• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.651-660
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• 2007

Acid drainage has been recognized as an environmental concern in abandoned mine sites for long time. Recently, the environmental and structural damage by acid drainage is a current issue in construction sites in Korea. Here, the author introduces the type of damages by acid drainage in construction sites and emphasizes the importance of geoscience discipline in solving the problem. Metasedimentary rock of Okcheon group, coal bed of Pyeongan group, Mesozoic volcanic rock. and Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic rocks are the major rock types with a high potential for acid drainage upon excavation in Korea. The acid drainage causes the acidification and heavy metal contamination of soil, surface water and groundwater, the reduction of slope stability, the corrosion of slope structure, the damage on plant growth, the damage on landscape and the deterioration of concrete and asphalt pavement. The countermeasure for acid drainage is the treatment of acid drainage and the prevention of acid drainage. The treatment of acid drainage can be classified into active and passive treatments depending on the degree of natural process in the treatment. Removal of oxidants, reduction of oxidant generation and encapsulation of sulfide are employed for the prevention of acid drainage generation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.517-535
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• 2007

Two distinctive Mesozoic hydrothermal systems occurred in South Korea: the Jurassic/Early Cretaceous(ca. $200{\sim}130$ Ma) deep-level ones during the Daebo orogeny and the Late Cretaceous/Tertiary(ca. $110{\sim}45$ Ma) shallow hydrothermal ones during the Bulgugsa event. The Mesozoic hydrothermal system and the metallic mineralization in the Korean Peninsula document a close spatial and temporal relationship with syn- to post-tectonic magmatism. The calculated ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ values of the ore-forming fluids from the Mesozoic metallic mineral deposits show limited range for the Jurassic ones but variable range for the Late Cretaceous ones. The orogenic mineral deposits were formed at relatively high temperatures and deep-crustal levels. The mineralizing fluids that were responsible for the formation of theses deposits are characterized by the reasonably homogeneous and similar ranges of ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ values. This implies that the ore-forming fluids were principally derived from spatially associated Jurassic granitoids and related pegmatite. On the contrary, the Late Cretaceous ferroalloy, base-metal and precious-metal deposits in the Taebaeksan, Okcheon and Gyeongsang basins occurred as vein, replacement, breccia-pipe, porphyry-style and skarn deposits. Diverse mineralization styles represent a spatial and temporal distinction between the proximal environment of subvolcanic activity and the distal to transitional condition derived from volcanic environments. The Cu(-Au) or Fe-Mo-W deposits are proximal to a magmatic source, whereas the polymetallic or the precious-metal deposits are more distal to transitional. On the basis of the overall ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ values of various ore deposits in these areas, it can be briefed that the ore fluids show very extensive oxygen isotope exchange with country rocks, though the ${\delta}D_{H2O}$ values are relatively homogeneous and similarly restricted.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.427-437
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• 2012

A total of 100 groundwater samples were collected from the Nonsan area and the behaviors of uranium and radon as natural radionuclides were investigated with respect to other physicochemical components in the groundwater in order to understand their occurrence, properties, and origins. Radionuclide levels were used to construct detailed concentration maps. The concentration of uranium ranges from 0 to 378 ${\mu}g/L$, with an average of 8.57 ${\mu}g/L$, standard deviation of 42.88 ${\mu}g/L$, and median of 0.56 ${\mu}g/L$. The correlation coefficient between uranium and radon is 0.42, whereas these radionuclides show no relation with other physicochemical components in groundwater. It is noteworthy that the uranium level in most samples (97% of the samples) is less than 30 ${\mu}g/L$, where the bedrock of the aquifer is granite or complex rocks located along the boundary between granite and metamorphic rocks. In the Okcheon metamorphic belt, the uranium concentration of most groundwater is less than 1 ${\mu}g/L$. Radon levels varies from 128 to 9,140 pCi/L, with an average of 2,186 pCi/L, standard deviation of 1,725 pCi/L, and median of 1,805 pCi/L. High radon levels (> 4,000 pCi/L) are most common in regions of Jurassic granite, whereas low radon areas are found in regions of sedimentary rock. In conclusion, the distribution and occurrence of radionuclides are intimately related to the basic geological characteristics of the rocks in which the radiogenic minerals are primarily contained.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2001

In order to find out the effect of nitrogen fertilizers on soil pH, EC, $NO_3-N$ and lettuce growth, this study was conducted by pot experiment in plastic film house condition. The square-pot which was $42{\times}54.5{\times}22cm$ in length, width and height, respectively, was filled with two kinds of soils in different soil EC as $0.20dS\;m^{-1}$ and $1.13dS\;m^{-1}$. Seven kinds of nitrogen fertilizers (urea, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, complex fertilizer A(11-10-10) and complex fertilizer B(12-12-12)) were treated in same standard rate of nitrogen for lettuce, transplanted the six lettuce seedlings of 10 days grown per pot, and have been grown for 38~44 days with three times harvesting. Soil pH was increased with the potassium and calcium nitrate treatments and decreased with ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, complex fertilzer A and B, and the pH of urea treatments was kept the same value as the pH of before experiment. The growing status of lettuce seedling were surveyed during the early period after transplanting and withering of seedling was occured in all treatments. The withering rates were 10% in soil of EC $0.20dS\;m^{-1}$ and 44% and 42% in complex fertilizer and ammonium sulphate treaments, respectively, in soil of EC $1.13dS\;m^{-1}$. $NO{_3}^-$ contents of lettuce were about $1,000{\sim}2,000mg\;kg^{-1}$ based on fresh weight and these contents were considered to be lower to compare the $NO{_3}^-$ level of EU countries.

• 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 Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.75-87
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• 2017

This study is the research about Okcheonjeong(玉泉亭) located in the backyard of Namhansanseong(南漢山城)'s temporary palace(行宮). Okcheonjeong was not only built by a government inside Namhansanseong but it was also representative garden which is shown the culture of the nobility. It became famous garden ruins recently because it has remained many carved stones. However, there has been no study about Okcheonjeong yet. We studied Okcheonjeong to establish basic knowledge by literature analysis and field investigation. We tried to discover garden style by deciphering carved stones, and estimate Okcheonjeong's location by documentary research. Sim, Sang-Gyu became Gwangjuyusu(廣州留守) in 1816, and he built Okcheonjeong on the backyard of Namhansanseong's temporary palace in 1817. It was located in the foot of a mountain beside a stream. It consisted of Pungaepok(楓靄瀑: waterfall), Chusudam(秋水潭: a little pond), and Okcheon(玉泉: a stone wall). The stone for sign stands in front of the entrance of Pungaepok to show Okcheonjeong, and there is Yeongyeondae(泠然臺) above the waterfall. We thought that Okcheonjeong was typical Imcheon-garden(林泉庭苑). Okcheonjeong is located in the foot of a mountain following Gamigyeong(歌薇逕) 60 meters so it was able to see the whole temporary palace from the Okcheonjeong. It was the garden pavilion of temporary palace, but it was used in semi public garden(半公的庭苑). Okcheonjeong is the only graden ruins which was located in Namhansanseong, so we have to preserve as cultural heritage. We expect to make use of primary datas to restore Namhansanseong soundly which was world heritage.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.441-456
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• 2021

The Cretaceous Duwon Formation was studied on the basis of sedimentologic analysis in order to unravel geologic conditions for the development of the streamflow-dominated alluvial fan under arid to semi-arid climatic conditions. The Duwon Formation unconformably overlies the Paleoproterozoic gneiss (basement). Based on the sedimentologic analysis, the Duwon Formation is interpreted to have been deposited in gravelly braided stream (FA-1) near the basement, laterally transitional to sandy braided stream (FA-2) and floodplain environments (FA-3) with distance (< 7 km) from the basement. Lateral changes in sedimentary facies and the well development of calcrete nodules in FA-3, together with radial paleocurrent directions measured in FA-1, are suggestive of the deposition of the Duwon Formation in streamflow-dominated alluvial fan under arid to semi-arid climatic conditions. Recent analysis of detrital zircon chronology suggests that sediments of the Duwon Formation were derived from the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula, including the western part of Yeongnam Massif and the southwestern part of Okcheon Belt. This implies the alluvial fan where the Duwon Formation accumulated had the large drainage basin. Because the large drainage basin can supply the significant amounts of water and temporarily store the sediments within the basin, watery floodwater carried sediments to the alluvial fan rather than the debris flows. Furthermore, the drainage basin largely composed of coarse-grained metamorphic and igneous rocks produced sand-grade sediments, preventing evolution of floodwater into debris flows. We suggest that combined effects of the large drainage basin and its coarse-grained metamorphic and igneous rocks provided favorable conditions for the development of streamflow-dominated alluvial fan, despite arid to semi-arid climatic conditions during sedimentation.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.289-301
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• 2023

Forests within watersheds are essential in maintaining ecosystems and are the central infrastructure for constructing an ecological network system. However, due to indiscriminate development projects carried out over past decades, forest fragmentation and land use changes have accelerated, and their original functions have been lost. Since a forest's structural pattern directly impacts ecological processes and functions in understanding forest ecosystems, identifying and analyzing change patterns is essential. Therefore, this study analyzed structural changes in the forest landscape according to the time-series land cover changes using the FRAGSTATS model for the dam watershed of the Geum River upstream. Land cover changes in the dam watershed of the Geum River upstream through land cover change detection showed an increase of 33.12 square kilometers (0.62%) of forests and 67.26 square kilometers (1.26%) of urbanized dry areas and a decrease of 148.25 square kilometers (2.79%) in agricultural areas from the 1980s to the 2010s. The results of no-sampling forest landscape analysis within the watershed indicated landscape percentage (PLAND), area-weighted proximity index (CONTIG_AM), average central area (CORE_MN), and adjacency index (PLADJ) increased, and the number of patches (NP), landscape shape index (LSI), and cohesion index (COHESION) decreased. Identification of structural change patterns through a moving window analysis showed the forest landscape in Sangju City, Gyeongsangbuk Province, Boeun County in Chungcheongbuk Province, and Jinan Province in Jeollabuk Province was relatively well preserved, but fragmentation was ongoing at the border between Okcheon County in Chungcheongbuk Province, Yeongdong and Geumsan Counties in Chungcheongnam Province, and the forest landscape in areas adjacent to Muju and Jangsu Counties in Jeollabuk Province. The results indicate that it is necessary to establish afforestation projects for fragmented areas when preparing a future regional forest management strategy. This study derived areas where fragmentation of forest landscapes is expected and the results may be used as basic data for assessing the health of watershed forests and establishing management plans.