• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.113-126
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• 2022

The tectonic history of the Chukchi Abyssal Plain in the Amerasia Basin, Arctic Ocean, has not been fully explored due to the harsh conditions of sea ice preventing detailed observation. Existing models of the tectonic history of the region provide contrasting interpretation of the timing of formation of the crust (Mesozoic to Cenozoic), crust type (from hyper-extended continental crust to oceanic crust), and formation process (from parallel/fan-shaped rifting to transformation faulting). To help determine the age of the oceanic crust, the geothermal gradient was measured at three stations in the south of abyssal plain at depth of 2,160-2,250 m below sea level. Heat flow measurement stations were located perpendicular to the spreading axis over a 40 km-long transect. In-situ thermal conductivity measurement, corrected by the laboratory test, gave observed marine heat flows of 55 to 61 mW/m². All measurements were taken during Arctic expeditions in 2018 (ARA09C expedition) and 2021 (ARA12C expedition) by the Korean ice-breaking research vessel (IBRV) Araon. Given the assumption of oceanic crust, the results correspond to formation in the Late Cretaceous (Mesozoic). The inferred age supports the hypothesis of formation activated by the opening of the Makarov Basin during the Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic. This would make it contemporaneous with rifting of the Chukchi Border Land immediately east of the abyssal plain. The heat flow data indicate the base of the gas hydrate stability zone is located 332-367 m below the seafloor, this will help to identify the gas hydrate-related bottom simulating reflector in the future seismic survey, as already identified on the Chukchi Plateau. Further geophysical surveys, including heat flow measurements, are required to increase our understanding of the formation process and thermal mantle structure of the abyssal plain.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.289-295
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• 2016

Study on characteristics of the molluscan community structure and relationship between the structure and environmental variables in the abyssal plain of the East Sea was carried out for 5 years, starting from 2009 until the end of 2015 except 2010 and 2011. The water depth at the study site is approximately 1,600 m at minimum, and maximum depth of 2,000 m and a total of 16 molluscan species including Aplacophora, Gastropoda and Bivalvia were observed. Species with the highest biomass was Thyasira tokunagai, followed by Yoldiella philippiana which were observed at 9 sampling stations every year. Among 4 sampling stations having various depths (1,600/ 1,700/ 1,800/ 2,000 m), the highest diversity for species was observed at water depths of 1,600 m and 1,700 m, but found the lowest at 1,800 m. Both abundance and biomass were found to be negative correlations with water depth (p < 0.05), however, showed a positive correlation with the concentrations of organic matters (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). However, it is interesting to note that both Thyasira tokunagai (biomass, 82.6%; abundance, 44.1%) and Yoldiella philippiana (biomass, 15.9%; abundance, 4.7%) did not show distinctive correlations with water depth as well as concentrations of organic matters (p > 0.05). Therefore, it could be concluded that community structure of both Thyasira tokunagai and Yoldiella philippiana did not appear to be affected by water depth and concentrations of organic matters but geographical characteristics.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 1968

An interesting bacterium (#271) was isolated from the abyssal plain of the Sigsbee Deep of the Gulf of Mexico. The organism exhibits marked polymorphism (baciloid, coryneform and myceloid morphologies) in response to certain cultural conditions. the organism has been observed undergoing reproduction by transverse fission, fragmentation and arthrospore production. The presence of arthrospores indicates the bacterium is a member of the genus Arthrobacter; however, computed affinity coefficients do not confirm this genus. Until further studies have been completed on this isolate the authors are reluctant to place it in a generic group.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.110-122
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• 1988

Between the Clarion and Clipperton fracture zones of the Northeastern Pacific, nodules and crusts were collected from abyssal plain and hills by the Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute in December, 1983 aboard the R/V KANA KEOKI of the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics. Mineralogical and geochemical data of bulk nodules are obtained and compared with analyses of other studies. Mechanisms of nodule formation are discussed based on these data. Generally, the nodules of the KONOD-1 site are composed of todorokite and ${\delta}-MnO_2$. The contents of Mn, Fe, Ni, and Cu of the bulk nodules are variable and the average contents of metals are slightly lower (Mn, 21.40%; Ni, 0.9%; Cu, 0.8%) than those of nodules from other abyssal plains between the Clarion and Clipperton fracture zones. High Mn/Fe (average 3.9; maximum 5.9) and Cu/Ni (average 0.8; maximum 1.0) ratios are similar to the nodules that were formed diagenetically in the northeast Pacific. The chemical characteristics of the KONOD-1 nodules reflect their sedimentary environments; nodules with higher diagenetic signatures occur in areas of thin Quaternary siliceous ooze, and nodules of lower diagenetic influence occur in topographically irregular abyssal hill areas.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.163-172
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• 2007

A seafloor curvature measurement method was developed to extract redundant topographic features from the multi-beam bathymetry data, and then applied to the data of abyssal plain area in the Pacific. Any seafloor might be modeled to a quadratic surface determined in a linear least squares sense, and its curvature could be derived from the eigen values related with quadratic model parameters. The curvature's magnitude as well as polarity showed distinct relationship with geometric characteristics of the seafloor like as ridge and valley. From the investigation of curvature's variation with the number of data in the quadratic surface, the optimal size of data aperture could be applied to real bathymetry data. The application to real data also required the determination of the accompanying threshold values to cope with corresponding topographic features. The calculation method of previous studies were reported to be sensitive to the background noise. The improved curvature measurement method, incorporating the sum of eigen values has reduced unwanted artifacts and enhanced ability to extract lineament features along strike direction. The result of application shows that the curvature measurement method is effective tool for the estimation of a possible mining area in the seamount free abyssal hill area.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.427-441
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• 2006

