• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.531-549
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship of hydrochemistry, geology, fault with occurrence of uranium and radon-222 from the groundwater in the Yeongdong area. In this study, 49 groundwater and 4 surface water samples collected in the study area were collected on two separate occasions. The surface radioactivities were measured at 40 points to know the relationship between the occurrence of uranium in groundwater and surface geology. The chemical composition of groundwater showed three types : $Ca-HCO_3$, $Na-HCO_3$ and $Ca-HCO_3(SO_4,\;NO_3)$. Two groundwater of 49 samples exceeded the maximum contaminant levels of uranium, $30{\mu}g/L$, proposed by the Ministry of Environment of Korea and 11 groundwater of 40 samples for Rn-222 concentrations exceeded the 148 Bq/L maximum contaminant level of US EPA. Most of unsuitable groundwater are located in the geological boundary related with the biotite gneiss and the surface radioactivities of rock samples showed no relationship with groundwater geochemical constituents. The strike-slip fault, Youngdong fault, is $N45^{\circ}E$ direction and the high concentrations of uranium in upper part of fault, consisted of granite and granitic gneiss are detected but in lower part, consisted of metamorphic sedimentary rock are not detected. It suggests that the natural radioactive concentrations are related with the geologic characteristics and the migration and diffusion of natural radioactive materials are affected by the fault.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.39 no.1 s.176
• /
• pp.27-38
• /
• 2006

To understand the geologic and hydrogeochemical controls on the occurrence of high fluoride concentrations in bedrock groundwaters of South Korea, we examined a total of 367 hydrochemistry data obtained from deep groundwater wells (avg. depth=600 m) that were drilled fur exploitation of hot springs. The fluoride concentrations were generally very high (avg. 5.65mg/L) and exceeded the Drinking Water Standard (1.5 mg/L) in $72\%$ of the samples. A significant geologic control of fluoride concentrations was observed: the highest concentrations occur in the areas of granitoids and granitic gneiss, while the lowest concentrations in the areas of volcanic and sedimentary rocks. In relation to the hydrochemical facies, alkaline $Na-HCO_3$ type waters had remarkably higher F concentrations than circum-neutral to slightly alkaline $Ca-HCO_3$ type waters. The prolonged water-rock interaction occurring during the deep circulation of groundwater in the areas of granitoids and granitic gneiss is considered most important for the generation of high F concentrations. Under such condition, fluoride-rich groundwaters are likely formed through hydrogeochemical processes consisting of the removal of Ca from groundwater via calcite precipitation and/or cation exchange and the successive dissolution of plagioclase and F-bearing hydroxyl minerals (esp. biotite). Thus, groundwaters with high pH and very high Na/Ca ratio within granitoids and granitic gneiss are likely most vulnerable to the water supply problem related to enriched fluorine.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.83-96
• /
• 2000

Erosional basins formed in middle and upper reaches of Korean great rivers have been main life space of local small and middle cities, but previous studies on erosional basins are widely apart from residents' life and are in shortage with the endeavor to elucidate the man and environment relationship. This paper analyzes the factors and the modes of land-use changes of hills in the erosional basin. In this paper four erosional basins with different geological conditions are selected to elucidate the effect of geological factor(Geochang: granite, Chogye: metamorphic rock, Angye: gravelly sedimentary rock, Maseong: limestone). And the distribution of land use on the transverse and longitudinal cross-section map of the hill is described. The landscape of erosional basin is consisted of surrounding mountains, hills, dissected valleys, and incoming river's floodplain. Dissected valleys and incoming river's floodplain were reclaimed early as paddy field and hills have been used as woodland up to recently. Residents have a new appreciation of hills as a productive hill out of a traditional holy space[mountain] by influence of capitalistic thought that 'natural environment is a sort of productive resource'. Population increase is the another pressure of hill reclamation. The modes of landscape changes due to natural conditions are as follow: (1) In Geochang basin with dense tectolineament spacing, the gentle part of hill is used as field, orchard and agricultural-industrial complex site and the steep part is as woodland. (2) Hills in Angye basin with sparse tectolineament spacing are relatively flat because of maintaining a part of original denudational surface, and are used as orchids, field, paddy fields and agricultural-industrial complex site. The dissection valleys between hills are gentle concave and are used as paddy fields. (3) Hills in Maseong basin are wide and flat, and are used as fields, orchards, and agricultural-industrial complex site. (4) Because hills in Chogye basin, a closed type, are weared by affluents and are narrow and short. Hills are used as woodland and wide dissected valleys are reclaimed as paddy fields.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.111 no.1
• /
• pp.115-124
• /
• 2022

