• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2016

Here we firstly present that a timing of reactivated event of Yangsan fault, the major fault in the southeastern Korean Peninsula, by using combined approaches of the optimized illite-polytype quantification, the K-Ar age-dating, and the recently developed illite-age-analysis (IAA) approach for the fault clays from Sangcheon-ri area of Yangsan main fault line. Two chronological record of brittle fault-activation event at about 41.5~43.5 and 50.7 Ma were determined from 3 fault gouges suggesting a crucial reactivation time-scheme. Furthermore, the regional processes that drive tectonics to form and reactivate the Yangsan fault may be explained from the chronological analysis for additional sites along the Yangsan fault.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2012

The 1M and $2M_1$ stacking sequences are the most frequently encountered in the illite species among the possible 6 polytypes. The $1M_d$, derived from the 1M polytype which exhibits a variable degree of disorder in the stacking sequence, is also observed in illite samples. In this paper, the author introduces and reviews the theoretical background of the quantitative analysis method of illite polytypes, and considers the possibility to determine the fault age and its reactivation age using K/Ar age-dating based on the quantification of illite polytypes in the fault system. For the increase of the accuracy and precision of the illite age analysis method, the occurrence, identification, and mineralogical characterization of illite polytypes should be defined in detail. The broadening effect of (hkl) reflections, due to disordering of 1M polytype and the presence of I/S minerals with expandability, are also considered as the main parameters controlling the quantification of illite polytypes using the WILDFIRE(C)simulation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2014

Recently developed illite-age-analysis (IAA) approach has been applied to determine the multiple events for the Singal and Wangsukcheon faults in the Chugaryeong fault belt, Korea. Fault reactivated events during Late Cretaceous to Paleogene events($69.2{\pm}0.3$ Ma and $27.2{\pm}0.5$ Ma) for the Singal fault and of $75.4{\pm}0.8$ Ma for the Wangsukcheon fault were determined by combined approach of the optimized illite-polytype quantification and the K-Ar age-dating of clay fractions separated from the fault clays. These absolute geochronological determinations of the multiple tectonic events recorded in the Chugaryeong fault belt are crucial to establish the tectonic evolution of the Korean Peninsula since Late Cretaceous.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2017

Here we present the timings of reactivated events from a fault in the northern Pohang area, which should be located at the northern-end of Yangsan fault line, the major fault in the southeastern Korean Peninsula. Recently developed illite-age-analysis (IAA) approach was employed for determining the fault-activated timing, combined with illite-polytype quantification using the optimized full-pattern-fitting (FPF) method, and K-Ar age-dating for each size fraction($<0.1{\mu}m$, $0.1-0.4{\mu}m$, and $0.4-1.0{\mu}m$) of 4 fault clay samples. Two chronological records of brittle fault-activation events were recognized at $19.6{\pm}1.86Ma$ and $26.1{\pm}2.55-27.9{\pm}3.46Ma$. The ages are much younger than those of fault clays from Sangcheon-ri area (41.5~43.5 and 50.7 Ma), the southern part of Yangsan fault line, and are close to the timing of East Sea-opening event. Further chronological analysis for additional sites of the Yangsan fault should be needed to reveal the time-scheme of the tectonic events and their spatial distributions along the fault line.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2015

Recently developed illite-age-analysis(IAA) approach was applied to determine the fault-reactivated events for the Inje fault that cut through Precambrian biotite granitic gneiss with NNE-SSW trend in the middle of Korean peninsula. Three distinct fault-reactivated events of shallow crustal regime were recognized using the combined approach of optimized illite-polytype quantification and K-Ar age-dating of clay fractions separated from 4 fault clay samples: $87.0{\pm}0.12Ma$, $65.5{\pm}0.05$ and $66.6{\pm}1.38Ma$, $45.6{\pm}0.15Ma$, respectively. As well, $2M_1$ illite ages of 193~196 Ma and $254.3{\pm}6.96Ma$ were discernible, which may be related to the fault-activated time in the relatively deep crust. The study results suggest that the Inje fault would be firstly formed at $254.3^{\circ}$ ${\ae}6.96Ma$ and sporadically reactivated in shallow regime since about 87 Ma. These reactivation events in shallow regime might be due to the Bulguksa orogeny that would be strongly influenced in Korean peninsula at that time.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.449-457
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• 2019

