• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.427-448
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• 2019

This study reconstructed the paleoenvironments and paleogeography of the Taebaeksan Basin, through a review of the previous researches on sedimentology, paleontology and stratigraphy. This study also carried out a sequence stratigraphic analysis on regional tectonism and sea-level fluctuations on the basin during the Early Paleozoic. The basin broadly occur in the Taebaek, Yeongweol-Jecheon, Jeongseon-Pyeongchang, and Mungyeong areas, Gangwon province, South Korea. The basin-fills are composed mainly of mixed carbonates and siliciclastics, divided into the Taebaek, Yeongweol, Yongtan, Pyeongchang and Mungyeong groups according to lithologies and stratigraphic characteristics. Recently, there are a lot of studies on the provenance and depositional ages of the siliciclastic sequences of the basin. The detrital sediments of the basin would be derived from two separated provenances of the core-Gondwana and Sino-Korean cratons. In the Early Cambrian, the Taebaek and Jeongseon-Pyeongchang platforms have most likely received detrital sediments from the provenance of the Sino-Korean craton. On the other hand, the detrital sediments of the Yeongweol-Jecheon platform was probably sourced by those of the core-Gondwana craton. This separation of provenance can be interpreted as the result of the paleogeographic and paleotopographic separation of the Yeongweol-Jecheon platform from the Taebaek and Jeongseon-Pyeongchang platforms. The analyses on detrital zircons additionally reveal that the separation of provenance was ceased by the eustatic rise of sea-level during the Middle Cambrian, and the detrital sediments of the Taebaeksan Basin were entirely supplied from those of the core-Gondwana craton. During that period, sediment supply from the Sino-Korean craton would be restricted due to inundation of the provenance area of the craton. On the other hand, the Jeongseon-Pyeongchang platform sequences show the unconformable relationship between the Early Cambrian siliciclastic and the Early Ordovician carbonate strata. It is indicative of presence of regional uplift movements around the platform which would be to the extent offset of the effects of the Middle to Late Cambrian eustatic sealevel rise. These movements expanded and were reinforced across the basin in the latest Cambrian and earliest Ordovician. After the earliest Ordovician, the basin was tectonically stabilized, and the shallow marine carbonate environments were developed on the whole-platform by the Early Ordovician global eustatic sea-level rise, forming very thick carbonate strata in the basin. In the Late Ordovician, the Early Paleozoic sedimentation on the basin was terminated by the large-scale tectonic uplift across the Sino-Korean platform including the Taebaeksan Basin.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.512-514
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• 2007

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.367-379
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• 2019

Pyeongan Supergroup (PS) in the Taebaeksan basin preserves key geological evidences to understand the tectonometamorphic evolution of the Songrim orogeny that affected the formation of the Korean Peninsula during the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic. The aims of this paper therefore are to investigate the characteristics of the Songrim orogeny based on the previous results of metamorphism and deformations of the PS, and then to review geological significance and research necessity of the PS. Age distributions and Th/U ratio of detrital zircon in the PS indicate that sedimentary environment of the Taebaeksan basin during the late Paleozoic was arc-related foreland basin and retro-arc foreland basin at the active continental margin. In addition, the main magmatic activities occurred in the early Pennsylvanian and Middle Permian, thus sedimentation and magmatic activities occurred simultaneously. The PS was affected by lower temperature-medium pressure (M1) and medium temperature and pressure (M2) regional metamorphism during the Songrim orogeny. During M1, slate and phyllite containing chloritoid, andalusite, kyanite porphyroblasts intensively deformed by E-W bulk crustal shortening combined with folding and shearing. And garnet and staurolite porphyroblasts were formed during the N-S bulk crustal shortening accompained by M2. Such regional metamorphism of the PS is interpreted to occur in an area where high strain zone is localized during ca. 220-270 Ma. In order to elucidate the evolution of the Taebaeksan basin and tectonic features of the Songrim orogeny, it is expected that the study will be carried out such as the regional distribution of metamorphic zones developed in the PS, characteristics and timing of deformations, and late Paleozoic paleo-geography of the Taebaeksan basin.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.59-74
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• 2003

