• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.193-213
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• 2018

Soil geochemical exploration to check anomalies related to mineralization was carried out targeting around Quy Hop area within Nghe An province, Northern Vietnam. The interval of sampling are horizontal 250 m with 13 line and longitudinal 300 m with 25 line, resulting in 325 soil samples. Based on the result of soil geochemical exploration, the pitting survey was carried out targeting the grid point with high TREO content, resulting in 73 soil samples within 8 pits. The geology of the survey area are consisted of Ban Chieng biotite granite complex intruding Bu Khang formation comprising of schist, gneiss and limestone. In order to elucidate the source rock of monazite and xenotime confirmed from heavy sand, soil geochemical exploration was carried out. By ICP-MS result of soil samples, total REE oxide content of background amount is about 1.4 times of crustal abundance, depleting the light rare earth (about 0.2 times) and enriching the heavy rare earth (about 1.5 times). By ICP-MS result of pit soil samples, we identified TREO more than 1,000 ppm in 6 pits. It may be considered that REE ore bodies may develop in NE-SW direction, compared with the geochemical results of Quy Chau area.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.272-278
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• 2008

Methods to separate 14 rare earth elements (REEs) and yttrium by the $AG^{(R)}$ 50W-X8 cation exchange resin, and to determine REEs by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry (ICP-AES) were described. Ion exchange capacities of REEs on the resin were so high that the REEs were quantitatively ion exchanged under the flow rate of 0.3~1.0 mL/min at pH 1~6. The breakthrough capacity curve of the REEs showed that ion exchange capacities of light REEs (Cerium group) were greater than that of the heavy REEs (Yttrium group). When $200{\mu}g$ of each REEs was ion exchanged on 100 mg of resin, most of the heavy REEs were quantitatively desorbed with 10 mL of 2.0 M of $HNO_3$, while most of the light REEs with 30 mL. The method was applied to the monazite sample. The REEs could be separated from matrix, since ion exchange capacities of matrix ions of Ca, Ti, Mg, Mn were much lower than that of the REEs. However the relative standard deviations of the analytical results by the present method were not improved, as high as 1~5%.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.383-394
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• 2014

The surface sediments from the manganese nodule exploration area of Korea in the Clarion-Clipperton fracture zone were investigated to understand the resource potential of and emplacement mechanism for rare earth elements (REEs). The sediments are categorized into three lithological units (Unit I, II and III from top to bottom), but into two groups (Unit I/II and Unit III) based on the distribution pattern of REEs. The distribution pattern of REEs in Unit I/II is similar to that of Post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS), but shows a negative Ce anomaly and enrichment in heavy REEs (HREEs). In Unit III, the HREE enrichment and Ce anomaly is much more remarkable than Unit I/II when normalized to PAAS, which are interpreted as resulting from the absorption of REEs from seawater by Fe oxyhydroxides that were transported along the buoyant plume from remotely-located hydrothermal vents. It is supported by the PAAS-normalized REE pattern of Unit III which is similar to those of seawater and East Pacific Rise sediments. Meanwhile, the PAAS-normalized REE pattern of Unit I/II is explained by the 4:1 mixing of terrestrial eolian sediment and Unit III from each, indicating the much smaller contribution of hydrothermal origin material to Unit I/II. The studied sediments have the potentiality of a low-grade and large tonnage REE resource. However, the mining of REE-bearing sediment needs a large size extra collecting, lifting and treatment system to dress and refine low-grade sediments if the sediment is exploited with manganese nodules. It is economically infeasible to develop low-grade REE sediments at this moment in time because the exploitation of REE-bearing sediments with manganese nodules increase the mining cost.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2011

Mineralogical study was carried out for heavy minerals in the sea sand near Ongjingun bay, Kyonggi-do separated using the gravity and magnetic separators. Ilmenite, zircon and minor monazite and garnet were valuable minerals with gangue minerals of quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase, muscovite, hornblende, epidote and chlorite. Quantitative analysis with SIROQUANT program showed that the contents of ilmenite separated with the gravity separation (the shaking table separation), the 1st step magnetic separation (rare earth magnetic separation) and the 2nd step magnetic separation (the Eddy current magnetic separation) were increased into 0.8, 18.3, and 48.7%, respectively. The content of ilmenite, monazite and zircon were recalculated based on the chemical composition of the representative and heavy fraction products of raw sand, the 1 step and 2 step gravity separations, and the 1 step and 2 step magnetic separations. The content increased to 0.23, 0.55, 5.22, 16.17, and 44.99% in ilmenite, 0.11, 0.02, 0.16, 0.51, and 1.19% in monazite. Although the zircon content did not differ over the processes (0.13, 0.12, 0.11, 0.15, and 0.10%), the improved recovery of zircon is expected by applying sieving process because of its high content (27%) in the fine grain size fraction (< 140#) of the 2 step gravity separation.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2016

