• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.132-142
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• 2009

The Tamar rift valley runs through the City of Launceston, Tasmania. Damage has occurred to city buildings due to earthquake activity in Bass Strait. The presence of the ancient valley, the Tamar valley, in-filled with soft sediments that vary rapidly in thickness from 0 to 250mover a few hundreds metres, is thought to induce a 2D resonance pattern, amplifying the surface motions over the valley and in Launceston. Spatially averaged coherency (SPAC), frequency-wavenumber (FK) and horizontal to vertical spectrum ratio (HVSR) microtremor survey methods are combined to identify and characterise site effects over the Tamar valley. Passive seismic array measurements acquired at seven selected sites were analysed with SPAC to estimate shear wave velocity (slowness) depth profiles. SPAC was then combined with HVSR to improve the resolution of these profiles in the sediments to an approximate depth of 125 m. Results show that sediments thicknesses vary significantly throughout Launceston. The top layer is composed of as much as 20m of very soft Quaternary alluvial sediments with a velocity from 50 m/s to 125 m/s. Shear-wave velocities in the deeper Tertiary sediment fill of the Tamar valley, with thicknesses from 0 to 250m vary from 400 m/s to 750 m/s. Results obtained using SPAC are presented at two selected sites (GUN and KPK) that agree well with dispersion curves interpreted with FK analysis. FK interpretation is, however, limited to a narrower range of frequencies than SPAC and seems to overestimate the shear wave velocity at lower frequencies. Observed HVSR are also compared with the results obtained by SPAC, assuming a layered earth model, and provide additional constraints on the shear wave slowness profiles at these sites. The combined SPAC and HVSR analysis confirms the hypothesis of a layered geology at the GUN site and indicates the presence of a 2D resonance pattern across the Tamar valley at the KPK site.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.699-708
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• 2009

Recently as the interest in the development of domestic ore deposits has increased, we can easily find some studies on exploration geophysics-based ore-deposit survey in literature. Based on the fact that mineralized zone are generally more conductive than surrounding media, electrical resistivity survey among several geophysical surveys has been applied to investigate metallic ore deposits. Most of them are grounded on 2-D survey. However, 2-D inversion may lead to some misinterpretation for 3-D geological structures. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of the 3-D electrical resistivity survey to 3-D vein-type ore deposits. We first simulate 2-D dipole-dipole survey data for survey lines normal to the strike and 3-D pole-pole survey data, and then perform 3-D inversion. For 3-D ore-body structures, we assume a width-varying dyke, a wedge-shaped, and a fault model. The 3-D inversion results are compared to 2-D inversion results. By comparing 3-D inversion results for 2-D dipole-dipole survey data to 3-D inversion results for 3-D pole-pole survey data, we could note that the 2-D dipole-dipole survey data yield better inversion results than the 3-D pole-pole data, which is due to the main characteristic of the pole-pole array. From these results, we are convinced that if we have certain information on the direction of the strike, it would be desirable to apply 2-D dipole-diple survey for the survey lines normal to the strike. However, in most cases, we do not have any information on the direction of the strike, because we already developed the ore deposit with the outcrops and the remaining ore deposits are buried under the surface. In that case, performing 3-D pole-pole electrical resistivity survey would be a reasonable choice to obtain more accurate interpretation on ore body structure in spite of low resolution of pole-pole array.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.150-161
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• 2018

Recently, unmanned aircraft EM (electromagnetic) survey based on ICT (Information and Communication Technology) has been widely utilized because of the efficiency in regional survey. We performed the theoretical study on the unmanned airship EM system developed by KIGAM (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral resources) as part of the practical application of unmanned aircraft EM survey. Since this system has different configurations of transmitting and receiving loops compared to the conventional aircraft EM systems, a new technique is required for the appropriate interpretation of measured responses. Therefore, we proposed a method to calculate the EM field for the arbitrary shaped transmitter and verified its validity through the comparison with analytic solution for circular loop. In addition, to simulate the magnetic responses by three-dimensionally (3D) distributed anomalies, we have adapted our algorithm to 3D frequency-domain EM modeling algorithm based on the edge-FEM (finite element method). Though the analysis on magnetic field responses from a subsurface anomaly, it was found that the response decreases as the depth of the anomaly increases or the flight altitude increases. Also, it was confirmed that the response became smaller as the resistivity of the anomaly increases. However, a nonlinear trend of the out-of-phase component is shown depending on the depth of the anomaly and the used frequency, that makes it difficult to apply simple analysis based on the mapping of the magnitude of the responses and can cause the non-uniqueness problem in calculating the apparent resistivity. Thus, it is a prerequisite to analyze the appropriate frequency band and flight altitude considering the purpose of the survey and the site conditions when conducting a survey using the unmanned aircraft EM system.

• 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 Quaternary Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.7-31
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• 2000

Quaternary Geological and geophysical investigation was performed at the Eurimji reservoir of Jaechon City in order to interprete depositional environment and genesis of lake sediments. For this purpose, echo sounding, bottom sampling and columnar sampling by drilling on board and GPR survey were employed for a proper field investigation. Laboratory tests cover grain size population analysis, pollen analysis and $^{14}C$ datings for the lake sediments. The some parts of lake bottom sediments anthropogenically tubated and filled several times to date, indicating several mounds on the bottom surface which is difficult to explain by bottom current. Majority of natural sediments were accumulated both as rolling and suspended loads during seasonal flooding regime, when flash flow and current flow are relatively strong not only at bridge area of the western part of Eurimji, connected to stream valley, but at the several conduit or sewage system surrounding the lake. Most of uniform suspend sediments are accumulated at the lake center and lower bank area. Some parts of bottom sediments indicate the existence of turbid flow and mudflow probably due to piezometric overflowing from the lake bottom, the existence of which are proved by CM patterns of the lake bottom sediments. The columnar samples of the lake sediments in ER-1 and ER-3-1 boreholes indicate good condition without any human tubation. The grain size character of borehole samples shows poorly sorted population, predominantly composed of fine sand and muds, varying skewness and kurtosis, which indicate multi-processed lake deposits, very similar to lake bottom sediments. Borehole columnar section, echo sounding and GPR survey profilings, as well as processed data, indicate that organic mud layers of Eurimji lake deposits are deeper and thicker towards lower bank area, especially west of profile line-9. In addition the columnar sediments indicate plant coverage of the Eurimji area were divided into two pollen zones. Arboreal pollen ( AP) is predominant in the lower pollen zone, whreas non-aboreal pollen(NAP) is rich in the upper pollen zone. Both of the pollen zones are related to the vegetation coverage frequently found in coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved trees(mixed forest) surrounded by mountains and hilly areas and prevailing by aquatic or aquatic margin under the wet temperate climate. The $^{14}C$ age of the dark gray organic muds, ER1-12 sample, is 950$\pm$40 years B.P. As the sediments are anthropogenetically undisturbed, it is assumed that the reliability of age is high. Three $^{14}C$ ages of the dark gray organic muds, including ER3-1-8, ER3-1-10, ER3-1-11 samples, are 600$\pm$30 years B.P., 650$\pm$30 years B.P., 800$\pm$40 years B.P. in the descending order of stratigraphic columnar section. Based on the interpretation of depositional environments and formation ages, it is proved that Eurimji reservoir were constructed at least 950$\pm$40 years B.P., the calibrated ages of which ranges from 827 years, B.P. to 866 years B.P. Ancient people utilize the natural environment of the stream valley to meet the need of water irrigation for agriculture in the local valley center and old alluvium fan area.