• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.387-393
• /
• 2015

Fault breccia, produced by fracturing and comminution of host rock during fault activity, is a common component within fault cores. Fault breccia may display a preferred orientationin accordance with the sense of motion on the fault. Here we use a numerical analysis technique to study the effects of the distribution and content of breccia in fault core on the elastic moduli. The analytical models are grouped into those in which breccias display a preferred orientation within fault core and those in which breccias are randomly oriented. The breccia compositions considered here are granite and shale, and the breccia contents are 10 wt%, 20 wt%, and 30 wt%. Our results show that for all the cases considered, differences in the deformation moduli fall within the range 0.1%~1.1% and differences in the elastic moduli fall within the range 0.02~0.4 MPa. Thus, the distribution and content of fault breccia have almost no effect on the elastic moduli.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.167-181
• /
• 2020

Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple comparison analysis were performed for shear strengths categorized by breccia content of 5 wt.% (Case-I), 10 wt.%, (Case-II) and 15 wt.% (Case-III) in fault cores. The relationship between breccia contetnt and shear strength was quantitatively classified by calculating the mean and standard deviation of shear strength for each population in each case and then the grouping the breccia contents that had a statistically similar effect on the dispersion of shear strength. As a result, shear strength was clearly classified into group 1 (breccia content of 0-15 wt.%) and group 2 and 3 (breccia coantent of 15-30 wt.% and 30 wt.% or more) in Case-III. Shear strength of the standard line at breccia content of 15 wt.% were determined to be 43.6 kPa, 77.6 kPa, and 118.6 kPa at each normal stress (54 kPa, 108 kPa, and 162 kPa), respectively. In addition, the distribution range of cohesions is 0-43.6 kPa at breccia content of 15 wt.% or less, and 0-70.0 kPa at 15 wt.% or more. Distribution range of friction angles is 0-45.7 ° at breccia content of 15 wt.% or less, and 16.7-57.5 ° at 15 wt.% or more.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.23-36
• /
• 2012

Morphological and mineralogical characteristics of laumontite and adularia in the breccia zone in a fault, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju, Korea suggest that they formed by reaction with hydrothermal alteration related to fault activity. Laumontite commonly occurring in the breccia zone is related to the presence of hydrothermal fluids bearing alkaline elements in the zone. Laumonite is characterized by elongated columnar form with aspect ratio varying 5~10. Laumontite and adularia whose characteristic euhedral forms are indicative of the latest product formed as rapid precipitation from fluids or replacements of Ca-plagioclase. Hydrothermal fluids reacted with intensively fractured granite, typical with high permeability, leached alkaline elements such as Ca, K, allowing laumontite and adularia to be precipitated under neutral to weak alkaline conditions. It is noteworthy that the formation process and genesis of low temperature minerals such as laumontite and adularia are very similar to those formed by wallrock alteration or hydrothermal alteration that occurred in epithermal deposits. Taking into account its characteristic morphology and chemistry, authigenic K-feldspar that commonly forms at low temperature in many fault zones must be adularia.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.381-393
• /
• 2019

Carbonate breccias occur sporadically in the Middle Cambrian Daegi Formation on the southern limb of the Baegunsan Syncline, Taebaeksan Basin. These carbonate breccias have been largely interpreted either as sedimentary breccias or as tectonic, fault-related breccias. Recent study, however, indicates that the majority of these breccias are a solution-collapse breccia which is causally linked to the paleokarstification. Extensive karstification is attributed to prolonged subaerial exposure of the carbonate platform. The exposed surface is a record of interruption in sedimentation on the carbonate platform. In the stratigraphic record, such karst-related post-depositional features are recognized as meteoric diagenetic features, paleosols, and solution-collapse breccias. Solution-collapse breccias are particularly well preserved and most profound in the carbonate rocks below the major unconformities, which also are evidence of prolonged subaerial exposure. The Middle Cambrian Daegi Formation provides an example of solution-collapse breccias. The formation and preservation of the solution-collapse breccias imply that a stratigraphic discontinuity surface (unconformity) can be designated within the Daegi Formation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.53 no.1
• /
• pp.71-85
• /
• 2020

