• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.27-40
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• 2019

This study tries to reveal source areas of fluvial terrace deposits in Danyang and Geum River basins located in the northern and southern parts of the Sobaek Mountains, respectively, through geochemistry. The samples analyzed in this study show different grain size properties and can be grouped into the coarse, medium and fine samples. Grain size properties suggest that the coarse samples are typically fluvial deposits and geochemistry from the coarse samples is also similar to that from the bedrocks within the basins. The fine samples show geochemical properties different from the bedrocks and similar to loess deposits in Korea. However, different geochemical concentrations among the fine samples can be also recognized, indicating mixtures of loess materials with weathering products of the bedrocks. One sample among the medium samples is considered as fluvial deposit due to geochemical similarity to the bedrocks, while geochemistry from another sample among the medium samples indicates that loess materials were mixed with more abundant weathering products of the bedrocks than those in the fine samples.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.221-244
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• 2014

We suggested several implications by examining geochemical properties of sediments in Simjeok, Jangdo, and Hwaeomneup mountain wetlands which are natural preservation areas. Geochemical properties of wetland sediments show that all wetlands were included in the type of fens, but their distribution patterns were different from one another. We classified three sub-groups of sediments using the two step cluster analysis on the ratio of exchangeable cations. Wetland sediments can be grouped into Ca-dominated, Mg-dominated, and K-dominated types. Simjeok wetland have Ca-dominated sediments, while the sediments of Jangdo wetland indicate the Mg-dominated and Ca-dominated characteristics. Hwaeomneup wetland is composed of K-dominated sediment mainly. Different properties in the ratio are affected by various environmental factors such as geological, pedological, and vegetational settings. Because these geochemical properties will be affected by climate change and human impacts, these will be environmental indicator in mountain wetlands and be used in wetland management. This scheme can be used for classification of mountain wetlands. Therefore, we should work on geochemical properties of wetland sediments and classification schemes based on geochemical properties not only to widen understanding in geomorphic system or ecosystem of mountain wetlands but to conserve mountain wetlands properly.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.375-391
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• 2015

Trees to arrest sand-shifting have been planted on most of coastal dunes in Korea and considered as conservative objects. However, we reconsider that the simplicity of these trees have hindered ecological roles of coastal dunes; geochemical cycle and habitats of endemic species in coastal ecosystem. We examined geochemical properties of sediments on Byunsuran dune field where is planted with pine trees. There are significant difference in properties between embryo dune sediments and foredune sediments, but there are not between foredune and secondary dune. There are no significant difference between pine forest sediments and mixed forest sediments. It is also not showed the difference between dune ridge sediments and swale sediments. Despite spatial diversity from appearance, geochemical properties are not linked with geomorphic and vegetational conditions because of dense planted trees on foredune. To recover natural properties of coastal dunes, we need to change the conservation scheme to increase geomorphic and ecological diversity.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.459-482
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• 2006

A geochemical approach to the long-term safety of waste disposal is discussed in connection with the significance of actinides, which shall deliver the major radioactivity inventory subsequent to the relatively short-term decay of fission products. Every power reactor generates transuranic (TRU) elements: plutonium and minor actinides (Np, Am, Cm), which consist chiefly of long-lived nuclides emitting alpha radiation. The amount of TRU actinides generated in a fuel life period is found to be relatively small (about 1 wt% or less in spent fuel) but their radioactivity persists many hundred thousands years. Geological confinement of waste containing TRU actinides demands, as a result, fundamental knowledge on the geochemical behavior of actinides in the repository environment for a long period of time. Appraisal of the scientific progress in this subject area is the main objective of the present paper. Following the introductory discussion on natural radioactivities, the nuclear fuel cycle is briefly brought up with reference to actinide generation and waste disposal. As the long-term disposal safety concerns inevitably with actinides, the significance of the aquatic actinide chemistry is summarized in two parts: the fundamental properties relevant to their aquatic behavior and the geochemical reactions in nanoscopic scale. The constrained space of writing allows discussion on some examples only, for which topics of the primary concern are selected, e.g. apparent solubility and colloid generation, colloid-facilitated migration, notable speciation of such processes, etc. Discussion is summed up to end with how to make a geochemical approach available for the long-term disposal safety of nuclear waste or for the performance assessment (PA) as known generally.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.381-388
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• 1995

The petrographic, geochemical, and physical properties of the Jangseong and Chinese coals were investigated. The most common mineral matters of Jangseong coal are kaolinite, muscovite, sericite, illite, quartz and pyrophyllite. Mineral matters in Chinese coal are mainly composed of quartz, calcite, dolomite and kaolinite. Jangseong coal ash has higher content of $Al_2O_3$, $K_2O$, $TiO_2$, As, Rb and V, and lower content of CaO, MgO, $Na_2O$, $Fe_2O_3$ and $P_2O_5$ than those of Chinese coal ash. The liquid limit and the plasticity index of Jangseong coal were compared with those of Chinese coal. The result shows that the briquetting ability of Jangseong coal is a little bit better than that of Chinese coal. The briquetting ability is found to be principally dependent on the type and the content of mineral matter in coal, especially clay mineral.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.407-421
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• 2014

