• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.167-215
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• 1971

I. Purpose and Importance of the Study The purpose of the present study is to clarify to geological, mineralogical, and physico-chemical properties of the clay minerals deposits imbedded in the Tertiary sediments in the areas between. Pohang and Ulsan along southeastern coastal region of Korea. These clays are being mined and utilized for filter and insecticide after activation or simple pulverizing, nontheless activated clays are short coming as chemical industry in Korea has been rapidly grown in recent years. In spite of such increase in clay demand, no goological investigation on clay deposits nor physico-chemical properties of the clays have been carried out up to date. Consequently activated clays produced in Korea is not only of low grade but also of shortage in supply, so that Korea has to import activated clays of better grade. The importance of the present study lies, therefore, on that guiding principle could be laid down by knowing stratigraphical horizons, of clay deposits and fundamental data of improving grade of activated clays might be derived from the results of physico-chemical examinations. II. Contents and Scope of the study The contents of the study are pinpointed down in the following two subjects: 1) General geological investigation of Tertiary formations distributed in the areas between Pohang and UIsan, and detail geological study of the bentonitic clay deposits imbedded in them. 2) To clarifty physico-chemical characteristics of the clays by means of chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction and electron microscope. The scope of the study involves the following there points: i) Regional geological investigation-This investigation has been carried out in order to find out the distribution of Tertiary sediments and exact location of clay mineral deposits in the areas between Pohang and UIsan. ii) Detail geological investigation-This has been concentrated in and around the clay deposits which. had been found out by the regional investigation. iii) Laboratory researchs include i) age determination and correlation of Tertiary sediments by paleontological study, and ii) Chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopic studies on clays, samples taken from various clay deposits. III. Research Results and Suggestions 1) The geology of the area investigated is composed mainly of Janggi and Beomgokri groups of Miocene age in ascending order rested on the upper Silla system, Balkuksa granite and volcanic rocks of upper Cretaceous age as base. 2) Janggi group is composed in ascending order of Janggi conglomerate, Nultaeri rhyolitic tuff, Keumkwangdong shale, two beds of lignite-bearing formations which consist of alternation of conglomerate, sandstone and mudstone, and andesitic, rhyolitic, and basaltic tuff beds. 3) Beomgokri group is mainly composed of andesitic to rhyolitic tuff interlayered by conglomerate and tuffaceous sandstone. In the areas around boundary between North-and South Kyeongsang-do is distributed Haseori farmation which is composed of conglomerate, sandstone, mudstone and andesitic to rhyolitic tuff, and which is correlated to Eoilri formation of Janggi group. 4) Clay deposits of the area are interbedded in Eoilri, Haseori, Nultaeri tuff, Keumkwangdong shale, upper and lower horizon of the lower lignite-bearing seam, and Keumori rhyolitic tuff formations of Janggi group; and are genetically classi.fied into four categories, that is, i) those derived from volcanic ash beds(Haseori and Daeanri deposits), ii) those of secondary residual type from rhyolitic tuff beds(Seokupri deposits), iii) Clay beds above and beneath the lignite seams, (Janggi and Keumkwangdong deposits), and iv) those derived from rhyolitic tuff beds(Sangjeong and Tonghae deposits). 5) Mineral constituents of clay deposits are, according to X-ray diffraction, montmorillonite accompanied in different degree by cristobalite, plagioclase, quartz, stilbite, and halloysite in rare occasion. The clays are grouped according to mineral composition into four types; i) those consist mostly of montmorillonite, ii) those composed of montmorillonite and cristobalite, iii) those composed of montmorillonite and plagioclase, and iv) those composed of montmorillonite, plagioclase and quartz. 6) Clays interbedded in Haseori formation and vicinity of lignite seams belong to the first type, are of good quality and derived either from volcanic ash bed, or primary clay beds near lignite seams. Clays belonged to other types are derived from weathering of rhyolitic tuff formations and their quality varies depending upon original composition and degree of weathering. Few clays in secondary residual type contain small amount of halloysite. 7) Judging from analytical data, content of silica($SiO_2$) varies proportionally with content of cristobalite, and alumina($Al_2O_3$) content does not vary with that of plagioclase, but increases in the sedimentary bedded type of deposits. 8) It is unknown whether or not these days could be upgraded by beneficiation since no grain size of these impurities nor beneficiation test had been studied. 9) Clay beds derived from valcanic ash layers or sedimentary layers at the vicinity of lignite seams are thin in thickness and of small, discontinueous lenticular shape, although they are of good quality; and those derived from rhyolitic tuff formations or residual type from tuff are irregular in both occurrence and quality. It is, therefore, not only very difficult but also meaningless to calculate its reserve, and reserve estimation, even if done, will greatly be deviated from practically minable one. Consequently, way of discovery and exploitation of clay deposits in the area under consideration is to check the geologically favorable areas whenever needed.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.25-38
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• 2001

