• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.1 s.50
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• pp.27-40
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• 2007

Stratigraphy has been renewedly set up and the evolution of tectonic events related to basin formation has been exam-ined on the basis of fault-slip data analysis in the Tertiary Eoil and Waeup basins of the southeastern part of Korea. First of all, field mapping was carried out in detail for Tertiary formations and then paleostress analysis were peformed with more than 400 fault slip data collected from 11 sites in the Tertiary formations and the Yucheon Group. It is judged that both the Eoil and Waeup basins filled up with Tertiary deposits might be simultaneously formed in separate locations. The Janggi Group in the Eoil basin is divided into following stratigraphic units in ascending order: Gampo Conglomerte, Hongdeok Basalt, Nodongri Conglomerate and Yeondang Basalt, and the Bomkori Group in the Waeup basin: Waeupri Tuff; Andongri Conglomerate, Yongdongri Tuff and Hoamri Volcanic Breccia. Paleostress analysis by using striated faults reveals five sequential tectonic events: (1) NW-SE transtension (event I), (2) NW-SE transpression (event IIl), (3) NE-SW pure extension (event III), (4) N-S transpression (event IV) and (5) E-W pure compression (event V). Therefore, five sequential tectonic movements are closely associated with the formation and evolution of the Tertiary basins in the study area: tectonic event I of NW-SE extension is related to formation of the Tertiary basins during the late Oligocene to the Early Miocene, tectonic events II, III and IV caused the termination of the Tertiary basin opening and the crustal uplift in the study area, and tectonic event V upheaved the east coast or Korean Peninsula with compressive stress due to intense subduction of the Pacific plate into Asian continent since the Early Pliocene.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.189-197
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• 2006

The Korea Plateau is a continental fragment rifted and partially segmented from the Korean Peninsulaat the initial stage of the opening of the East Sea (Japan Sea). We interpreted marine seismic profiles from the South Korea Plateau in conjunction with swath bathymetric to investigate processes of con-tjnental rifting and separation of the southwestern Japan Arc. The SouU-i Korea Plateau preserves funda-mental elements of rift architecture comprising a seaward succession of a rift basin and an uplifted rift flank passing into the slope, typical of a passive continental margin. Two distinguished rift basins (Onnuri and Bandal Basins) in the South Korea Plateau are bounded by major synthetic and smaller antithetic faults, creating wide and symmetric profiles. The large-offset border fault zones of these basins have convex dip slopes and demonstrate a zig-zag arrangement along strike. Rifting was primarily controlled by normal faulting resulting from extension orthogonal to the inferred line of breakup along the base ofthe slope rather U-ian strike-slip deformation. Two extension direcdons for rifdng are recog-nized; U-ie Onnuri Basin was rifted in U-ie EW direction; U-ie Bandal Basin in U-ie EW and NW-SE directions, suggesting two rift stages. We interpret that the E-W direction represents initial rifting at the inner margin; while the Japan Basin widened, rifting propagated repeatedly from the Japan Basin to the southeast toward the Korean margin but could not penetrate the strong continental lithosphere of the Korean Shield and changed direction to the south, resulting in E-W extension to create the rift basins at the Korean margin. The Hupo Basin to the south of the Korea Plateau is estimated to have formed in this process. The NW-SE direction probably represents the direction of rifting orthogonal to the inferred line of breakup along the base of the slope of the South Korea Plateau; after breakup the southwestern Japan Arc separated in the SE direction, indicating a response to tensional tectonics associated with the subduction of the Pacific Plate in the NE direction. We suggest that structural evolution of the eastern Korean margin can be explained by the processes occurring at the passive continental margin.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.42 no.2 s.119
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• pp.165-176
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• 2007

Absolute age of the deposition of 1.3 km-thick Bunthang sequence within the Skardu intermontane basin of the Central Karakoram was determined using radioactive decay of cosmogonic $^{10}Be$ and $^{26}Al$ burial dating. The Bunthang sequence deposited around 2.65 Ma, which is the oldest glaciation in the region. The timing of deposition of the Bunthang sequence is consistent with the previous suggestion that the basin filling took place between Brunhess and Matuyama chrons. Four major sedimentary facies interfinger within the Bunthang sequence: glacial diamict, lacustrine, fluvial and lacustrine facies upward. This sedimentary distinctiveness and the lack of evidence on the faults for alternative pull-apart basin model around the Bunthang sequence, suggest that the depressional basin was formed by deep subglacial erosion during the exrtensive Bunthang Glacial Stage and subsequently the sediments underlain by basal diamict, was quickly deposited by preglacial and paraglacial processes. Temporary ponding of the Indus River due to tectonic uplift in the downstream or blockage by mass movements might make the basin filing more possible. The hypothesis that the single ice sheet developed on the Tibetan Plateau during the global last glacial cycle should be refuted by the existence of the older extensive Bunthang glacier Furthermore, the extensive glaciation during the early Quaternary (and thus progressive decrease in extent with time) suggests that there may have been significant uplift of the Pamir to the west and Himalaya to the south, which would have reduced the penetration of westerlies and Indian summer monsoon and hence moisture supply to the region.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.223-230
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• 1975

