• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.291-307
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• 2018

Australia is the world's top gold, nickel, iron ore, lead, zinc and uranium, and is ranked in the top five in many other important minerals. Extension to existing resources will continue to support well-established local production. There are perceptions by some that Australia is a mature exploration destination where the easily won near-surface deposits were largely discovered many decades ago. In recent years, Australia faces increasing global competition for investment spending in all jurisdictions in which mineral exploration is encouraged. Many regional communities face the threat of losing their main economic driver as a number of long-term mines are reaching the end of their economic life. However, given the trend of increasing mineral demand due to the 4th industrial revolution, it is considered that Korea is also an opportunity to acquire global competitiveness of geoscience and mining technology by smart and digital mining, and by ICT-convergence technology R&D.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.499-508
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• 2019

Based on the preliminary surveys for the occurrences of the Muwellut chrome-nickel mineralized zone ($800km^2$) in northwestern Myanmar, Bophivum area was selected as the detailed exploration area after considering data source, geological potential, metallogenic province, necessity of resource development on target mineral, exploration activity, grade, ore deposit type, nearby operating mine, infrastructure and exploration prediction effect. From 2013 to 2016, KIGAM and DGSE carried out geological and geochemical survey with 1:1,000 scale, magnetic survey(areal extent, $1.672km^2$), trench survey(19 trench, total length 392 m), pitting survey(18 pit, total depth 42.6m), exploration drilling(6holes 600m, 2015; 13holes 617.4m). We analyzed Cr and Ni contents of 77 drill cores with specific gravity in Yangon DGSE analytical center. Considering surface geological survey, geochemical exploration, magnetic survey, trench survey and drilling data, we divided Bophivum area into 8 blocks. Resource estimation are divided into measured and indicated resources. Measured resource is about 9,790t and indicated resource is about 12,080t with the average grade of Cr 11.8% and Ni 0.34%. In case of Bophivum area, if we develop by tying up Webula chrome mineralized zone in the south, it will be possible to upgrade the medium-scale mine. Geologically, the ophiolite belt are distributed in the western and eastern part in Myanmar. So, the exploration technology obtained from exploation in Bophivum area will be helpful to discover the hidden chromitite ore body in Myanmar ophiolite belt in the future.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.254-256
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• 2003

A total of one hundred and twenty three goldbearing mineral deposits in the Charters Towers area west of Townswille, Queensland, Australia were initially classified into four named and unnamed separate vein styles, with different trends and alteration patterns, a breccia-style deposit and placer gold deposits. The area has vein deposits in Ordovician and Silurian granitoids and breccia-style in the Carboniferous volcanics. In this paper a modeling of these deposits is described using geological mapping, landscape analysis and digital imagery (Landsat TM and geophysics) to improve the classification and identification of possible new target for exploration.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.201-212
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• 2016

Due to growing problems securing stable mineral and energy resources with international political and economic changes, China has dedicated itself to strategies and policies to enhance its stable mineral and energy resources security. China has established a rare earth elements(REE) industry policy after the abolition of the REE exports quota system. China's six large REE companies have also been integrated into REE mining, smelting and refining companies. Efforts have been increased to enhance China's energy security through unconventional oil and gas exploration and development investment, as well as effort in R&D. The country will focus on technology development and exploration to promote commercial production of unconventional oil and gas based on countries with shale gas. China is making long-term contracts and joint ventures to ensure the acquisition of reliable mineral and energy resources from abroad. Government of China has proposed a range of initiatives, such as the integration of resources development strategies and environmental development strategies, internationalization of resource management, supply diversification and advancement, strengthening industry linking strategy, grouping and diversification strategy.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.97-98
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• 2011

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.15-16
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• 2011

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2005

Interpretation of high-resolution seismic profiles from the southeastern continental shelf of Korea reveals that the sedimentary deposits consist of seven seismic units formed during the late Quaternary. These units comprise lowstand, transgressive, and highstand systems tracts. The lowstand systems tract consists of a lowstand prograding wedge (SU1) and a mass flow deposit (SU2) including slumps and slides. The transgressive systems tract contains four seismic units: an ancient beach/shoreface deposit (SU3), a channel-fill deposit (SU4), a transgressive sand layer (SU5), and a transgressive sand ridge (SU6). The highstand systems tract consists of an inner-shelf mud deposit (SU7) derived from the Nakdong and Seomjin rivers during the last 6 ka when sea level was close to the present level.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.399-406
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• 2022