Prospecting for energy and mineral resources is essential kind of public fundamentals that manage the nation's economy. Most explorations in the past were concentrated in the simple structural traps in relatively shallow depth. Due to their vast exploitation, recent history has shown that the emphasis in explorations has steadily shifted toward the subtle stratigraphic traps in deeper level. Increasing exploration for the subtle stratigraphic traps in deeper level requires precise correlation and assessment of deeply buried strata in the basin. However, the descriptive strati-graphic principles used for evaluation of the simple structural traps are limited to delineate the subtle stratigraphic traps in deeper depth. As this occurs. it is imperative to establish a new stratigraphic paradigm that allows a more sophisticated understanding on the basin stratigraphy. This study provides an exemplary application of integrated stratigraphic approach to defining basin history of the Middle Ordovician Taebacksan Basin, Korea. The integrated stratigraphic approach gives much better insight to unravel the stratigraphic response to tectonic evolution of the basins, which can be utilized fer enhancing the efficiency of resources exploration and development in the basins. Thus, the integrated stratigraphic approach should be emphasized as a new stratigraphic norm that can improve the probability of success in any type of resources exploration and development project.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 1995

Based upon the lead isotopic compositions of the galenas collected from Pb-Zn ore deposits distributed in the eastern and southern parts of the Gyeongsang basin, we investigated what kinds of source materials were involved in the formation of these ore deposits and compared the lead isotopic characteristics of these ore deposits with those of the ore deposits in the Taebaegsan area. The isotopic compositions of the common leads from Pb-Zn ore deposits in the Gyeongsang basin show the variation with the relatively limited range ($^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb=18.156{\sim}18.377$, $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb=15.482{\sim}15.638$, and $^{208}Pb/^{204}Pb=37.953{\sim}38.605$). They are plotted on or below ore lead growth curve(Cumming & Richards, 1975) and average crustal lead evolution curve (Stacey & Kramer, 1975). In the plumbotectonic model IV(Zartman & Haines, 1988), they are plotted between the evolution curves of mantle and orogene. But the lead isotopic compositions of the common leads in the Taebaegsan area are plotted on and above upper crust curve. Considering the above-mentioned lead isotopic characteristics, the linear trend shown in the isotopic compositions of the common leads in the Gyeongsang basin can be considered as the mixing isochron between high radiogenic crustal materials such as the Ryongnam massif and low radiogenic materials derived from depleted mantle or materials with relatively low U/Pb and Th/U ratios.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.565-578
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• 2012

Sedimentary facies of the Middle to Upper Cambrian Sesong Formation, Taebacksan Basin, are analyzed using detailed field mapping and stratigraphic section measuring. As a result, five sedimentary facies are recognized in the formation, which include lime nodule bearing shale facies, anastomosing wackestone-packstone facies, well-laminated siltstone facies, fine to medium sandstone facies and lime pebble conglomerate facies. Together with sedimentary facies analysis, study on vertical facies variation indicates that the Sesong Formation was deposited in an outer to inner shelf during relative sea-level fall. Especially, shallow marine aspects of the upper part of the Sesong Formation including 10-m-thick, fine to medium-grained sandstones appear to be very similar with the shallow marine strata accumulated during the Steptoean Stage (Dunderbergia) in Laurentia. These lithofacies comparisons of coeval strata between two continents suggest that sedimentation in the Sesong Formation reflects the influence of global sea-level fall occurred during the late Middle Cambrian to early Late Cambrian. As well, a stratigraphic discontinuity surface that may have sequence stratigraphic significance is recognized within the shallow marine sandstone beds of the uppermost Sesong Formation. This stratigraphic discontinuity surface may correspond to the Sauk II-III sequence boundary in Laurentia. Therefore, results delineated in this study will use a new stratigraphic paradigm for regional correlation of the Middle to Late Cambrian strata (e.g., the Sesong Formation) in the Taebacksan Basin, and will provide very useful information on intercontinental stratigraphic correlation in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.9 no.1_2 s.10
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• pp.24-39
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• 2001

Prospecting for energy and mineral resources is essential kind of public fundamentals that manage the nation's economy. Most explorations in the past were concentrated in the simple structural traps in relatively shallow depth. Due to their vast exploitation, recent history has shown that the emphasis in explorations has steadily shifted toward the subtle stratigraphic traps in deeper level. Increasing exploration for the subtle stratigraphic traps in deeper level requires precise correlation and assessment of deeply buried strata in the basin. However, the descriptive stratigraphic principles used for evaluation of the simple structural traps are limited to delineate the subtle stratigraphic traps in deeper depth. As this occurs, it is imperative to establish a new stratigrtaphic paradigm that allows a more sophisticated understanding on the basin stratigraphy. This study provides an exemplary application of integrated stratigraphic approach to defining basin stratigraphy of the Middle Ordovician Taebacksan Basin and the Cretaceous South Yellow Sea Basin, Korea. The integrated stratigraphic approach gives much better insight to unravel the stratigraphic response to tectonic evolution of the basins, which can be utilized for enhancing the efficiency of resources exploration and development in the basins. Thus, the integrated stratigraphic approach should be considered as a new stratigraphic norm that can improve the probability of success in any type of resources exploration and development project.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.317-333
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• 2012