To understand behavior of fault cores in the field of geotechnical and geological engineering, we present an investigation of the physical properties (breccia and clay contents, unit weight, porosity, and water content) and friction characteristics (internal friction angle and cohesion) of fault cores, in granitic, sedimentary, and volcanic rocks in South Korea. The breccia contents in the fault cores are positively correlated with unit weight and negatively correlated with clay content, porosity, and water content. The inter-quartile ranges of internal friction angles and cohesion calculated from direct shear tests are 16.7-38.1° and 2.5-25.3 kPa, respectively. The influence of physical properties on the friction characteristics of the fault cores was analyzed and showed that in all three rock types the internal friction angles are positively correlated with breccia content and unit weight, and negatively correlated with clay content, porosity, and water content. In contrast, the cohesions of the fault cores are negatively correlated with breccia content and unit weight, and positively correlated with clay content, porosity, and water content.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.187-196
• /
• 2016

We conducted three-dimensional finite element analysis to predict the presence of upcoming fault zones during tunneling. The analysis considered longitudinal displacements measured at tunnel face, and used 28 numerical models with various fault attitudes. The x-MR (moving range) control chart was used to analyze quantitatively the effects of faults distributed ahead of the tunnel face, given the occurrence of a longitudinal displacement. The numerical models with fault were classified as fault gouge, fault breccia, and fault damage zones. The width of fault cores was set to 1 m (fault gouge 0.5 m and fault breccia 0.5 m) and the width of fault damage zones was set to 2 m. The results, suggest that fault centers could be predicted at 2~26 m ahead of the tunnel face and that faults could be predicted earliest in the 45° dip model. In addition, faults could be predicted earliest when the angle between the direction of tunnel advance and the strike of the fault was smallest.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.65-79
• /
• 2019

In this study, simple regression and multiple regression analyses were performed to analyze the relationship between breccia and clay content and shear strength in fault cores. The results of the simple regression analysis performed for each rock (andesitic rock, granite, and sedimentary rock) and three levels of normal stress (${\sigma}_n=54$, 108, 162 kPa), reveal that the shear strength is proportional to breccia content and inversely proportional to clay content. Furthermore, as normal stress increases, the shear strength is influenced by the change in component content, correlating more strongly with clay content than with breccia content. In the multiple regression analysis, which considers both breccia and clay content, the shear strength is found to be more sensitive to the change in breccia content than to that of clay. As a result, the most suitable regression model for each rock is proposed by comparing the coefficients of determination ($R^2$) estimated from the simple regression analysis with those from the multiple regression analysis. The proposed models show high coefficients of determination of $R^2=0.624-0.830$.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.487-502
• /
• 2012

This paper is focused on mineral compositions, microstructures and distributional characters of remained grains in the fault rocks collected from a fault developed in Yongdang-ri, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju City, Korea, using X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscope, laser grain size analysis and fractal dimension analysis methods. The exposed fault core zone is about 1.5 meter thick. On the average, the breccia zone is 1.2 meter and the gouge zone is 20cm thick, respectively. XRD results show that the breccia zone consists predominantly of rock-forming minerals including quartz and feldspar, but the gouge zone consists of abundant clay minerals such as chlorite, illite and kaolinite. Mineral vein, pyrite and altered minerals commonly observed in the fault rock support evidence of fault activity associated with hydrothermal alteration. Fractal dimensions based on box counting, image analysis and laser particle analysis suggest that mineral grains in the fault rock underwent fracturing process as well as abrasion that gave rise to diminution of grains during the fault activity. Fractal dimensions(D-values) calculated by three methods gradually increase from the breccia zone to the gouge zone which has commonly high D-values. There are no noticeable changes in D-values in the gouge zone with trend being constant. It means that the bulk-crushing process of mineral grains in the breccia zone was predominant, whereas abrasion of mineral grains in the gouge zone took place by continuous fault activity. It means that the bulk-crushing process of mineral grains in the breccia zone was predominant, whereas abrasion of mineral grains in the gouge zone took place by continuous fault activity. Mineral compositions in the fault zone and peculiar trends in grain distribution indicate that multiple fault activity had a considerable influence on the evolution of fault zones, together with hydrothermal alteration. Meanwhile, fractal dimension values(D) in the fault rock should be used with caution because there is possibility that different values are unexpectedly obtained depending on the measurement methods available even in the same sample.

