• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.233-244
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• 2017

We conducted hydraulic fracturing experiments on cement samples to investigate the dependency of fracture propagation on the viscosity of injection fluid and the in situ stress state. Ten cubic samples (20 cm side length) were produced using cement that was cured in water for more than one month. Samples were placed in a tri-axial compression apparatus with three independent principal stresses. An injection hole was drilled and the sample was hydraulically fractured under a constant injection rate. We measured injection pressures and acoustic emissions (AE) during the experiments, and investigated the fracture patterns produced by hydraulic fracturing. Breakdown pressures increased exponentially with increasing viscosity of the injection fluid. Fracture patterns were dependent on differential stress (i.e., the difference between the major and minor principal stresses). At low differential stress, multiple fractures oriented sub-parallel to the major principal stress axis propagated from the injection hole, and in some samples the fracture orientation changed during propagation. However, at high differential stress, a single fracture propagated parallel to the major principal stress axis. AE results show similar patterns. At low differential stress, AE source locations were more widespread than at high differential stress, consistent with the fracture pattern results. Our study suggests that hydraulic fracturing during shale gas extraction should be performed parallel to the orientation of minimum differential stress.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.379-395
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• 2018

A walking trail environment can be divided into the upper part of the trail, the trail itself, and the lower part of the trail. In this study, based on field investigations, we developed a risk index for trails by considering human/societal factors that affect each of these three trail environments. A checklist was developed for field investigations, and checklist items were scored through relative importance analysis. The relative weights of items were analyzed using the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) technique, revealing that the upper environment of a trail is twice as important as the rest of the environment. The importance and score of items belonging to each environment were determined. We define the risk index as the sum of the item scores. Weights were added using data from existing investigations including landslides risk rating and designated risk steep slopes. The risk index has a maximum value of 200, and the maximum and minimum calculated scores of 335 risk sections were 159 and 64.2, respectively. As a result of comparative analysis between field observations and risk index calculations, most sections at relatively low risk had risk values less than 100, and sections with high risks or that had been the site of accident yielded scores that exceeded 140.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2017

Recently, the grounded electrical-source airborne transient electromagnetic (GREATEM) system with high power source was introduced to achieve deeper investigation depth and to overcome high noise level. Although the GREATEM is a transient electromagnetic system using a long grounded wire as the transmitter, GREATEM data have been interpreted with 1D earth models because 2D or 3D modeling and inversion of vast airborne data are complicated and expensive to calculate. Generally, 1D inversion is subsequently applied to every survey point and combining 1D images together forms the stitched conductivity-depth image. However, the stitched models often result in abrupt variations in neighboring models. To overcome this problem, laterally constrained inversion (LCI) has been developed in inversion of ATEM data, which can yield layered sections with lateral smooth transitions. In this study, we analysed the GREATEM data through 1D numerical modeling for a curved grounded wire source. Furthermore, we developed a laterally constrained inversion scheme for continuous GREATEM data based on a layered earth model. All 1D data sets and models are inverted as one system, producing layered sections with lateral smooth transitions. Applying the developed LCI technique to the GREATEM data, it was confirmed that the laterally constrained inversion can provide laterally smooth model sections that reflect the layering of the survey area effectively.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.421-434
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• 1991

Ground magnetic surveys were conducted at four areas where the Yangsan fault, the most prominent lineament in the Kyeongsang basin, appears to be passed through. For data processing, IGRF correction, upward continuation and reduction-to-the-pole were performed. The automatic inversion by using a matrix computation method, which takes the depth to bottom layer of the horizontal two layer structure as the model parameter, has been attempted to delineate the subsurface structure. Upward continuation of the surface magnetic map to the same level of the aeromagnetic survey (KIER, 1989) resulted in very similiar patterns to those of aeromagnetic data. Subsurface modeling of eight profile data show that the strike and dip of the Yangsan fault in study areas are $N6^{\circ}-15^{\circ}E$, and near vertical to somewhat eastward, repectively, despite of the local lithological contrast of each study area. It seems that the magnetic effect of faulting in the study area 1, which locates in the most northern part of the survey areas, is disturbed by that of igneous intrusion. At study area 2, the possibility of volcanic or igneous intrusion, which is 200-300 meters wide along the fault plane was presented. At study area 3, unlike other study areas, distinct fracture zone of 500-700 meters in width was revealed along the surface fault line. The andesitic rocks of the study area 4 have very high susceptibilities and the fault line on surface of this area was shifted about 500 meter eastward, as compared with the inferred fault line by the previous study.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1969