Contrasts in the style of the gold-silver mineralization in geologic and tectonic settings in Korea, together with radiometric age data, reflect the genetically different nature of hydrothermal activities, coinciding with the emplacement age and depth of Mesozoic magmatic activities. It represents a clear distinction between the plutonic settings of the Jurassic Daebo orogeny and the subvolcanic environments of the Cretaceous Bulgugsa igneous activities. During the Daebo igneous activities (about 200-130 Ma) coincident with orogenic time, gold mineralization took place between 197 and 127 Ma. The Jurassic deposits commonly show several characteristics: prominent association with pegmatites, low Ag/Au ratios in the ore-concentrating parts, massive vein morphology and a distinctively simple mineralogy including Fe-rich sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, Au-rich eIectrum. pyrrhotite and/or pyrite. During the Bulgugsa igneous activities (120-60 Ma), the precious-metal deposits are generally characterized by such features as complex vein morphology, medium to high AgiAu ratios in the ore concentrates, and abundance of ore minerals including base-metal sulfides, Ag sulfides, native silver, Ag sulfosalts and Ag tellurides. Vein morphology, mineralogical, fluid inclusion and stable isotope results indicate the diverse genetic natures of hydrothermal systems. The Jurassic Au-dominant deposits were formed at the relatively high temperature (about 300 to 450$^{\circ}$C) and deep-crustal level (>3.0 kb) from the hydrothermal fluids containing more amounts of magmatic waters (3180; 5-10 %0). It can be explained by the dominant ore-depositing mechanisms as CO2 boiling and sulfidation, suggestive of hypo/mesothermal environments. In contrast, mineralization of the Cretaceous Au-Ag type (108-71 Ma) and Agdominant type (98-71 Ma) occurred at relatively low temperature (about 200 to 350$^{\circ}$C) and shallow-crustal level «1.0 kb) from the ore-fonning fluids containing more amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters (15180; -10-5%0). These characteristics of the Cretaceous precious-metal deposits can be attributed to the complexities in the ore-precipitating mechanisms (mixing, boiling, cooling), suggestive of epilmesothermal environments. Therefore, the differences of the emplacement depth between the Daebo and the Bulgugsa igneous activities directly influence the unique temporal and spatial association of the deposit type.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2014

The objectives of this study were to characterize the physicochemical properties and mineralogy of Hwangto (yellow residual soils) from the southwestern part of Korea and to understand the soil-forming processes of the residual soils from their parent rocks. Both the yellowish residual soils as well as the unweathered and weathered parent rocks were obtained from Jangdong-ri, Donggang-myun, Naju, Jeollanam-do, Korea. The soil samples were examined to analyze the said soil's physicochemical properties such as color, pH, and particle size distribution. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were performed in order to understand the mineralogy, chemical composition, and morphology of the soils. Two thin sections of a parent rock were analyzed to study its mineral composition. A particle size analysis of the soils indicates that the residual soil consists of mainly silt and clay (approximately 95%) and that soil textures are silty clay or silt clay loam. The soil colors of the residual soil are dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) through yellowish red (5YR 4/6). The pH of the residual soil ranges from 4.3 to 5.1. The major minerals of the parent rocks were quartz, biotite, chlorite, and plagioclase. The mineralogy of the sand fraction of the residual soil was quartz, biotite, muscovite and sanidine. The mineralogy of the silt fraction of the residual soil was quartz, biotite, muscovite, Na-feldspar, K-feldspar, and sanidine. The clay mineralogy of the soil was goethite, kaolinite, ilite, hydroxy-interlayed vermiculite(HIV), vermiculite, mica, K-feldspar and quartz. The mineral composition of the residual soil and the parent rock indicates that feldspar and mica in the parent rock weathered into illite, vermiculite and hydroxy-interlayed vermiculite(HIV), and finally changed into kaolinite and halloysite in the yellowish residual soils.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1992

