• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.489-498
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• 1993

The Okbang amphibolites occurring as sill-shaped bodies within the Precambrian Wonnam Group have been studied in terms of geochemical characteristics for their tectonomagmatic environments. The amphibolites fall in the ortho-amphibolite fields in Ni and Cr versus Cu diagrams. They belong to subalkaline and tholeiitic series in total alkali versus silica and ternary AFM diagrams, respectively. They show the compositional variation corresponding to the differentiation trend of tholeiitic suites. In discrimination diagrams using high-field-strength elements such as Ti, Zr, Nb and Y, the amphibolites show geochemical affinities to both of volcanic-arc tholeiites and normal (depleted) mid-oceanic ridge tholeiites. The REE patterns of the amphibolites are nearly flat and extremely similar to those of back-arc tholeiites. $(La/Yb)_{CN}$ ratios vary from 0.89 to 2.02 with an average value of 1.23. Such low light-REE abundances in the amphibolites suggest that they were derived from the upper mantle source depleted in these elements. In view of geochemical characteristics showing strong enrichments of incompatible elements such as K and Rb, distinctive negative Nb anomalies, depletions of light-REE observed also in normal (depleted) mid-oceanic ridge tholeiites, and unfractionated immobile elements such as Y and Yb, the tholeiitic magmas, from which the parent rocks of the amphibolites were formed, would be generated from a depleted upper mantle source and contaminated by continental crustal materials en route to surface. Tectonomagmatic environment for the amphibolites can be assumed to be continental back-arc basin.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.1 no.1 s.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 1993

Seismic reflection profiles from the eastern continental margin of Korea delineate three major Neogene sedimentary basins perched on the shelf and slope regions: Pohang-Youngduk, Mukho and Hupo basins. The stratigraphic and structural analyses demonstrate that the formation and filling of these basins were intimately controlled by two phases of regional tectonism: transtensional and subsequent contractional deformations. In the Oligocene to Early Miocene, back-arc opening of the East Sea induced extensional shear deformation with dextral strike-slip movement along right-stepping Hupo and Yangsan faults. During the transtensional deformation, the Pohang-Youngduk Basin was formed by pull-apart opening between two strike-slip faults; in the northern part, block faulting caused to form the Mukho Basin between basement highs. As a result of the back-arc closure, the stress field was inverted into compression at the end of the Middle Miocene. Under the compressive regime, two episodes (Late Miocene and Early Pliocene) of regional deformation led to the destruction and partial uplift of the basin-filling sequences. In particular, during the second episode of compressive deformation, the Hupo fault was reactivated with an oblique-slip sense, which resulted in an opening of the Hupo Basin as a half-graben on the downthrown fault block.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 2004

To investigate the depositional environment and the geological structure of the Jeju Basin in the South Sea of Korea, we acquired 54-channel seismic data of about 1,980 line-km. The study area lies at the northeastern part of the East China Sea Trough, a Tertiary back-arc basin. The sedimentary basin formed by rifted activities resulted in the formation of graben and/or half-graben structures. The basin is composed of pre-rift, syn-rift and post-rift sediments bounded by regional unconformity. The pre-rift and syn-rift sediments consist of Oligocene, Early and Middle Miocene sequence, whereas the post-rift sediments consist of Late Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene sequences. Seismic and well data from the Jeju Basin indicate that Oligocene-Miocene sediments were deposited under fluvial and lacustrine depositional conditions. Following compressional tectonic movements in the Late Miocene time and a subsequent period of erosion, regional subsidence during the Pliocene time brought the Jeju Basin under marine conditions, resulting in the deposition of dominantly marine sediments.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.33-47
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• 2020