Sub-bottom profiler and deep tow imaging system were performed in the KODOS (Korea Deep Ocean Study) area in order to find out controlling factor in nodule formation from the relationship between distribution of Mn nodules and micro-scale topographic change. Although abundance of r- and t- types nodules increase on the seafloor of thin upper transparent layer, no significant correlation was found between the thickness of upper transparent layer and total nodule abundance in the study area. Our results show that distribution pattern of nodule, including abundance, continuity, and facies, can vary with small scale in similar abyssal plain.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.210-227
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• 1992

KODOS-89 area, the northwestern part of Clarion-Clarion-Clipperton fracture zones in the Northeast Pacific, was surveyed in order to study the occurrence and distribution of manganese nodules. Variations in the nodule characteristics are related mainly to seafloor topography. Nodules from abyssal plain have high Mn/Fe ratio and high Mn, Cu, Ni and Zn concentrations, whereas those from seamount are characterized by low Mn/Fe ratio and high Fe and Co concentrations. These compositional characteristics are attributed to toxic diagnosis and hydrogenesis, respectively. Nodules of the early diegenetic origin tend to accurate crystalline Mn-oxides uniformly within the topmost sediment layers and maintain a regular spheroidal, ellipsoidal to discoidal shape with rough surface textures. On the other hand, those of hydrogenetic origin are characterized by polynucleation, irregualr shape, and smooth surface textures. Nodule abundance is high (avg. 13.4 kg/m$^2$) in seamount area, resulting from ample supply of nucleating materials by auto-fragmentation of older nodules. Nodule abundance in abyssal plain is relatively low (avg. 3.9 kg/m$^2$) and tends to increase southward. This phenomenon results from facilitation of taking seed materials from adjacent seamount and enhancement of the early diagenesis by sufficient supply of organic materials. Nodule abundance is considered to be controlled primarily by seeding effects and secondly by supplies of organic materials.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.173-182
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• 2007

It is well known that manganese nodules enriched with valuable metals are abundantly distributed in the abyssal plain area in the Clarion-Clipperton (C-C) fracture zone of the northeast Pacific. Previous studies using deep-sea camera (DSC) system reported different observations about the relation of seafloor topographic change and nodule abundance, and they were sometimes contradictory. Moreover, proper foundation on the estimation of DSC underwater position, was not introduced clearly. The variability of the mining condition of manganese nodule according to seafloor topography was examined in the Korea Deep Ocean Study (KODOS) area, located in the C-C zone. In this paper, it is suggested that the utilization of deep towing system such as DSC is very useful approach to whom are interested in analysing the distributional characteristics of manganese nodule filed and in selecting promising minable area. To this purpose, nodule abundance and detailed bathymetry were acquired using deep-sea camera system and multi-beam echo sounder, respectively on the seamount free abyssal hill area of southern part ($132^{\circ}10'W$, $9^{\circ}45'N$) in KODOS regime. Some reasonable assumptions were introduced to enhance the accuracy of estimated DSC sampling position. The accuracy in the result of estimated underwater position was verified indirectly through the comparison of measured abundances on the crossing point of neighboring DSC tracks. From the recorded seafloor images, not only nodules and sediments but cracks and cliffs could be also found frequently. The positions of these probable unminable area were calculated by use of the recorded time being encountered with them from the seafloor images of DSC. The results suggest that the unminable areas are mostly distributed on the slope sides and hill tops, where nodule collector can not travel over.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.605-622
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• 2007

Elemental, Rock-Eval pyrolysis and isotopic analysis of the core sediments from the northwestern and eastern Ulleung Basin of the East were carried out to identify their geochemical characteristics, spatial and vertical variation and origin of organic matter in Upper Quaternary sediments from the northwestern and eastern Ulleung Basin of the East Sea. TOC, m and TS did not show spatial variation between the sampling locations whereas they showed systematic vertical variation associated with MIS stages related to the sea-level change of the East Sea. It is suggested that these past changes of sea-level influenced the sedimentary depositional environments and/or diagenesis which resulted the patterns observed in this study. Based on the results of TOC/N, TS/TOC, ${\delta}^{13}C_{org}\;and\;{\delta}^{15}N_{org}$ analysis, organic matters in the study area appears to be predominantly originated from the marine algae rather than land plant and deposited under normal marine oxic condition during MIS I and MIS III period, and under euxinic/anoxic condition during MIS II period. TOC/N, ${\delta}^{13}C_{org}\;and\;{\delta}^{15}N_{org}$ have a relatively constant value irrespective of MIS stages, implying that the organic matter source does not change by the sea-level fluctuations. However, the results of Rock-Eval pyrolysis indicates that the organic matter is in immature stage and originated from land-plant (Type III), locating in the immature stage land plant (Type III). Similar differences were reported from other areas such as the Atlantic Ocean, Iberia Abyssal Plain, Mediterranean Sea, suggesting that Rock-Eval method does not exactly reflect the characteristic of immature organic matters. Accordingly, the application of Rock-Eval pyrolysis for delineating the source of immature organic matters should be approached with caution and all other geochemical proxies should be considered altogether at the same time.