• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.541-550
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• 2022

A pre-existing landform is created by weathering and erosion along the bedrock fault and the weak zone. A neotectonic landform is formed by neotectonic movements such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and Quaternary faults. It is difficult to clearly distinguish the landform in the actual field because the influence of the tectonic activity in the Korean Peninsula is relatively small, and the magnitude of surface processes (e.g., erosion and weathering) is intense. Thus, to better understand the impact of tectonic activity and distinguish between pre-existing landforms and neotectonic landforms, it is necessary to understand the development process of pre-existing landforms depending on the bedrock characteristics. This study used a two-dimensional numerical landscape evolution model (LEM) to study the spatio-temporal development of landscape according to the different erodibility under the same factors of climate and the uplift rate. We used hill-slope indices (i.e., relief, mean elevation, and slope) and channels (i.e., longitudinal profile, normalized channel steepness index, and stream order) to distinguish the difference according to different bedrocks. As a result of the analysis, the terrain with high erosion potential shows low mean elevation, gentle slope, low stream order, and channel steepness index. However, the value of the landscape with low erosion potential differs from that with high erodibility. In addition, a knickpoint came out at the boundary of the bedrock. When researching the actual topography, the location around the border of difference in bedrock has only been considered a pre-existing factor. This study suggested that differences in bedrock and various topographic indices should be comprehensively considered to classify pre-existing and active tectonic topography.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.287-307
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• 2012

The study area, which is located in the southeastern part of the Jirisan province of the Yeongnam massif, Korea, consists mainly of the Precambrian Hadong northern anorthosite complex (HNAC) and the Jirisan metamorphic rock complex (JMRC) and the Mesozoic granitoids which intrude them. Its tectonic frame is built into NS trend, unlike the general NE-trending tectonic frame of Korean Peninsula. This paper researched the structural characteristics at each deformation phase to clarify the geological structures associated with the NS-trending tectonic frame which was built in the HNAC and JMRC. The result indicates that the geological structures of this area were formed at least through three phases of deformation. (1) The $D_1$ deformation formed the $F_1$ sheath or "A"-type folds in the HNAC and JMRC, and the $S_{0-1}$ composite foliation and the $S_1$ foliation and the $D_1$ ductile shear zone which are (sub)parallel to the axial plane of $F_1$ fold, and the $L_1$ stretching lineation which is parallel to the $F_1$ fold axis owing to the large-scale top-to-the SE shearing on the $S_0$ foliation. (2) The $D_2$ deformation (re)folded the $D_1$ structural elements under the EW-trending tectonic compression environment, and formed the NS-trending $F_2$ open, tight, isoclinal, intrafolial folds with the $S_{0-1-2}$ composite foliation and the $S_2$ foliation and the $D_2$ ductile shear zone with S-C-C' structure and the $L_2$ stretching lineation which is (sub)parallel to the axial plane of $F_2$ fold. The extensive $D_2$ ductile shear zone (Hadong shear zone) of NS trend was persistently developed along the eastern boundary of HNAC and JMRC which would be to the limb of $F_2$ fold on a geological map scale. The Hadong shear zone is no less than 1.4 km width, and was formed in the mylonitization process which produced the mylonitic structure and the stretching lineation with the reduction of grain size during the $F_2$ passive folding. (3) The $D_3$ deformation formed the EW-trending $F_3$ kink or open fold under the NS-trending tectonic compression environment and partially rearranged the NS-trending pre-$D_3$ structural elements into (E)NE or (W)NW direction. The regional trend of $D_1$ tectonic frame before the $D_2$ deformation would be NE-SW unlike the present, and the NS-trending tectonic frame in the HNAC and JMRC like the present was formed by the rearrangement of the $D_1$ tectonic frame owing to the $F_2$ active and passive folding. Based on the main intrusion age of (N)NE-trending basic dyke in the study area, these three deformation events are interpreted to have occurred before the Late Paleozoic.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 1974

From the point of view of geological history, the land of South Korea is regarded as the subject of processes of the changes in formations of several geological blocks such as Kyonggi massif, Yeongnam massif, Taebaegsan basin, Kyungsang basin and so on. Through the long period of geological chronology, the present topography and geotectonics have been formed by the complicate interactions of epirogenetic movements, magmatism, orogenesis, differential vertical movements, metamorphism and sedimentation. The reason of the crust movements mentioned above, is suppossed that the Pacific and West Pacific plate have subducted directly or indirectly into the East Asia plate. This fact can be endorsed by the results of the studies on the heat flow, gravity anomaly, absolute age dating, tectonic lineation, lithofacies and the temperature of hot spring in South Korea. The formations of metal ore deposits as well as other geological processes can be determined by the mechanical control of the plates and be divided into several systematic patterns. The investigation of about 110 metal mines in South Korea shows the following results. (1) Plate boundary volcanic type is about 28% (2) Plate boundary plutonic type is about 44% (3) Intraplate sedimentary type is about 26% (4) Intraplate magmatic type is about 2%.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 1999

