• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.347-356
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• 2019

Various studies regarding the sedimentary environment, depositional age, provenance, and metamorphic history have been carried out on the Taean Formation in the western part of Gyeonggi Massif, since the unique detrital zircon age pattern was revealed. This review paper introduces the previous researches on the Taean Formation and discusses the depositional age and provenance. The Taean Formation was traditionally regarded as a Precambrian stratigraphic unit, but recently it is interpreted to be a middle or upper Paleozoic formation due to the occurrence of large amounts of Early to Middle Paleozoic detrital zircons. The Taean Formation consists of metasandstone, argillaceous schist, and phyllite which are mainly made up of quartz and mica. The protoliths are interpreted as turbidites deposited in deep sea fan environment. The Taean Formation has been interpreted to be deposited between the Devonian to Triassic ages given the age differences between detrital zircons and intrusive rocks. There are two opinions that the deposition age is close to the Devonian or the Permian period. The provenance of this formation is supposed to be South China block, Chinese collisional belt, or Gyeonggi Massif. Given the available detrital zircon ages of the Taean Formation and other Korean (meta)sedimentary rocks, the Taean Formation shares major source rocks with Yeoncheon Group and Pibanryeong Unit of the Okcheon Supergroup, but their source regions are not entirely consistent. Considering the existing hypotheses about the depositional timing and provenance, we put weight on the possibility that the Taean Formation was deposited between Permian and Early Triassic periods. However, further studies on the stratigraphy and sedimentary petrology are needed to clarify its definition and to elucidate the provenance.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.405-429
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• 2022

Detrital zircon LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of the Cretaceous Gurye Group, Gurye Basin, was carried out. Gurye Group consists of Supyeongri, Geumjeongri, Togeum, and Obongsan formations in ascending order, and five samples were collected for age dating. Based on the dating results, the lowermost Supyeongri and the uppermost Obongsan formations show narrow age ranges. Only Precambrian and Late Cretaceous zircons were found in the Supyeongri and Obongsan formations, respectively. However, the upper and lower Geumjeongri, and Togeum formations show wide age ranges from the Precambrian to Cretaceous. The youngest detrital zircon U-Pb ages of each formation except the Supyeongri Formation, which lacks Cretaceous zircon, were calculated to be ca. 107.4 Ma in the lower Geumjeongri Formation, ca. 104.6 Ma in the upper Geumjeongri Formation, ca. 97.7 Ma in the Togeum Formation, and ca. 88.5 Ma in the Obongsan Formation. Such results indicate that the depositional age of the Gurye Group can be constrained from the Lower Cretaceous Albian to the Upper Cretaceous Coniacian. Based on the distribution of the detrital zircon ages from each formation, the source area of the Gurye Group is interpreted to have been extended from the adjacent Youngnam Massif to the Okcheon Belt throughout the basin evolution. The increase of the Cretaceous zircon with time is thought to reflect the slab roll-back of the proto-Pacific plate during the Cretaceous.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 1997

Diagrams of $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr$ versus Ba/Nb and MgO/FeO are scattered, and $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr$ variation with the increase of $SiO_2$ are scattered in Gwangju granitoid. Diagrams of $(^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr)$i versus $(^{143}Nd/^{144}Nd)$i and ${\varepsilon}Nd$ versus 1/Nd variation are also scattered in Gwangju granitoid. It shows that the source magma of Gwangju granitoid are derived from partial melting materials of heterogeneous upper crust. Very low ${\varepsilon}Nd$ values (-15.19~-19.49) and very high ${\varepsilon}Sr$ values (92.72~308.85) mean that the source magma of Gwangju granitoid is derived from sedimentary substance melting. According to $(^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr)$ 180Ma, and the plot of ${\varepsilon}Sr$ versus ${\varepsilon}Nd$, the Gwangju granitoid shows that the source magma is derived from upper crust materials. Nd model ages of Gwangju granitoid (1.82~2.42G.A.) are older than meta-sediments of Okcheon formation (1.15~1.60G.A.) and similar or close to Pre-Cambrian gneiss complex of Ryoungnam massif (2.17~2.47G.A.or 2.11~2.38G.A.).Therefore, the source magma of the Gwangju granitoid could be derived from the partial melting of Pre-Cambrian gneiss complex of Ryoungnam massif.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.58-67
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• 1969

