• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.249-267
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• 2016

The Hongseong area of the central-western Korean Peninsula is considered to be a part of collision zone that is tectonically correlated to the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu belt of China. The area includes the elliptical-shaped serpentinized ultramafic bodies, together with mafic rocks. The studied bodies are in contact with the surrounded Neoproterozoic alkali granites at the Baekdong and Wonnojeon bodies and the Paleoproterozoic Yugu gneiss at the Bibong body. The Baekdong body contains the blocks of the Neoproterozoic alkali granites and the Late Paleozoic metabasites. The Bibong body also includes the Neoproterozoic alkali granite blocks. The Mesozoic intrusive rocks are also recognized at the Baekdong, Wonnojeon and Bibong bodies. On the other hand, the Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks are occurred at the Bibong body. The detrital zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages of the serpentinites at three bodies range variously from Neoarchean to Middle Paleozoic at the Baekdong body, and from Neoarchean to Early Cretaceous at the Wonnojeon and Bibong bodies. Although serpentinization does not generally produce minerals suitable for direct isotopic dating, the youngest Middle Paleozoic age at the Baekdong body and the Early Cretaceous age at the Wonnojeon and Bibong bodies indicate the possible upper age limit for the (re)serpentinization. Especially, the Early Cretaceous serpentinization ages may be related to the widespread Early Cretaceous igneous activity in the central-southern Korean Peninsula. Age results for the serpentinite bodies and the included blocks of the studied serpentinized ultramafic bodies in the Hongseong area, therefore, provide several possible interpretations for the serpentinization ages of the ultramafic rocks as well as the geotectonic implications of serpentinization, requiring more detailed study including other serpentinized ultramafic bodies in the Hongseong area.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.153-171
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• 2018

This study focuses on the investigation of geologic distribution and stratigraphy in the eastern part of Yeongdeok-gun, based on Lidar imaging, detailed field survey, microscopic observations, SHRIMP and LA-MC-ICPMS U-Pb age dating, and a new geological map has been created. The stratigraphy of the study area is composed of the Paleoproterozoic metamorphic rocks consisting of banded gneisses of sedimentary origin and schists ($1841.5{\pm}9.6Ma$) of volcanic origin, Triassic Yeongdeok plutonic rocks ($249.1{\pm}2.3Ma$) and Pinkish granites ($242.4{\pm}2.4Ma$), Jurassic Changpo plutonic rocks ($193.2{\pm}1.9Ma{\sim}188.8{\pm}2.0Ma$) and Fine-grained granites ($192.9{\pm}1.7Ma$), Formations [Gyeongjeongdong Fm, Ullyeonsan Fm. (~108 Ma), Donghwachi Fm.] of the Early Cretaceous Gyeongsang Supergroup and acidic volcanic rocks and dykes erupted and intruded in the Late Cretaceous, Miocene intrusive rhyolitic tuffs ($23.1{\pm}0.2Ma{\sim}22.97{\pm}0.13Ma$) and sedimentary rocks of the Yeonghae basin, and the Quaternary sediments. The Triassic Pinkish granites, Jurassic Changpo plutonic rocks and Fine-grained granites are newly defined plutonic rocks in this study. Miocene intrusive rhyolitic tuffs bounded by the Yangsan Fault, which was first discovered in the north of Pohang city, are believed to play an important role in the understanding of the Miocene volcanic activity and the crustal deformation history on the Korean Peninsula. It is confirmed that The NNE-SSW-striking Yangsan Fault penetrating the central part of the study area and branch faults are predominant in the dextral movement and cutting all strata except the Quaternary sediments.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.109-122
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• 2011

The major Mo deposits in South Korea were formed during the Jurassic Daebo orogeny, the Late Cretaceous and the Tertiary post-orogenic igneous activities, and are characterized by a variety of genetic types such as pegmatite, greisen, skarn, porphyry and vein types. The Jangsu mine is a pegmatite-style deposit which is genetically related to the Jurassic ilmenite-series two-mica granite with the Mo mineralization age of $159.6{\pm}4.5$ Ma. The Geumseong mine occurs as a skarn/porphyry-style deposit associated with highly fractionated granite. Its age of Mo mineralization within aplitic cupola is about 96.5~l07.5 Ma. The Yeonil mine is a porphyry-style deposit, and the Geumeum mine is a veinlet-style deposit along the fracture zone with their mineralization ages of $58.4{\pm}1.6$ and $54.4{\pm}1.2$ Ma, respectively. The contrasts in the style of Mo mineralization in Korea reflect the different environment of the related magmatism. The Jurassic mineralization, being related to deep-seated granitoids, occurs as a pegmatite-style deposit, whereas the Cretaceous one, being related to subvolcanic granitoids, occurs as skarn/porphyry/vein-type ore deposits. The Tertiary Mo mineralization has a close relationship with the igneous activities associated with the Tertiary basin formation along the east coast, Korean peninsular.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