We present the K-Ar age-dating results of the bulk and the less than $0.1{\mu}m$ fraction of the fault gouges collected from some major faults in the Gyeongsang basin. We try to determine the timings of fault activation based on the mineralogical characteristics, and to interpret the spatio-temporal variability of the major fault events during the Cenozoic Era by considering together with the previous results. We propose at least the 3-times of major fault events at about 50 Ma, and just after 30 Ma and 20 Ma in the Gyeongsang basin, which were inferred from the combined approach of the K-Ar ages and the clay mineralogy of the bulk fault gouges and the <$0.1{\mu}m$ fractions. The fault activation timings of the Yangsan fault tend to be younger in the northern part than in the southern part. In particular, the inferred fault events just after 30 Ma and 20 Ma are mainly detected in the Ocheon fault and the related faults, and the fault in the Gyeongju area. The fault activation timings of the major faults can be revised accurately by using illite-age-analysis(IAA) method. These geochronological determinations of the multiple events of the major faults in the Gyeongsang basin are crucial to establish the tectonic evolution in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula during the Cenozoic Era.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2011

Clay mineral assemblages of core PC25A collected from the northern part of the Aleutian Basin in the Bering Sea were examined in order to investigate changes in sediment provenances and transport pathways. Ages of core PC25A were determined by both Last Appearance Datum of radiolaria (L. nipponica sakaii; $48.6{\pm}2\; ka$) and age control points obtained by the correlations of $a^{\ast},\; b^{\ast}$, and laminated sediment layers with the adjacent core PC23A, whose ages are well constrained. The corebottom age of core PC25A was calculated to be about 57,600 yr ago and core-top might be missing during coring execution. Average contents of smectite, illite, kaolinite, and chlorite during the last glacial period are 11% (5~24%), 47% (36~58%), 13% (9~19%), and 29% (21~40%), respectively. Clay mineral assemblages of the last glacial period are characterized by higher illite and lower smectite contents than those of core MC24 representing the modern values. Illite-rich clay sediments during the warm Early Holocene were transported from the northern part of Alaska continent (Province 1) through the ice-melt waters. During the deglacial period (B${\phi}$lling-All${\phi}$rod) of MIS 2, clay-sized particles seemed to be also transported by ice-melt waters mainly from Province 2 and Province 3 located farther south than Province 1. Higher smectite content during the Last Glacial Maximum is attributed to increased amounts of clay particles from the adjacent Alaska Peninsula (Province 4). From the early to the middle MIS 3, illite and smectite contents decreased, whereas chlorite content increased. With the low sea level standing during MIS 3 the supply of clay sediments from Province 2 and Province 3 was most likely intensified. Changes in clay mineral assemblages of core PC25A located in the northern part of the Aleutian Basin in the Bering Sea are closely related to the change of surface current system caused by sea level variation during the last glacial period.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.189-197
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• 2012

Geochemical composition of fracture filling minerals and groundwater was investigated to characterize geochemical characteristics of groundwater system at the KURT site. Minerals such as calcite, illite, laumontite, chlorite, epidote, montmorillonite, and kaolinite, as well as I/S mixed layer minerals were detected in the minerals extracted from the fracture surfaces of the core samples. The groundwater from the DB-1, YS-1 and YS-4 boreholes showed alkaline conditions with pH of higher than 8. The electrical conductivity (EC) values of the groundwater samples were around $200{\mu}S/cm$, except for the YS-1 borehole. Dissolved oxygen was almost zero in the DB-1 borehole indicating highly reduced conditions. The Cl- concentration was estimated around 5 mg/L and showed homogeneous distribution along depths at the KURT site. It might indicate the mixing between shallow groundwater and deep groundwater. The shallow groundwater from boreholes showed $Ca-HCO_3$ type, whereas deep groundwater below 300 m from the surface indicated $Na-HCO_3$ type. The isotopic values observed in the groundwater ranged from -10.4 to -8.2‰ for ${\delta}^{18}O$ and from -71.3 to -55.0‰for ${\delta}D$. In addition, the isotope-depleted water contained higher fluoride concentration. The oxygen and hydrogen isotopic values of deep groundwater were more depleted compared to the shallow groundwater. The results from age dating analysis using $^{14}C$ indicated relatively younger (2000~6000yr old) groundwater compared to other european granitic groundwaters such as Stripa (Sweden).