• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2012

The 1M and $2M_1$ stacking sequences are the most frequently encountered in the illite species among the possible 6 polytypes. The $1M_d$, derived from the 1M polytype which exhibits a variable degree of disorder in the stacking sequence, is also observed in illite samples. In this paper, the author introduces and reviews the theoretical background of the quantitative analysis method of illite polytypes, and considers the possibility to determine the fault age and its reactivation age using K/Ar age-dating based on the quantification of illite polytypes in the fault system. For the increase of the accuracy and precision of the illite age analysis method, the occurrence, identification, and mineralogical characterization of illite polytypes should be defined in detail. The broadening effect of (hkl) reflections, due to disordering of 1M polytype and the presence of I/S minerals with expandability, are also considered as the main parameters controlling the quantification of illite polytypes using the WILDFIRE(C)simulation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

We proposed the revised full-pattern-fitting method of illite polytype quantification with background correction and scale factor correction of WILDFIRE(C) simulated pattern, and R% value ((${\sum}$|simulated-measured|/simulated)/ $n{\times}100$) calculation, and then verified the reliability of this method by applying for the test sample ($2M_1$:1M$$\frac{._-}{.}$$1:1), and by comparing the result with Grathoff and Moore method (1996). We confirmed that the proposed method showed the error range of less than 3.6%, which is much lower than the previous full-pattern-fitting methods, in spite of the impurities of the test sample. In the comparison with Grathoff and Moore method for 2 tested samples, we obtained the relatively higher $2M_1$ contents using Grathoff and Moore method, whereas we obtained the reliable results with less than 10% of R% values.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2014

Recently developed illite-age-analysis (IAA) approach has been applied to determine the multiple events for the Singal and Wangsukcheon faults in the Chugaryeong fault belt, Korea. Fault reactivated events during Late Cretaceous to Paleogene events($69.2{\pm}0.3$ Ma and $27.2{\pm}0.5$ Ma) for the Singal fault and of $75.4{\pm}0.8$ Ma for the Wangsukcheon fault were determined by combined approach of the optimized illite-polytype quantification and the K-Ar age-dating of clay fractions separated from the fault clays. These absolute geochronological determinations of the multiple tectonic events recorded in the Chugaryeong fault belt are crucial to establish the tectonic evolution of the Korean Peninsula since Late Cretaceous.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2016

Here we firstly present that a timing of reactivated event of Yangsan fault, the major fault in the southeastern Korean Peninsula, by using combined approaches of the optimized illite-polytype quantification, the K-Ar age-dating, and the recently developed illite-age-analysis (IAA) approach for the fault clays from Sangcheon-ri area of Yangsan main fault line. Two chronological record of brittle fault-activation event at about 41.5~43.5 and 50.7 Ma were determined from 3 fault gouges suggesting a crucial reactivation time-scheme. Furthermore, the regional processes that drive tectonics to form and reactivate the Yangsan fault may be explained from the chronological analysis for additional sites along the Yangsan fault.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2017

Here we present the timings of reactivated events from a fault in the northern Pohang area, which should be located at the northern-end of Yangsan fault line, the major fault in the southeastern Korean Peninsula. Recently developed illite-age-analysis (IAA) approach was employed for determining the fault-activated timing, combined with illite-polytype quantification using the optimized full-pattern-fitting (FPF) method, and K-Ar age-dating for each size fraction($<0.1{\mu}m$, $0.1-0.4{\mu}m$, and $0.4-1.0{\mu}m$) of 4 fault clay samples. Two chronological records of brittle fault-activation events were recognized at $19.6{\pm}1.86Ma$ and $26.1{\pm}2.55-27.9{\pm}3.46Ma$. The ages are much younger than those of fault clays from Sangcheon-ri area (41.5~43.5 and 50.7 Ma), the southern part of Yangsan fault line, and are close to the timing of East Sea-opening event. Further chronological analysis for additional sites of the Yangsan fault should be needed to reveal the time-scheme of the tectonic events and their spatial distributions along the fault line.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.645-654
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• 2020

We present the K-Ar age dating results of <0.1㎛ fraction of the selected fault rocks from the Yangsan fault in the Yeonghae area. Based on the mineralogical characterization, the <0.1㎛ fractions were mostly composed of 1Md illite polytype, or I-S interstratified mineral, which should be formed by fault activation. Therefore, we determined the timings of fault activation events by analyzing K-Ar age-dating for the <0.1㎛ fractions. Accordingly, the activation timings of Yangsan Fault in the Yeonghae area were determined as 45.5±1.1 Ma, 50.9±1.2 Ma, 58.2±1.3 Ma, 60.8±1.4 Ma, 65.3±1.6 Ma, 66.8±1.5 Ma, 67.1±1.5 Ma, and 75.1±1.7 Ma. These results indicate that at least 5-times of major fault events occurred in the Yangsan fault from late Mesozoic to Cenozoic Era. In the outcrop, age dating results tend to be younger age from the location of the oldest sample(75.1±1.7 Ma) toward to the both sides. From the results, it suggests that the fault activation extends from the location of oldest age saple to both sides. This geochronological research of the multiple fault activation ages for the Yangsan Fault will provide crucial information for establishing the tectonic evolution model in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula.