• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.423-436
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• 2000

The lithofacies, biofacies, and paleosol development of the Jindong Formation, the Geoncheonri Formation, and the lacustrine deposits of Mt. Hwangryeong at Pusan, which occur in the southeastern part of the Gyeongsang Basin, were analyzed in comparative sedimentology and in stratigraphy. The common features of these lacustrine deposits are: 1) clastic deposits are prevailing, 2) deltaic deposits are not associated, 3) mudflat deposits are common, and 4) stromatolites are absent. The distinct differences among these deposits are: 1) in the Jindong Formation, the mudflat deposits are predominant, pedogenic calcretes are commonly present, and dinosaur tracks frequently occur, compared with other two lacustrine deposits, and 2) in the Geoncheonri Formation, invertebrate fossils are relatively common and storm deposits are not recognized, compared with other deposits, and 3) evaporite mineral casts and tuffaceous turbidite deposits are common in the Mt. Hwangryeong lacustrine deposits. In stratigraphy, the Geoncheonri Formation is correlated with the lower part of the Jindong Formation, and the Mt. Hwangryeong lacutsrine deposits are deemed to overlie the Jindong Formation. On the basis of comparative sedimentology and stratigraphic relationship among these lacustrine deposits, general paleoenvironements of the southeastern part of the Gyeongsang Basin from the late Hayang time to the early Yucheon time are interpreted as follows. During the late Hayang time, tectonic and volcanic activities were generally inacitive in the Gyeongsang Basin, and lacustrine environments expanded since the paleoclimatic condition became less arid compared with the middle Hayang time. In general, however, paleoclimate during the late Hayang time was still arid, and wetting and drying periods were alternated. The occasional occurrences of severe droughts were also characteristic of the late Hayang time. Mudflats existed in wide area in the southeastern part of the Gyeongsang Basin during the late Hayang time, and sedimentation rate was accordingly low. The sedimentation rate became relatively high during the latest Hayang time and the early Yucheon time since tectonic and volcanic activities had been active. Generally arid climate continued for the early Yucheon time, enough for evaporite minerals to precipate occasionally.