• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.367-383
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• 2012

The Gyeongsang Arc is the most notable of the Korea Arc that is composed of several volcanic arcs trending to NE-SW direction in the Korean peninsula. The Hayang Group has many volcanogenic interbeds of lava flows by alkaline or calc-alkaline basaltic volcanisms during early Cretaceous. Late Cretaceous calc-alkaline andesitic and rhyolitic volcanisms reconstructed the Gyeongsang Arc that consist of thick volcanic strata on the Hayang Group in The Gyeongsang Basin. The volcanisms characterize first eruptions of basaltic and andesitic lavas with small pyroclastics, and continue later eruptions of dacitic and rhyolitic ash-fall and voluminous ash-flow with some calderas and then domes and dykes. During the Early Cretaceous (about 120 Ma), oblique subduction of the Izanagi plate to NNW from N direction results in sinistral strike-slip faults to open a pull-apart basin in back-arc area of the Gyeongsang Arc, in which erupted lava flows from generation of magma by a decrease in lithostatic pressure. Therefore the Gyeongsang Basin is interpreted into back-arc basin reconstructed by a continental rifting. Arc volcanism began in about 100 Ma with exaggeration of the back-arc basin in the Gyeongsang, and then changed violently to construct volcanic arcs. During the Late Cretaceous (about 90 Ma), orthogonal subduction of the Izanagi plate to NW from NNW direction ceased development of the basin to prolong violent volcanisms.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.397-411
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• 2020

The Cretaceous Yucheon Group is volcano-sedimentary successions that are formed by volcanic activities of the Gyeongsang Volcanic Arc. Lack of the detailed field researches on the Yucheon Group results in poor understanding of the formation time and the tempo-spatial development of the volcanic arc. Also, this causes difficulties to reconstruct the depositional history from the Sindong and Hayang groups to the Yucheon Group. In this study, we conducted field research targeting to the interface between topmost part of the Hayang Group and the lowermost part of the Yucheon Group from Hyeonpoong to Bugok areas. We also identified depositional timing of the lowermost part of the Yucheon Group using SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age dating. This Yucheon Group is composed of tuff and lapilli tuff, conformably overlying the Jindong Formation. The results of SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age are 97 to 96 Ma, indicating cessation of deposition of the Hayang Group at 97 to 96 Ma by input of pyroclastic materials into the Jinju Subbasin during the explosive volcanic eruptions from the Gyeongsang Volcanic Arc. In comparison with field researches and results of LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb age dating (88-85 Ma) of the lowermost part of the Yucheon Group in Gyeongju areas, the volcanic activities that formed Yucheon Group and their influence ranges varied tempo-spatially. This is probably due to distance difference from the volcanic arc or establishment of the paleo-drainage system from the Gyeongsang Volcanic Arc to nearby lowlands.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.169-181
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• 2014

Korea government has consistently investigated the development of economic mineral deposits in the Tofua volcanic arc, Tonga since 2008 for the secure of sea floor mineral resources. We studied the composition and distribution of minerals formed by hydrothermal activity around TA 25 seamounts of the Tofua volcanic arc, Lau Basin, Tonga, using X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. We used 7 core samples and 9 surface sediment samples. Barite, sphalerite, and clinoclase are present in the most volcanic vent area. Gypsum, smectite, and kaolin mineral are distributed in vent A area, chalcopyrite, pyrite, smectite, and kaolin mineral are in vent B and C area, and gypsum, chalcopyrite, pyrite, and goethite are in vent D area. From the study of clay fraction, smectite and few kaolinite are detected in the most studied area except inner part of caldera, which suggest that argillic alteration are dominant in the volcanic vent areas. Various sulfide or arsenide minerals were found in the hydrothermal vent B, C, and D. The mineralogy and geochemistry suggest higher hydrothermal activities in volcanic vent B, C, and D compared to vent A and inner caldera area. Therefore higher probabilities of massive sulfide deposits may occur in hydrothermal vent B, C, and D.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.47-63
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• 2004

This study focuses on the petrography and petrochemical characteristics of the volcanic and plutonic rocks in Gadeog island, Busan, Korea. Based on textural and mineralogical characteristics, intermediate volcanic rocks can be divided into andesitic lava flows (porphyritic and massive andesites) and andesitic pyroclastics. Felsic volcanic rocks are composed of rhyolite, rhyolitic welded tuff, and tuff breccia. Plutonic rocks are intruded rhyolite and andesitic rocks, and composed of hornblende granodiorite which contains lots of mafic magma enclaves. Volcanic rocks are composed of andesite, dacite and rhyolite having a range in SiO$_2$ from 59 to 78wt.%. The volcanic rocks belong to the calc-alkaline rock series. Plutonic rocks have a range in SiO$_2$ from 63 to 69wt.%. This compositional variations correspond to those of Cretaceous volcanic and plutonic rocks in the southeastern Gyeongsang basin. The trace element composition and rare earth element patterns of the volcanics, which are characterized by high LREE/HFSE ratios and enrichment in LREE, suggest that they are typical of calc-alkaline volcanic rocks produced in the subduction environment around continental arc. We concluded that volcanic and plutonic rocks in Gadeog Island were evolved from orogenic andesitic magma which was produced by partial melting of the mantle wedge in the subduction environment.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2023