A new sedimentary basin is reported from the marine multi-channel seismic data which were acquired for the hydrocarbon exploration on the southwestern Korean continental shelf in 1970. Along the southeastern part of Line 1192, the about 60-km-long basin with the thickness of 0.55~1.1 s is observed on the near-trace gather. However, both new and previous 24-fold stack sections fail to show the basin image probably due to its rugged top beneath the shallow water. The boundary contact between the basement with the velocity of about 5200m/s and the basin filling with the velocities of 4300~4700 m/s is unclear. These velocites are calculated from the corresponding shot gathers. Compared with the Haenam Basin, a neighbouring onshore Cretaceous sedimentary basin, we interpret that the new basin includes the volcanics and volcaniclastic sequences deposited in the lacustrine environment. This nonmarine basin was possibly formed as the result of the tectonic movement during the Cretaceous, implying the wide occurrence of the Cretaceous basins over the southern Korean Peninsula as well as its southwestern continental shelf.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2016

Small to large earthquakes have been reported in Gyeongju and its vicinity in southeast Korea during historical period as well as instrumental observation period. We identified and located more than 300 earthquakes that occurred between January 2010 and December 2014 in a $20km{\times}30km$ area, but were unreported because of their small magnitudes. We used the Joint Hypocenter Determination (JHD) method to minimize the influence of the differences between the actual earth structure and 1-D velocity model for earthquake locations. The potential relationship between the previously reported Quaternary faults and the earthquake hypocenters was investigated. Many micro-earthquakes were found to be located in the southern segment of the Yeonil Tectonic Line, the Seokup fault, and the Waup basin boundary faults.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.77-98
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• 2011

The igneous complex consisting of mangerite and gabbro in the Odaesan area, the eastem part of the Gyeonggi Massif, South Korea, intruded early Paleo-proterozoic migmatitic gneiss. The mangerite is composed of orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, amphibole, biotite, plagioclase, pethitic K-feldspar, quartz. The gabbro has similar mineral assemblage but gabbro has minor amounts of amphibole and no perthitic K-feldspar. The gabbro occurs as enclave and irregular shaped body within the mangerite, and the boundary between the mangerite and gabbro is irregular. Leucocratic lenses with perthitic K-feldspar are included in the gabbro enclaves. These textures represent mixing of two different magmas in liquid state. SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age dating gave $234{\pm}1.2$ Ma and $231{\pm}1.3$ Ma for mangerite and gabbro, respectively. These ages are similar with the intrusion ages of post collision granitoids in the Hongseong (226~233 Ma) and Yangpyeong (227~231 Ma) areas in the Gyeonggi Massif. The mangerite and gabbro are high Ba-Sr granites, shoshonitic and formed in post collision tectonic setting. These rocks also show the characters of subduction-related igneous rock such as enrichment in LREE, LILE and negative Nb-Ta-P-Ti anomalies. These data represent that the mangerite and gabbro formed in the post collision tectonic setting by the partial melting of an enriched lithospheric mantle during subduction which occurred before collision. The heat for the partial melting was supplied by asthenospheric upwelling through the gab between continental and oceanic slabs formed by slab break-off after continental collision. The distribution of post-collisional igneous rocks (ca. 230 Ma) in the Gyeonggi Massif including Odaesan mangerite and gabbro strongly suggests that the tectonic boundary between the North and South China blocks in Korean peninsula passes the Hongseong area and futher exteneds into the area between the Yangpyeong-Odaesan line and Ogcheon metamorphic belt.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2005

Sphene U-Pb ages were determined for the granodiorites from Gimcheon, Seongju and Anui areas of the middle Yeongnam massif. The determined ages were in the narrow range of 195.7±2.4∼200.8±1.9(2σ) Ma that are approximately coincident with the boundary between Triassic and Jurassic. Even though the studed plutons are aerially separated, they reveal quite similar major element compositions and almost identical ages, suggesting that they were generated from the similar source materials under the identical tectonic environment and thus they can be considered to form a single suite. Considering the age and spatial distribution of the Triassic to Lower Jurassic plutons of the Yeongnam Massif and Okcheon Belt, it seems that there were episodic changes in tectonic environment in both areas with relatively short intervals. In general, the compressive environment of active continental margin was prevailed. However, the tensional environment of within-plate was also appeared several times intermittently. In conclusion, Yeongnam Massif and Okcheon Belt experienced distinct tectonic environments during Triassic to Lower Jurassic, providing important clue to reveal the crustal evolution of the Korean Peninsula.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.65-80
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• 1994

The Tertiary $Ch{\check{o}}ngja$ basin is located in the southeastern coastal area of the Korean Peninsula. It is a lozenge shaped fault-bounded basin with circa $5{\times}5km$ areal extent, isolated from other Tertiary basins by the Cretaceous Ulsan Formation in-between. The northwestern boundary of the basin is a domino/listric type normal fault trending $N30^{\circ}E$, whereas its southwestern boundary is a dextral strike-slip fault (trending $N20^{\circ}W$) with a lateral offset of more than 1 km. The basin is bounded by the East Sea on the eastern margin. Basin-fills consist of extrusive volcanic rock (Tangsa Andesites) of Early Miocene (16~22 Ma in radiometric age), unconsolidated fluviatile conglomerate (Kangdong Formation) and shallow brackish-water sandstone ($Sinhy{\check{o}}n$ Formation). The latter yields abundant Vicarya-Anadara molluscan fossils of early Middle Miocene age. The Tertiary strata become younger toward the northwestern boundary-fault of the basin, showing a zonal distribution pattern parallel to the fault: the younger sedimentary formations occupy a narrow zone of 2 km width along the northwestern boundary-fault, whereas the older Tangsa Andesites underlie them unconformably in the eastern and southeastern portions of the basin. The strata in the basin, including the Tangsa Andesites, are tilted (about $20^{\circ}$) toward the northwestern boundary-fault Sedimentary strata thicken toward the boundary-fault, forming a wedge shaped half-graben structure. A number of small-scale syndepositional normal growth faults and graben structures are observed in the sedimentary strata. These extensional structures have the same trend as the normal northwestern boundary-fault which we interpret as a pull-apart detachment fault. These characteristics imply persistent extension during the basin evolution, caused by a NW-SE directed tensional force. The $Ch{\check{o}}ngja$ basin is, thus, a kind of syndepositional tectonic basin evolved in a strike-slip (pull-apart) regime. The latter was caused by a dextral simple shear associated with the NNW-SSE opening of the East Sea. In view of the fact that the normal growth faults do not cut through the uppermost portion of the youngest $Sinhy{\check{o}}n$ Formation, it is inferred that the tensional force came to be inactive in the early Middle Miocene. This is coincident in timing with the termination of the East Sea opening (15 Ma).

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.17-30
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• 2014

In this study we carried out SHRIMP U-Pb age dating of detrital zircons from age-unknown meta-sedimentary formations distributed around the NNE-SSW trending Gwangju Shear Zone, a branch of Honam Shear Zone, in the southwestern region of the Korean Peninsula. The meta-sedimentary formations from the west (Yeonggwang) and east (Jangseong) areas of the Gwangju Shear Zone have different patterns of zircon age distributions. Zircons of quartzites from the Yeonggwang area yield clusters at Neoarchean (ca. 2,500 Ma), Paleoproterozoic (ca. 1,860 Ma), Neoproterozoic (ca. 960 Ma) and Paleozoic (ca. 380 Ma) ages, but those of the Jangseong area yield clusters at only Neoarchean (ca. 2,500Ma) and Paleoproterozoic (ca. 1,880 Ma) ages. The contrastive patterns in age indicate that the meta-sedimentary formations from the west and east areas correspond to the meta-sedimentary formations of the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt and the sedimentary formations overlying on the Yeongnam Massif, respectively. The results imply that the Gwangju Shear Zone is the tectonic boundary between the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt and the Yeongnam Massif.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2007

The southeastern Korean Peninsula has experienced crustal multi-deformations according to changes of global tectonic setting during the Cenozoic. Characteristic features of the crustal deformations in relation to major Cenozoic tectonic events are summarized as follows. (1) Collision of Indian and Eurasian continents and abrupt change of movement direction of the Pacific plate (50${\sim}$43 Ma): The collision of Indian and Eurasian continents caused the eastward extrusion of East Asia block as a trench-rollback, and then the movement direction of the Pacific plate was abruptly changed from NNW to WNW. As a result, the strong suction-force along the plate boundary produced a tensional stress field trending EW or WNW-ESE in southeastern Korea, which resultantly induced the passive intrusion of NS or NNE trending mafic dike swarm. (2) Opening of the East Sea (25${\sim}$16 Ma): The NS or NNW-SSE trending opening of the East Sea generated a dextral shear stress regime trending NNW-SSE along the eastern coast line of the Korean Peninsula. As a result, pull-apart basins were developed in right bending and overstepping parts along major dextral strike slip faults trending NNW-SSE in southeastern Korea. The basins can be divided into two types on the basis of geometry and kinematics: Parallelogram-shaped basin (rhombochasm) and wedged-shaped basin (sphenochasm), respectively. In those times, the basins and adjacent basement blocks experienced clockwise rotation and northwestward tilting contemporaneously, and the basins often experienced a kind of propagating rifting from NE toward SE. At about 17Ma, the Yonil Tectonic Line, which is the westernmost border fault of the Miocene crustal deformation in southeastern Korea, began to move as a major dextral strike slip fault. (3) Clockwise rotation of southeastern Japan Island (about 15 Ma): The collision of the Izu-Bonin Arc and southeastern Japan Island, as a result of northward movement of the Philippine sea-plate, induced the clockwise rotation of southeastern Japan Island. The event caused the NW-SE compression in the Korea Strait as a tectonic inversion, which resultantly tenninated the basin extension and caused local counterclockwise rotation of blocks in southeastern Korea. (4) E-W compression in the East Asia (after about 5 Ma): Decreasing subduction angle of the Pacific plate and eastward movement of the Amurian plate have constructed the-top-to-west thrusts and become a major cause for earthquakes in southeastern Korea until the present time.