• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.605-605
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• 2007

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.680-690
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• 2022

Tephrochronology uses regional tephra for age dating and stratigraphic correlations. Regional tephras are important in Quaternary geology and archaeology because they can be used as stratigraphic time-markers. In this review, identification and dating methods of tephra are summarized. In addition, the characteristics of regional tephras in terrestrial deposits of the Korean Peninsula are elaborated, and geological applications and limitations of the regional tephra layers are also discussed. So far, AT, Ata, and Kb-Ks tephra layers from Kyushu, Japan have been found in Pleistocene paleosol, marine terrace deposits, and lacustrine deposits in Korea. Also, although not officially confirmed, Aso-4 tephra is likely to occur in terrestrial deposits. The regional tephra layers are vital for dating, especially with regard to sediments over 50 ka beyond the range of radiocarbon dating, and for dating of active faults. Furthermore, it can provide important information for preparing countermeasures against volcanic disasters. However, in order to use the tephra layer geologically, it must be confirmed whether it is a primary deposit based on sedimentological study.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 2002

Two piston-core sediments, obtained from the southwestern margin of the Ulleung Basin in East Sea, are analyzed to investigate the stratigraphy and sedimentary environment of the Late Quaternary. The cores consist mainly of cuddy sediments with silty sands, lapilli tephra and ash layers. The chronostratigraphic correlation with known eruption ages reveals that the core sediments contain the stratigraphic document over the past 46.1 kyr and the sedimentation rates during the last glacial period were relatively higher (12.1-14.9 cm/kyr) than those in pelagic ocean. Several sedimentary facies, mainly affected by turbidity currents, are commonly present in the core interval accumulated during the oxygen-isotope stage 2. Many of horizontal voids, which are thought to have formed by gas expansion, are observed in fore 00GHP-07. The total organic carbon (TOC) contents of the core sediments are noticeably high (average 1 .8%). Particularly, these TOC valuers increased during Termination I, suggesting that dering this time interval the sedimentary environment of the study area was changed to more anoxic.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 2003

Three piston cores. obtained from the northwestern Ulleung Basin of the East Sea, are analyzed to study the tephrostratigraphy of the late Quaternary core sediments and to reveal the comparative characteristics of the tephra layers. The cores consist mainly of the muddy sediments that are partly interbedded with lapilli tephra and ash layers. The muds are further divided into hemipelagic and turbiditic mud facies. The hemipelagic facies is dominated by bioturbated mud and crudely laminated mud, whereas the turbiditic facies includes mainly thinly laminated mud and homogeneous mud, and often alternates with non-turbiditic muds. According to microscopic observation and EDX analysis, three tephra layers of the Ulleung-Oki (U-Oki; ca. 9.3 ka), Aira-Tanzawa (AT: ca. 22~24.7 ka) and Ulleung-Yamato (U-Ym; ca. 25~33 ka) are identified in the study cores. Among these, the U-Oki and U-Ym layers, originating from the Ulleung Island, consist mainly of massive-type glass shards with alkali feldspar. Both of the tephra layers contain a lower content of SiO$_2$ (57~66.5 wt.%) and a higher content of Na$_2$O+K$_2$O (11~16 wt.%) than the AT layer (SiO$_2$=75~78.5 wt.%, Na$_2$O+K$_2$O=6.5~9 wt.%) that consists of typical plane-type and/or bubble-wall glass grains. Compared with that of the U-Ym layer, a sedimentary facies of the U-Oki layer is very thick and contains three stratigraphic units, probably due to relatively large and different supplies of pyroclastic sediments. Thus, the eruption of Ulleung Volcano (ca. 7,300 B.C.) is thought to have had a more powerful effect on depositional environment than the U-Ym eruption.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2003

Two piston cores, obtained from the southwestern Ulleung Basin in East Sea, were analyzed to study the geochemical characteristics of the late Quaternary sediments and to detect any changes in sedimentary environment. The results show that the capacity of Total Organic Carbon is remarkably higher (average 1.8%) than that known from general open-sea. According to tephrochronology from known eruption ages, the sedimentation rates are high, ranging from 12.1 to 14.9 cm/kyr. The ratios of nitrogen and TOC (average 6.18-7.42) imply that the organic matter in the study area would be of oceanic origin. The correlation between sedimentation rates and sulfur contents suggests that the study area may be on the whole anoxic and somewhat high in primary productivity. During the Termination 1, inflows of organic matters were high. The sedimentary environments are characterized by rapid rates of sedimentation, and high anoxic values were compatible with accumulation of organic matters.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.501-508
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to provide an inquiry into paleovegetation (paleoenvironment), eruption age and inferred emplacement temperature of pyroclastic deposit using charcoal occurred in the Quaternary Nari Caldera, Ulleung Island. In order to obtain the data, we carried out species identification and tree-ring analysis, radiocarbon dating for the charcoal. This sample was collected from pumiceous deposit in lowermost member(Member N-5) of the Nari Tephra Formation, which corresponds to the wood branch that has well preserved the tree-ring structure. Speciation and outermost tree-ring of wood reveal Picea spp. and $263+{\alpha}$ years. The calibrated ages from the center(pith) to the outermost tree-ring are $20,260{\pm}230$, $19,995{\pm}245$, and $19,975{\pm}265cal\;BP$, respectively, which are accordant with the tree-ring position. The youngest age, <19,710 cal BP would have implications for the eruptive age of Member N-5. Our results indicate that Picea spp. is the paleovegetation representing that Nari Caldera was under cold and wet climate conditions during the late Pleistocene. Based on the silky luster, brittleness, color, and streak of charcoal, etc., the lowest emplacement temperatures of pyroclastic flow are interpreted to have been at least as high as $350{\sim}500^{\circ}C$.