This study was conducted to obtain basic data that could help prevent damage caused by slow-moving landslides (land-creep). Specifically, the geological, topographic, and physical characteristics of land-creep were analyzed in Jiphyeon-myeon, Jinju-si. The first and second analyzed land-creeps occurred in 1982 and 2019, respectively. The area damaged in the second land-creep was about 11.5-fold larger than that damaged in the first land-creep. The dominant constituent rock in the land-creep area was sedimentary rock, which seems to be weakly resistant to weathering. The areas that collapsed due to land-creep were related to the presence of separated rocks between the bedding plane in the estimated activity surface over the slope direction and the vertically developed joint surface. Thus, surface water and soil debris were introduced through the gaps of separated rocks. Additionally, the areas collapsed due to the combination of the bedding plane and joint surface shale and sandstone showed an onion structure of weathered outcrop from the edge to inner part caused by weathering from ground water. Consequently, core stones were formed. The study area was a typical area of land-creep in a mountain caused by ground water. Land-creep was classified into convex areas of colluvial land-creep. The landslide-risk rating in the study area was classified into three and five classes. The flow of ground water moved to the northeast and coincided with the direction of the collapse. Soil bulk density in the collapsed area was lower than that in ridge area, which was rarely affected by land-creep. Thus, soil bulk density was affected by the soil disturbance in the collapsed area.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.729-744
• /
• 2023

The value of lithium has significantly increased due to the rising demand for electric cars and batteries. Lithium is primarily found in pegmatites, hydrothermally altered tuffaceous clays, and continental brines. Globally, groundwater-fed salt lakes and oil field brines are attracting attention as major sources of lithium in continental brines, accounting for about 70% of global lithium production. Recently, deep groundwater, especially geothermal water, is also studied for a potential source of lithium. Lithium concentrations in deep groundwater can increase through substantial water-rock reaction and mixing with brines. For the exploration of lithim in deep groundwater, it is important to understand its origin and behavior. Therefore, based on a nationwide preliminary study on the hydrogeochemical characteristics and evolution of thermal groundwater in South Korea, this study aims to investigate the distribution of lithium in the deep groundwater environment and understand the geochemical factors that affect its concentration. A total of 555 thermal groundwater samples were classified into five hydrochemical types showing distinct hydrogeochemical evolution. To investigate the enrichment mechanism, samples (n = 56) with lithium concentrations exceeding the 90th percentile (0.94 mg/L) were studied in detail. Lithium concentrations varied depending upon the type, with Na(Ca)-Cl type being the highest, followed by Ca(Na)-SO₄ type and low-pH Ca(Na)-HCO₃ type. In the Ca(Na)-Cl type, lithium enrichment is due to reverse cation exchange due to seawater intrusion. The enrichment of dissolved lithium in the Ca(Na)-SO₄ type groundwater occurring in Cretaceous volcanic sedimentary basins is related to the occurrence of hydrothermally altered clay minerals and volcanic activities, while enriched lithium in the low-pH Ca(Na)-HCO₃ type groundwater is due to enhanced weathering of basement rocks by ascending deep CO₂. This reconnaissance geochemical study provides valuable insights into hydrogeochemical evolution and economic lithium exploration in deep geologic environments.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.213-222
• /
• 2018

Metasediment-hosted Pb-Zn mineralized zone has been found in Dyusembay of Kazakhstan. Its petrological properties, metal index, alteration index and redox-sensitivity are compared with those of SEDEX type deposit. Mineralization is developed along foliation of host rock (graphitic phyllite) and controlled by folds and faults; major ore minerals including pyrite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite, and galena are disseminated or interlayered with fine-grained quartz. The margin of the mineralized zone is metamorphosed accompanying sericite and chlorite. Hydrothermal brecciation and Pb-Zn mineralization formed in quartz-calcite stockworks are confirmed at the around of Maytyubin granitoid intrusions. The mineralization is classified into three types according to those of occurrence, paragenesis, chemical composition and isotopic characteristics. Type 1 whose fine-grained pyrite, pyrrhotite and sphalerite are formed in parallel yet discontinuous to well-developed foliations of the host rock; its geochemistry is similar to those of the earlier stage in SEDEX-type mineralization. In case of type 2, the ore minerals of which are concentrated being parallel to a foliation by regional metamorphism, and most of them associated with quartz and muscovite (${\pm}$ biotite) paragenetically. Type 3 is formed in the hydrothermal breccia zone whose ore minerals are controlled by foliation and breccia and developed in quartz ${\pm}$ calcite veins having a form such as stratification, stockwork or veinlets. Host rocks in the mineralized zone indicate homogeneous metamorphic grade and there is no specific alteration zonation. Also, all types (type 1, type 2, and type 3) represent similar REEs patterns, it can be interpreted that these are originated from a same source. Sulphides occurred in mineralized zone indicate a limited range of sulphur isotope values (type 2, ${\delta}^{34}S=-13.3{\sim}-11.7$‰; type 3, ${\delta}^{34}S=-13.9{\sim}-8.2$‰), and a result of geothermometry presents different temperature ranges: type 2($251{\pm}38^{\circ}C{\sim}277{\pm}40^{\circ}C$); type 3($360{\pm}2^{\circ}C$ to $537{\pm}29^{\circ}C$). It is estimated to be due to the effect of metamorphism and Maytyubin granitoid intrusions, respectively. In addition, ternary chart of thorium, scandium, and zircon for discrimination of tectonic setting and redox sensitivity using V/Mo values indicate that hydrothermal sediments put on reduction environment after precipitation, before being affected by metamorphism and intrusion activity. Geochemical data are plotted on a distal trend of SEDEX-type with discrimination plot using SEDEX index. As a result, petrological-geochemical properties demonstrate that Dyusembay Pb-Zn mineralized zone is comparable to distal-type of SEDEX deposit.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.147-160
• /
• 1994

