• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.151-164
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• 2022

According to the records of historical and instrumental earthquakes, the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula is considered the highest seismic activity area. Owing to recent reports of numerous Quaternary faults along the Yangsan and Ulsan fault zones, paleoseismological studies are being actively conducted in these areas. The study area is located in the central part of the Ulsan fault zone, where the largest number of active faults have been reported. Based on lineament and geomorphic analysis using LiDAR images and aerial photographs, fault-related landforms showing topographic relief were observed and a trench survey was conducted. The trench length 20 m, width 5 m, depth 5 m is located approximately 300 m away to the northeast from the previously reported Malbang fault. From the trench section, we interpreted the geometric and kinematic characteristics of the fault based on the deformed features of the Quaternary sedimentary layers. The attitude of the reverse fault, N26°W/33°NE, is similar to those of the reported faults distributed along the Ulsan fault zone. Although a single apparent displacement of approximately 40 cm has been observed, the true displacement could not be calculated due to the absence of the slickenline on the fault plane. Based on the geochronological results of the cryogenic structure proposed in a previous study, the most recent faulting event has been estimated as being earlier than the late Wurm glaciation. We interpreted the thrust fault system of the study area as an imbrication structure based on the previous studies and the fault geometry obtained in this additional trench. Although several previous investigations including many trench surveys have been conducted, they found limited success in obtaining the information on fault parameters, which could be due to complex characteristics of the reverse fault system. Additional paleoseismic studies will contribute to solving the mentioned problems and the comprehensive fault evolution.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.39-59
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• 2011

To get the geologic information data such as rock resources, industrial ground, development planning and so on, distribution ratios of constituent rocks with geologic age and rock type were obtained in Gyeongnam, Ulsan and Busan areas by ArcGIS 9.3 program, digital geologic and geomorphic maps of 1 : 250,000 scale. Geologic ages and rock types in the Gyeongnam area can be divided into 6 and 40, respectively. Their distribution ratios of the geologic ages are decreasing in the order of Cretaceous, Precambrian, Quaternary, Jurassic, Triassic and Tertiary. They show the wide ranges of 1.35-57.36%, and the former makes the most dominant ratio. Major rock types are 24 ones, all of which occupy the ratio of 94.58% and relatively narrow ranges of 1.15-13.64% in the area. Among them, andesite and andesitic tuff shows the more or less dominant ratio, and separately develops in the northeast, mid east and south parts of the area. In the Ulsan area, geologic ages and rock types can be divided into 3 and II, respectively. Their distribution ratios of the geologic ages are decreasing in the order of Cretaceous, Quaternary and Triassic. They show the very wide range of 6.90-79.21%, and the former makes the most prevailing ratio. Major rock types are 9 ones, which totally occupy the ratio of 98.63% and more or less wide ranges of 1.50-39.01% in the area. Among them, Jindong formation shows the most dominant ratio, and widely develops in the inner and eastern part of the area. In the Busan area, geologic ages and rock types can be divided into 3 and 10, respectively. Their distribution ratios of the geologic ages are decreasing in the order of Cretaceous, Quaternary and Tertiary. They show the wide ranges of 6.73-47.02%, and the two former makes the most dominant ratio of 88.03%. Major rock types are 6 ones, all of which occupy the ratio of 93.02% and relatively wide ranges of 4.07-47.02% in the area. Among them, alluvium forms the most dominant ratio, which mostly develops in the lower Nagdong River, West Nagdong River and Suyeong River.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 1999

Goryeri archaeological site is located in the upstream valley of the Danjang River. The basement rocks of the area are composed of the Cretaceous to Palaeogene biotite granite (KbGr), acidic dyke (Kad), Milyang Andesite (Kma) and Jyunggagsan Formation. Among them Milyang Andesite and Jyunggagsan Formation are prevailed in archaeological site and they are composed of reddish brown tuffaceous shale, sandstone and conglomerate, with intercalations of acidic tuffs and lapilli tuffs. The purpose of this research is not only to compare REE pattern of the soil-sedimentary deposits with those of surrounding rocks, but also to identify vitric tephra in the soil-sedimentary deposits derived from the andesite, acidic tuff and lapilii tuff, in order to illucidate the provenance of the vitric tephra. The rare earth element(REE) of the soils and sedimentary deposits results in the same REE pattern with those analyzed from the surrounding basement rocks. This indicates that the soils and sedimentary deposits are originated from the surrounding basement rocks, most probably from the andesite and lapilli tuff. In addition, vitric tephra were identified both in the Quaternary in-situ weathered soils and sedimentary deposits (PMU-13 and PMU-17), and in the weathered surrounding lapilli tuff. These vitric tephra are considered to be different from those of Japanese AT(Aira Tanzawa) -tephra. The latter is predominant with clean, platty, bubble-walled and Y-shaped vitrics, while the former is conspicuous with those shapes of large and diverse size and devitrified, as well as having secondarily bubbled-surfaces reflecting surface weathering. The size of vitric fragments in the Goryeri site is about 300${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and large in size in compasion to 150${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ of Japanese AT-Tephra. The interim results of the research are contradictary to the explanations based on a series of AT-tephra researches carried by Japanese scholar. In short, the vitric materials of the Goryeri archaeological site are most probably originated from the weathering products of the surrounding basement rocks, and are different from the AT-tephra in their size, shape and devitrification properties. Thus it is highly recommended to have a further comprehensive research which is more emphasized the magmatic genesis of these vitric tephra in addition to the external shape and morphology.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.230-239
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• 1999