The Unsang gold deposit has been one of the three largest deposits (Daeyudong, Kwangyang) in Korea. The geology of this deposit consists of series of host rocks including Precambrian metasedimentary rock and Jurassic Porphyritic granite. The deposit consists of Au-bearing quartz veins which filled fractures along fault zones in Precambrian metasedimentary rock and Jurassic Porphyritic granite, which suggests that it is an orogenic-type deposit. Quartz veins are classified as 1) galena-quartz vein type, 2) pyrrhotite-quartz vein type, 3) pyrite-quartz vein type, 4) pegmatic quartz vein type, 5) muscovite-quartz vein type and 6) simple quartz vein type based on mineral assembles. The studied quartz vein is pyrite-quartz vein type which occurs as sericitization, chloritization and silicification. The white mica from stylolitic seams of laminated quartz vein occurs as fine or medium aggregate associated with white quartz, pyrite, chlorite, rutile, monazite, apatite, K-feldspar, zircon and calcite. The structural formular of white mica from laminated quartz vein is (K0.98-0.86Na0.02-0.00Ca0.01-0.00Ba0.01-0.00 Sr0.00)1.00-0.88(Al1.70-1.57Mg0.22-0.09Fe0.23-0.10Mn0.00Ti0.04-0.02Cr0.01-0.00V0.00Ni0.00)2.06-1.95 (Si3.38-3.17Al0.83-0.62)4.00O10(OH2.00-1.91F0.09-0.00)2.00. It indicated that white mica of laminated quartz vein has less K, Na and Ca, and more Si than theoretical dioctahedral micas. Compositional variations in white mica from laminated quartz vein are caused by phengitic or Tschermark substitution [(Al3+)VI+(Al3+)IV <-> (Fe2+ or Mg2+)VI+(Si4+)IV] and direct (Fe3+)VI <-> (Al3+)VI substitution. The structural formular of chlorite from laminated quartz vein is((Mg1.11-0.80Fe3.69-3.14Mn0.01-0.00Zn0.01-0.00K0.07-0.01Na0.01-0.00Ca0.04-0.01Al1.66-1.09)5.75-5.69 (Si3.49-2.96Al1.04-0.51)4.00O10 (OH)8. It indicated that chlorite of laminated quartz vein has more Si than theoretical chlorite. Compositional variations in chlorite from laminated quartz vein are caused by phengitic or Tschermark substitution (Al3+,VI+Al3+,IV <-> (Fe2+ or Mg2+)VI+(Si4+)IV) and octahedral Fe2+ <-> Mg2+ (Mn2+) substitution. Therefore, laminated quartz vein and alteration minerals of the Unsan Au deposit was formed during ductile shear stage of orogeny.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.40 no.1 s.106
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• pp.126-152
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• 2005

In recent years, there are some confusions related to the definition and existence of mountain ranges, which have been described in current geography text books. We contend that these confusions came from the lack of understanding on the geomorphological processes that form the mountain system in Korea. This research attempts to clarify the definition of mountain ranges and offer geological and geomorphological explanations about the formation of them. Based on the analyses of the social and cultural causes underlying the recent debates on the existence of mountain ranges, we tried to identify the relationships among the definition of mountain ranges, geological structure of Korea, and the forming processes of mountain ranges. The current and past mountain range maps were compared with geological structures, geological maps, surface curvature, and hill shade maps. The latter two maps were derived from a Digital Elevation Model of the Korean Peninsular. The results show that we are able to prove the existence of most mountain ranges, which provides a useful framework to understand the geological evolution of Korean peninsular and formation of mountainous landscape of Korea. In terms of their morphological continuity and genesis, however, we identified five different categories of mountain ranges: 1) Uplift mountain ranges(Hamkyeong Sanmaek, Nangrim Sanmaek, Taebaek Sanmaek), which were formed by the uplift processes of the Korean Peninsular during the Tertiary; 2) Falut mountain ranges(Macheonryeong Sanmaek, Sobaek Sanmaek, Buksubaek Sanmaek), whirh were directly related to the uplift processes of the Korean Peninsular during the Tertiary; 3) Trust mountain ranges(Jekyouryeong Sanmaek, Kwangju Sanmaek, Charyeong Sanmaek, Noryeong Sanmaek), which were formed by the intrusion of granite and consequent orogenic processes during the Mesozoic era; 4) Drainage divide type mountain ranges, which were formed by the erosion processes after the uplift of Korean Peninsular; 5) Cross-drainage basin type mountain ranges (Kangnam Sanmaek, Eunjin Sanmaek, Myelak sanmaek), which were also formed by the erosion processes, but the mountain ranges cross several drainage basins as connecting mountains laterally We believe that the current social confusions related to the existence of mountain ranges has partly been caused by the vague definition of mountain ranges and the diversity of the forming processes. In order to overcome theses confusions, it is necessary to characterize the types of them according the genesis, the purpose of usages and also the scale of maps which will explains the mountain systems. It is also necessary to provide appropriate educational materials to increase the general public's awareness and understanding of geomorphological processes.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.235-254
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• 2017

