• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.17-27
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• 2014

We investigated space-time patterns of Quaternary fault activity of the Yangsan fault zone using ESR ages in the Samnam-myeon region, Ulsan, Korea. Some of fault gouge zones consist of well-defined bands which added to the older gouge band, indicative of reactivation. During addition of new bands, the older gouge band was inactive, which represents the type I faulting mode. ESR analyses of each band of the gouge zone allow us to construct history of fault movement. The entire fault gouge zones were reactivated by type III faulting mode giving us ESR ages of the lastest reactivation. ESR dates show temporal clustering into active and inactive periods analogous to historic and paleoseismic fault activities. ESR ages and dates of fault movements indicate migration of fault activities along the Yangsan Fault Zone. Segments of the Quaternary faults in the study area are branched in the south of Sangcheon site. The earliest record of activity in segmented faults is recorded from the western segment to the northern segment. Before 750~850 ka ago, the fault gouge zone from the western segment to the northern segment were active. At 750~850 ka ago, the fault gouge zone from the eastern segment to the northern segment were active. During 630~660 ka and 480~540 ka only the northern segment was active. After 340 ka ago, the fault gouge zone from the western segment to the northern segment were active again.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.485-498
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• 2015

Structural analysis for a large-scale fault in Maegok-dong, Ulsan, was carried out based on filed-works to investigate the geometric and kinematic characteristics of the fault as well as its Quaternary slip. As results, a series of repeated stratigraphy, minor faults, fracture zones, and deformation band clusters are observed over a distance of about 100 m in the first studied site consisting of sedimentary rocks, which may indicate the damage zone of a large-scale fault in this site. In the second site, mainly composed of granitic clastic rocks, a large-scale thrust fault is expected based on low-angle dipping faults showing branched and/or merged patterns. Age of the last slip on this fault was restrained as after 33,275 ± 355 yr BP based on radiocarbon dating for organic material included in the gouge zone. Dimension of fault damage zone, dominant sense of slip, and age of the slip event associated with the fault suggest that these structures have a close relationship with the Ulsan Fault and/or Yeonil Tectonic Line, which are well-known large-scale neotectonic structural features around the study area. Therefore, it is necessary to study the characteristics of the faults in detail based on structural geology and paleoseismology in order to ensure seismic and geologic stability of the buildings under construction, and to prevent geologic hazards in this area.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.543-554
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• 2004

Analysis of multi-channel seismic reflection and well data serves to detail the structural evolution of the northern Okinawa Trough, southern offshore Korea. The overall structural style of the area is characterized by a series of half grabens and tilted fault blocks bounded by basement-involved listric normal faults. Most half grabens and tilted fault blocks developed in the direction of NNE-SSW, parallel to the axis of the Okinawa Trough. Orientation and distribution of the listric faults also suggest the development of transfer faults in NW-SE direction. The rifting phase of the northern Okinawa Trough have been established on the basis of structural and stratigraphic analyses of depositional sequences and their seismic expressions. Major phase of rifting probably started in the Late Miocene and the most active rifting occurred during the Early Pliocene. The rifting produced a series of half grabens and tilted fault blocks bounded by listric normal faults. It appears that the rifting activity has become weaker since the Late Pliocene, but the Pleistocene sediments faulted by listric faults bounding tilted fault blocks suggest that the rifting activity is probably still in progress.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2013

We carried out geometrical, kinematic, and geomechanical analyses on a lineament (the Imgok fault) near Gangneung, observed in ASTER images and aerial photographs, and field surveys. Earthquake focal mechanism solutions, used to estimate the present-day stress state, revealed that the direction of maximum compression is approximately N$70^{\circ}$E and that the stress condition is in favor of either strike-slip or reverse movement on the fault. The strike of the fault is not ideal for slip under the present-day stress field and thus the fault has a low slip tendency. However, the fault may be able to slip if the frictional coefficient (${\mu}$), representing the resistance of the fault to slip, is sufficiently low (e.g., ${\mu}$ < 0.25).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.491-499
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• 2003

The Okinawa Trough is a rift basin formed by extension. Analysis of multichannel seismic reflection profiles from the northwestern margin of the northern Okinawa Trough reveal that the trough is characterized by a series of tilted fault blocks bounded by listric normal faults and half-grabens developed between blocks, showing typical rifted structures. The trough display three kinds of sedimentary sequences with different seismic reflection characteristics: prerift, synrift and postrift sediments. The prerift sequence develops parallel to the dip direction of tilted fault blocks. The synrift sediments, mostly deposited in the half-grabens between tilted fault blocks, are generally well characterized by divergence of the reflectors towards the blocks indicating contemporaneous deposition during tilting. The postrift sediments are featured by continuous and parallel reflectors. The width of the half-graben and the throw-displacement rate of the basin bounding fault are closely connected. The throw-displacement rate is the maximum when the rifting event is the most active and the width of the half-graben is proportional to the rate.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.183-195
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• 2022