The bulk and partition geochemistry was studied in two sediment cores collected from the axial valley of the north-central Fonualei Rift and Spreading Center (FRSC), Lau back-arc Basin, southwest Pacific. The sediments consist of mostly volcanic ash, although minor amounts of biogenic and other components were present in some intervals. The major element composition of bulk sediments recalculated to a carbonate-free basis was in good agreement with the magma compositions of the adjacent Tofua Arc and the FRSC, with only significant difference in Mn content. The enrichment of Mn and other associated elements (e.g. Cu, Co, Ni, and P) is attributed to hydrothermal input to the sediments, as evidenced by their significant partitioning in the non-detrital phases according to the partition geochemistry. Hydrogenetic and diagenetic inputs were assessed to be relatively insignificant. Estimated hydrothermal Mn fluxes during the Holocene ranged between 5.0 and 37.1 mg cm^-2 kyr^-1, with the higher values in younger sediments, suggesting enhanced hydrothermal activity. The hydrothermal Mn fluxes comparable to or higher than those reported from other spreading centers with strong hydrothermal activities may indicate the presence of unknown hydrothermal vent sites and/or topographic restriction on the dispersal of hydrothermal plumes in the northern part of the FRSC.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.5 no.1_2 s.6
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• pp.36-47
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• 1997

This study presents multi-variable sequence model for a broader application of sequence concept proposed by Exxon group. The concept of the multi-variable model is based on the fact that internal organization and boundary type of the sequences are determined by three varying factors including 3rd-order cycles of eustasy, and tectonic movement and sediment influx with 2nd-order changes. Instead of Exxon group's systems tracts, this model adopts parasequence sets as the fundamental building blocks of the sequence, because they are descriptive stratigraphic units simply defined by internal stacking pattern, reflecting interactions of accommodation and sediment influx. Seven sequence types which vary in number and type of internal parasequence sets are formulated as associations of four types of accommodation development and three grades of sediment influx. In the southwestern margin of Ulleung Basin, the multi-variable sequence analysis of shelf-slope sequence shows systematic changes in stratal patterns and the numbs, of constituent parasequence sets (i.e. sequence type). These changes are interpreted to reflect temporal and spatial changes in type and rate of tectonic movement and sediment influx, as a result of back-arc opening and closing. During the back-arc opening, rapid subsidence, continuous rise of relative sea level, and high sediment influx gave rise to sequences dominantly of single progradational parasequence set. In the early stage of back-arc closing accompanied by local contractional deformation, different types of sequences contemporaneously formed depending on the spatial changes in tectonically-controlled accommodation and influx rates. During the subsequent slow back-arc subsidence, rise-dominated relative sea-level cycle was coupled with moderate to high sedimentation rate to have resulted in sequences consisting of $2~3$ parasequence sets.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.99-112
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• 2004

The Basin, a marginal basin located between the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, is consist of three small basins, the Central, Eastern, Western Basins. Seismic data obtained on December 1995 show well-defined spreading ridges, basement highs, faults, morphology of the basin, distribution of sediments, crustal and sedimentary deformation, diapirs, and contourites. The main spreading axis of the Central Bransfield Basin connecting Deception and Bridgeman Islands continues up to the central part of the Eastern Basin, whereas deep basin covered by thick sediments without any spreading structures develops in the northeastern part. This indicates that back-arc spreading along the axis of the Bransfield Basin has been taken place in the southwestern part of the Eastern Basin, not in the northeastern part. Many NW-SE trending faults perpendicular to the axis of the basin would be related with strike-slip movement of the Shackleton Fracture. Zone. Extensinal strutures like deep basin without any spreading structures in the northeastern part, normal faults and diapirs on both continental slopes of the Eastern Basin would be formed by extension as a consequence of the sinistral movement between Antarctic and the Scotia plates.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 1984

The geophysical implications of the observed heat flow in the Korean Peninsula are examined. The Peninsula can be devided into two typical regions of high (Zone 1) and normal heat flows (Zone 2), and anomalous sharp change of heat flow between two zones is noteworthy. Zone 1 (southeastern coast of the Peninsula) to be connected to the East Sea (=Japan Sea) of high heat flow region corresponds with the region of late-Mesozoic to Tertiary igneous activity. With the radioactive elements concentrated in the crust, the observed heat flow in Zone 2 can be almostly explained. While, only a half of the heat flow in Zone 1 is explained. As a possible explanation of high heat flow in Zone 1, partial melting in the lower crust is examined. The temperature of $800-900^{\circ}C$ calculated at the bottom of the crust excludes the possibility of partial melting or magma generation in the crust. Alternatively, a remaining thermal effect of late-Mesozoic to Tertiary igneous activity is considered. However, it appears that the thermal effect already disappeared and that the vertical temperature distribution reached at steady state 30 MY ago (= 10 MY after the igneous activities came to an end). After all, the existence of some other effective heat transfer in Zone 1 is strongly suggested. The high heat flow to be same kind of anomalous one of the East Sea can be recognized as a result of the trench-back-arc thermal flux. The plate subduction in the Japan Trench will generate an induced flow above the slab of the East Sea, a typical back-arc basin, and hence the induced flow will heat the surrounding lithosphere.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2009

