• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.39-50
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• 1999

The physicochemical, mineralogical, hydraulic, swelling and mechanical properties of a domestic bentonite for use as the buffer material in a high-level waste repository have been measured. The bentonite is identified to be a Ca-bentonite, and the hydraulic conductivity of the compacted bentonite with the dry density higher than 1.4 Mg/㎥ is lower than 10$^{-11}$ m/s When the dry densities are 1.4 to 1.8 Mg/㎥, the swelling pressures are in the range of 6.6 to 143.5 kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$. The unconfined compressive strength is about 94 kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$, and the coefficient of volume change and the coefficient of consolidation are in the range of 0.O0249 to 0.02142 $m^2$/MN and 0.018 to 0.115$m^2$/year, respectively.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.1191-1198
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• 2023

Bentonite buffer material is a critical component in an engineered barrier system (EBS) for disposing high-level radioactive waste (HLW). The bentonite buffer material protects the disposal canister from groundwater penetration and releases decay heat to the surrounding rock mass; thus, it should possess high thermal conductivity, low hydraulic conductivity, and moderate swelling pressure to safely dispose the HLWs. Bentonite clay is a suitable buffer material because it satisfies the safety criteria. Several additives have been suggested as mixtures with bentonite to increase the thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical (THMC) properties of bentonite buffer materials. Therefore, this study investigated the geotechnical, mineralogical, and THMC properties of several candidate additives such as sand, graphite, granite, and SiC powders. Datasets obtained in this study can be used to select adequate additives to improve the THMC properties of the buffer material.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 1999

This research was carried out to evaluate the possible usage of natural clay materials collected from the Kimpo landfill site and nearby clay mines as a clay liner material. In order to evaluate the possible usage as a clay liner material, specific gravity, pH, loss-on-ignition, organic carbon content and mineralogical composition of clay materials were measured. The Atterberg limit test and the size analysis were performed for the engineering classification and the prediction of hydraulic conductivity of clay materials. Caution exchange capacity and batch tests were also carried out for the assessment of attenuation capacity. Clay specimens of KPNCL, KP-1, KP-2 and SH were recommended as suitable clay linder materials from viewpoint of their basic quality and attenuation capacity.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.4 s.50
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• pp.355-361
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• 2006

Artificially crushed sands occupy approximately 30 percent of the total consumption in South Korea. The demand for the crushed sands is expected to rise in the future. Most manufacturers use granitic rocks to produce the crushed sands. During the manufacturing process, fine fractions (i.e., sludges or particles smaller than 63 microns) are removed through the process of flocculation. The fine fraction occupies about 15% of the total weight. The sludges are comprised of quartz, feldspars, calcite, and various kinds of clay minerals. Non-clay minerals occupy more than 75 percent of the sluges weight, according to the XRD semi-quantification measurement. Micas, kaolinites, chlorite, vermiculite, and smectites occur as minor constituents. The sludges from Jurassic granites contain more kaolinites and $14{\AA}$-types than those from the Cretaceous ones. The chemical analysis clearly shows the difference between the parent rocks and the sludges in chemical compositions. Much of colored components in the sludges was accumulated as the weathering products. Particle size analysis results show that the sludges can be categorized as silt loam in a sand-silt-clay triangular diagram. This result was for her confirmed by the hydraulic conductivity data. In South Korea, the sludges remained after crushed sand production are classified as an industrial waste because of their impermeability, and which is caused by their high silt and clay fractions.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.237-245
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• 2000

This study was for characterizing the engineering geological properties of Moryang Fault, and providing the basic data for tunnel design. Land-sat image analysis, geologic surveys, resistivity prospecting and 3-dimensional analysis for results of resistivity prospecting, core boring, mineralogical identification and chemical analysis for the bedrock, and K-Ar age dating for fault clay were carried out for the study of Moryang Fault which is located at Duckhyunri Sangbukmyun Uljinkun Ulsan metropolis. As a result of the study, it was shown that strike/dip was N20-3$0^{\circ}C$E/70-9$0^{\circ}C$NW, width of fault ranged from 20 to 60m(maximum 80m), and depth was more than 50m. K-Ar age dating results of fault clay were 5,700$\pm$1.129Ma and 1,900$\pm$0.380Ma. Hydraulic fracturing test results showed the principal stress direction similar to the strike of Moryang Fault.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.437-442
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• 2008

The synthesis and hydration of Calcium Sulfo Aluminate[$3CaO{\cdot}3Al_2O_3{\cdot}CaSO_4(C_4A_3{\overline{S}})$, CSA cement utilizing secondary steelmaking refining slags is studied for recycling the discarded steel plant wastes to meet the environmental requrations imposed on the steel industry. Raw materials of secondary refining slag, lime sludge, gypsum and bauxite were prepared to be sintered at $1,250^{\circ}C$. The sintered samples were hydrated for 1, 3 and 7 days to evaluate the mineralogical and physico-mechanical properties. The hydration products evaluated with the aid of SEM and XRD analyses confirmed the formation and the continuing growth of ettringite phase with the further hydration times, which plays a role in developing the early strength and the expansion properties of cements. The physico-mechanical properties of hydrated CSA products employing the recycled steelmaking refining slags determined in terms of compressive strength and linear expansion of hydrated products are found to be superior to those of the Ordinary Portland Cement(OPC) or the other commercial CSA cements.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 2007

