• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.393-400
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• 2011

This study investigates the effects of a hangover beverage (MIX) that contains minerals (highly-salty mineral water, HSMW) and several medicinal plant extracts, on antioxidant and alcohol-metabolizing enzymes in alcohol administered Sprague-Dawley rats. HSMW is pumped from below the sedimentary rock layer of Dadaepo, Busan, South Korea, which is 1,050 m below the land surface; it tastes salty, like sea water. In terms of medicinal plant extracts, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of Rubus coreanus and Cornus officinalis were measured as being significantly higher than those in Curcuma longa. The results suggest that treatment with MIX significantly increases superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and DPPH radical scavenging activity. In the 10% HSMW-, for MIX- and company product (CP)-treated groups, the concentration of blood alcohol was significantly reduced 1~5 hr after alcohol loading, compared to that in the control group. In hepatic alcohol-metabolizing enzyme activities, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity was found to be higher in the MIX- and CP-treated groups than in controls, whereas acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity was significantly higher in the CP-treated groups than other groups. This study concludes, therefore, that MIX (HSMW) minerals, like as Zn, Ca, Mg, Mn, and others stimulate alcohol-metabolizing enzymes, while the antioxidants of plant extracts prevent the damage otherwise incurred by alcohol toxicity. These results suggest that the hangover beverage (MIX) alleviates alcohol hangover symptoms by stimulating activities related to hepatic alcohol-metabolizing enzymes and antioxidant effects.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.185-199
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• 1998

Hydrogeochemical and environmental isotope studies were undertaken for various kinds of water samples collected in 1995-1996 from the Bugok geothermal area. Physicochemical data indicate the occurrence of three distinct groups of natural water: Group I ($Na-S0_4$ type water with high temperatures up to $77^{\circ}C$, occurring from the central part of the geothermal area), Group II (warm $Na-HCO_{3}-SO_{4}$ type water, occurring from peripheral sites), Group III ($Ca-HCO_3$ type water, occurring as surface waters and/or shallow cold groundwaters). The Group I waters are further divided into two SUbtypes: Subgroup Ia and Subgroup lb. The general order of increasing degrees of hydrogeochemical evolution (due to the degrees of water-rock interaction) is: Group III$\rightarrow$Group II$\rightarrow$Group I. The Group II and III waters show smaller degrees of interaction with rocks (largely calcite and Na-plagioclase), whereas the Group I waters record the stronger interaction with plagioclase, K-feldspar, mica, chlorite and pyrite. The concentration and sulfur isotope composition of dissolved sulfate appear as a key parameter to understand the origin and evolution of geothermal waters. The sulfate was derived not only from oxidation of sedimentary pyrites in surrounding rocks (especially for the Subgroup Ib waters) but also from magmatic hydrothermal pyrites occurring in restricted fracture channels which extend down to a deep geothermal reservoir (typically for the Subgroup Ia waters). It is shown that the applicability of alkaliion geothermometer calculations for these waters is hampered by several processes (especially the mixing with Mg-rich near-surface waters) that modify the chemical composition. However, the multi-component mineral/water equilibria calculation and available fluid inclusion data indicate that geothermal waters of the Bugok area reach temperatures around $125^{\circ}C$ at deep geothermal reservoir (possibly a cooling pluton). Environmental isotope data (oxygen-18, deuterium and tritium) indicate the origin of all groups of waters from diverse meteoric waters. The Subgroup Ia waters are typically lower in O-H isotope values and tritium content, indicating their derivation from distinct meteoric waters. Combined with tritium isotope data, the Subgroup Ia waters likely represent the older (at least 45 years old) meteoric waters circuated down to the deep geothermal reservoir and record the lesser degrees of mixing with near-surface waters. We propose a model for the genesis and evolution of sulfate-rich geothermal waters.

• 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 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.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.73-94
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• 2023

We carried out the sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) zircon U-Pb age dating and whole-rock geochemical analysis of granitoids and felsic porphyries in the Ssangyong Valley, Yongchu Valley, and Mungyeong Saejae geosites in the Mungyeong Geopark. The igneous rocks crop out in the western, northwestern and central parts of the Mungyeong city area, respectively, and intruded (meta)sedimentary successions of the Ogcheon Metamorphic Belt, Cambro-Ordovician Mungyeong Group and Jurrasic Daedong Group. The U-Pb isotopic compositions of zircon from two felsic porphyries and one granite samples in the Ssanyeong Valley yielded the Cretaceous intrusion ages of 93.9±3.3 Ma (tσ), 95.1±4.0 Ma (tσ) and 94.4±2.0 Ma (tσ), respectively. On the other hand, a felsic dike sample and a granite in the Yongchu Valley and a porphyritic granite in the Mungyeong Saejae had intrusion ages of 90.2±2.0 Ma (tσ), 91.0±3.0 Ma (tσ) and 88.6±1.5 Ma (tσ), respectively. Based on the average standard error calculated in combination with results of previous studies in this area (Lee et al., 2010; Yi et al., 2014; Aum et al., 2019), the geochronological results show that spatial variation in intrusion age of ~5 Myr between the Ssangyong (94.5±0.2 Ma) and Yongchu Valleys (89.7±0.4 Ma) is apparent. The geochemical compositions of major and trace elements in the samples showed an affinity of typical post-orogenic granite, indicating their petrogenesis during the late stage of Early Cretaceous magmatic activity possibly in association with subduction events of the Izanagi Plate.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.287-302
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• 2017

The carbonate rocks of the Daegi Formation are composed of the limestone at the upper and lower zones, and the dolomite at the middle zone, in which the upper zone has higher CaO content than others. The colors of carbonate rock in the Daegi Formation can be divided into five types; white, light brown, light gray, gray, and dark gray. The white to light gray colored rocks correspond to the high purity limestone with 53.15 ~ 55.64 wt. % CaO, and the light brown colored rocks contain 20.71 ~ 21.67 wt. % MgO. The bleaching of carbonate rocks are not related to CaO composition of the rocks, as light gray rocks tend to be higher in CaO content than those of the white rocks at the lower zone. The pelitic components are also occasionally increased in white limestone than light grey one. $Al_2O_3$ is one of the most difficult content to remove during hydrothermal processes, so the interpretation that the limestone is purified together with hydrothemral bleaching, has little merit. The wide range (over 16 ‰) of ${\delta}^{18}O_{SMOW}$, smaller variation (within 2 ‰) of ${\delta}^{13}C_{PDB}$ are apparent in both the upper and lower zones, which indicate the Daegi Formation had been affected overall by hydrothermal fluids. The K-Ar isotopic age of hydrothermal alteration in the GMI limestone mine is $85.1{\pm}1.7Ma$. Gradual change from grey through light grey to white limestone is accompaned by lower oxygen stable isotope values, which is major evidence that the hydrothermal effect is the main process of the bleaching. Although the Daegi Formation has suffered from hydrothermal activity and increase in whiteness, there is no clear evidence demonstrating the relationship between bleaching and high purity of limestone. The purification of limestone has nothing to do with the hydrothermal activity in this area. Instead, it should be considered that the change of sedimentary environment related to see-level fluctuation which can prevent deposition of pelitic components especially $Al_2O_3$ contrbuted to the formation of the high purity limestone in the upper zone of the Daegi Formation. Considering the evidences such as increase in CaO content of limestone by depth, gradual change from calcite to dolomite at the lower zones, and occurring the high purity limestone at the upper zone, the interpretation of sequence stratigraphic aspect to the formation of the high purity Daegi limestone appears to be more suitable than that of hydrothermal alteration origin.