In line with the megatrend of 2050 carbon neutrality, the amount of critical minerals used in clean-energy technology is expected to increase fourfold and sixfold, respectively, according to the Paris Agreement-based scenario as well as the 2050 carbon-neutrality scenario. And, in the case of Korea, in terms of the battery supply chain used for secondary batteries, the midstream that manufactures battery materials and battery cell packs shows strength, but the upstream that provides and processes raw materials is experiencing difficulties. The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources has established a strategy to secure lithium, nickel, and cobalt and is conducting surveys to respond to the upstream risk of these types of battery raw materials. In the case of lithium, exploration has been carried out in Uljin, Gyeongsangbuk-do since 2020, and by the end of 2021, the survey area was selected for precision exploration by synthesizing all exploration data and building a 3D model. Potential resources will be assessed in 2022. In the case of nickel, the prospective site will be selected by the end of 2022 through a preliminary survey targeting 10 nickel sulfide deposits that have been prospected in the past. In the case of cobalt, Boguk cobalt is known only in South Korea, but there is only a record that cobalt was produced as a minor constituent of hydrothermal deposit. According to the literature, a cobalt ore body was found in the contact area between serpentinite and granite, and a protocol for cobalt exploration in Korea will be established.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.139-153
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• 2024

Recently, resources-rich advanced countries are putting more effort into mineral resource exploration as mineral resource depletion worsens along with deepening resource nationalism regarding mineral resources. Therefore, one of the methods used to explore mineral resources is to explore through the chemical composition of mineral. Pyrite, which is formed throughout the mineralization process and regardless of the mineral commodity type, is widely used as major geochemical indicator in mineral deposit exploration using content and list of trace elements in the pyrite. In this paper, the author aims to report on indicator elements that can be used when exploring lead-zinc orebody by studying the occurrence and chemical composition of pyrites from wallrock, wallrock alteration and lead-zinc orebody in the Janggun lead-zinc deposit. This deposit is hydrothermal replacement deposit formed by reaction of lead and zinc-bearing hydrothermal fluid and Paleozoic Janggum limestone formation. The wallrock alteration that is remarkably recognized with Pb-Zn mineralization at this hydrothermal replacement orebody consists of mainly rhodochrositization with minor of dolomitization, pyritization, sericitization and chloritization. Pyrite, which is occurred from wallrock, wallrock alteration, and lead-zinc orebody, is classified into three types (Py I type, Py II type, and Py III type) based on the texture, occurrence and paragenetic relationship. Pyrite on the basis of paragenetic sequence are as followed : Py I type (wallrock and wallrock alteration) → Py II type (wallrock alteration and Pb-Zn orebody) → Py III type (wallrock alteration and Pb-Zn orebody). Trace elements with a large content change in pyrite by all types are Mn, As, Ag, Sb and Pb elements, but trace elements with a small content change in pyrite are Zn, Cu, Cd, Se, Te, Co, Ni, Au, In and Sn elements. The substitution of these elements in all pyrite types is as followed: Fe²⁺↔Co²⁺ substitution (Py I type), 3Fe²⁺↔Ag¹⁺+(Mn²⁺+Ni²⁺+As²⁺)+(As3++Sb3+) substitution (Py II type) and 3Fe²⁺↔Ag¹⁺+(Mn²⁺+As²⁺+Pb²⁺)+(Mn³⁺+As³⁺+Sb³⁺), S^1-↔(As^1-+Sb^1-) substitution (Py III type). This means that Mn, As, Sb, Ag and Pb elements were enriched during evolution of hydrothermal fluid. Therefore, based on the above research results, pyrite is a useful mineral for exploration of lead-zinc orebody. And when exploring lead-zinc orebody with similar geological conditions, lead-zinc orebody is explored through the enrichment of as indicator elements.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.291-302
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• 2014

The Chinese government and its agencies were trying in order to solve the unstability of resource supply and demand. Ministry of Land and Resources of China(MLR) carried out a lot of national-level policy and planning for estimating the domestic mineral and energy resources potential and recoverable reserves, as the Chinese land and resources survey plan(1999~2010), the Chinese mineral resource survey and exploration plan(2008~2020), announcement for shale gas industry policies of China, the Chinese shale gas resources evaluation and selection project for its development priority areas(2012), and the plan for Chinese shale gas development(2011~2015). The two large sedimentary basins of Chinese shale gas reserves are Sichuan and Tarim basins with excellent potential, accounting for majority of the estimated national reserves. Recoverable gas-bearing shale of China was surveyed to be widespread. The volume of recoverable shale gas reservoirs in China has been estimated to be around 31 trillion cubic meters(1,115 trillion cubic feet). China is one of only three countries with the US and Canada to produce shale gas in commercial quantities. China is concentrating on technology development to enhance commercial production of shale gas, and on survey and exploration activities to increase its recoverable reserves. The trends related to shale gas development and R&D activities in China to respond to changes in international oil market should be actively monitored based on analysis of Chinese policies and technology.