Perchlorate ion-selective electrodes in PVC membranes that respond linearly to concentration 106 M were developed by incorporating the quaternary phosphonium salts as a canier. The effects of the chemical structure, the contents of canier, the kind of plasticizer and the membrane thickness on electrode characteristics such as the electrode slope, the linear respone range and the detection limit were studied. With this results, the detectable pH range, selectivity coefficients and AC impedance characteristics were compared and investigated. The perchlorate ion substituents of the quaternary phosphonium salts like tetraoctylphosphonium perchlorate (TOPP) , tetraphenylphosphonium perchlorate(TPPP), and tetrabutylphosphonium perchlorate(TBPP) as a canier were used. The electrode characteristics were better in the ascending order of TBPP < TPPP < TOPP, with the increase of carbon chain length of the alkyl group. Dioctylsebacate(OOS) was best as a plasticizer, the canier contents were better with 11.76 wt% and the optimum membrane thickness was 0.19 mm. Under the above condition, the electrode slope was 56.58 mV/$^P{ClO}_4$,the linear response range was $10^{-1}$\times$10^{-6}$ M, the detection limit was 9.66 x $10^{-7}$ M. The performance of electrode was better than Orion electrode. The electrode potential was stable within the pH range from 3 to 11. The order of the selectivity coefficients for the perchlorate ion was sol < F < Br < 1. With the result of impedance spectrum, it was found that the equivalent circuit for the electrode could be expressed by a series combination of solution resistance, parallel circuit consisting of the double layer capacitance and bulk resistance and Warburg impedance. And solution resistance was almost not appeared and Warburg impedance was highly appeared by diffusion. Then Warburg coefficient was 1.32$\times$$10^74 $\Omega$ $\cdot$ ${cm}^2/s^{1/2}$.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.169-193
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• 2016

In order to characterize the Neotectonic crustal deformation and current stress field in and around the Korean Peninsula and to interpret their tectonic implications, this paper synthetically analyzes the previous Quaternary fault and focal mechanism solution data and recent geotechnical in-situ stress data and examines the characteristics of crustal deformations and tectonic settings in and around East Asia after the Miocene. Most of the Quaternary fault outcrops in SE Korea occur along major inherited fault zones and show a NS-striking top-to-the-west thrust geometry, indicating that the faults were produced by local reactivation of appropriately oriented preexisting weaknesses under EW-trending pure compressional stress field. The focal mechanism solutions in and around the Korean Peninsula disclose that strike-slip faulting containing some reverse-slip component and reverse-slip faulting are significantly dominant on land and in sea area, respectively. The P-axes are horizontally clustered in ENE-WSW direction, whereas the T-axes are girdle-distributed in NNW direction. The geotechnical in-situ stress data in South Korea also indicate the ENE-trending maximum horizontal stress. The current crustal deformation in the Korean Peninsula is thus characterized by crustal contraction under regional ENE-WSW or E-W compression stress field. Based on the regional stress trajectories in and around East Asia, the current stress regime is interpreted to have resulted from the cooperation of westward shallow subduction of the Pacific Plate and collision of Indian and Eurasian continents, whereas the Philippine Sea plate have not a decisive effect on the stress-regime in the Korean Peninsula due to its high-angle subduction that resulted in dominant crust extension of the back-arc region. It is also interpreted that the Neotectonic crustal deformation and present-day tectonic setting of East Asia commenced with the change of the Pacific Plate motion during 5~3.2 Ma.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.25-50
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• 1988