The East Sea including the area of this study is identified as a typical back-arc sea located in the backside of the Circum-Pacific volcanic and earthquake belt. Previous studies reported that the East Sea has begun to open by tensile force and formed its current shape. In this study, we investigate the regional tectonic structure of the East Sea using ship-borne gravity, magnetic, and satellite gravity data. The result of three-dimensional depth inversion shows that Moho depth of the study area is approximately 13-25km and inversely proportional to the thickness of the crust. In addition, as approaching to the center of the Ulleung Basin (UB), the thickness of the crust of the UB becomes thinner due to the extension caused by tensile force which had opened the East Sea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Marine Engineers Conference
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• 2011.06a
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• pp.235-235
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• 2011

Lau basin of south Pacific, as an active back arc basin, is promising area bearing seafloor massive hydrothermal deposit that is located in a subduction zone between the Pacific ocean plate and Indo-Australian continental plate. Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute tracked from 2004 to 2006 the hydrothermal activity to the extension of the northeast Lau Basin, targeting seamount. hydrothermal activity by tracking was found hydrothermal evidences. In this study, Marine seismic survey was carried out in the Lau basin seamount of the possibility of hydrothermal deposit. In particular, Marine magnetic survey and seismic survey was carried out at the same time in TA-12 seamount and noise characteristics were found in the seamount. the main process of data processing is Bandpass filter, FK filter, Deconvolution for noise attenuation such backscatter and multiple reflections. the migration is performed to compensate for reflection points followed by seamount of a slope. In this study, bedrock and upper strata could be identified and in the Future, the comparative method with Multi Beam Echo Sounder(MBES) are likely to derive the correct velocity model, the marine magnetic survey results should be considered.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2002

Manus Basin, located in the equatorial western Pacific, is a back arc basin formed by collision between the IndoAustralian and the Pacific Plates. The basin is host to numerous hydrothermal vent fields and ore deposits. The basement rocks of the Manus Basin consist primarily of dacite and basaltic andesite. Some of the minerals that form the hydrothermal chimneys that were dredged on the Manus basin include pyrite, chalcopyrite, marcasite, sphalerite and galena. The chimneys can be classified into chalcopyrite dominant Cu-rich type and sphalerite dominant Zn-rich type. The concentration of Zn shows good positive correlation with that of Sb, Cd and Ag. The content of Cu, on the other hand, positively correlates with that of Mo, Mn and Co. For samples that were taken from Zn-rich chimney, a strong positive correlation is found between Au and Zn contents. The chimney also shows enrichments of Cd, Mn and Sb. On the other hand, the samples from Cu-rich chimney exhibit strong correlation among Au, Zn and Pb, and are enriched in Mo and Co concentration. Average contents of Au in Cu-rich and Znrich chimneys were 15.9 ppm and 29.0 ppm, respectively. Because of high concentration of Au with Ag and Cu, the ore deposit have high economic potential. Homogenization temperatures and salinities of fluid inclusions in anhydrite and amorphous silica from Zn-rich chimney are estimated to be l74-220$^{\circ}$C and 2.7-3.6 equiv. wt. % NaCI, respectively. These value suggest that ore forming processes were occurred at around 200$^{\circ}$C and that the oxygen fugacity changed from 2: 10$^{-39.5}$bar to -s: 10$^{-40.8}$bar and the sulfur fugacity from -s: 10$^{-14.7}$bar to 10$^{-13.4}$bar during the process. It appears that the temperature at which the ores formed on Cu-rich chimney was higher than that on Zn-rich chimney.