Magnetic nano-based sorbents have been synthesized for the recovery of two rare earth elements (REE: Nd(III) and Yb(III)). The magnetic nano-based particles are synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal procedure involving co-precipitation under thermal conditions of Fe(III) and Fe(II) salts in the presence of chitosan. The composite magnetic/chitosan material is crosslinked with epichlorohydrin and modified by grafting alanine and serine amine-acids. These materials are tested for the binding of Nd(III) (light REE) and Yb(III) (heavy REE) through the study of pH effect, sorption isotherms, uptake kinetics, metal desorption and sorbent recycling. Sorption isotherms are well fitted by the Langmuir equation: the maximum sorption capacities range between 9 and 18 mg REE $g^{-1}$ (at pH 5). The sorption mechanism is endothermic (positive value of ${\Delta}H^{\circ}$) and contributes to increase the randomness of the system (positive value of ${\Delta}S^{\circ}$). The fast uptake kinetics can be described by the pseudo-second order rate equation: the equilibrium is reached within 4 hours of contact. The sub-micron size of sorbent particles strongly reduces the contribution of resistance to intraparticle diffusion in the control of uptake kinetics. Metal desorption using acidified thiourea solutions allows maintaining sorption efficiency for at least four successive cycles with limited loss in sorption capacity.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2018

Volcanic ash samples of historical eruptions from Mt. Baekdu were analyzed for major oxides, trace and rare earth elements by a variety of analytical techniques. The results indicate that the ashes consist of approximately 58.8~71.1 wt.% $SiO_2$, 9.6~16.8 wt.% $Al_2O_3$, 4.5~6.9 wt.% $Fe_2O_{3t}$, 0.1~1.7 wt.% MgO, 0.3~1.6 wt.% CaO, 5.2~6.3 wt.% $Na_2O$, 4.3~5.9 wt.% $K_2O$ and less than 1.2 wt.% $TiO_2$. Thirty two trace metals including Ba, Cu, Cr. Co, Ni, Sr, V, Zn, and Zr were analyzed. The ashes can be divided two groups: group A(1 ka Millennium pumice, 1668 and $190{\underline{3}}$ pumice) and group B(1702 pumice) according to the relative enrichment of HREEs. The abundances of heavy metals such as Cu, Co, Mn, and Zn were relatively low. As compared to the Sakurajima volcanic ash, Baekdusan volcanic ash has low concentrations of Y, Nb, Pb, U, Sc, V, Ni and Cu and high concentrations of Zr, Ba, Hf, Cr, Co, Zn and rare-earth (except Eu).

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09b
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• pp.1043-1044
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• 2006

Compositional dependence of corrosion behavior of rapidly solidified Mg-rich Mg-Zn-Y alloys in NaCl aqueous solution has been investigated. Mg-Zn-Y ternary alloys containing small amounts of Zn exhibited low corrosion rate, although the $Mg_{98}Y_2$ (at. %) binary alloy showed severe corrosion with violet evolution of hydrogen. The alloy with highest corrosion-resistance was $Mg_{97.25}Zn_{0.75_Y_2$, its corrosion rate was about 1 mm year-1 in 0.17 M (1.0 wt. %) NaCl solution. $Mg_{97.25}Zn_{0.75}Y_2$ alloy exhibited passive region in anodic polarization curves when immersed in NaCl solution. Rapidly solidification and small amount of Zn addition may bring about an increase in electrochemical homogeneity of Mg-Zn-Y alloys, resulting in enhancement of corrosion resistance.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.297-310
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• 1998