Songgwang lead zinc mine is located in about 12km to the north-east of Jeonju City. Geology of the mine and its visinity is consisted of Jeonju series belonged to so-called Okcheon system, Seodaesan tuff formation, Silla series, and the quartz porphyry intruded into these formations. Jeonju series comprising 3 formations; that is, of Sadaeri, Sindong, and Girinbong. Jeonju series is generally distributed in southern part of the area, striking NNW, and diping NE $30^{\circ}$, or NW $30^{\circ}$. It is deformed to form synclinorium and anticlinorium plunging to the north with low angle. In the northern part of the area, Jeonju series was cut by Sinpeongri-fault of NEE direction near Sinpeongri. In the north side of the fault, it is overturned and shows NEE or NWW strikes and NW $60^{\circ}$ dips. At the west of Songgwangri, it is cut by 3 thrusts; the two are almost parallel each other, and the third oneis manifested by the fact that the lower black shale zone thrusted over the upper limestone. Songgwangri thrust, so named, is a post-mineral fault and its plane represents a premineral slip plane. Enrichment of are took place along the bedding plane or fissure parallel to it, as seen in adit No. 1 or No. 2 along the floor of the thrust, and along the sheared zone or the brecciated zone oblique to the plane near the thrust in crystalline limestone of Sindong formation as observed in the underground levels of inclined slope. Ore minerals are chiefly zincblende, galena, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, acompanied pyrite and chalcopyrite, and contain Au and Ag. In earlier stage of mineralization, the limestone was recrystalized, and sulphide minerals were enriched in the· permiable zone said above by pyrometasomatism, and in later stage the limestone was affected chloritization and sericitization. However hydrothermal replacement was weak, so that enrichment did not took place. It seems that minerallizing materials came up through the premineral slip plane and injected, and replaced the limestone in permiable zone said above with sulphide are minerals. Then Songgwangri thrust took place and, the lower black shale zone thrusted upon crystalline limestone.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.195-206
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• 2004

Paleomagnetic and rock-magnetic investigations have been carried out for the Cretaceous sedimentary rocks in the Poongam (also called Gapcheon) Basin in the eastern South Korea. A total of 128 independently oriented core samples were drilled from 13 sites for this study. The mean direction after bedding correction (D/I=353.1$^{\circ}$/55.6$^{\circ}$, k=21.5, =$$\alpha$_{95}$=10.1$^{\circ}$) is more dispersed than the mean direction before bedding correction (D/I=10.5$^{\circ}$/56.9$^{\circ}$, k=73.9, =$$\alpha$_{95}$=5.3$^{\circ}$), and the stepwise unfolding of the characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) reveals a maximum value of k at 20% unfolding. Secondary authigenic hematite accompanied by altered clays such as chlorite was identified by the electron microscope observations. These results collectively imply that the ChRM is remagnetized due to the formation of the secondary authigenic hematite after tilting of the strata. It is interpreted that the chemical remagnetization was connected to the introduction of mixed magmatic-meteoric fluids, which formed hydrothermal vein deposits near the study area. The paleomagnetic pole position (214.3$^{\circ}$E, 81.6$^{\circ}$N, =$A_{95}$=7.4$^{\circ}$) of the Cretaceous sedimentary rocks calculated from remagnetized directions is close to those of the Late Cretaceous and Tertiary poles of the Korean Peninsula. This Late Cretaceous to Tertiary remagnetization seems to be widespread over the Okcheon Belt because the chemical remagnetization is previously reported to be found in rocks from other Cretaceous small basins (e.g., Eumseong, Gongju and Youngdong basins) along the Okcheon Belt and some Paleozoic strata from the Okcheon unmetamorphosed zone.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.395-407
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• 2019