While numerous previous studies investigated the provenance and tectonic history of the Gyeongsang Supergroup, less are known about other Cretaceous strata in South Korea. This study presents preliminary results from petrographic analysis of the Cretaceous Icheonri Formation distributed in Gijang-gun, Busan. Based on the immature texture and composition of the Icheonri sediments, we interpret that they were derived from weakly denudated Cretaceous arc volcanoes developed along the eastern margin of the Asian continent, with limited weathering and transport. Additionally, the presence of chrome spinel grains in the sediments suggests the existence of ultramafic bodies exposed in their provenance. Further studies will advance our understanding of the tectonic developments in the southeastern Gyeongsang Basin, and facilitate a comprehensive correlation between the Icheonri Formation and the Gyeongsang Supergroup.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.233-247
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• 2012

We have researched the distribution and characteristics of seafloor hydrothermal deposits for the development of economic mineral deposits in the Lau Basin, Tonga since 2009. In this study, we interpreted hydrothermal alteration around TA 26 seamounts of the Tofua volcanic arc using X-ray diffraction analysis for bulk sample and preferred-oriented specimen of clay fraction. We used 2 core samples and several surface samples. Plagioclase and quartz are dominant mineral in the basement rock, whereas kaolin mineral and smectite are superior in marine surface sediments. Especially sulfate and sulfide minerals such as gypsum, barite, sphalerite, and pyrite are predominant in the vent sediments. When we compare the mineral composition between basement rock and sea surface sediments, argillic alteration zone composed of kaolin mineral and smectite could be produced by hydrothermal fluids. Based on the downcore variation of mineral assemblages, most portion of MC08H-06 core could be interpreted as argillic alteration zone composed of kaolin mineral and smectite except top 2 cm area. Various sulfate or sulfide minerals and argillic alteration zone suggest a high probability of massive sulfide deposits in the seafloor of the TA 26 seamount.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.57-65
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• 2009

Selection of good mineralized area is a combination of the integration of all the available geo-scientific (i.e., geological, geochemical, and geophysical) information, extrapolation of likely features from known mineralized terrenes and the ability to be predictive. The time-space relationships of the hydrothermal deposits in the East Asia are closely related to the changing plate motions. Also, two distinctive hydrothermal systems during Mesozoic occurred in Korea: the Jurassic/Early Cretaceous deep-level ones during the Daebo orogeny and the Late Cretaceous/Tertiary shallow geothermal ones during the Bulguksa event. Both the Mesozoic geothermal system and the mineralization document a close spatial and temporal relationship with syn- to post-tectonic magmatism. The Jurassic mineral deposits were formed at the relatively high temperature and deep-crustal level from the mineralizing fluids characterized by the relatively homogeneous and similar ranges of ${\delta}^{18}O$ values, suggesting that ore-forming fluids were principally derived from spatially associated Jurassic granitoid and related pegmatite. Most of the Jurassic auriferous deposits (ca. 165-145 Ma) show fluid characteristics typical of an orogenic-type gold deposits, and were probably generated in a compressional to transpressional regime caused by an orthogonal to oblique convergence of the Izanagi Plate into the East Asian continental margin. On the other hand, Late Cretaceous ferroalloy, base-metal and precious-metal deposits in the Taebaeksan, Okcheon and Gyeongsang basins occurred as vein, replacement, breccia-pipe, porphyry-style and skarn deposits. Diverse mineralization styles represent a spatial and temporal distinction between the proximal environment of sub-volcanic activity and the distal to transitional condition derived from volcanic environments. However, Cu (-Au) or Fe-Mo-W deposits are proximal to a magmatic source, whereas polymetallic or precious-metal deposits are more distal to transitional. Strike-slip faults and caldera-related fractures together with sub-volcanic activity are associated with major faults reactivated by a northward (oblique) to northwestward (orthogonal) convergence, and have played an important role in the formation of the Cretaceous Au-Ag lode deposits (ca. 110-45 Ma) under a continental arc setting. The temporal and spatial distinctions between the two typical Mesozoic deposit styles in Korea reflect a different thermal episodes (i.e., late orogenic and post-orogenic) and ore-forming fluids related to different depths of emplacement of magma (i.e., plutonic and sub-volcanic) due to regional changes in tectonic settings.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.595-610
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• 2000