Sand and silt size fractions of soils which were derived from five major rocks of granite, granite-geniss, limestone, shale, and basalt in Korea were studied. Determination of the mineralogical and chemical composition of rock-forming mineral breakdown which is accompanied by the formation of secondary minerals. The chemical composition of the fraction was largely changed with the content of weatherable and resistant soil minerals such as ferromagenesian minerals, carbonates, and guartz. In the sand fractions of the soils from the granite and granite-gneiss, chlorite-vermiculite mixed layers seem to be an intermediate weathering product prior to the weathering state of the formation of vermiculite from chlorite. Kaolin minerals in the silt fractions of the soils from the granite-gneiss are considered to be formed by the pseudomorphic transformation of plagioclase. In the sand and silt fractions of the soils derived from the limestone, large amount of calcite and dolomite seems to have been inherited from the parent rocks. The primary chloritc, micas, and feldspars are considered to be formed from the weathering remains after leaching of carbonate minerals during the soil formation. In the residual soils(Gueom series) developed from the basalt, quartz and micas were coexisted with plagioclase and augite inherited from the parent rock.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 1993

This research aims to investigate some respects of chemical weathering processes, espcially the amount of solute leaching, formation of clay minerals, and the chemical weathering rate of granite rocks under present climatic conditions. For this purpose, I investigated geochemical mass balance in a small catchment and the mineralogical composition of weathered bedrocks including clay mineral assemblages at four res-pective sites along one slope. The geochemical mass blance for major elements of rock forming minerals was calculated from precipitation and streamwater data which are measured every week for one year. The study area is a climatically and litholo-gically homogeneous small catchment($3.62Km^2$)in Anyang-shi, Kyounggi-do, Korea. The be-drock of this area id Anyang Granite which is composed of coarse-giained, pink-colored miner-als. Main rock forming minerals are quartz, K-Feldspar, albite, and muscovite. One of the chracteristics of this granite rock is that its amount of Ca and Mg is much lower than other granite rock. The leaching pattern in the weathering profiles is in close reltion to the geochemical mass balance. Therefore the removal or accumulation of dissolved materials shows weathering patterns of granite in the Korean peninsula. Oversupplied ions into the drainage basin were $H^+$, $K^+$, Fe, and Mn, whereas $Na^2+$, $Mg^2+$, $Ca^2+$, Si, Al and $HCO-3^{-}$ were removed from the basin by the stream. The consumption of hydrogen ion in the catchment implies the hydrolysis of minerals. The surplus of $K^+$ reflects that vegetation is in the aggravation stage, and the nutrient cycle of the forest in study area did not reach a stable state. And it can be also presumed that the accumulation of $K^+$ in the top soil is related to the surplus of $K^+$. Oversupplied Fe and Mn were presumed to accumulate in soil by forming metallic oxide and hydroxide. In the opposite, the removal of $Na^+$, Si, Al resulted from the chemical weathering of albite and biotite, and the amount of removal of $Na^+$, Si, Al reflected the weathering rate of the bedrock. But $Ca^2+$ and $Mg^2+$ in stream water were contaminated by the scattered calcareous structures over the surface. Kaolinite is a stable clay mineral under the present environment by the thermodynamical analysis of the hydrogeochemical data and Tardy's Re value. But this result was quite different from the real assemblage of clay miner-als in soil and weathered bedrock. This differ-ence can be explained by the microenvironment in the weathering profile and the seasonal variation of climatic factors. There are different clay forming environments in the stydy area and these differences originate from the seasonal variation of climate, especially the flushing rate in the weathering profile. As it can be known from the results of the analysis of thermodynamic stability and characteristics of geochemical mas balance, the climate during winter and fall, when it is characterized by the low flushing rate and high solute influx, shows the environmental characteristics to from 2:1 clay minerals, such as illite, smectite, vermiculite and mixed layer clay minerals which are formed by neoformation or transformation from the primary or secondary minerals. During the summer and spring periods, kaoli-nite is a stable forming mineral. However it should consider that the other clay minerals can transformed into kaolinite or other clay minerals, because these periods have a high flushing rte and temperature. Materials which are directly regulated by chemical weathering in the weathered bedrock are $Na^+$, Si, and Al. The leaching of Al is, however, highly restricted and used to form a clay mineral, and that of Si falls under the same category. $Na^+$ is not taked up by growing veget ation, and fixed in the weathering profile by forming secondary minerals. Therefore the budget of $Na^+$ is a good indicator for the chemical weathering rate in the study area. The amount of chemical weathering of granite rocks was about 31.31g/$m^2+$/year based on $Na^+$ estimation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.27-38
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• 2003