South Korea is divided tectonically into four segments. The Kyonggi-Ryongnam massif is composed of Precambrian schists and gneisses and consititutes a base for the succeeding formations. The Okcheon geosynclinal zone in the Kyonggi-Ryongnam massif strectches from southwest to northeast diagonally across the peninsula in a direction known as the Sinian direction. Its northeastern part is composed primarily of Paleozoic to early Mesozoic sedimentary formations and the southwestern part of the late Precambrian Okcheon metamorphic series. The Kyongsang basin occupies the southeast and southwest of the peninsula and is made up of a thick series of Cretaceous terrestrial sedimentary and andesitic rocks. A few small Tertiary basins are scattered in the eastern coastal area and in Cheju Island, and are composed of marine sedimentary and basaltic rocks. Jurassic Daebo granites intrude the Kyonggi-Ryongnam massif and the Okcheon zone in the Sinian direction, whereas late Cretaceous Bulkuksa granites are scattered randomly in the Kyongsang basin.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.435-446
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• 1992

REE, major and trace elements analyses of the Jurassic Daebo granite and Cretaceous Bulguksa granite were carried out to interpet their petrogenesis and relationships between petrogenesis and tectonics. Analytical results are summarized as follows. (1) $SiO_2$ content of the Bulguksa granite (aver. 74.6%) are significantly higher than those of the Daebo granite (aver. 68.1%). Major elements of $TiO_2$, $Al_2O_3$, $P_2O_5$, CaO, MgO, Total FeO, and trace elements of Co, V and Sr are negatively correlated with $SiO_2$. Incompatible elements such as Ba, Sr, Y, Zr and HREE are contained differently in the Bulguksa granites distributed in between Okchon folded belt and Kyongsang sedimentary basin. (2) Trace element abundances show a good discrimination between two goups of granitic rocks. Ba, Sr and V are enriched in Daebo granites, while Zn and Cr are depleted in them. (3) Jurassic granites have quite different Eu anomalies and REE patterns from those of Cretaceous granites: Large negative Eu anomaly in the former and mild or absent Eu anomaly in the latter. The large Eu negative of Cretaceous granitic rocks are interpreted as a differentiated product of fractional crystallization of granitic magma from the upper mantle. Meanwhile, the Daebo plutonic rocks was resulted from the partial melting of subcrustal material or crustal contamination during ascending granitic magma from the mantle. Senario of igneous activities of Mesozoic age in South Korea was proposed based on Kula-Pacific ridge subduction model.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.167-175
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• 1985

Geothermal heat flow distribution of Korea is investigated in the light of geophysical data, seismicity, tectonics and gravity as well as heat flow measurements and surface temperature of hot springs. The average heat flow in Korea is found to be $1.65{\mu}cal/cm^2{\cdot}sec$ that is greater than the world's average ($1.5{\mu}cal/cm^2{\cdot}sec$). The high heat flow is located at the regions of high seismicity in Korea. They are found to be Bugok of south central, and Haeundae, Pohang and Dongnae of the southest coast in the Peninsula. The anomalously high heat flow, equal to or greater than $1.93{\mu}cal/cm^2sec$ is found in the Kyongsang Basin, indicating that it is extended from the spreading of the East Sea (Japan Sea) and its origin.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.127-141
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• 1978

The major structures characteristic of the Taebaegsan sedimentary basin were regionally analyzed with special reference to its southeastern extension to the Yeonhwa-Ulchin district of economic interest in zinc-lead mineralization. The basin geometry, basement setting, sedimentary components, and the characteristics of deformation and igneous activity of the Taebaegsan basin differ basically from those of the adjacent mobile belt of the Ogcheon geosyncline, although the latter affected the basin's western side considerably. The subrectangular shape of the Taebaegsan basin reflects the checkered pattern of basement-block arrangement, and the carbonate-dominated lithologic components of the basin-fill indicate a cratonic depositional setting, which is comparable to some of the North American mid-continental craton. The Taebaegsan basin, however, has somewhat been less stable than the North American megacraton that is reflected in the former's thicker sedimentary fill and steeper faults of later deformation, showing a tendency to increase in thickness close to the basement-block boundaries, which may indicate contacts of possibly detached cratonic blocks of Precambrian age; these weak zones of block boundaries have been the loci of repeated sedimentation, deformation and related igneous intrusions. A series of downthrown or uplifted tilted blocks, in which the Cambro-Ordovician sedimentary wedges and the late Cretaceous to early Tertiary igneous intrusives are involved, occurs intermittently across the Yeonhwa-Ulchin district in a noticeable pattern of en echelon type. These sedimentary wedges are correlated to the Cambro-Ordovician section of the Hambaeg syncline to the west in stratigraphy and lithology, and are considered to have resulted from the northeastern and/or northwestern cross-faulting of the pre-existing syncline belt of easterly trend, extended from the main portion of the Hambaeg syncline. These structural junctions (or intersections) of the earlier syncline belt and the later cross-faults have been acted as a guide to ascending igneous materials and hydrothermal ore-forming fluids to form a zone of zinc-lead skarn deposits across the Yeonhwa-Ulchin district showing a stepwise recurrence of these deposits toward the east.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.5 no.1_2 s.6
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• pp.27-35
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• 1997