This study has been designed to elucidate the petrography and geochemical characteristics of the volcanic rocks and focused on petrogenesis and tectonic environment of the Bokyeongsa volcanics in the northeast Gyeongsang Basin. The Bokyeongsa volcanics consist of the Naeyeonsan tuff which include rock fragment plagioclase, quartz and hornblende and pumice showing welded structures, and felsite. According to the petrochemical data, the Naeyeonsan tuff and felsite are in the range of 68${\sim}$71wt% and 77wt% SiO$_2$ content respectively. The Naeyeonsan tuff belongs to dacite/rhyodacite, and felsite to rhyolite. These volcanics rocks belong to the calc-alkaline rock series on the TAS diagram and the AFM diagram. The variations of major elements of the volcanic rocks show that contene of TiO$_2$, Al$_2$ O$_3$, FeO$^T$, MnO, MgO, CaO are inversely proportional to those of SiO$_2$, but contents of K$_2$O are positively. They represent differentiation trend of calc-alkaline rocks series. In spider disgram of MORB-normalized trace element partterns, contents of K, Rb, Th and Ta are relatively high, but those of Nb, Zr, Hf, Ti, Y and Yb are nearly similar to MORB. In the chondrite-normalized REE patterns, light REEs are more enriched than heavy REEs. The trace element composition and REE patterns suggest that they are typical island-arc calc-akaline volcanic rocks formed in the tectonomagmatic environment of subduction zone under continental margin.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.235-254
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• 2017

We investigate the geological history that formed geology and landscapes of the Juwangsan National Park and its surrounding areas. The Juwangsan area is composed of Precambrian gneisses, Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks, Permian to Triassic plutonic rocks, Early Mesozoic sedimentary rocks, Late Mesozoic plutonic and volcanic rocks, Cenozoic Tertiary rhyolites and Quaternary taluses. The Precambrian gneisses and Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks of the Ryeongnam massif occurs as xenolithes and roof-pendents in the Permian to Triassic Yeongdeok and Cheongsong plutonic rocks, which were formed as the Songrim orogeny by magmatic intrusions occurring in a subduction environment under the northeastern and western parts of the area before a continental collision between Sino-Korean and South China lands. The Cheongsong plutonic rocks were intruded by the Late Triassic granodiorite, which include to be metamorphosed as an orthogneiss. The granodiorite includes geosites of orbicular structure and mineral spring. During the Cretaceous, the Gyeongsang Basin and Gyeongsang arc were formed by a subduction of the Izanagi plate below East Asia continent in the southeastern Korean Peninsula. The Gyeongsang Basin was developed to separate into Yeongyang and Cheongsong subbasins, in which deposited Dongwach/Hupyeongdong Formation, Gasongdong/Jeomgok Formation, and Dogyedong/Sagok Formation in turn. There was intercalated by the Daejeonsa Basalt in the upper part of Dogyedong Formation in Juwangsan entrance. During the Late Cretaceous 75~77 Ma, the Bunam granitoid stock, which consists of various lithofacies in southwestern part, was made by a plutonism that was mixing to have an injection of mafic magma into felsic magma. During the latest Cretaceous, the volcanic rocks were made by several volcanisms from ubiquitous andesitic and rhyolitic magmas, and stratigraphically consist of Ipbong Andesite derived from Dalsan, Jipum Volcanics from Jipum, Naeyeonsan Tuff from Cheongha, Juwangsan Tuff from Dalsan, Neogudong Formation and Muposan Tuff. Especially the Juwangsan Tuff includes many beautiful cliffs, cayon, caves and falls because of vertical columnar joints by cooling in the dense welding zone. During the Cenozoic Tertiary, rhyolite intrusions formed lacolith, stocks and dykes in many sites. Especially many rhyolite dykes make a radial Cheongsong dyke swarm, of which spherulitic rhyolite dykes have various floral patterns. During the Quaternary, some taluses have been developed down the cliffs of Jungtaesan lacolith and Muposan Tuff.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2000

The Cretaceous basaltic rocks in Gyeongsang Basin are temporally and spatially dispersed widely in thick sedimentary piles: Chilgog basaltic rock (CGB) and Cheongyongsa basaltic rock (CSB) in the Shindong Group, and Hakbong basaltic rocks (HBB), Osibbong basalt (OSB), Secheondong basaltic rocks (SCB), Haman basaltic rocks (HAB), Hama basaltic rocks (HMB), and Chaeyaksan basaltic rocks (CYB) in the Hayang Group, upwardly in their stratigraphy. Chilgog basaltic rock is merely identified as pebbles in the Shilla Conglomerate and its provenance has not been found, and it is characteristics that the volcanics except Osibbong basalt and Chaeyaksan basaltic rocks are very small in both of their thickness and extension. Petrochemical diversity of the basaltic rocks are revealed; OSB and SCB distributed in the Yeongyang Minor Basin preserve the calc-alkaline natures in major and immobile minor element geochemistry, but CGB, HBB, HAB, and CYB reflect that they might be originated from calc-alkaline basaltic magma of volcanic arc in continental margin area by trace elements and altered to alkaline suites in the viewpoint of their major element geochemistry. Major and trace element geochemistry of CSB and HMB suggests that they may be derived from within -plate alkaline magma contaminated by the upper continental crust, especially in the case of the former.