The benthic environmental impact experiment addresses environmental impacts at a specific site related to deep-sea mineral resource development. We have acquired several tens of multi- or box core samples at 31 sites within the Benthic environmental Impact Site (BIS) since 2010, aiming to examine the basic properties of surficial deep-sea sediment as a potential source for deep-water plumes. In this study, we present the geochemical properties such as major elements, rare earth elements (REEs), and heavy metal contents at the BIS. Such proxies vary distinctly according to the Facies association. The lithology of all core sediments in the BIS corresponds to both Association Ib and Association IIIb. The vertical profiles of some major elements ($SiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3$, CaO, $P_2O_5$, MgO, MnO) show noticeable differences between Association Ib and IIIb, while others ($Al_2O_3$, $TiO_2$, $Na_2O$, and $K_2O$) do not vary between Association Ib and IIIb. REEs are also distinctly different for Associations Ib and IIIb; in Association Ib, REY and HREE/LREE are uniform through the sediment section, while they increase downward in Association IIIb like the major elements; below a depth of 8 cm, REY is over 500 ppm. The metal enrichment factor (EF) evaluates the anthropogenic influences of some metals (Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Cd) in marine sediments. In both Associations, the EF for Cu is over 1.5, the EF for Ni and Pb ranges from 0.5 to 1.5, and the EF for Zn and Cd are less than 0.5, indicating Cu is enriched but Zn and Cd are relatively depleted in the BIS. The vertical variations of geochemical properties between Association Ib and IIIb are shown to be clearly different, which seems to be related to the global climate changes such as the shift of Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2004.03b
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• pp.203-210
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• 2004

Consolidation properties were analysed by means of depositional environments. Depositional environments including geochemical properties, porewater chemistry, sediment structures, particle size distributions and carbon age dating were analysed using undisturbed samples retrieved successively from a boring hole in the study area. Laboratory oedometer tests and anisotropic consolidated triaxial tests(CKoUC) were performed to examine the overconsolidation phenomenons. Based on the carbon age dating results and profiles of geochemical properties, porewater chemistry, salinity and pH, it was founded that the upper silt/clay complex layer was deposited under marine condition while sand and clay layers were deposited under fluvial condition. Planar laminated structures of silts and clays were dominant in marine deposits. Although there was no clear evidences that geological erosion had been occurred in marine deposits, overconsolidation ratio obtained from oedometer tests were greater than unity. Stress paths of samples behaved similar to those of normally consolidated clays. Data plotted in stress state charts proposed by Burland(1990) and Chandler(2000) showed that the marine deposits were geologically normally consolidated. These apparent overconsolidations can be explained by the fabric and chemical bonding due to the difference of the rate of deposition.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.251-268
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• 1986

Selecting a site for the safe disposal of radioactive waste requires the evaluation of a wide range of geologic, mineralogic, hydrologic, and physicochemical properties. Although highly diverse, these properties are in fact interrelated. Site requirements are also diverse because they are influenced by the nature of the radionuclides in the waste, for example, their half-lives, specific energy, and chemistry. A fundamental consideration in site selection is the mineralogy of the host rock, and one of the most ubiquitous mineral groups is clay minerals. Clays and clay minerals as in situ lithologic components and engineered barriers may playa significant role in retarding the migration of radionuclides. Their high sorptivity, longevity (stability), low permeability, and other physical factors should make them a very effective retainer of most radionuclides in nuclear wastes. There are, however, some unanswered questions. For example, how will their longevity and physicochemical properties be influenced by such factors as radionuclide concentration, radiation intensity, elevated temperatures, changes in redox condition, pH, and formation fluids for extended periods of time? Understanding of mechanisms affecting clay mineral-radionuclide interactions under prevailing geochemical conditions is important; however, the utilization of experimental geochemical information related to physicochemical properties of clays and clay-bearing materials with geohydrologic models presents a uniquely challenging problem in that many assessments have to be based on model predictions rather than on experiments. These are high-priority research investigations that need to be addressed before complete reliance for disposal area performance is made on clays and clay minerals.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.121.2-121
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• 1996

No Abstract, See Full Text

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2011

We examined the interactions between surface and groundwater through (1) flowmeter logging, (2) measurements of seasonal and vertical changes in temperature within a well, and (3) geochemical analyses of water samples from nine groundwater-monitoring wells. At two wells adjacent to a stream, subsurface water was found to flow from the stream to a surrounding alluvial fan, and the seasonal change in groundwater temperature is similar to those of surface water and air. Geochemical analyses at two wells indicated hydro-geochemical features affected by streamwater inflow, showing seasonal variations. Accordingly, these two wells are located in an area with active interaction between surface water and groundwater. The Thermochron I-button used in the present study is useful for this type of study of groundwater?surface water interaction because of its low cost and small size.