The Gorae II area is located in the southwestern margin of the Ulleung Basin, East Sea and corresponds to the Ulleung Trough. The survey of 3D seismic data in this area was performed to delineate the structural leads confirmed by the previous 2D seismic data. As a part of 3D interpretation, basement related structural movements and their relationship with the stratigraphy were studied. The study shows that eight sequences were identified which are genetically related to the tectonics and sediment supply in this area. The geologic structures characterizing the study area consist of : (1) block faults developed in the early stage of basin opening, (2) late Miocene thrusts, and (3) Pliocene wrench faults. The eight sequences consist of pre-rift (acoustic basement), syn-rift (Sequence $A_1, A_2$), post-rift (Sequence $B_1{\~}B_3$), syn-compressional sequence (Sequence C), and post-compressional sequence(Sequence D) from oldest to youngest. The time structure and isochron maps were constructed for each sequence and also used in seismic facies analysis and interpretation of sedimentary environment. The interpretation results reveal that the relative sea level changes caused by several stages of tectonic movements and sediment supply control the stratal and structural geometry of Ulleung basin.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.149-169
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• 2022

Indonesia coal is widely consumed as a major energy source in Asian countries, such as China, India, and Korea. In the paper, the characteristics of the coal-bearing basin and coal deposits in Indonesia are comprehensively reviewed using the exploration data accumulated through the coal exploration projects supported by Korean government subsidy. Cenozoic coal bearing sedimentary basins in Indonesia extensively contain coal deposits and are most productive in East Asia. Properties of coal deposits are variable depending on stratigraphy, depositional histories and tectonics. Eocene coal deposits tend to have thinner coal thickness and fewer numbers of coal seams, but have been major exploration targets due to higher calorific value and good coal quality. Late Oligocene-Early Miocene coal deposits occur in small scales, but are suitable enough for small to medium-sized coal mines. Miocene-Pliocene coal deposits, which are widely distributed across East Kalimantan and Sumatra, are being actively mined by taking advantage of thick coal thickness and abundant reserves in spite of their lower calorific values. The experience of various exploration informs that we need to have an overall understanding on geological conditions for successful coal exploration. The details on coal-bearing basin and coal deposits in Indonesia provided through the paper will be useful data for up-coming exploration activities by Korean companies.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.83-94
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• 2011

Extra heavy oil reservoirs are distributed over the world but most of them is deposited in the northern part of the Orinoco River in Venezuela, in the area of 5,500 $km^2$, This region, which has been commonly called "the Orinoco Oil Belt", contains estimated 1.3 trillion barrels of original oil-in-place and 250 billion barrels of established reserves. The Venezuela extra heavy oil has an API gravity of less than 10 degree and in situ viscosity of 5,000 cP at reservoir condition. Although the presence of extra heavy oil in the Orinoco Oil Belt has been initially reported in the 1930's, the commercial development using in situ cold production started in the 1990's. The Orinoco heavy oil deposits are clustered into 4 development areas, Boyaco, Junin, Ayachoco, and Carabobo respectively, and they are subdivided into totally 31 production blocks. Nowadays, PDVSA (Petr$\'{o}$leos de Venzuela, S.A.) makes a development of each production block with the international oil companies from more than 20 countries forming a international joint-venture company. The Eastern Venezuela Basin, the Orinoco Oil Belt is included in, is one of the major oil-bearing sedimentary basins in Venezuela and is first formed as a passive margin basin by the Jurassic tectonic plate motion. The major source rock of heavy oil is the late Cretaceous calcareous shale in the central Eastern Venezuela Basin. Hydrocarbon materials migrated an average of 150 km up dip to the southern margin of the basin. During the migration, lighter fractions in the hydrocarbon were removed by biodegradation and the oil changed into heavy and/or extra heavy oil. Miocene Oficina Formation, the main extra heavy oil reservoir, is the unconsolidated sand and shale alternation formed in fluvial-estuarine environment and also has irregularly a large number of the Cenozoic faults induced by basin subsidence and tectonics. Because Oficina Formation has not only complex lithology distribution but also irregular geology structure, geological evolution and characteristics of the reservoirs have to be determined for economical production well design and effective oil recovery. This study introduces geological formation and evolution of the Venezuela extra heavy oil reservoirs and suggest their significant geological characteristics which are (1) thickness and geometry of reservoir pay sands, (2) continuity and thickness of mud beds, (3) geometry of faults, (4) depth and geothermal character of reservoir, (5) in-situ stress field of reservoir, and (6) chemical composition of extra heavy oil. Newly developed exploration techniques, such as 3-D seismic survey and LWD (logging while drilling), can be expected as powerful methods to recognize the geological reservoir characteristics in the Orinoco Oil Belt.