We investigate the geological history that formed geology and landscapes of the Juwangsan National Park and its surrounding areas. The Juwangsan area is composed of Precambrian gneisses, Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks, Permian to Triassic plutonic rocks, Early Mesozoic sedimentary rocks, Late Mesozoic plutonic and volcanic rocks, Cenozoic Tertiary rhyolites and Quaternary taluses. The Precambrian gneisses and Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks of the Ryeongnam massif occurs as xenolithes and roof-pendents in the Permian to Triassic Yeongdeok and Cheongsong plutonic rocks, which were formed as the Songrim orogeny by magmatic intrusions occurring in a subduction environment under the northeastern and western parts of the area before a continental collision between Sino-Korean and South China lands. The Cheongsong plutonic rocks were intruded by the Late Triassic granodiorite, which include to be metamorphosed as an orthogneiss. The granodiorite includes geosites of orbicular structure and mineral spring. During the Cretaceous, the Gyeongsang Basin and Gyeongsang arc were formed by a subduction of the Izanagi plate below East Asia continent in the southeastern Korean Peninsula. The Gyeongsang Basin was developed to separate into Yeongyang and Cheongsong subbasins, in which deposited Dongwach/Hupyeongdong Formation, Gasongdong/Jeomgok Formation, and Dogyedong/Sagok Formation in turn. There was intercalated by the Daejeonsa Basalt in the upper part of Dogyedong Formation in Juwangsan entrance. During the Late Cretaceous 75~77 Ma, the Bunam granitoid stock, which consists of various lithofacies in southwestern part, was made by a plutonism that was mixing to have an injection of mafic magma into felsic magma. During the latest Cretaceous, the volcanic rocks were made by several volcanisms from ubiquitous andesitic and rhyolitic magmas, and stratigraphically consist of Ipbong Andesite derived from Dalsan, Jipum Volcanics from Jipum, Naeyeonsan Tuff from Cheongha, Juwangsan Tuff from Dalsan, Neogudong Formation and Muposan Tuff. Especially the Juwangsan Tuff includes many beautiful cliffs, cayon, caves and falls because of vertical columnar joints by cooling in the dense welding zone. During the Cenozoic Tertiary, rhyolite intrusions formed lacolith, stocks and dykes in many sites. Especially many rhyolite dykes make a radial Cheongsong dyke swarm, of which spherulitic rhyolite dykes have various floral patterns. During the Quaternary, some taluses have been developed down the cliffs of Jungtaesan lacolith and Muposan Tuff.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.151-159
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• 2012

The potential repository domains for A-KRS (Advanced Korean Reference Disposal System for High Level Wastes) in geological characteristics of KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) facility site were proposed to develop a repository system design and to perform the safety assessment. The host rock of KURT facility site is one of major Mesozoic plutonic rocks in Korean peninsula, two-mica granite, which was influenced by hydrothermal alteration. The topographical features control the flow lines of surface and groundwater toward south-easterly and all waters discharge to Geum River. Fracture zones distributed in study site are classified into order 2 magnitude and their dominant orientations are N-S and E-W strike. From the geological features and fracture zones, the potential repository domains for A-KRS were determined spatially based on the following conditions: (1) fracture zone must not cross the repository; and (2) the repository must stay away from the fracture zones greater than 50 m. The western region of the fracture zones in the N-S direction with a depth below 200 m from the surface was sufficient for A-KRS repository. Because most of the fracture zones in N-S direction were inclined toward the east, we expected to find a homogeneous rock mass in the western region rather than in the eastern region. The lower left domain of potential domains has more suitable geological and hydrogeological conditions for A-KRS repository.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.138-150
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• 1997

