• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.593-608
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• 2024

As surface resources are continually developed and depleted, there is an increasing need to explore deeper ore bodies. Simultaneously, global demand for eco-friendly energy sources increases due to decarbonization policies, intensifying competition among nations to secure critical mineral resources. Geochemical exploration is based on the behavior of specific elements derived from mineral deposits and should be conducted with consideration of numerous geological variables. The characteristics of elemental concentration around ore bodies, which can be observed in media such as natural water, river sediments, soil, rock, vegetation, and geogas, provide clues for predicting the distribution of undiscovered ore bodies. For this reason, it is essential to identify the types of indicator elements that can be used for exploration depending on the mineralization type, and to establish a systematic geological exploration methodology based on the behavior of elements around mineralized ore bodies. Furthermore, applying Al technology to these geochemical characteristics would aid to exploration for critical mineral resources.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.327-334
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• 2008

Understanding the chemical characteristics of sediments and the nutrient diffusion from sediments to the water body is important in the management of surface water quality. Changes in chemical properties and nutrient concentration of a submerged soil were monitored for 6 months using a microcosm with the thickness of 30cm for upland soil and 15cm of water thickness above the soil. The soil color changed from yellowish red to grey and an oxygenated layer was formed on the soil surface after 5 week flooding. The redox potential and the pH of the pore water in the microcosm decreased during the flooding. The nitrate concentration of the surface water was continuously increased up to $8\;mg\;l^{-1}$ but its phosphate concentration decreased from $2\;mg\;l^{-1}$ to $0.1\;mg\;l^{-1}$ during flooding. However, the concentrations of $NH_4^+$, $PO_4^{3-}$, Fe and Mn in the pore water were increased by the flooding during this period. The increased $NO_3^-$ in the surface water was due to the migration of $NH_4^+$ formed in the soil column and the oxidation to $NO_3^-$ in the surface water. The increased phosphate concentration in the pore water was due to the reductive dissolution of Fe-oxide and Mn-oxide, which scavenged phosphate from the soil solution. The oxygenated layer played a role blocking the migration of phosphate from the pore water to the water body.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 1991

A new technique involving gamma-spectrometry was used to determine the effects of pollination on mineral uptake in petals, ovaries and leaves of tulips and daffodils. A gamma-emitting radionu'::lide solution containing selenium-75, cesium-137, manganese-54, and zinc-65 was applied to the roots of tulips and daffodils growing in water. Mineral uptake was monitored in plant parts over a 24 day period. Pollinated tulip flowers showed a rapid withdrawal of minerals from the petals and an increase in ovary mineral content, while such a source-sink relationship was not established in daffodils. In both species, the concentration of most minerals in petals and ovaries declined prior to abortion of the plant part. The roots and bulbs of the plants contained the vast majority of the labeled minerals. This study demonstrated a possibility that certain plant parts could be isolated and monitored for mineral uptake over time without destruction.uction.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.359-367
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of soy protein and soy isoflavones on bone and mineral density in young female Sprague-Dawley rats. Fifty eight rats (body Weight 75 $\pm$ 5 g) were randomly assigned to one of four groups, consuming casein, soy protein concentrate, soy protein isolate (57 mg isoflavones/100 g diet) or casein added isoflavones (57 mg isoflavones /100 g diet). All rats were fed on experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 9 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured using PIXImus (GE Lunar Co, Wisconsin, USA) in spine and femur on 3, 6, 9 weeks after feeding. The serum and urine concentrations of Ca and P were determined. Diet did not affect weight gain and mean food intake. Food efficiency ratio was lower In soy protein groups. The serum concentration of Ca and P were not changed by soy protein and isoflavones. Urinary Ca and P excretion were not significantly different. Spine BMD was significantly increased by soy protein isolate on 3 and 6 weeks after feeding. Femur BMD was significantly increased in the groups of soy protein isolate and isoflavones adding on after 9 weeks. Therefore, soy protein with rich isoflavones may be beneficial on spine and femur BMD increasement in growing female rats.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2009

Taurine supplementation has been shown to have a beneficial effect on femur bone mineral content in ovariectomized rats. It therefore seemed desirable to find out whether the beneficial effect of taurine on ovariectomized rats fed calcium deficient diet could also be reproduced. Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups, One group was OVX and the other group received sham operation (SHAM), and received either control diet or a taurine supplemented diet for 6 weeks. All rats were fed on calcium deficient diet (AIN-93: 50% level of calcium) and deionized water. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured in spine and femur. The serum and urine concentrations of calcium and phosphorus were determined, Bone formation was measured by serum osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations, Bone resorption rate was measured by deoxypyridinoline (DPD) crosslinks immunoassay and corrected for creatinine. Urinary calcium and phosphorus excretion, osteocalcin in blood and cross link value were not significantly different among the groups. Within the OVX group, the taurine supplemented group had not higher femur bone mineral content than the control group. This study established the need for a study on the taurine effect on bone with different calcium levels.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.31-32
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• 2011

Granulated slag from metal industries and fly ash from the combustion of coal are industrial by-products that have been widely used as mineral admixtures in normal and high strength concrete. Due to the reaction between calcium hydroxide and fly ash or slag, the hydration of concrete containing fly ash or slag is much more complex compared with that of Portland cement. In this paper, the production of calcium hydroxide in cement hydration and its consumption in the reaction of mineral admixtures is considered in order to develop a numerical model that simulates the hydration of concrete containing fly ash or slag. The heat evolution rates of fly ash- or slag-blended concrete is determined by the contribution of both cement hydration and the reaction of the mineral admixtures. Furthermore, the temperature distribution and temperature history in hardening blended concrete are evaluated based on the degree of hydration of the cement and the mineral admixtures. The proposed model is verified through experimental data on concrete with different water-to-cement ratios and mineral admixture substitution ratios.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.09a
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• pp.334-337
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• 2004

Groundwater chemistry in Namwon area, Korea, was investigated to understand the contribution of geochemical processes on groundwater chemistry. For this study, a total of 279 groundwater samples were collected from 93 wells distributed over the study area. Higher concentrations of major ions are generally encountered in the shallow alluvial wells, suggesting that these chemicals are originated from the surface contamination sources. Mass balance analysis based on reaction stoichiometry reveals that the water chemistry is regulated by three major chemical processes: weathering of silicate/ carbonate minerals, input of C1/SO$_4$ salts, and nitrate generating processes. The results show that mineral weathering is the most dominating factor regulating the groundwater chemistry. However, the groundwaters with the higher salt concentration indicate the larger mineral weathering effect, suggesting that some part of the mineral weathering effect is also associated with the anthropogenic activities such as limes applied to the cultivated lands, carbonates (CaCO$_3$) in the cement materials.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.542-547
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• 2009

Brine mineral water(BMW) has recently gained attention as a new water resource due to its biological activities. In this study, BMW from the Geumjin area(Gangneung-city, Korea) was evaluated for its growth inhibition, anti-metastasis and anti-angiogenesis activity against cancer cells. The in vitro cytotoxicity was measured by CCK assay, and the anti-metastasis activity was estimated by lung metastasis in vivo. The in vitro incubation of mouse splenic cells with BMW that had been diluted more than 4-fold showed no effect on the cell growth when compared to a control group. Additionally, BMW inhibited the growth of the EL-4, L5178Y-R and colon26-M3.1 cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo evaluation of the anti-metastasis activity of BMW in BALB/c mice inoculated with the colon26-M3.1 cell line revealed dose-dependent inhibition in response to treatment with samples that were diluted by up to 9 times. Finally, treatment with BMW effectively suppressed the growth of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) added human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Overall, these results suggest that BMW has anti-cancer activity.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

Mineral-induced alkaline-reduced water (MRW) is generated by the chemical reaction of water with alkaline earth metals and characterized by high pH and low oxidation-reduction potential. As ROS are believed to have a role in the pathogenesis of obesity, we attempted to determine the effect of MRW on obesity in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats fed on a high-fat diet. The body weight of the MRW group was significantly lower than that of the control group in most periods of the examination (P<0.05). Serum level of triglycerides (p<0.05) and fat deposition in the livers of the MRW group were found to have been significantly reduced. This suggests that MRW down-regulates lipid metabolism, thereby suppressing obesity. Possible mechanisms of MRW related to reactive oxygen species were also discussed. Our results suggest that MRW is effective in the alleviation of obesity in SD rats fed on high-fat diet.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.373-381
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• 2014

Korea contract Mn-nodule field in the NE equatorial Pacific is composed of seven sectors with average water depths of 4,513-5,025 m. Of the various factors controlling the properties of Mn-nodule, it seems that water depth is likely connected to the chemical composition and occurrence of nodules. To test whether such an assumption held in each sector, we reviewed previous research data accumulated since 1994 for one of the northern sectors (hereafter KR1) where there are stark contrasts in water depth. High-resolution seabed mapping clearly separates a northern part (KR1N) from a deeper southern part (KR1S), cutting across in the middle of the KR1. In addition, significant volcanic activities forming numerous seamounts are distinctive especially in KR1N. In terms of nodule occurrence, manganese nodules in KR1S are comparatively larger (2-4 cm) with a discoidal shape, while those in KR1N are generally small (<2 cm) with poly-lobate and irregular shapes. Nodules in KR1N also have lower Co, Cu, Mn and Ni, and higher Fe contents. The spatial separation in nodule characteristics might be caused by volcanic activities in KR1N rather than water depth contrast. During the formation of the seamounts in KR1N, rock fragments and volcanic ashes as new nuclei of the nodules would have been continuously generated. As a result, the nodules could not grow larger than 2 cm and display the shapes of a newbie (i.e., irregular and poly-lobate shapes). Moreover, significant Fe supply from volcanic activities probably decreases the Mn/Fe ratio, which may lead to the KR1 nodules being misinterpreted as a hydrogenic in origin compared to other sectors where a high Mn/Fe ratio is present.