The survival of rich evidence of palaeolithic occupation found in the Imjin-Hant'an River basin was possible due to many fortuitous geological conditions provided there. Formation of the basalt plain in a narrow valley system which developed during the late Mesozoic insured the appearance of a basin of sedimentation in which archaeological sites would be preserved with relatively minor post-depositional disturbance. Geomagnetic and K-Ar dating indicates that lava flows occurred during the Brunes Normal Epoch. During and after the process of basin sedimentation, erosion of the plain was confined to the major channel of the present river system which developed along the structural joints formed by the lava flow. Due to characteristic columnar structure and platy cleavage of the basalt bedrock, erosion of the basalt bedrock occurred mainly in vertical direction, developing deep but narrow entrenched valleys cut into the bedrock. Consequently, the large portion of the site area remained intact. Cultural deposits formed on top of the basalt plain were left unmodified by later fluvial disturbances due to changes in the Hant'an River base-level, since they were formed about 20 to 40m above the modern floodplain. Sedimentological evidence of cultural deposits and palynological analysis of lacustrine bed formed in the tributary basin of the Hant'an River indicate that hominid occupation occurred in this basin under rapidly deteriorating climatic conditions. From three thermoluminescence dates, the timing of hominid occupation as represented by 'Acheulian-like' bifaces apparently occur sometime during 45,000 BP. Thus, deposition of cultural layers in this basin approximately coincides with the beginning of the second stadial of the final glacial, during which the Korean Peninsula must have had provided a sanctuary for prolonged human occupation.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.153-177
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• 2013

To get the various data on geological information, distributional ratios and characteristics of constituent rocks with geologic ages and rock types were obtained by ArcGIS 10.1 program, digital geologic and geomorphic maps of 1:250,000 scale in Jeonnam and Gwangju areas. In the Jeonnam area, geologic ages can be largely divided into 7, in which their distribution ratios show decreasing trends in the order of Cretaceous, Precambrian, Jurassic, Quaternary, Age-unknown, Carbonifeorus-Triassic and Triassic, and the former fours make the most prevailing ratios of 94.80%. Rock types in the area can be assorted into 57 ones, in which major 7 ones occupy the dominant ratio of 71.68%. Among them, Kav (acidic volcanics+rhyolite and rhyolitic tuff) show much more distribution ratios than the others. It shows more aspects distributed in north, west, middle, east and south parts, especially in Sinan-Mogpo-Yeongam of west and Haenam of south parts in the area, respectively. On the other hand, geological ages in Gwangju area can be largely divided into 5, in which their distribution ratios show decreasing trends in the order of Jurassic, Quaternary, Cretaceous, Precambrian and Age-unknown, and the former fours occupy almost the whole ratio of 98.95%. Rock types in the area are 12 ones, in which major four ones make up the dominant value of 91.30%. Among them, Jurassic granites of the most dominant value are mostly occupied in the southwest-northeast part of the area. Next dominative Quaternary alluvium is mostly developed along the Yeongsan river, the Hwangryong river and their channel junction. And Yongdu and Donggye plains are well developed around the Yeongsan riverline, and channel junction of the Yeongsan and Hwangryong rivers in the area, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.18 no.2 s.23
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• pp.1-2
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• 2004

The Ilkwang Fault is NNE-striking, elongated 40 Km between Ulsan and Haendae-ku, Busan in southeastem part of the Korean Peninsula(Kim, D.H. et al., 1989; Kim, J.S. et al., 2003). This paper is mainly concemed about the ages of the fault activities especially in the Quatemary, infered from classification of geomorphic surface and trench excavation for the construction of Singori nuclear power plant. The geomorphi surfaces are classified into the Beach and the Alluvial plain, the 10 m a.s.l. Marine terrace, the 20 m a.s.l. Marine terrace, the Reworked surface of 45 m a.s.l. Marine terrace and the Low relief erosional surface, from lower to higher altitude. The Beach and the Alluvial plain are elongated to the Holocene terrace(ist terrace, choi, 2003). The 10 m a.s.l. Marine terrace is correlated to 2nd terrace (MIS 5em 125 Ka. y. B.P., Choi, 1998). The 45 m a.s.l. Marine terace is correlated to the Lower marine terrace (MIS 7,220 Ka. y. B.P., Choi, 2003 or MIS 9,320 y. B.P.) to the Gwanganri terrace(Penultimate interglacial age, 200-200 Ka. Y. B.P., Oh, 1981). The Low relief erosional surface is distributed coastal side, the Reworked surface of 45 m a.s.l. Marine terrace inland side by the Ilkwang Fault Line as the boundary line. But the former is above 10 m higher in relative height than the latter. The 20 m a.s.l. Marine terrace on the elongation line of the Ilkwang Fault reveals no dislocation. A site was trenched on the straight contract line with $N30^{\circ}$ E-striking between the 10 m a.s.l. Marine terrace and the 20 m a.s.l. Marine terrace. Fault line or dislocation was not observable in the trench excavation. Accordingly, the straight contact line is inferred as the ancient shoreline of the 10 m a.s.l. Marine terrace. The Ages of the Fault activities are inferred after the formation of the Ichonri Formation - before the formation of the 45 m a.s.l. Marine terrace (220 Ka. y. B.P. or 320 Ka. y. B.P.). The Low relief erosional surface was an island above the sea-level during the formation of the 45 m a.s.l. Marine terrace in the paleogeography.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.87-101
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• 1989

