• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.289-302
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• 2013

In order to determine the provenance of the Huksan Mud Belt sediments in the southeastern Yellow Sea, the major and rare earth elements of the same sediments were analyzed. The surface sediments were sampled from top of piston-cores and box-cores taken at 51 sites within the Huksan Mud Belt. With the mean grain size of $5-6{\phi}$, the sediments of the study area are mud-dominated. The spatial distribution patterns show that silt content is high in the northern Mud Belt, whereas clay content increases as it moves toward the southern Mud Belt. Interestingly, the geochemical compositions both of major and rare earth elements have resulted in differences of sediment provenance. Among the major elements, plots of Fe/Al vs. Mg/Al ratios, $Al_2O_3$ vs. MgO ratios, and $Al_2O_3$ vs. $K_2O$ reveal that the Huksan Mud Belt sediments are dominated by the Korean river-derived sediments. However, the characteristics of rare earth elements infer sediments originating from the Chinese rivers. This discrepancy between the above provenances is attributed to the different contributory factors in the content of chemical elements. Considering strong correlation between major elements with grain sizes, the contents of the major elements are thought to be influenced by the grain size. However, there is a weak correlation between rare earth elements and grain sizes. The behaviour of rare earth elements may be controlled by heavy minerals, rather than grain sizes. Further study requires to solve the discrepancy arose from the difference in applied chemical tracers.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 2009

We studied the mineral composition and mineral distribution pattern of 131 surface sediments collected at the cruise in 2000 and 2007 from Southeastern Yellow Sea, South Sea of Korea and Southern part of Jeju Island. Mineral compositions of surface sediments were determined using the quantitative X-ray diffraction analysis. Surface sediments were composed of rock forming minerals (quartz 37.4%, plagioclase 11.7%, alkali feldspar 5.5%, hornblende 3.1%), clay minerals (illite 19.2%, chlorite 4.7%, kaolinite 1.8%) and carbonate minerals (calcite 10.7%, aragonite 3.4%). Distribution of clay minerals is very similar with fine-grained sediments, and especially same as the distribution of HSMD (Hucksan Mudbelt Deposit), SSKMD (South Sea of Korea Mudbelt Deposit) and JJMD (Jeju Mudbelt Deposit). The coarse sediment seemed to be relic sediment during the last glacial maximum and mainly consisted of rock forming minerals. Whereas the fine sediments mainly composed of clay minerals. Based on the clay mineral composition, main ocean current and geographical factor, HSMD and SSKMD might have derived from the rivers around the Korean Peninsula. However, JJMD is complex mudbelt deposit, which formed by Korean rivers and oceanic sediments.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.325-331
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• 2016

Three diatom assemblage zones were erected from HMB-103 core sediment of the Heuksan Mud Belt. The paleoenvironmental changes were reconstructed basing on diatom analyses using indicator species, cold and warm water species, and salinity. Seventy-six species belonging to 41 genera were identified in the core sediments. The number of diatom valves per gram of dry sediment ranged from 0.1 to $15.4{\times}10^4g^{-1}$. As a result, diatom assemblage I in about 45,000 yr B.P showed a high abundance in cold species indicating a major influence by the Korea Coastal Current. Diatom assemblage II from 14,000 to 11,646 yr B.P is characterized by rare abundance and indicative of the cold periods at Younger Dryas with the lower sea-level. However, diatom assemblage III from 11,646 yr B.P to Holocene was more affected by the Yellow Sea Warm Current while the progressive sea level rise.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.235-247
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• 2019

The Central South Sea Mud (CSSM), developed in the Seomjin River estuary, is known to be supplied with sediments from Heuksan Mud Belt (HMB) and Seomjin River. However, in order to form a mud belt, more sediments must be supplied than supplied in the above areas. Therefore, research on additional sources should be conducted. In this study, clay minerals, major elements analyzes were performed on cores 16PCT-GC01 and 16PCT-GC03 in order to investigate the transition in the provenance and transport pathway of sediments in CSSM. The Huanghe sediments are characterized by higher smectite and the Changjiang sediments are characterized by higher illite. Korean river sediments contain more kaolinite and chlorite than those of chinese rivers. Korean river sediments have higher Al, Fe, K concentraion than Chinese river sediments and Chinese rivers have higher Ca, Mg, Na than those of Korean rivers. Therefore, clay minerals and major elements can be a useful indicator for provenance. Based on our results, CSSM can be divided into three sediment units. Unit 3, which corresponds to the lowstand stage, is interpreted that sediments from Huanghe were supplied to the study area by coastal or tidal currents. Unit 2, which corresponds to the transgressive stage, is interpreted to have a weaker Huanghe effect and a stronger Changjiang and Korean rivers effect. Unit 1, which corresponds to the highstand stage when the sea level is the same as present and current circulation system is formed, is interpreted that sediments from Changjiang and Korean rivers are supplied to the research area through the current.