• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.501-517
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• 2014

Based on a summary of the previous studies on columnar joints, this study presents research strategies and subjects to understand a formation of columnar joints, and its application in South Korea as follows; geometry of colonnade and entablature, formation mechanism and pattern change, surface morphology and internal structure, platy joint at the top and the bottom of columnar joints, crack patterns in drying starch-water slurries, using numerical models and computer graphics on joint formation, scale and geometry concerned with occurrence of volcanic rock, petrological and mineralogical study of the host rock. Additionally, more research is needed, such as deformation of column pattern during the hot state, secondary landform by alteration and weathering on the Earth's surface such as rock stream, tor and tafoni. This study will take an active role in research of columnar joint and the Cenozoic lava flow of South Korea. Results of this study will be useful to the activation of geotourism and geological field study.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.45-59
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• 2014

This study has been designed to collate distribution, morphology, petrology of columnar joint in South Korea. Reported columnar joint areas in South Korea are 68, until the present time. These can be divided into five group by geography and volcanic activity. 1) The 16 columnar joint areas are distributed in Hantangang region. The 15 areas in this region are composed of basaltic lava in the Quaternary period, and the other 1 area is composed of volcanic rocks in the Cretaceous period. 2) The 18 columnar joint areas are distributed in Jeju island. Most of them are composed of basaltic lava(alkali basalt and Hawaiite), and the Sanbangsan and Baegrokdam area are composed of trachyte in the Quaternary period. Colonnade, entablature and chisel mark of the columnar joint are typically occur in basaltic lava. 3) The 5 columnar joint areas are distributed into the Ulleung island and Dokdo including Guksubawi. These are consisted of relatively well-formed trachyte columns in the Quaternary period. 4) The 8 columnar joint areas are distributed into the Pohang, Gyeongju and Ulsan region and consist of the Tertiary period volcanic rock. It's shape are dome, radial, horizontal and vertical. The 4 columnar joint areas are reported in the Pyeongtaek and Asan city of Chungcheongnamdo and Gosung of Gangwondo. All of them are the Tertiary period basalt. 5) The 15 columnar joint areas are distributed into the west and south coast region. Those are consisted of various rock type(from basalt to dacite), various occurrences(lava flow to welded tuff), and various diameters(20 cm to several meters). The columnar joint of Mudeung mountain and Juwang mountain are welded tuff in the Cretaceous period. The columnar joint is distributed over a wide area in South Korea, 5 in Gangwondo, 13 in Gyeonggido, 2 in Chungnam, 14 in Gyeongbuk, 1 in Jeonbuk, 10 in Jeonnam, 5 in Gyeongnam, and 18 in Jeju. The columnar joints in South Korea can be arranged in order of formative period, 18 in the Cretaceous period, 12 in the Tertiary period, and 38 in the Quaternary period. By magma series, 36 are belong to alkaline series and 32 are belong to sub-alkaline series.