In the Sangdong Mine area, Taebaegsan series (Pre-Cambrian) and Chosun System (Cambro-ordovician) are widely distributed. The Chosun System consists of Yangdug Series (Jangsan Quartzite and Myobong Slate) and The Great Limestone Series (Pungchon Limestone, Shesong Shale, Hwajeol Formation and Dongjeom Quartzite). The mineralized zone containing the main ore body of the Sangdong Mine was developed in the Myobong Slate formation. The result of the field and microscopic study on the mineral paragenesis and it's wall rock alteration in the tungsten ore deposit shows the following features. The orogenic movements of the Post-Chosun System in the Hambaeg Geosyncline are closely related to the tungsten ore deposition in the area, the ore minerals are composed mainly of scheelite, powelite molybdenite and sulfide minerals, and gangue minerals are hornblende, diopside, garnet, quartz, phlogopite, tremolite, biotite, muscovite, fluorite, etc., main ore body was enriched by scheelite bearing quartz vein filling into interstices of formerly mineralized zones, and the minor faults, faults of N $60^{\circ}-70^{\circ}W$, $45^{\circ}-60^{\circ}NE$ and joints, which were formed at the end of the mineralization and the slate. Country rock of the ore body was altered into the following several zones from the outside to the inside; lowgrade recrystalline aureole, silicified sericite zone, and diopside-hornblende zone. Under the microscopic observation of 195 samples taken from throughout ore body can be classified into 10 different groups by their mineral paragenesis as shown in table 2. The garnet-diopside group is primary skarn and it shows gradational change to the groups of later stage by the successive processes of metasomatism. From the stage of quartz-bearing group, the dissemination of scheelite is seen. The crystallization of scheelite in the bed started with the quartz deposition and continued to the last stage when quartz vein intruded into the main ore body. In the field and the under ground investigation a durable limestone bed in thickeness about 20 meters and their remnants in ore body are observed and under microscope calcite remnants are recognized. Hence it is posturated that the ore material moved up through the faults, shear zones or feather cracks and was assimilated with the interbeded limestone, after that the body was affected by the successive differentiated ore solution by gradational increasing in $SiO_2$, $K_2O$ and $H_2O$. Evidently this ore deposit shows the features resulted from pyrometasomatic processes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.1 s.182
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• pp.67-85
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• 2007

We have performed the CSAMT survey to examine the geoelectrical structure and groundwater distribution for two survey lines across the south-eastern region of Jeju Island. Three kinds of 1-D inversion techniques were employed taking account of the geological situation around the observation sites, and their inversion results were concurrently compared and analyzed to improve the reliability of interpretation. The resultant inverted resistivity structures reveals the three-layered structure, which is composed of the layers with a high-low-lower resistivity from the surface downward. Through the comparison of the inverted resistivity model and core log of deep borehole nearby observation sites, the lithology of each inverted layer was inferred. The first layer and second layer corresponded to the basaltic layer with a thickness of $100{\sim}250m$, and the third layer to the Seoguipo Formation and the U Formation; the thickness of the Seoguipo Formation could not be estimated due to the limitation of investigation depth and little resistivity difference between both Formations. Nevertheless, the Seoguipo Formation, which is strongly associated with the groundwater system in the south-eastern region of Jeju Island, showed the conspicuous spatial continuity from the middle mountain area to coastal area.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.71-85
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• 2020

To understand behavior of fault cores in the field of geotechnical and geological engineering, we present an investigation of the physical properties (breccia and clay contents, unit weight, porosity, and water content) and friction characteristics (internal friction angle and cohesion) of fault cores, in granitic, sedimentary, and volcanic rocks in South Korea. The breccia contents in the fault cores are positively correlated with unit weight and negatively correlated with clay content, porosity, and water content. The inter-quartile ranges of internal friction angles and cohesion calculated from direct shear tests are 16.7-38.1° and 2.5-25.3 kPa, respectively. The influence of physical properties on the friction characteristics of the fault cores was analyzed and showed that in all three rock types the internal friction angles are positively correlated with breccia content and unit weight, and negatively correlated with clay content, porosity, and water content. In contrast, the cohesions of the fault cores are negatively correlated with breccia content and unit weight, and positively correlated with clay content, porosity, and water content.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.2 s.52
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• pp.289-297
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• 2007

Slope failure that is occurred by rainfall generates a lot of property damages and loss of lives. Slope stability management and reinforcement countermeasure can be attained through continuous monitoring about various slope types that adjoin in human's life for reducing slope failure from natural and artificial cut slope hazards. The study area is rock slope that is consisted of gneiss, and large scale joint set is ranging by fault activity. This rock mass is exposed during long period and has lithological weathering property of weathered rock or soft rock. In-situ investigation carried out after divide by natural slope and cut slope. As a result, the natural slope appeared to high possibility of planar failure and wedge failure in few joint points that main joint set is formed. On the other hand, slope failure conformation in cut slope was superior only wedge failure occurrence possibility in eight joint points. In result of numerical analysis using SLIDE 2D, the minimum safety factor was analyzed slope stability for cut slope relatively low than natural slope in this study.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.275-281
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• 2012

Thermal distribution in soils must be considered in engineering designs and constructions, including estimates of frost heave and thaw settlement, infrastructure in cold regions, and geothermal systems. Because thermal conductivity is a key parameter for evaluation of thermal distribution in soils, it must be accurately estimated. The thermal conductivity of fine-grained soils has been widely studied in recent years; however, few studies have reported a reliable method for experimental measurement. The present study presents the results of an experimental investigation of the thermal conductivity of a saturated kaolinite-silica mixture with respect to the variation of dry density. Thermal conductivities were measured in Constant Rate of Strain (CRS) consolidation tests, and the experimental data were analyzed to evaluate the accuracy of the new measurement system. In addition, we present an evaluation method for predicting thermal conductivity in fine-grained soils.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.673-683
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• 2008

As-rich alluvial groundwaters occurring in the agricultural area of Mankyeong River watershed were geochemically studied. 15 out of 29 investigated wells (52%) showed As levels exceeding the WHO drinking water standard ($10{\mu}g/L$). Their chemistry is characterized by low Eh levels, low $NO_3$ and $SO_4$ concentrations, and high pH, alkalinity, Fe, $NH_4$, and $PO_4$ levels. This suggests that arsenic is enriched by the reductive dissolution of As-bearing Fe-/Mn-(hydro)oxides, the commonest process in Bangladesh and West Bengal of India, of which groundwaters are severely contaminated by As. It was also revealed that As concentrations in the area are strongly regulated by the presence of agrochemicals such as $NO_3$ and $SO_4$.