The duplex system has been considered as an important slip-transfer mechanism to evaluate the evolution of orogenic belts. Duplexes are generally found in the hinterland portion of fold-thrust belts and accommodate large amounts of total shortening. Thus, understanding its geometric and kinematic evolution can give information to evaluate the evolution of the entire orogenic belt. Duplexes are recognized as closed-loop thrust traces on map view, indicating higher connectivity than imbricate fans. As originally defined, a duplex is an array of thrust horses which are surrounded by thrust faults including the floor and roof thrusts, and imbricate faults between them. Duplexes can accommodate regional layer-parallel shortening and transfer slip from a floor thrust to a roof thrust. However, an imbricate fault is not the only mean for layer-parallel shortening (LPS) and displacement transfer within duplexes. LPS cleavages and detachment folds can also play the same role. From this aspect, a duplex can be divided into three types; 1) fault duplex, 2) cleavage duplex and 3) fold duplex. Fault duplex can further be subdivided into the Boyer-type duplex, which was firstly designed duplex system in the 1980s that widely applied most of the major fold-thrust belts in the world, and connecting splay duplex, which has different time order in the emplacement of horses from those of the Boyer-type. On the contrary, the cleavage and fold duplexes are newly defined types based on some selected examples. In the Korean Peninsula, the Yeongwol area, the western part of the Taebaeksan Zone of the Okcheon Belt, gives an excellent natural laboratory to study the structural geometry and kinematics of the closed-loops by thrust fault traces in terms of a duplex system. In the previous study, the Yeongwol thrust system was interpreted by alternative duplex models; a Boyer-type hinterland-dipping duplex vs. a combination of major imbricate thrusts and their connecting splays. Although the high angled beds and thrusts as well as different stratigraphic packages within the horses of the Yeongwol duplex system may prefer the later complicate model, currently, we cannot choose one simple answer between the models because of the lack of direct field evidence and time information. Therefore, further researches on the structural field investigations and geochronological analyses in the Yeongwol and adjacent areas should be carried out to test the possibility of applying the fold and cleavage duplex models to the Yeongwol thrust system, and it will eventually provide clues to solve the enigma of formation and its evolution of the Okcheon Belt.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.433-444
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• 2016

The U-Pb ages of detrital zircons from the Baengnyeong Group were determined by LA-MC-ICPMS, yielding condensed age population in the range from 1100 Ma to 1800 Ma corresponding to the Mesoproterozoic to late Paleoproterozoic. However, detrital zircons of ca.1800-2000 Ma or ca. 2500 Ma ages, which appear frequently in the lower Paleozoic Joseon Supergroup and the upper Paleozoic Pyeongan Supergroup are lacking in the Baengnyeong Group. Such characteristics are identical to those of the Neoproterozoic Sangwon System of North Korea, suggesting that the Baengnyeong Group might be the southwestern extension of the Sangwon System. The zircon age distribution patterns from the Impi Formation in the Gunsan area closely resemble those of the Baengnyeong Group, implying possible correlation of the Impi Formation to the Sangwon System. Therefore, the Mesoproterozoic detrital zircons reported from the Hwangangni Formation of the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt and the Myobong, Sambangsan and Sesong Formations of the Taebaeksan Basin might be derived from the provenances within the Korean peninsula.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.3 s.41
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• pp.169-179
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• 2005

Acidic metavolcanic rocks distributed around the Chungju iron deposit show significantly high abundances of rare earth elements and high field strength elements. Relatively high ${\epsilon}_{Nd}$(0) values and lack of negative Nb anomaly suggest that assimilation of crustal material is not involved in their generation. They are plotted within the within-plate environment according the tectonic discrimination diagrams. Such geochemical characteristics are very similar to the acidic metavolcanic rocks of Munjuri Formation. They also show geochemical characteristics of Al-type magma of Eby (1992). All such diagnostic characters indicate differentiation of mantle-derived magma produced from the rift environment, related to the breakup of continent. In contrast to the alkali granites and the rare metal deposit both having age of c. 330 Ma, Sm-Nd isotopic data of the acidic metavolcanic rocks do not form well defined isochron. However, the alkali granites reveal low ${\epsilon}_{Nd}$(0) values, while the acidic metavolcanic rocks and the rare metal deposit both have significantly higher ${\epsilon}_{Nd}$(0) values. Considering such differences, we propose following generation hypothesis: The acidic metavolcanic rocks around Chungju iron deposit was erupted at 750 Ma as rest of the acidic metavolcanic rocks of Gyemyeongsan and Munjuri Formations. About 330 Ma ago, partial melting of existing Al-type igneous materials and some old crustal materials produced alkali granite. The rare metal deposit was also produced by redistribution of related materials within the acidic volcanics due to hydrothermal activities occurred at the same time. Sm-Nd isotopic systematics of the acidic metavolcanic rocks were disturbed during the regional metamorphic event at ca. 280 Ma.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.541-554
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• 2019