Arsenic contamination around Au-Ag mining areas occurs mainly from the oxidation of arsenopyrite which is frequently contained in mine tailings. In weathered tailings, oxidation of sulfide minerals typically results in the formation of abundant ferric (oxy)hydroxides or (oxy)hydroxysulfates near the tailings surface, and arsenic may be associated with these secondary precipitates. In this study, solid phases of arsenic in weathered tailings of some Au-Ag mines were investigated through the SEM/EDS and sequential extraction analyses. The stability of As solid phases and the leaching potential were assessed with the variation of pH and Eh conditions. Oxidation of sulfides in the tailings samples was indicated by depletion of S molar concentrations compared to As and heavy metals. Under XRD examinations, jarosite as an Fe-oxyhydroxysulfate was found in the tailings of Deokeum, Dongil and Dadeok, and scorodite as an As-bearing crystalline mineral was identified from Dadeok which has the highest concentration of As (4.36 wt.%). Beudantite-like phases and some Pb-arsenates were also found under SEM/EDS analysis, and most of As phases were associated with Fe-(oxy)hydroxides and (oxy)hydroxysulfates despite a few arsenopyrite from Samgwang and Gubong. Sequential extraction analysis also showed that As was present predominantly as coprecipitated with Fe hydroxides from Dongil, Dadeok and Myungbong (72∼99%), and as sulfides (58%) and Fe hydroxide-associated forms (40%) from Samgwang and Gubong. In the tailings leaching experiment, As was released with high amounts by the dissolution of As-bearing Fe(oxy)hydroxysulfates in the lowest pH (2.7) conditions of Deokeum, and by desorption under alkaline conditions of Samgwang and Gubong. Higher leaching rates of arsenite(+3) were found under acidic conditions, which pose a higher risk to water quality. Changes in pH and Eh conditions coupled with microbial processes could influence the stabilities of the As solid phases, and thus, time amendments or landfilling of weathered tailings may result in enhanced As mobilization.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.63-79
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• 2008

Physicochemical characteristics of stream water, leachate, mine water and groundwater were investigated to estimate the influences of the tailing and waste rock from the abandoned Uljin mine area. Total extraction analysis and mineralogical studies were carried out to understand sulfide weathering and to determine the distributions of trace elements in the soil affected by mine waste (tailing, waste rock and leachate). The pH and EC value of the leachate from the tailing disposal ranged 2.9-6.0, $99{\sim}3,990{\mu}S/cm$, respectively, and the concentrations of dissolved major (up to 492 mg/l Ca; 83.8 mg/l Mg; 45.2 mg/l Na; 44.7 mg/l K, 50.8 mg/l Si) and trace elements (up to $826,060{\mu}g/l$ Fe; $131,230{\mu}g/l$ Mn; $333,600{\mu}g/l$ Al; $61,340{\mu}g/l$ Zn; $2,530{\mu}g/l$ Cu; $573{\mu}g/l$ Cd; $476{\mu}g/l$ Pb) were relatively high. The stream water showed the variation of dissolved metal concentrations in seasonally and spatially. The dissolved metal contents of the stream water increased by influx the leachate from the tailing disposal, but these of the down stream have been considerably decreased by mixing of dilute tributaries. The dissolved metal concentrations of the stream water at dry season (as February) were lower than these at rainy season (as May and July). These represent that the amounts of the leachate varied with season. However, stream water could not be effectively diluted by confluence with uncontaminated tributaries, because the flux of tributaries and streams reduced at dry season. Thus attenuations by dilution had been dominantly happened in rainy seasons. The order of accumulations of trace element in soils compared with background values revealed Mn>Fe>Pb>Cu>Zn. Sulfide minerals were mainly pyrrhotite, sphalerite and galena and chalcopyrite. Pyrrhotite was rapidly weathered along the edge and fractures, and results in the formation of Fe-(oxy)hydroxides, which absorbed a little amount of Zn.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.199-204
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• 1987

