• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.315-336
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• 2009

We have studied the orientational characteristics of microcrack frequency, it's length and density in Tertiary crystalline tuff from the northeastern part of the Gyeongsang Basin. 134 sets of microcracks on horizontal surfaces of 3 rock samples from Heunghae-eup were distinguished by enlarged photomicrographs of the thin sections. The variability in patterns among microcrack length-frequency histograms for three rock samples from different altitudes were derived. The pattern of histograms changes progressively from negative exponential form to log-normal form in proportion to altitude. The distribution pattern for rock sample no.1 from lower altitude shows the broad length distribution characterized by higher mean and median, and higher standard deviation. Meanwhile, this distribution pattern corresponds with characteristics of joint length distribution in sedimentary rocks of the lower part of the Gyeongsang Supergroup. The occurrence frequency of shorter microcracks increases toward both NW and NE directions from the $N0{\sim}10^{\circ}W$, with the dominant direction of $N80{\sim}90^{\circ}W$ and $N80{\sim}90^{\circ}E$, respectively. This distribution pattern represents the relative differences in formation timing among microcrack sets and the result of the new initiation of shorter microcracks. Meanwhile, the longest microcracks within $N60{\sim}70^{\circ}W$($L_{max}$:1.18 mm) and $N0{\sim}10^{\circ}W$($L_{max}$:0.80 mm) directions are seen, but this kind of microcracks are very limited in number. Whole domain of the directional angle($\theta$)-frequency(N), length(L) and density($\rho$) chart can be divided into five sections in terms of phases of the distribution of related curves. From the distribution chart, density curve shows five distinct peaks in the WNW-ESE($N70{\sim}80^{\circ}W$), NS~NNE-SSW($N0{\sim}10^{\circ}W$, $N10{\sim}20^{\circ}E$), ENE-WSW($N50{\sim}60^{\circ}E$), and nearly EW($N80{\sim}90^{\circ}E$) directions, respectively. Especially, main directions of faults correspond with the directional angle showing high density. Consequently, these distribution patterns of density curve reflect the representative maximum principal stress orientations suggested in previous studies.