• Geosciences Journal
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1001-1013
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• 2018

A new type of uranium occurrence in Korea was identified in pegmatitic and hydrothermally altered granite in the Daejeon area. The U-bearing parts typically include muscovite, pink-feldspar and sericite as alteration minerals. In this study, the geochemical characteristics and alteration age of the granitic rocks were examined to provide evidence for hydrothermally-enriched uranium. The K-Ar ages of muscovite coexisting with U-bearing minerals were determined as 123 and 128 Ma. The U-bearing rocks have relatively low ($CaO+Na_2O$), high $K_2O$ contents, and high alteration index values by major element geochemistry. The trace element geochemistry shows that the uraniferous rocks have significantly low Th/U ratios and strongly differentiated features. The rare earth element patterns indicate that the uraniferous rocks have a low total REE and LREE contents with depletion of Eu. Considering the geochemical variation of the granitic rock major, trace and rare earth elements, it can be concluded that uranium enrichment in pegmatites and altered granite should be genetically related to post-magmatic hydrothermal alteration of K-metasomatism after emplacement of the two-mica granite. This is the first report for geochemical characteristics of Mesozoic granite-related U-occurrences in South Korea. This study will help further research for uranium deposits with similarities in geological setting, mineralogy and age data between South China and Korea, and can also be expected to help solve the source problems related to high uranium concentrations in some groundwater occurring in the granitic terrane.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.181-197
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• 2010

This study is for finding a geoscientific factor for clarifying the source soil of the ancient earthenware finding. The used samples were the earthenware, soil and rocks, which were collected at the Gyeongju, Gyeongsan and Haman area. The chemical and mineralogical study for the samples were carried out for understanding the change of mineralogical and chemical composition among them. The mineralogical compositions of the earthenware are different from those of the soils from the surrounding area, which suggests that the mineralogical approach for clarifying the source soil of the earthenware should be difficult. Major element compositions of the earthenware also are different from those of the surrounding soils, which suggests that the comparison of the chemical composition using the major elements might be difficult for deducing the source soil of the earthenware. However, PAAS-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns and Nd model ages among the rock, soils and earthenware from the same sampling sites show similar characteristics one another compared to those of the major element compositions. Nd-Sr isotopic systematics among the earthenware, soils and rocks also show a close relationship. Our results suggest that REE and Nd-Sr isotope geochemistry might be more useful than the other geochemical technique in clarifying the source soils of the ancient earthenware.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2000

The Sannae-Eonyang granitic rocks are a large fossil hydrothermal system containing the Sannae Mo-W fissure-vein type and the Eonyang amethyst deposits in the southeastern Kyongsang Basin. They evolved through similar stages showing the similarities in chemical and mineralogical compositions, fractionation trends and early magmatic fluids. Major, trace and rare earth element(REE) variations can be accounted for fractional crystallization combined with variable degrees of metasomatism. Based on the aqueous fluids exsolved directly from the crystallizing melt, the Sannae-Eonyang granitic rocks were emplaced at similar depth or pressure conditions. High temperature fluid interaction with the granitic rocks affects the elements such as K, Na, Rb, Ba, Sr, Eu, and heavy REE (HREE) mostly through feldspar re-equilibration. Although hydrothermal fluids produced partly positive Eu anomalies and HREE depletion in the granitic rocks at the Sannae Mo-W mine, the chemical concentrations defining fractionnation trends have survived the effects of alteration. Aqueous fluids exsolved from the crystallizing melt appears to be widespread, whereas fluids of moderate to low salinity and low-density with relatively high homogenization temperatures and $Co_2$-rich fluids appear to be mainly restricted and responsible for Mo-W and amethyst mineralization, respectively. Hydrothermal system of the Sannae-Eonyang granitic rocks represents repeated fluid events; from exsolution of aqueous fluids from the crystallizing melt, through fluid immiscibility and meteoric convection to later mineralization.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.190-201
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• 2001

Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry(IDMS) is one of the analytical method which uses enriched isotope spikes and analyzes the abundance of element by comparison of the spectrum between spiked mass and non-spike mass. Especially, the Thermal Ion Mass Spectrometry with isotope dilution technique (in general ID-TIMS) is the most accurate method of the chemical analysis, which enables us to obtain the data better than 1% in accuracy and precision. In IDMS, enriched isotope spike is one of the most important factor in order to obtain the best data. For rare earth elements, in general, a mixture of /sup 138/La, /sup 142/Ce, /sup 145/Nd, /sup 149/Sm, /sup 151/Sm, /sup 151/Eu, /sup 157/Gd, /sup 163/Dy, /sup 167/Er, /sup 171/Yb, and /sup 176/Lu is used as composite spike. IDMS is very useful in geochronology and REE geochemistry. Especially, it is very effective in studying the “tetrad effect” of rare earth elements in natural samples.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.169-181
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to develop geochemical tracers to identify a specific source desert of mineral dust in China using the published data. In addition, we tested the applicability of these tracers to wet-deposits and soil samples collected in Jeju, Korea. Because of similarity in trace elemental compositions of mineral dust from the major arid regions in China, such as Taklimakan, West Ordos (Badain Jaran), East Ordos (Mu Us and Hobq), East Northern China (Horqin), West Northern China (Gurbantunggut), and Chinese Loess Plateau, there has been limited to the use of geochemical data for source identification. Here we propose the four (4) plots using combination of seven (7) geochemical variables as a source indicator to distinguish one from other source regions in China: $\frac{Y}{Tb_N}$ vs. $\frac{Th}{{\Sigma}REE_N}$, $\(\frac{La}{Gd}\)_N$ vs. $\frac{Y}{{\Sigma}REE_N}$, $\frac{Th}{Tb_N}$ vs. $\frac{Y}{Nd_N}$, and $\frac{Th}{Tb_N}$ vs. $\(\frac{Ce}{Ce}\)_N^*$, where $_N$ and $\(\frac{Ce}{Ce}\)_N^*$ stand for values normalized to Post-Archean Average Shale composition and Ce anomaly, respectively. Mineral dusts from aforementioned six major deserts are distinguished one from the others by the combined use of these variables. Jeju rock and soil samples form a separate domain from Chinese mineral dusts in all four plots. In contrast, most of Jeju dust samples were comparable with the West Ordos desert (Badain Jaran) domain, indicative of strong influence of Badain Jaran dust in Jeju in spring season when the mineral dust was collected. A weak positive Ce anomaly in Jeju samples implies minimal local contribution. Our study suggests that the combination of $\frac{Y}{Tb_N}$ vs. $\frac{Th}{{\Sigma}REE_N}$, $\(\frac{La}{Gd}\)_N$ vs. $\frac{Y}{{\Sigma}REE_N}$, $\frac{Th}{Tb_N}$ vs. $\frac{Y}{Nd_N}$, and $\frac{Th}{Tb_N}$ vs. $\(\frac{Ce}{Ce}\)_N^*$ can be used to identify a specific source region of mineral dust in China as well as Jeju mineral particles.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.303-311
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• 2022

Gadolinium, commonly used as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is discharged into aquatic environments without removal after treatment in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) because of its high stability. In this study, we collected water samples from Suyeong WWTP, Busan, to investigate the dissolved rare earth element (REE) removal capacity of each wastewater treatment process and to evaluate the discharge of anthropogenic Gd (Gd_anth) from effluents. As wastewater passed through each stage of treatment, the concentrations of light REEs (La-Eu) decreased, whereas those of heavy REEs (Tb-Lu) were relatively consistent. Negative Sm anomalies (<1) were observed in several samples, indicating that Sm can be removed by adsorption onto particles or phosphate during the biological removal process. Positive Gd anomalies (149±50, n=9) were observed in all samples. The ratios of Gd_anth concentrations to measured Gd concentrations in all wastewater treatment processes were higher than 97%. This indicates that Gd_anth was discharged to the Suyeong River without removal during the wastewater treatment process. Considering the daily treatment capacity in each process, the total flux of Gd_anth was estimated to be 259 mmol/day. Our results suggest that mid- and/or long-term monitoring of Gd is needed because Gd_anth is continuously discharged into Suyeong Bay through WWTPs.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.85-96
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• 2018

The Neoproterozoic Gyemyeongsan Formation and the Mesozoic igneous rocks are distributed in the Eoraesan area, Chungju which is located in the northwestern part of Ogcheon metamorphic zone, Korea, and the rare earth element (REE) mineralized zone has been reported in the Gyemyeongsan Formation. We drew up the detailed geological map by the lithofacies classification, and measured the radioactivity values of the constituent rocks to understand the distribution and characteristics of the source rocks of REE ore body in this paper. It indicates that the Neoproterozoic Gyemyeongsan Formation is mainly composed of metapelitic rock, granitic gneiss, iron-bearing quartzite, metaplutonic acidic rock (banded type, fine-grained type, basic-bearing type, coarse-grained type), metavolcanic acidic rock, and the Mesozoic igneous rocks, which intruded it, are divided into pegmatite, biotite granite, gabbro, diorite, basic dyke. The constituent rocks of Gyemyeongsan Formation show a zonal distribution of mainly ENE trend, and the distribution of basic-bearing type of metaplutonic acidic rock (MPAR-B) is very similar to that of the previous researcher's REE ore body. The Mesozoic biotite granite is regionally distributed unlike the result of previous research. The radioactive value of MPAR-B, which has a range of 852~1217 cps (average 1039 cps), shows a maximum value among the constituent rocks. The maximum-density distribution of radioactive value also agrees with the distribution of MPAR-B. It suggests that the MPAR-B could be a source rock of the REE ore body.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.3 s.41
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• pp.127-140
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• 2005