Copper-bearing hydrothermal vein mineralization of the Samsan area was deposited in two stages (I and II) of quartz-calcite-sulfide veins which fill fissures in Cretaceous volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Gyeongsang basin. The major ore minerals, chalcopyrite and sphalerite, together with pyrite, galena, hematite, and minor sulfosalts, occur with epidote and chlorite as gangue minerals in stage I quartz veins. Chlorite geothermometry, fluid inclusion and stable isotope data indicate that copper ore was deposited mainly at temperatures between $330^{\circ}C$ and $280^{\circ}C$ from fluids with salinities between 12 and 3 equiv. wt % NaCl. Evidence of fluid boiling indicates a range of pressures from ${\leq}100$ to 200 bars bars. Within ore stage I there was an apparent decrease in ${\delta}^{34}S$ values of $H_{2}S$ with paragenetic time, from 8.0 to 2.3 per mil. This pattern was likely achieved through progressive increases in activity of oxygen accompanying boiling and mixing. In the early part of the first stage, the high temperature, high salinity fluids gave way to progressively cooler and more dilute fluids of the late parts in the first stage and of the second stage. There is a systematic decrease in calculated ${\delta}^{18}O_{water}$ values with decreasing temperature in the Samsan hydrothermal system, from values of -86 per mil for early portion of stage I through -5.9 per mil for late portion of stage I to -6.3 per mil for stage II. The ${\delta}D$ values of fluid inclusion waters also decrease with paragenetic time from -76 per mil to -86 per mil. These trends combined with mineral paragenesis and fluid inclusion data are interpreted to indicate progressive cooler, more oxidizing meteoric water inundation of an early exchanged meteoric hydrothermal system.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.635-646
• /
• 1995

Mineralized zone in the Dongyang talc deposits occurs on the lowest dolomite member of the Hyangsanri Dolomite belonging to the Ogcheon Supergroup. Ore bodies are emplaced as pipe-like body along the axis of minor folds plunging $40^{\circ}$ to the west developed in these dolomite layers. Amphibolite and chlorite schist are found along the upper or lower contact of all ore bodies (Kim et al., 1963; Park and Kim, 1966). Following the recrystallization and silicification of dolomite, tremolite and tabular and leafy talc(I) of the earlier stage formed, and microcrystalline talc(II) formed in the later stage. Talc(l) and tremolite formed by the reaction between dolomite and the fluid. Whereas talc (II) formed by the reaction between dolomite and fluid, or by the reaction between early formed tremolite and fluid. During the early stage of mineralization, the fluid was the $H_2O-CO_2$ system dominant in $CO_2$, In the later stage, the composition of the fluid changed to $H_2O-NaCl-CO_2$system, and finally to the $H_2O-NaCl$ system. The pressure and temperature conditions of the formation of tremolite associated with talc(I) were 1,640~2,530 bar, and $440{\sim}480^{\circ}C$, respectively. The pressure and temperature condition of talc(II) ore formation was 1,400~2,200 bar, and $360{\sim}390^{\circ}C$, respectively. These conditions are much lower than the metamorphic pressure and temperature of the rocks from the Munjuri Formation located about 5 km to the noJ:th of Dongyang talc deposit ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{18}O$ values of dolomite which is the host rock of the talc ore deposit are 2.9~5.7‰ (PDB), and -7.4~l6.8‰ (PDB), respectively. These values are little higher than those from the Cambro-Ordovician limestones of the Taebaeksan region, but belong to the range of the unaltered sedimentary dolomite. ${\delta}^{18}O$and ${\delta}D$ values of the talc from Dongyang deposit are 8.6~15.8‰ (vs SMOW), and -65~-90‰ (vs SMOW), respectively, belonging to the range of magmatic origin. These values are quite different from those measured in the metamorphic rocks of Munjuri and Kyemyungsan Formation. ${\delta}^{34}S$ value of anhydrite is 22.4‰ (CDT), which is much lower than ${\delta}^{34}S$ (30‰ vs COT) of sulfate of early Paleozoic period, and indicates the possibility of the addition of magmatic sulfur to the system. Talc ores show the textures of weak foliation and well developed crenulation cleavages. Talc ore deposit in the area is concluded as hydrothermal replacement deposit formed before the latest phase of the deformations that Ogcheon Belt has undergone.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.505-517
• /
• 1997