The Yeongweol Group is a Lower Paleozoic mixed carbonate-siliciclastic sequence in the Taebaeksan Basin of Korea, and consists of five lithologic formations: Sambangsan, Machari, Wagok, Mungok, and Yeongheung in ascending order. Sequence stratigraphic interpretation of the group indicates that initial flooding in the Yeongweol area of the Taebaeksan Basin resulted in basal siliciclastic-dominated sequences of the Sambangsan Formation during the Middle Cambrian. The accelerated sea-level rise in the late Middle to early Late Cambrian generated a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic slope or deep ramp sequence of shale, grainstone and breccia intercalations, representing the lower part of the Machari Formation. The continued rise of sea level in the Late Cambrian made substantial accommodation space and activated subtidal carbonate factory, forming carbonate-dominated subtidal platform sequence in the middle and upper parts of the Machari Formation. The overlying Wagok Formation might originally be a ramp carbonate sequence of subtidal ribbon carbonates and marls with conglomerates, deposited during the normal rise of relative sea level in the late Late Cambrian. The formation was affected by unstable dolomitization shortly after the deposition during the relative sea-level fall in the latest Cambrian or earliest Ordovician. Subsequently, it was extensively dolomitized under the deep burial diagenetic condition. During the Early Ordovician (Tremadocian), global transgression (viz. Sauk) was continued, and subtidal ramp deposition was sustained in the Yeongweol platform, forming the Mungok Formation. The formation is overlain by the peritidal carbonates of the Yeongheung Formation, and is stacked by cyclic sedimentation during the Early to Middle Ordovician (Arenigian to Caradocian). The lithologic change from subtidal ramp to peritidal facies is preserved at the uppermost part of the Mungok Formation. The transition between Sauk and Tippecanoe sequences is recognized within the middle part of the Yeongheung Formation as a minimum accommodation zone. The global eustatic fall in the earliest Middle Ordovician and the ensuing rise of relative sea level during the Darrwillian to Caradocian produced broadly-prograding peritidal carbonates of shallowing-upward cyclic successions within the Yeongheung Formation. The reconstructed relative sea-level curve of the Yeongweol platform is very similar to that of the Taebaek platform. This reveals that the Yeongweol platform experienced same tectonic movements with the Taebaek platform, and consequently that both platform sequences might be located in a body or somewhere separately in the margin of the North China platform. The significant differences in lithologic and stratigraphic successions imply that the Yeongweol platform was much far from the Taebaek platform and not associated with the Taebaek platform as a single depositional system. The Yeongweol platform was probably located in relatively open shallow marine environments, whereas the Taebaek platform was a part of the restricted embayments. During the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic amalgamations of the Korean massifs, the Yeongweol platform was probably pushed against the Taebaek platform by the complex movement, forming fragmented platform sequences of the Taebaeksan Basin.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.617-631
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• 2015

The Sesong Formation, mixed carbonate-siliciclastic deposits of late Middle Cambrian (Series 3) to Furongian in age, in the Taebaeksan Basin shows the Steptoean Positive Carbon Isotope Excursion (SPICE) with the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values ranging from 1.14 to 2.81‰ in the approximately 15-m-thick stratigraphic interval. The SPICE in the Sesong Formation occurs in the lower part of the Paibian Stage which contains trilobite biozones of the Fenghuangella laevis Zone, Prochuangia mansuyi Zone and the lower part of the Chuangia Zone. The Sesong Formation is composed of six lithofacies including laminated mudstone, nodular shale, laminated sandstone, massive sandstone, limestone conglomerate, and limestone-shale couplet facies. The Sesong Formation is known to have been deposited in the outer shelf below storm wave base. The SPICE occurs in the stratigraphic interval associated with highstand systems tract, correlative conformity and transgressive systems tract of the Sesong Formation. The peak carbon isotope value in the SPICE may coincide with the correlative conformity formed by relative sea-level fall. The occurrence of the SPICE in the Sesong Formation suggests that the SPICE can be used as a tool of global correlation for the successions of mixed carbonate-siliciclastics which lack fossils.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.167-169
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• 2007