The development of the Hantan river basin can be divided into three stages. The first stage include the ancient Hantan channel system prior to the Chongokni basalt which yield dates of about 0.6 mya from the K/Ar dating method. During this period the Baekuyri formation was formed. The Baekuyri formation is widely observed under the Chongokni basalt along the current river system. The second stage is the period when stream channels stayed on the top of the basalt plateau. Aggradation and deggradation were continued by meandering and braiding channel systems until major stream channel was formed. The currently remaining deposit on the top of the basalt was formed by lacustrine and fluvial systems in this period. During this period Pleistocene hominid was present on edge of water and flood plain and left Paleolithic material. This period was begun at the time of the final basalt flow dated about 300,000 BP. The third stage is designed for the time when the Hantan river channel was dropped down to a level from which the channel could not influence the top of the basalt any more No more deposit could be formed but erosion by surface water has been continued on the top of the basalt since then. The dropping of the Hantan river channel was probably not very long after the final flow of the basalt. Because of frost action and heavy concentrated precipitation in the basin area along with blocky and clumnar joint structure of the basalt, erosional process of the basalt is believed to have been carried out within a relatively short time. The lowering of the Hantan river channel was probably completed in a cycle of major fluctuation of world cimate. Also, the redclay on the top of the basalt is believed to have been formed during a warm period around 200,000 BP, which accords with the climatic change suggested above fair1y well. The Paleolithic materials in tile deposits fell accordingly into approximately same time period.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.65-88
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• 1982

In the last ten years, marine geological and geophysical survey and research were conducted by Japanese, Russian and American scientists in the East Sea of Korea (Japan Sea). Many research results were published. However, regional research of the geology of the continental margin of the Korean Peninsula was not conducted. This study has made on attempt to classify submarine strata and stratigraphic boundaries. The study has revealed characters of submarine geology and structure. Isopach maps of each identified stratigraphic unit have been constructed as the results of this study. The study was conducted on the basis of analyses of marine seismic surveys carried out in the continental margin of the East Sea between Kangneung and Pohang. Three depositional basins were identified in the study area and they were named as, Mukho Basin, Hupo Basin and Pohang Basin. The Mukho Basin is developed in continental slope and shelf in the area between Kangneung and Samcheog. Quaternary and Pliocene sediments attain a maximum thickness of 900 m. Basement rocks are interpreted as granite and gneiss. They are correlated with granite-gneiss of the Taebaecksan Series of Pre-cambrian age and the Daebo granite of Jurassic age. The Hupo Basin is developed in the continental shelf between Uljin and Youngdeok. Quaternary and Pliocene sediments attain a maximum thickness of 600 m. Basement rocks were interpreted as granite and gneiss and they are correlated with metamorphic rocks of Pre-cambrian age and the Daebo granites, comprising the Ryongnam Massif. The Pohang Basin is developed in the area between Pohang and Gangu. This basin contains Miocene and older sediments. Basement rocks are not shown. Many faults are developed within the continental shelf and slope. These faults strike parallel with the coast line. A north-south direction is predominant in the southern study area. However, in the northern study area the faults strike north, and north-west. The faults are parallel to each other and are step faults down-thrown to the east or west, forming horst and graben structures which develop into sedimentary basins. Such faults caused the development of submarine banks along the boundary between the continental shelf and slope. This bank has acted as a barrier for deposition in the Hupo Basin. Paleozoic sedimentary rocks distributed widely in the adjacent land area are absent in the Mukho Basin. This suggests that the area of the basin was situated above the sea level until the Pliocene time. The study area contains Pliocene sediments in general. These sediments overlie the basement complex composed of metamorphic rocks, granites, Cretaceous (Kyongsang System) sedimentary rocks and Miocene sedimentary rocks. These facts lead to a conclusion that the continental shelf and slope of the study area were developed as a result of displacements along faults oriented parallel to the present coast line in the post Miocene time.