Lead and zinc mineralization of the Kwangsin mine was formed in quartz and carbonate veins that filled fault-related fractures in the limestone-rich Samtaesan Formation of the Chosun Supergroup and the phyllite-rich Suchangni Formation of unknown age. A K-Ar date of alteration sericite indicates that the Pb-Zn mineralization took place during Late Cretaceous (83.5 Ma), genetically in relation to the cooling of the nearby Muamsa Granite (83~87 Ma). Mineral paragenesis can be divided into three stages (I, II, III): (I) the deposition of barren massive white quartz, (II) the main Pb-Zn mineralization with deposition of white crystalline quartz and/or carbonates (rhodochrosite and dolomite), and (III) the deposition of post-ore barren calcite. Mineralogic and fluid inclusion data indicate that lead-zinc minerals in middle stage II (IIb) were deposited at temperatures between $182^{\circ}$ and $276^{\circ}C$ from fluids with salinities of 2.7 to 5.4 wt. % equiv. NaCl and with log $fs_2$ values of -15.5 to -11.8 atm. The relationship between homogenization temperature and salinity data indicates that lead-zinc deposition was a result of fluid boiling and later meteoric water mixing. Ore mineralization occurred at depths of about 600 to 700 m. Sulfur isotope compositions of sulfide minerals (${\delta}^{34}S_{CDT}=9.0{\sim}14.5$ ‰) indicate a relatively high ${\delta}^{34}S_{{\Sigma}S}$ value of ore fluids (up to 14 ‰), likely indicating an igneous source of sulfur largely mixed with an isotopically heavier sulfur source (possibly sulfates in surrounding sedimentary rocks). There is a remarkable decrease of calculated ${\delta}^{18}O$ value of water in hydrothermal fluids with increasing paragenetic time: stage I, 14.6~10.1 ‰; stage IIa, 5.8~2.2 ‰; stage IIb, 0.8~2.0 ‰; stage IIc, -6.1~-6.8 ‰, This indicates a progressive increase of meteoric water influx in the hydrothermal system at Kwangsin. Measured and calculated hydrogen and oxygen isotope values indicate that the Kwangsin hydrothermal fluids was formed from a circulating (due to intrusion of the Muamsa Granite) meteoric waters which evolved through interaction mainly with the Samtaesan Formation (${\delta}^{18}O=20.1$ to 24.9 ‰) under low water/rock ratios.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.52 no.6
• /
• pp.541-554
• /
• 2019

The Taebaeksan Zone of the Okcheon Belt is a prominent fold-thrust belt, preserving evidence for overlapped polyphase and diachronous orogenic events during crustal evolution of the Korean Peninsula. The Pyeongchang-Jeongseon area of the northwestern Taebaeksan Zone is fault-bounded on the western Jucheon and southern Yeongwol areas, showing lateral variations in stratigraphy and structural geometries. For better understanding these geological characteristics of the northwestern Taebaeksan Zone, we have studied the structural geometry of the Pyeongchang-Jeongseon area. For this, we have firstly carried out the SHRIMP U-Pb age analysis of the age-unknown sedimentary rock to clarify stratigraphy for structural interpretation. The results show the late Carboniferous to middle Permian dates, indicating that it is correlated to the Upper Paleozoic Pyeongan Supergroup. In addition to this, we interpreted the geometric relationships between structural elements from the detailed field investigation of the study area. The major structure of the northwestern Taebaeksan Zone is the regional-scale Jeongseon Great syncline, having NE-trending hinge with second-order folds such as the Jidongri and Imhari anticlines and the Nambyeongsan syncline. Based on the stereographic and down-plunge projections of the structureal elements, the structural geometry of the Jeongseon Great syncline can be interpreted as a synformal culmination, plunging slightly to the south at its southern area, and north at the northern area. The different map patterns of the northern and southern parts of the study area should be resulted in different erosion levels caused by the plunging hinges. Considering the Jeongseon Great syncline is the major structure that constrains the distribution of the Paleozoic strata of the Pyeongchang and Jeongseon areas, the symmetric repetition of the lower Paleozoic Joseon Supergroup in both limbs should be re-examined by structural mapping of the Hangmae and Hoedongri formations in the Pyeongchang and Jeongseon areas.