This study was conducted to verify the identity and the effects on soil improvements by the application of Barley stone which has been recently named as miraculous mineral on account of being propagandized as health stone because of several special effect of medicine, the supplement of micronutrients for agriculture, prevention against diseases and insects of plant, and the increase of nutrient holding capacity of soil. The results were summarized as follows; 1. Barley stone is considered as Diabase Porphyrite by the analysis of X-ray Diffraction, chemical composition and microspore's observation. This mineral stone called as Barley stone has been deducted because of being seen as if the feature was attatched with cooked barley and appearently scattered about feldspar's phenocryst on the dark-green stone base. 2. In chemical characteristics of barley stone, the pH 8.7 was higher but C.E.C. 9.0 me/100g was lower then those of other clay minerals such as Bentonite and Zeolite, and so barley stone material was not considered suitable for improvement of sandy loam soil. 3. Effects of Bentonite and Zeolite application on yield of paddy rice were 108-109% compare to non-treated plot, but Barley stone has not increased rice yield. Notwithstanding the increase of application of barely stone to 5 ton per 10a, the yield increase was not significantly showing only 102-103% and the effects of Peanut, hot pepper and chinese cabbage were not recognized either.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.301-306
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• 2005

Asian dust was collected in Korea and soils in the arid area of northern China were analysed for its physical and chemical properties, and mineral compositions for in order to interpret the origin of Aeolian soils and estimate the effect of dust wind on the soil environment in Korea. Asian dust was collected at Suwon in Korea from 2002 to 2004. Soil samples were collected from the desert and Loess plateaus around Gobi desert in China. As a result of analysis of desert soil distributed on northern region and Loess soils in China, it was observed that soil pH was about 9, organic matter 11 to $23g\;kg^{-1}$, and CEC 7.1 to $18.4cmolc\;kg^{-1}$, showing a high spatial variation among different sampling locations. About 62 to 80% of particles were composed of quartz and feldspars, 2 to 14% calcite ($CaCO_3$) and dolomite [$Ca{\cdot}Mg(CO_3)_2$], and trace other clay minerals. All the dust particles in Korea were below 50 m in diameter, and the mineral compositions were quartz, mica, feldspar and some clay minerals. Major components of clay mineral of Asian dust was mainly illite as compared to the kaolin of soils in Korea. The base saturation of exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and Na in the Asian dust was above 250% due to the high content calcite. Most of upland soil in Suwon was thin and sharp type, but Asian dust in Korea was the spherical shape. Asian dusts in Suwon, Korea, did not show a definite mineralogical variation of the dust during the collection period. Difference between the Asian dust collected in Korea and the soils in arid area of China was observed in the physical and chemical properties, especially for particle size distribution, cations such as Ca, Mg, K and Na. However, some similarities were found on the mineral compositions and chemical properties between Asian dust collected in Korea and the loess of China.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.132-147
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• 1989

A total of 83 surface sediments and 55 sea water samples, collected from the southwestern sea of Cheju Island, were analyzed in order to understand their textural characteristics, geochemical composition and the clay mineralogical features. The sediments were subdivided into ten textural classes, namely clayey sand, slightly gravelly muddy sand, sandy clay, clay and mud. The coarse and fine-grained mixed sediments are distributed in the northern part and around the Island, whereas the fine-grained deposits are mainly distributed in the central and southern parts of the study area; small scale mud patches are distributed in the southwestern and northern parts of Cheju Island. The high concentration of total suspended matter in study area gradually increase toward the southwestern and northwestern offshore area. The concentration of geochemical elements is as follow: the content of Mn, Al, Zn, Cr, Cu and Sn increase toward the southern part which is covered mainly with fine-grained deoposits, whereas the content of Ca, Mg and Ag is higher in the northern area; the elements such as Ni, Na, Fe and Pb are more concentrated relatively in muddy deposits rather than in sandy sediments. The light minerals such as Na-Ca feldspars show a high content around the Socotra Rock, toward the Soheugsan and Cheju Islands, but the K-feldspars are relatively high around the Cheju Island. It was noticed that the provenance of these sediments is partly influenced by the geological characteristics near the island. X-ray diffractogram for clay minerals from the southeastern mud patch and around the Soheugsan Island shows the diagnostic calcite peak indicating that the greater part of these clay fraction may have been derived from present and ancient Hwangho River. The high concentration of smectite in the northern part near the Cheju and around the Soheugsan Islands, eastern side of Socotra Rock probably result from supplies smectite altered from volcanic materials distributed in the Cheju Island and Socotra Rock, whereas the samples near the Chuja and northern parts of the Cheju Island contain weak calcite peak and high concentration of kaolinite and chlorite which is closely related to the geolgical characteristics on the adjacenting land area.