Geotectonic Movements and Metal Ore Deposits in South Korea

남한(南韓)의 지구조운동(地構造運動)과 금속광상(金屬鑛床)

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%.