Hydrothermal gold deposits are evidence of intensive fluid flow through fault zones, and the resultant vein structures and textures reflect the fluid redistribution mechanism. This review introduces the suction pump and fault valve models as fluid circulation mechanisms causing hydrothermal gold deposits in the frameworks of the concepts of fault mechanics. The suction pump and fault valve models describe faulting-driven heterogeneous fluid flow and related vein formation mechanisms, accompanied by the cycles of (1) stress accumulation and fluid pressure build-up and (2) seismic rupture and stress/fluid pressure release. The models are available under different geological environments (stress conditions), and the vein structures and textures representing the mechanisms have similarities and differences. The suction pump and fault valve models must help better to interpret the origins of hydrothermal gold deposits in Korea and improve the efficiency of further exploration.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.633-648
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• 2022

Gravity data were analyzed to identify the cause of clustered seismicity that occurred intensively in Yeoncheon, located in the central part of the Korean Peninsula. Our analysis suggests that the En echelon faults developed in the northwest-southeast direction. In addition, in the eastern part of the Dongducheon Fault, it was interpreted that high-density lower bedrock intermittently lifts close to the surface due to vertical tectonic movement accompanied by a flower structure. The fracture zone of the Dongducheon Fault is estimated that the width is about 200 m, the depth is at least 5 km, and the density is about 15% lower than the adjacent rocks. It is analyzed that the shallow earthquakes that occurred within 5 km depth was concentrated along the low-density En echelon fault fracture zone developed between the high-density rocks intruding close to the surface. Therefore, the earthquakes can be interpreted as the result that the north-south stress caused by the dextral tectonic movement of the Dongducheon Fault activated the En echelon fault in the northwest-southeast direction.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2000

Heaving of road and subsidence of slope took place at the Wiri region of the local highway 999 in Gyeongsangbukdo, Korea after heavy rain in the next year of construction. Although the state government had performed remedial treatments by reducing the angle and the height of the slope, deformation had never stopped. Therefore, we have preformed the analysis of deformation and stabilityof the slope. Study area consists of the Cretaceous shale, siltstone and sandstone and two faults are found. The major deformation occurred by sliding of rock mass along faults after heavy rain because not only thepore pressure at the fault plane and the unit weight of sliding mass increased, but did the shearstrength of saturated fault clay become very low. The decrease in shear strength of saturated fault clayis the major factor among the reasons for deformation. Numerical simulations using limit equilibriummodel, finite difference model and finite element model were performed for eight cross sections.Although safety factors are above 1.7 during the dry season, they become below 1.0 when groundwaterlevel raises to surface. The maximum displacement is about 15-3Ocm. However, safety factors increasedto above 2.4 and the maximum displacement is below 2.08cm after remedial treatment, Indicating thatthe slope becomes stable.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 1999

Seismic refracrion and reflection surveys were conducted along an E-W trending track of 482 m long in Ilwall-dong, Pohang. End-on spread was employed as source-receiver configuration with 2 m for both geophone interval and offset. Seismic data were acquired using 24 channels at every shot fired every 2 m along the track. Refraction data were interpreted using equations for multi-horizontal layers. Reflection data were processed in the sequence of trace edit, gain control, CMP sorting, NMO correction, mute, common offset gathering, and filtering to produce a single fold seismic section. There are two layers in shallow subsurface of the study area. Upper layer has the P-wave velocities ranging from 267 to 566 m/s and is interpreted as a layer of unconsolidated sediments. Lower layer has P-wave velocities of 1096-3108 m/s and is interpreted as weathered rock to hard rock. Most of the lower layer classified as soft rock. Upper layer has lateral variations in both P-wave velocity and thickness. The upper layer in the eastern part of the seismic line is 3-5 m thick and has P-wave velocity of 400 m/s in average. The upper layer in the western part is 8-10 m thick and has P-wave velocity of 340 m/s in average. The eastern part is interpreted as unconsolidated beach sand, while the western part is interpreted as infilled soil to develop a construction site. Three fault systems of high angle are imaged in seismic reflection section. It is interpreted that the area between these fault systems are relatively safe. Large buildings should be located in the safe ground condition of no fault and footings should be designed to be in the basement rock of 3-10 m deep below the surface.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.327-343
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• 2004

During tunnel construction, ground failures often occur due to existence of weak zones, such as faults, joints, and cavities, ahead of tunnel face. It is hard to detect effectively weak zones, which can lead underground structure to fail after excavation and before supporting, by using conventional characterization methods. In this study, an enhanced analytical method of predicting weak zones ahead of tunnel face is developed to overcome some problems in the conventional geophysical exploration methods. The analytical method is based on Coulomb's and Gauss' laws with considering the characteristics of electric fields subjected to rock mass. Using the developed method, closed form solutions are obtained to detect a spherical shaped zone and an oriented fault ahead of tunnel face respectively. The analytical results suggest that the presence of weak zones and their sizes, location, and states can be accurately predicted by combining a proper inversion process with resistance measured from several electrodes on the tunnel face. It appears that the skin depth or resistivity in rock mass is affected by the diameter of tunnel face, natural electric potential and noises induced by experimental measurement and spatial distribution of uncertain properties. The developed analytical solution is verified through experimental tests. About 1800 concrete blocks of 5cm by 5cm by 5cm in size are prepared and used to model a joint rock mass around tunnel face. Weak zones are simulated ahead of tunnel face with a material which has relatively higher conductivity than concrete blocks. Experimental results on the model test show a good agreement with analytical results.