• 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.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.483-494
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• 2023

Measurement of the physical properties of rocks or minerals is an important factor in determining the distribution of the underground medium as well as mineral resource investigations. Resistivity and induced polarization, which are widely used in Korea, are methods for measuring electrical properties, which are representative properties of obtaining subsurface information. In order to precisely analyze the exploration data obtained from various sites, it is important to accurately measure the material properties. Electrical properties of rock is measured using two-electrode or four-electrode method. Compared to the four-electrode method, the two-electrode method is generally used because it is very easy to contact the sample and the electrode, but there is a problem in that the impedance of the electrode and the sample is measured together. In this study, the time-domain the induced polarization effects were measured using the 2-electrode method and the 4-electrode method for artificial samples mixed with graphite and cement having induced polarization characteristics, and the results were compared. Although the 4-electrode method has difficulties in installing potential electrodes, it was confirmed that it is effective in measuring electrical properties because it can reduce the problem caused by the impedance of potential electrodes compared to the 2-electrode method.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.286-301
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• 2008

When magnetotelluric (MT) data are obtained in vicinity of the coast, the sea can distort observed MT responses, especially those of deep part of subsurface. We introduce an iterative method to correct the sea effect, based on the previous topographic correction method which removes the distortions due to topographic changes in seafloor MT data. The method first corrects the sea effect in observed MT impedance, and then inverts corrected responses in a model space without the sea. Due to mutual coupling between sea and subsurface structure, the correction and inversion steps are iterated until changes in each result become negligible. The method is validated for 1-D and 2-D structure using synthetic MT data produced by 3-D forward modeling including surrounding seas. In all cases, the method closely recovers the given structure after a few iterations. To test the applicability of the proposed method to field data, we generate synthetic MT data for the Jeju Island whose 1-D conductivity structure is well known, using 3-D forward modeling. The distortions due to the surrounding sea start to appear below the frequency about 1 Hz, and are relatively severe in the electrical field perpendicular to the coastline because of the location of the observation sites. The proposed method successfully eliminates the sea effect after three iterations, and both 1-D and 2-D inversion of corrected responses closely recover the given subsurface structure of the Jeju Island model.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.359-373
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• 2013

Shale is considered as a source rock for conventional oil and gas exploration and development because shale is fine-grained detrital sedimentary rock which can preserve the organic matter better. Shale has a good sealing capacity for the petroleum trap due to its low permeability. Commercial recoveries of gas from shale in the North America based on the development of technologies of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing reveal that shale also function as a effective reservoir rock. Geochemical techniques to evaluate generation potential of the hydrocarbons from organic matter in the source rocks can be applied for the exploration of the shale gas resources. To evaluate shale gas resources, it is important to understand various geochemical processes and shale characteristics controlling generation, storage and estimation of shale gas reserves. In this paper, the generation mechanism of the oil and gas from organic matter is reviewed, and geochemical techniques which can be applied for the evaluation and characterization of shale gas are introduced.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.119-124
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• 2000

A new fast algorithm for travel time calculation using mono-chromatic one-way wave equation was developed based on the delta function and the logarithms of the single frequency wavefield in the frequency domain. We found an empirical relation between grid spacing and frequency by trial and error method such that we can minimize travel time error. In comparison with other methods, travel time contours obtained by solving eikonal equation and the wave front edge of the snapshot by the finite difference modeling solution agree with our algorithm. Compared to the other two methods, this algorithm computes travel time of directly transmitted wave. We demonstrated our algorithm on migration so that we obtained good section showing good agreement with original model. our results show that this new algorithm is a faster travel time calculation method of the directly transmitted wave for imaging the subsurface and the transmission tomography.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.155-159
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• 2009

Crack-controlled method which utilizes the dynamic energy such as explosives and propellent gases have been applied to the development of mineral resource and oil and civil engineering. It is necessary to consider the fracture processes associated with the material properties and external forces to control crack propagation using borehole pressure. To investigate the influence of the applied borehole pressure waveform on the crack propagation in rock masses having different material properties, a no-free surface model was used, consisting of a borehole in rock with a continuous boundary. Loading rates ranging from 1 to 100MPa/${\mu}s$ with different rock mass properties was employed to investigate the loading rate dependency of fracture patterns in the rock mass.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.291-296
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• 2007

