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• 2003

Ground subsidence has occurred in the downtown of Muan-eup in Korea. Integrated geophysical survey, including two-dimensional resistivity, CSMT(Controlled source magnetotelluric), magnetic, borehole logging, GPR and resistivity tomography, has been conducted to investigate the cause of subsidence and ground conditions. Since the target area is in the city downtown, there were no spaces for surface geophysical methods. To get regional geology and to facilitate the detailed geophysical interpretation in the survey area, two-dimensional resistivity, CSMT and magnetic surveys have been applied in the outer region of the downtown. From these results, we could accurately define the Gwangju fault system and estimate the geologic conditions in the downtown. For the detailed survey of the downtown area, resistivity tomography and borehole logging data have been acquired using a few tens of densely located boreholes. Among these survey results, borehole logging data provided the guide to classification of the rock type and we could define the geologic boundary of granite and limestone formations. From the resistivity tomograms of 42 sections, which are densely located enough to be interpreted in a three-dimensional manner, we could delineate the possible weak zones or cavities in the limestone formations. In particular, resistivity tomograms in the subsided area showed the real image of ground subsidence. The map of hazardous zone has been derived from the joint interpretation of these survey results and we could provide the possible reinforcement strategy in this area.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.381-397
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• 1985

A petrological study has been done in the pyeongchang-Jaecheon area which is a northwestern part of the basement of Ogcheon zone for the purpose of comparison of the area to the Nogjeon-Yeongchun area which is the antipodal basement of the zone in the petrological and geotectonical view points. The major units of the area are Precambrian granitic gneissic complex, banded gneiss, linea ted leucocratic gneiss and pegmatitic leucogranitic gneiss in the west, elongated exposure of quartz schist (or partly quartzite) and phyllite, named as Jungdaegal-bong Group correlated to the lower sequence of Joseon Group, in the middle, and limestone and calcic dolomite, Iptanri Formation, correlated to the middle of Joseon Group in the east. Igneous plutons are distributed in the areas of gneissic complex and limestone formation as well as in the Eosangcheon and Daedaeri areas in the southeastern out of the area. Present study reveals that the gneissic complex are the products of granitization to metamorphism of amphibolite facies in the order of above mentioned from the metasediments of schists and calcareous rocks. A notable characteristics of the phyllite of Jungdaegal-bong Group is the presence of syntectonically segregated quartz rods in the forms of lens, swirl or boudinage in evenly distributed in the phyllitic to chloritic matrix. Igneous rocks range in composition from gabbro through diorite, granodiorite, to schistosed and porphyritic granites in stock and dike. The orogenic movement of the Ogcheon zone initiated in the middle Proterozoic time, pre-sedimentation of Ogcheon Group and superposed the granitization in Permian, Jurassic Daebo orogeny with granitic batholiths and stocks, and Cretaceous plutonic intrusion.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.250-293
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• 2021

Limestone areas are sedimentary rock outcrops consisting of calcium carbonate created several hundreds of millions of years ago by calcium-secreting marine organisms and subsequently lifted above sea level by tectonic movement. Limestone areas support very high levels of endemic species of plants and are recognized as biodiversity areas with much biological information. The purpose of this study is to devise a strategy for the comprehensive conservation of the vegetation of limestone areas through analyses of the floristics and plant species compositions in ten limestone areas on the Korean Peninsula. The results of 153 field surveys from April of 2010 to October of 2016 identified 1,202 taxa in total, representing 1,096 species, 18 subspecies, 84 varieties, 2 forms, and 2 hybrids in 530 genera and 133 families. Among them, 55 taxa were endemic plants to Korea, and 38 taxa were red data plants. The floristic target plants amounted to 102 taxa, specifically 27 taxa of grade V and 75 taxa of grade IV. In all, 121 alien plants were recorded in the investigated area. Calciphilous plants amounted to 102 taxa, specifically 14 taxa of calciphilous indicator plants, 30 taxa of superlative most calciphilous plants, and 58 taxa of comparative more calciphilous plants. A cluster analysis showed a high degree of similarity between sites that are geographically adjacent with similar habitat environments. Limestone areas also supported groups distinct from those in non-limestone areas, demonstrating the specificity of limestone flora. Plant geography approaches therefore appear to be crucial to gain a better understanding of the level of biodiversity in limestone areas, not only at the interspecific but also at the intraspecific level. These results highlight the importance of protecting limestone habitats to preserve not only their interspecific but also the intraspecific diversity, which is highly threatened.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.251-263
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• 2015

Geological mapping, borehole drilling, electrical resistivity, and seismic tomography surveys were conducted in order to map underground cavities and better understand the mechanisms driving subsidence in a limestone region in Korea. Limestone outcrops in the study area generally alternate between calcite-rich and calcite-poor rock. The results reveal that in areas experiencing subsidence, cavities occur mainly around soil-rock boundaries at depths of 7~14 m. These results are based on comparative analyses of electrical resistivity, seismic tomography, and borehole logging data. The volumes of the cavities are relatively small in a range of 558~835 ㎥ and they have a shape typical of suffosion sinkholes, which are typically found where sandy soils overlie bedrock cavities.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.1 s.66
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• pp.66-74
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• 2007

The analysis of ground subsidence stability was conducted for the residential area located on the limestone corrosion zone. For the investigation of the cavity distribution in limestone region, various geophysical investigations such as electroresistivity tomography, electromagnetic prospecting are carried out. Geotechnical field tests with drilling are also carried out for the evaluation of the ground characteristics. Based upon their results, numerical modeling is performed for the simulation and prediction of the ground subsidence with the conditions of cavity geometry and groundwater level. The main factor to cause the ground subsidence is estimated as the draw down of the groundwater level below soil overburden, which disturbs the mechanical equilibrium of ground and drives washing away the overburden soil through the cavity and solace subsidence. It seemed that it is essential to maintain the groundwater level continuously above the shallow cavity for the prevention of the ground subsidence on the limestone corrosion zone.

• Journal of the speleological society of Korea
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• no.4
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• pp.3-9
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• 1996

Ondal cave is located in Ha-ri Yongchun - myon, Tanyang - gun, Chungchongbuk - do, which has its site at the valley of southern side of Namhangang which winds up to the southwest. Namsan is kurungbong which is at the mid - slope of the steep and high mountain, Songsan which is 427 m high above sea level, and shows the aspect of the limestone area, a rough and steep mountain one.(omitted)