The Samyuri area of Jeoksang-myeon, Muju-gun at the Middle Yeongnam Massif consists of granitic gneiss, porphyroblastic gneiss and leucocratic gneiss, which correspond to Precambrian Wonnam Series. Here we discuss a geochemical implication of the data based on major element composition, trace element, rare earth element (REE), Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotope systematics of the boring cores in the granite gneiss area. The boring cores are granitic gneiss (including biotite gneiss) and amphibolite. The major and trace element compositions of granitic gneiss and amphibolite suggest that the protolith belongs to TTG (Tonalite-Trondhjemite-Granodiorite) and tholeiitic series, respectively. Chondrte-normalized REE patterns vary in LREE, HREE and Eu anomalies. The granitic gneiss and amphibolite have Sm-Nd whole rock age of $2,026{\pm}230(2{\sigma})$ Ma with an initial Nd isotopic ratio of $0.50979{\pm}0.00028(2{\sigma})$ (initial ${\epsilon}_{Nd}=-4.4$), which suggests that the source material was derived from old crustal material. Particularly, this initial ${\epsilon}$ Nd value belongs to the range of the geochemical evolution of Archean basement in North-China Craton, and also corresponds to the initial Nd isotope evolution line by Lee et al. (2005). In addition, chondrite-normalized REE pattern and initial Nd value of amphibolite are very similar to those of juvenile magma in crustal formation process.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.299-306
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• 2019

We estimated the provenance of the obsidian artifacts from Samgeori site at Yeoncheon, one of the prehistoric sites in South Korea. Pyroxene microlites are of hedenbergite to augite compositions, and intergrown and/or overgrown with Fe-oxides showing poikilitic texture. Major oxides contents for the matrix of the obsidian artifacts exhibit a narrow compositional range, especially SiO₂ contents being 73.0~75.5 wt.% of acidic rhyolitic composition. Also, rare earth element (REE) contents are relatively constant in the obsidian artifacts, and the chondrite-normalized REE patterns show a strong Eu negative anomaly. These mineralogical and geochemical features of the Samgeori obsidian artifacts were compared with those from both the Baekdusan obsidians and Japanese Kyushu obsidians which have been thought to be two major obsidian provenances around South Korea. It is suggested that the Samgeori obsidian artifacts were possibly originated from the Baekdusan obsidians.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.689-698
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• 1996

The coal-bearing metapelites from the Hoenam area are interbedded within the Ogcheon Supergroup, which are composed mainly of graphite, quartz, muscovite and associated with trace amount of biotite, chlorite, pyrite, rutile and barite. Although the formation was mined for coal, and the contents of V, U and Mo are a higher grade in coal formations than the host metapelites. The ratios of Al/Na and K/Na in coal formation are very heterogeneous and wide range from 10.28 to 90.91 and from 3.73 to 36.60, respectively. The V content increase with increasing Al and Ba contents, but the U and Mo are not related with other elements. Those are suggested that controlled of mineral compositions in coaly metapelites due to substitution, migration and reequilibrium of elements by regional metamorphism. These coal formation were deposited in basin of marine environments and the REE of these rocks are not influenced with metamorphism and hydrothermal alterations on the basis of Al content versus La, La against Ce, the ratios of La/Ce (0.23 to 0.73) and Th/U (0.03 to 16.6). These rocks also show much variation in $La_N/Yb_N$ (0.53 to 14.19), Th/Yb (0.51 to 6.00) and La/Th (0.15 to 18.92), and their origin is explained by derivation from a mixture of sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks. The wide range in trace and REE element characteristics as Co/Th (0.07 to 3.00), La/Sc (0.04 to 23.48), Sc/Th (0.06 to 7.57), V/Ni (2 to 3319), Cr/V (0.03 to 1.06) and Ni/Co (1.00 to 79.85) of these coaly metapelites argues for inefficient mixing of the various source lithologies during sedimentation.