We measured potential waveform of load, displacement, micro electric signal generated by rock and mortar fracture using PXI A/D Converter. The rock type used for measurement was used granite, limestone and sandstone, and mortar specimen. we made measuring equipment of physical properties to confirm basic information of physical properties, measured physical properties of rock engineering, electric resistivity and seismic velocity. Potential waveform system was built using PXI A/D Converter and measured potential waveform of load, displacement, micro-electric signal generated using this during uniaxial compressive test by the specimen finished such test of physical properties. Using the saturated rock and mortar specimen, micro electric signal increased, and It didn't increase a signal in dried rock and mortar specimen according as load and strain rate increases. But signal also increased in saturated or dried specimen in case of sandstone. It was possible to check the close correlation relationship the signal and fracture behavior by a compressive load as the signal of fracture position was increased bigger than the other position. It was also possible to check the correlation relationship between physical properties and micro geo-electric signal.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.59-74
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• 2003

Prospecting for energy and mineral resources is essential kind of public fundamentals that manage the nation's economy. Most explorations in the past were concentrated in the simple structural traps in relatively shallow depth. Due to their vast exploitation, recent history has shown that the emphasis in explorations has steadily shifted toward the subtle stratigraphic traps in deeper level. Increasing exploration for the subtle stratigraphic traps in deeper level requires precise correlation and assessment of deeply buried strata in the basin. However, the descriptive strati-graphic principles used for evaluation of the simple structural traps are limited to delineate the subtle stratigraphic traps in deeper depth. As this occurs. it is imperative to establish a new stratigraphic paradigm that allows a more sophisticated understanding on the basin stratigraphy. This study provides an exemplary application of integrated stratigraphic approach to defining basin history of the Middle Ordovician Taebacksan Basin, Korea. The integrated stratigraphic approach gives much better insight to unravel the stratigraphic response to tectonic evolution of the basins, which can be utilized fer enhancing the efficiency of resources exploration and development in the basins. Thus, the integrated stratigraphic approach should be emphasized as a new stratigraphic norm that can improve the probability of success in any type of resources exploration and development project.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.4 s.179
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• pp.441-450
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• 2006

The on-land seismic survey in Korea was begun in mid-1960s. Kim et al.(1967) of Korea Geological Survey reported on the result of gravity and seismic reflection surveys conducted in the Pohang area for the period of 1963-64 to assess its possibility of oil entrapment. Hyun and Kim (1966) carried out a refraction survey on the tunnel wall. Since then, the KGS geophysicists had conducted seismic surveys on Kyungsang sedimentary basin as a main project for several years. In 1970s, on-land seismic surveys had been conducted for various purposes such as site investigation for the nuclear power plants and industrial complex, exploration for ground water, mineral resources and underground tunnel. The first reflection survey with CMP acquisition was attempted in 1978 by using a digital recording system. But most of on-land seismic surveys had employed the refraction method until 1980s. In 1990s, high resolution reflection and various borehole seismic surveys such as tomography, uphole, downhole, cross-hole methods have been attempted by universities and engineering companies. The applications of on-land seismic surveys have been enlarged for both academic and industrial purposes such as investigation of geologic structure of the fault and tidal flat area, construction of highway, railroad and dam, geothermal energy and mineral resource exploration, environmental assessment for waste disposal sites and archaeological investigations. In 2002, the first crustal seismic survey was carried out on the profile of 294km length across the whole peninsular. It is expected that the advanced technology and experience acquired through offshore seismic surveys, which have been conducted in continental shelf of Korea and foreign oil fields, will stimulate the more active on-land seismic explorations.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.51-71
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• 2024

Seismic exploration is one of the widely used geophysical exploration methods with various applications such as resource development, geotechnical investigation, and subsurface monitoring. It is essential for interpreting the geological characteristics of subsurface by providing accurate images of stratum structures. Typically, geological features are interpreted by visually analyzing seismic sections. However, recently, quantitative analysis of seismic data has been extensively researched to accurately extract and interpret target geological features. Seismic attribute analysis can provide quantitative information for geological interpretation based on seismic data. Therefore, it is widely used in various fields, including the analysis of oil and gas reservoirs, investigation of fault and fracture, and assessment of shallow gas distributions. However, seismic attribute analysis is sensitive to noise within the seismic data, thus additional noise attenuation is required to enhance the accuracy of the seismic attribute analysis. In this study, four kinds of seismic noise attenuation methods are applied and compared to mitigate random noise of poststack seismic data and enhance the attribute analysis results. FX deconvolution, DSMF, Noise2Noise, and DnCNN are applied to the Youngil Bay high-resolution seismic data to remove seismic random noise. Energy, sweetness, and similarity attributes are calculated from noise-removed seismic data. Subsequently, the characteristics of each noise attenuation method, noise removal results, and seismic attribute analysis results are qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Based on the advantages and disadvantages of each noise attenuation method and the characteristics of each seismic attribute analysis, we propose a suitable noise attenuation method to improve the result of seismic attribute analysis.