Geochemical characteristics of environmental toxic elements at the Narim mine area were investigated on the basis of major, minor, rare earth element geochemistry and mineralogy. Ratios of $Al_2O_3/Na_2O$ and $K_2O/Na_2O$ in soils and sediments range from 11.57 to 22.21 and from 1.86 to 3.93, and are partly negative and positive correlation against $SiO_2/Al_2O_3$ (3.41 to 4.78), respectively. These suggested that sediment source of host granitic gneiss could be due to rocks of high grade metamorphism originated by sedimentary rocks. Characteristics of some trace and rare earth elements of V/Ni (0.33 to 1.95), Ni/Co (2.00 to 6.50), Zr/Hf (11.27 to 53.10), La/Ce (0.44 to 0.55), Th/Yb (4.07 to 7.14), La/Th (2.35 to 3.93), $La_N/Yb_N$ (6.58 to 13.67), Co/Th (0.63 to 2.68), La/Sc (3.29 to 5.94) and Sc/Th (0.49 to 1.00) are revealed a narrow range and homogeneous compositions may be explained by simple source lithology. Major elements in all samples are enriched $Al_2O_3$, MgO, $TiO_2$ and LOI, especially $Fe_2O_3$ (mean=7.36 wt.%) in sediments than the composition of host granitic gneiss. The average enrichment indices of major and rare earth elements from the mining drainage are 2.05 and 2.91 of the sediments and are 2.02 and 2.60 of the soils, normalizing by composition of host granitic gneiss, respectively. Average composition (ppm) of minor and/or environmental toxic elements in sediments and soils are Ag=14 and 1, As=199 and 14, Cd=22 and 1, Cu=215 and 42, Pb=1770 and 65, Sb=18 and 3, Zn=3333 and 170, respectively, and extremely high concentrations are found in the subsurface sediments near the ore dump. Environmental toxic elements were strongly enriched in all samples, especially As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn. The level of enrichment was very severe in mining drainage sediments, while it was not so great in the soils. Based on the EPA value, enrichment index of toxic elements is 8.63 of mining drainage sediments and 0.54 of soils on the mining drainage. Mineral composition of soils and sediments near the mining area were partly variable being composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, amphibole, chlorite and clay minerals. From the gravity separated mineralogy, soils and sediments are composed of some pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, goethite and various hydroxide minerals.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.217-227
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• 2009

Heavy minerals in the marine sand near Haeju bay, Hwanghae-do, North Korea were separated using the gravity and the magnetic separators. And their mineralogical study was carried out. Ilmenite, magnetite, hematite, zircon and monazite were observed as the valuable minerals, and quartz, orthoclase, muscovite, hornblende and garnet existed as gangue minerals. In the result of quantitative analysis with SIROQUANT program, the contents of the valuable minerals separated with the 2nd gravity separation (the shaking table separation), the 1st magnetic separation (rare earth magnetic separation) and the 2nd magnetic separation (the Eddy current magnetic separation) were increased into 4%, 10% and 76~89% (under the condition of 7000 G and 10000 G in magnetic strength), respectively. The contents of ilmenite, monazite and zircon recalculated from the chemical composition differed from the results of the quantitative analyses by SIROQUANT program, but the entire tendency bears some analogy with it. Under the conditions of 7000 G and 10000 G in 2nd magnetic separation the contents of ilmenites were concentrated with 53% and 66%, respectively. The content of monazite was 1.2% in the magnetic fractions of the 1st magnetic separation. The content of zircon was shown 1.4% under the condition of 10000 G in the 2nd magnetic separation, and was displayed 9% in +50 mesh of non-magnetic fraction of 1st magnetic separation, especially.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.241-259
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• 2022

In general, the REE were produced by mining conventional deposits, such as the carbonatite or the clay-hosted REE deposits. However, because of the recent demand increase for REE in modern industries, unconventional REE deposits emerged as a necessary research topic. Among the unconventional REE recovery methods, the REE-bearing coal deposits are recently receiving attentions. R-types generally have detrital originations from the bauxite deposits, and show LREE enriched REE patterns. Tuffaceous-types are formed by syngenetic volcanic activities and following input of volcanic ash into the basin. This type shows specific occurrence of the detrital volcanic ash-driven minerals and the authigenic phosphorous minerals focused at narrow horizon between coal seams and tonstein layers. REE patterns of tuffaceous-types show flat shape in general. Hydrothermal-types can be formed by epigenetic inflow of REE originated from granitic intrusions. Occurrence of the authigenic halogen-bearing phosphorous minerals and the water-bearing minerals are the specific characteristics of this type. They generally show HREE enriched REE patterns. Each type of REE-bearing coal deposits may occur by independent genesis, but most of REE-bearing coal deposits with high REE concentrations have multiple genesis. For the case of the US, the rare earth oxides (REO) with high purity has been produced from REE-bearing coals and their byproducts in pilot plants from 2018. Their goal is to supply about 7% of national REE demand. For the coal deposits in Korea, lignite layers found in Gyungju-Yeongil coal fields shows coexistence of tuff layers and coal seams. They are also based in Tertiary basins, and low affection from compaction and coalification might resulted into high-REE tuffaceous-type coal deposits. Thus, detailed geologic researches and explorations for domestic coal deposits are required.