The late Quaternary stratigraphy of the tidal deposits in the Hampyung Bay, southwestern coast of Korea comprises 1) Unit III (nonmarine fluvial coarse-grained sediments), 2) Unit II (late Pleistocene tidal deposits), and 3) Unit I (late Holocene fine-grained tidal deposits) in ascending order. The basements of the Hampyung Bay is composed of granitic rocks and basic dyke rocks. These three units are of unconformally bounded sedimentary sequences. The sequence boundary between Unit I and Unit II, in particular, seems to be significant suggesting erosional surface and exposed to the air under the cold climate during the LGM. The uppermost stratigraphic sequence (Unit I) is a common tidal deposit formed under the transgression to highstand sea-level during the middle to late Holocene.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.323-336
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• 2019

The Mesozoic activity on the Korean Peninsula is mainly represented by the Triassic post-collisional, Jurassic orogenic, and Cretaceous post-orogenic igneous activities. The diversity of mineralization by each geological period came from various geothermal systems derived from the geochemical characteristics of magma with different emplacement depth. The Cretaceous metallic mineralization has been carried out over a wide range of time periods from ca. 115 to 45 Ma (main stage; ca. 100 to 60 Ma) related to post-orogenic igneous activity, and spatial distribution patterns of most metal deposits are concentrated along small granitic stocks. The late Cretaceous metal deposits in the Gyeonggi and Yeongnam massifs are generally distributed along the boundary among the Gongju-Eumseong fault system and the Yeongdong-Gwangju fault system and the Gyeongsang Basin, most of them are in the form of a distal epithermal~mesothermal Au-Ag vein or a transitional mesothermal Zn-Pb-Cu vein. On the other hand, diverse metal commodities in the Taebaeg Basin, the Okcheon metamorphic belt and the Gyeongsang Basin are produced from various deposit types such as skarn, carbonate-replacement, vein, porphyry, breccia pipe, and Carlin type. In the late Cretaceous metallic mineralization, various mineral deposits and commodities were induced not only by the pathway of the hydrothermal solution, but also by the diversity of precipitation environment in the proximity difference of the granitic rocks. The diversity of these types of Cretaceous deposits is fundamentally dependent on the geochemical characteristics such as degree of differentiation and oxidation state of related igneous rocks, and ore-forming fluids generally exhibit the evolutionary characteristics of intermediate- to low-sulfur hydrothermal fluids.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.151-171
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• 2012

The Permo-Triassic Songrim orogeny in the Korean peninsula was a major tectonic event involving complicated continental collisions at the eastern margin of Eurasia. Based on the previous studies on the metamorphic and deformations features of the Songrim orogeny, this paper presents metamorphic and structural characteristics and timing of the Songrim orogeny in the Taebaeksan basin, and discuss about correlation of the tectono-metamorphic evolution of the Taebaeksan basin with the Okcheon basin and the Imjingang belt with a combined analysis of bulk crustal shortening direction, metamorphic P-T and T-t (time) paths. The metapelites in the Pyeongan Supergroup in the northeastern margin of the Taebaeksan basin have experienced lower-temperature/medium-pressure (LT/MP) regional metamorphism followed by high-temperature contact metamorphism due to the Jurassic granite intrusion. The earlier LT/MP regional metamorphism produced two loops of clockwise P-T-d (deformation) paths combined with four deformation events ($D_1-D_4$). The first loop concomitant with $D_1$ and $D_2$ occurred at $400-500^{\circ}C$, 1.5-3.0 kbar, and related with growth of syn-$D_1$ chloritoid and andalusite, post-$D_1$ margarite, Ca-rich syn-$D_2$ or post-$D_2$ plagioclase. The second loop accompanying $D_3$ and $D_4$ occurred at $520-580^{\circ}C$, 2.0-6.0 kbar, and associated with the growth of syn-$D_3$ garnet and staurolite, and syn-$D_4$ and/or post-$D_4$ andalusite porphyroblasts. Furthermore the syn-$D_1$ chloritoid and andalusite porphyroblasts grew during E-W bulk crustal shortening, whereas the syn-$D_3$ garnet and staurolite, and the syn-$D_4$ and/or post-$D_4$ andalusite porphyroblasts have grown under N-S bulk crustal shortening. The similarity in the characteristics and timing of the metamorphism and bulk crustal shortening directions between the Okcheon and Imjingang belts suggest that the peak metamorphic conditions tend to increase toward the western part (Imjingang belt and southwestern part of the Gyeonggi Massif) from the eastern part (Taebaeksan basin). The E-W bulk crustal shortening influenced the eastern part of the Okcheon belt, whereas the N-S bulk crustal shortening resulted in strong deformation in the Imjingang and Okcheon belts. Consequently, the Permo-Triassic Songrim orogeny in the Korean peninsula is probably not only related to collision of the North and South China blocks, but also to the amalgamation of terrane fragments at the eastern Eurasia margin (e.g., collision of the Sino-Korean continent and the Hida-Oki terrane).