• Proceedings of the Mineralogical Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.17-30
• /
• 2002

삼척-도계지역 일대에 분포하는 조선누층군의 풍촌층 석회석은 품위 및 암상에따라 상부고품위대와 하부석회암대로 분대가 가능한데, 이는 삼척-태백간을 북북동으로 흐르는 오십천을 경계로 서쪽에 분포하는 풍촌층과 비교할 때 다소간의 암상차이를 보인다. 즉, 풍촌층의 특징중에 하나인 중부백운암대가 본 역 일대에서는 백운암화가 미약하여 비교적 소폭으로 확인되며, 상부백색대 역시, 발달정도가 미약한 특징을 보인다. 시추탐사결과 확인된 삼척-도계지역의 풍촌층 상부고품위대는 일반적으로 상부백색대$(\pm15m)$ - 백운암대$(\pm5m)$ - 암회색대$(\pm50m)$로 구분되는 것으로 나타났다. 각각의 품위는 상부백색대 : CaO $53_4\~55.6\%$, 백운암대 : MgO $3.0\~18.4\%$, 암회색대 : CaO $50.4\~54.2\%$로 나타나 제철용으로의 사용이 가능하나 백운암대에 대한 선별채광이 부분적으로 요망된다. 이들 석회석은 오십천대단층의 수반단층인 수조의 NNE계열 정단층들에 의해 빈번히 단절되어 있으며 일부지역에서는 EW향의 역단층에 의해 규제되기도 한다. 상기 제단층들은 석회암층을 단절시킬 뿐만 아니라 단층각력, 단층점토, 암맥 등의 불순대를 수반하므로 개발에 장애요소가 되고 있다. 상부고품위대 부존표고는 지역에 따라 다소 차이가 있으나 200ML 내외에서 대부분 확인이 가능하며 지표노출 규모는 작은 편이나 $10^{\circ}$이하의 완경사로 화절층 하부에 부존되어 있어 갱도 채광에 적합한 형태를 이루고 있다.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.17-30
• /
• 2002

삼척-도계지역 일대에 분포하는 조선누층군의 풍촌층 석회석은 품위 및 암상에따라 상부고품위대와 하부석회암대로 분대가 가능한데, 이는 삼척-태백간을 북북동으로 흐르는 오십천을 경계로 서쪽에 분포하는 풍촌층과 비교할 때 다소간의 암상차이를 보인다. 즉, 풍촌층의 특징중에 하나인 중부백운암대가 본 역 일대에서는 백운암화가 미약하여 비교적 소폭으로 확인되며, 상부백색대 역시, 발달정도가 미약한 특징을 보인다. 시추탐사결과 확인된 삼척-도계지역의 풍촌층 상부고품위대는 일반적으로 상부백색대($\pm$15m) - 백운암대($\pm$15m) - 암회색대($\pm$50m)로 구분되는 것으로 나타났다. 각각의 품위는 상부백색대 : CaO 53.4~55.6%, 백운암대 : MgO 3.0~l8.4%, 암회색대 : CaO 50.4~54.2%로 나타나 제철용으로의 사용이 가능하나 백운암대에 대한 선별채광이 부분적으로 요망된다. 이들 석회석은 오십천대단층의 수반단층인 수조의 NNE계열 정단층들에 의해 빈번히 단절되어 있으며 일부지역에서는 EW향의 역단층에 의해 규제되기도 한다. 상기 제단층들은 석회암층을 단절시킬 뿐만아니라 단층각력, 단층점토, 암맥 등의 불순대를 수반하므로 개발에 장애요소가 되고 있다. 상부고품위대 부존표고는 지역에 따라 다소 차이가 있으나 200ML 내외에서 대부분 확인이 가능하며 지표노출 규모는 작은 편이나 $10^{\circ}$이하의 완경사로 화절층 하부에 부존되어 있어 갱도 채광에 적합한 형태를 이루고 있다.