The consumption of artificially crushed sands exceeds more than 30 percent of the domestic sand supply in South Korea, and its rate is still increasing. For the manufacture of crushed sand granites and granitic gneisses are preferred, fine fractions (i.e. sludge, particles finer than 63 microns) are removed by use of flocculation agents, and its amount occupy about 15 wt%. The sludges consist of quartz, feldspars, micas, chlorite/vermiculite, kaolinites, smectites and occasionally calcite. Among the clay minerals micas are usually predominant, and $14{\AA}$ minerals, kaolinites and smectites are rather scarce. Jurassic granites usually contain more kaolinites and smectites than those of Cretaceous to Tertiary granites, probably due to longer geologic ages. On the other hand, sludge from Precambrian gneiss does not contain kaolinites and smectites. Chemical analyses for the granites and their sludges show rather clear differences in most of major chemical components. Except for $SiO_2,\;Na_2O\;and\;K_2O$, all other components represent rather clear increase. Decrease of $SiO_2$ content is attributed to the relative decrease of quartz in the sludges. And the $Na_2O decrease is caused by a relatively stronger weathering property of albite compared to Ca plagioclase. The $K_2O$ content shows rather small differences throughout the whole samples. The increases of $Al_2O_3$ and other major components resulted from weathering processes and most of colored components are also concentrated in the sludges. Particle size analyses reveal that the sludges are categorized as sandy loams in a sand-silt-clay triangular diagram. The sludge is now classified as industrial waste because of its impermeability, and this result was also confirmed by rather higher hydraulic conductivities. For the environmental problems, and accomplishing effective sand manufacture, more fresh rocks with little weathering products must be chosen.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.284-289
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• 2014

Farmers in highlands in South Korea pile up 20 to 30 cm of saprolites, mostly granite- or granite-gneiss-weathered materials, on surface of arable lands every three to five years to compensate eroded soil and sometimes to discontinue soil-borne diseases. Immediate increases of infiltration and percolation rates are expected with coarse textured saprolites while soil drainage becomes poorer in a long-term. In this study, we analyzed mineralogical characteristics and micro-morphology of plow pan to investigate processes making impermeable layers. Soil samples were collected from plow pan, usually located at approximately 20 cm soil depth and at the lower part of piled saprolites, in arable lands in Hoenggye 5-ri, Daekwanryeong-myeon, Gangwon-do (N37.7, E128.7) in which saprolites were added 2, 4, and 8 years ago; saprolites were transported from similar areas. The saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased over time. Based on soil thin section pedography, quartz and feldspar accounted for a majority of minerals. The size of feldspar decreased and macropores became filled with clay or silt particles over time, which implies that macropores were packed with particles weathered from feldspar. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that intensity of feldspar decreased over time and the reverse was true for kaolinite and illite, indicating that feldspar and mica weathering induced formation of kaolinite and illite. Conclusively, deteriorated drainage by formation of impermeable layers in farms with piled saprolites was caused by accumulation of clay minerals such as kaolinite and illite in macropores; illite and kaolinite can be formed by weathering of mica and feldspar, respectively.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.373-382
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• 2022

Unsaturated soil at high suctions is widespread. Many civil engineering projects are related to the hydro-mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils at high suctions, particularly in arid and semiarid areas. To investigate water retention behaviors of nine clayey soils (one is classified as fat clay and the others are classified as lean clay according to the unified soil classification system), the high suction (3.29-286.7 MPa) was imposed on the specimens at zero net stress by the vapor equilibrium technique. In this paper, the effect of void ratio on the water retention behavior at high suction was discussed in detail. Validation data showed that soil types, i.e., different mineralogical compositions, are critical in the soil water retention behavior at a high suction range. Second, the hysteresis behavior at a high suction range is mainly related to the clay content and the specific surface area. And the mechanism of water retention and hysteresis behavior at high suctions was discussed. Moreover, the maximum suction is not a unique value, and it is crucial to determine the maximum suction value accurately, especially for the shear strength prediction at high suctions. If the soil consists of hydrophilic minerals such as montmorillonite and illite, the maximum suction will be lower than 10⁶ kPa. Finally, using the area of hysteresis to quantify the degree of hysteresis at a high suction range is proposed. There was a good correlation between the area of hydraulic hysteresis and the specific surface area.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.587-609
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• 2019

Short-and long-term stabilities of bentonite, favored material as buffer in geological repositories for high-level waste were reviewed in this paper in addition to alternative design concepts of buffer to mitigate the thermal load from decay heat of SF (Spent Fuel) and further increase the disposal efficiency. It is generally reported that the irreversible changes in structure, hydraulic behavior, and swelling capacity are produced due to temperature increase and vapor flow between $150{\sim}250^{\circ}C$. Provided that the maximum temperature of bentonite is less than $150^{\circ}C$, however, the effects of temperature on the material, structural, and mineralogical stability seems to be minor. The maximum temperature in disposal system will constrain and determine the amount of waste to be disposed per unit area and be regarded as an important design parameter influencing the availability of disposal site. Thus, it is necessary to identify the effects of high temperature on the performance of buffer and allow for the thermal constraint greater than $100^{\circ}C$. In addition, the development of high-performance EBS (Engineered Barrier System) such as composite bentonite buffer mixed with graphite or silica and multi-layered buffer (i.e., highly thermal-conductive layer or insulating layer) should be taken into account to enhance the disposal efficiency in parallel with the development of multilayer repository. This will contribute to increase of reliability and securing the acceptance of the people with regard to a high-level waste disposal.