The Taebaeksan Zone of the Okcheon Belt is a prominent fold-thrust belt, preserving evidence for overlapped polyphase and diachronous orogenic events during crustal evolution of the Korean Peninsula. The Pyeongchang-Jeongseon area of the northwestern Taebaeksan Zone is fault-bounded on the western Jucheon and southern Yeongwol areas, showing lateral variations in stratigraphy and structural geometries. For better understanding these geological characteristics of the northwestern Taebaeksan Zone, we have studied the structural geometry of the Pyeongchang-Jeongseon area. For this, we have firstly carried out the SHRIMP U-Pb age analysis of the age-unknown sedimentary rock to clarify stratigraphy for structural interpretation. The results show the late Carboniferous to middle Permian dates, indicating that it is correlated to the Upper Paleozoic Pyeongan Supergroup. In addition to this, we interpreted the geometric relationships between structural elements from the detailed field investigation of the study area. The major structure of the northwestern Taebaeksan Zone is the regional-scale Jeongseon Great syncline, having NE-trending hinge with second-order folds such as the Jidongri and Imhari anticlines and the Nambyeongsan syncline. Based on the stereographic and down-plunge projections of the structureal elements, the structural geometry of the Jeongseon Great syncline can be interpreted as a synformal culmination, plunging slightly to the south at its southern area, and north at the northern area. The different map patterns of the northern and southern parts of the study area should be resulted in different erosion levels caused by the plunging hinges. Considering the Jeongseon Great syncline is the major structure that constrains the distribution of the Paleozoic strata of the Pyeongchang and Jeongseon areas, the symmetric repetition of the lower Paleozoic Joseon Supergroup in both limbs should be re-examined by structural mapping of the Hangmae and Hoedongri formations in the Pyeongchang and Jeongseon areas.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.441-456
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• 2021

The Cretaceous Duwon Formation was studied on the basis of sedimentologic analysis in order to unravel geologic conditions for the development of the streamflow-dominated alluvial fan under arid to semi-arid climatic conditions. The Duwon Formation unconformably overlies the Paleoproterozoic gneiss (basement). Based on the sedimentologic analysis, the Duwon Formation is interpreted to have been deposited in gravelly braided stream (FA-1) near the basement, laterally transitional to sandy braided stream (FA-2) and floodplain environments (FA-3) with distance (< 7 km) from the basement. Lateral changes in sedimentary facies and the well development of calcrete nodules in FA-3, together with radial paleocurrent directions measured in FA-1, are suggestive of the deposition of the Duwon Formation in streamflow-dominated alluvial fan under arid to semi-arid climatic conditions. Recent analysis of detrital zircon chronology suggests that sediments of the Duwon Formation were derived from the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula, including the western part of Yeongnam Massif and the southwestern part of Okcheon Belt. This implies the alluvial fan where the Duwon Formation accumulated had the large drainage basin. Because the large drainage basin can supply the significant amounts of water and temporarily store the sediments within the basin, watery floodwater carried sediments to the alluvial fan rather than the debris flows. Furthermore, the drainage basin largely composed of coarse-grained metamorphic and igneous rocks produced sand-grade sediments, preventing evolution of floodwater into debris flows. We suggest that combined effects of the large drainage basin and its coarse-grained metamorphic and igneous rocks provided favorable conditions for the development of streamflow-dominated alluvial fan, despite arid to semi-arid climatic conditions during sedimentation.