• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.349-370
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• 2009

The Mt. Dungjuribong Volcanic Complex located in Gurye-gun, southwest of Ryeongnam massif, composed of Cretaceous andesitic rocks and rhyolite. $SiO_2$ contents of the volcanic rocks range from 52.0 to 78.5 wt.%. The major and trace elements composition, REE patterns and tectonomagmatic discrimination diagrams of volcanic rocks suggest that they are typical of continental margin arc calc-alkaline rocks produced in the subduction environment. The phenocrysts of the volcanic rocks show that they had gone in disequilibrium state, such as reversal zoning and resorbed core of plagioclase, reaction rim around pyroxene and resorbed margins of quartz, which showing the evidence of magma mixing during the evolution of magma.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.417-426
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• 2006

Geophysical survey has been conducted on the continental margin off the South Shetland Islands aboard R/V Onnuri of KORDI in 1992/1993. About 800-line km of 96-channel reflection data have been acquired. On the seismic section, BSR with strong reflectivity and negative polarity has been found at 700 ms below the sea bottom. BSR is considered as the base of gas hydrates and AVO analysis was performed to study physical properties along BSR. True amplitude recovery and surface consistence amplitude were applied to seismic data and angle gathers were obtained. AVO gradient and AVO intercept are calculated on every CDP gather. Section of AVO intercept show strong reflectivity and negative polarity on BSRs and stronger continuity of BSR than stacked section. Cross plot of P-G indicates that the lower layer below BSR is filled with free gas.

• Proceedings of the Mineralogical Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.54-54
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• 2003

The metasedimentary rocks together with various granitoids are the main constituents in Taebaeksan gneiss complex, northern Yeongnam Massif. Chemical compositions of sedimentary rocks may reflect the nature of the provenance and could be crucial for understanding the evolution of early continental crust. Previous workers have suggested that the provenance and tectonic studies based on the geochemistry of sediments are applicable to the Precambrian samples. In this study we analyzed the major, trace and REE elements of metasedimentary rocks to understand their provenance and tectonic setting during sedimentation. The overall geochemical characteristics of metasedimentary rocks are similar to those of average shale of the post-Archean. Major element chemistry indicates mature and sorted nature of the sediments. The degree of weathering in the source rocks the is not uniform, as inferred from a large scatter in chemical indices of weathering (CIW). The immobile trace elements such as Th, Sc, and REE can be used to discriminate various sedimentary processes. The Th/sc ratios (0.9 - 4.4) are larger than those of the upper crust and average shale, suggesting that the felsic source predominates. The contents of Ni and Cr and the variations in the ratio of compatible to incompatible elements are similar to the average post-Archean shale. Uniform chondrite-normalized REE pattern with the LREE enrichment (LaN/SmN = 4.9 ${\pm}$ 0.4) and slight negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu$\^$*/ = 0.7 ${\pm}$ 0.1) also support this observation. The presence of negative Eu anomaly indicates that intracrustal igneous processes involving plagioclase separation have affected the provenance rocks. The LREE enrichment implies the major role of felsic rocks in source rocks. The eNd (1.9 Ga) values of metasediment rocks vary from 9.4 to 6.7, corresponding to TDM of 2.9 - 2.7 Ga. On the other hand, the 147Sm/144Nd ratios are 0.1079 - 0.1101, corresponding to typical tettigenous sediments. The geochemical features of metasedimentary rocks such as high abundances of large ion lithophile elements, high ratios of Th/Sc and La/Sm, commonly high Th/U ratios, negative Eu anomalies, and negative eNd, suggest a provenance consisting virtually entirely of recycled upper continental crust in passive margin environment. Tectonic discrimination diagrams based upon major element compositions also support this suggestion. In conjunction with igneous activity and metamorphism in the convergent margin setting at 1.8 - 1. 9 Ga, the transition from passive margin to active margin characterize the Paleoproterozoic crustal evolution in northern Yeongnam Massif.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.6 no.1_2 s.7
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• pp.20-24
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• 1998

Expert system is one type of artificial intelligence softwares that incorporate problem-solving knowledges and experiences of human experts by use of symbolic reasoning and rules about a specific topic. In this study, an expert system, PLAYMAKER2, is used to interpret sedimentary facies and depositional settings of the sedimentary sequence. The original version of the expert system, PLAYMAKER, was developed in University of South Carolina in 1990, and modified into the present PLAYMAKER2 with some changes in the knowledge-base of the previous system. The late Cenozoic sedimentary sequence with maximum 10,000 m in thickness, which is located in the Korean Oil Exploration Block VI-1 at the southwestern margin of the Ulleung Basin, is analysed by the expert system, PLAYMAKER2. The Cenozoic sedimentary sequence is divided into two units-lower Miocene and upper Pliocene-Pleistocene sediments. The depositional settings and sedimentary facies of the Miocene sediments interpreted by PLAYMAKER2 in terms of belief values are: for depositional settings, slope; $57.4\%$, shelf; $21.4\%$, basin; $10.1\%$, and for sedimentary facies, submarine fan; $35.7\%$, continental slope; $26.3\%$, delta; $16.1\%$, deep basinplain; $6.1\%$ continental shelf; $3.2\%$, shelf margin; $1.4\%$. The depositional settings and sedimentary facies of the Pliocene-Pleistocene sediments in terms of belief values we: for depositional settings, slope; $59.0\%$, shelf; $22.8\%$, basin; $7.0\%$, and for sedimentary facies, delta; $24.1\%$, continental slope; $22.2\%$, submarine fan; $17.3\%$, continental shelf; $7.0\%$, deep basinplain; $4.8\%$, shelf margin; $2.6\%$. The comparison of the depositional settings and sedimentary facies consulted by PLAYMAKER2 with those of the classical interpretation from previous studies shows resonable similarity for the both sedimentary units-the lower Miocene sediments and the upper Pliocene-Pleistocene sediments. It demonstrates that PLAYMAKER2 is an efficient tool to interpret the depositional setting and sedimentary facies for sediments. However, to be a more reliable system, many sedimentologists should work to refine and add geological rules in the knowledge-base of the expert system, PLAYMAKER2.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.313-331
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• 2022

Natural or native abiotic molecular hydrogen (H₂) is a major component in natural gas, however yet its importance in the global energy sector's usage as clean and renewable energy is underestimated. Here we review the occurrence and geological settings of native hydrogen to demonstrate the much widesprease H₂ occurrence in nature by comparison with previous estimations. Three main types of source rocks have been identified: (1) ultramafic rocks; (2) cratons comprising iron (Fe²⁺)-rich rocks; and (3) uranium-rich rocks. The rocks are closely associated with Precambrian crystalline basement and serpentinized ultramafic rocks from ophiolite and peridotite either at mid-ocean ridges or within continental margin(Zgonnik, 2020). Inorganic geological processes producing H₂ in the source rocks include (a) the reduction of water during the oxidation of Fe²⁺ in minerals (e.g., olivine), (b) water splitting due to radioactive decay, (c) degassing of magma at low pressure, and (d) the reaction of water with surface radicals during mechanical breaking (e.g., fault) of silicate rocks. Native hydrogen are found as a free gas (51%), fluid inclusions in various rock types (29%), and dissolved gas in underground water (20%) (Zgonnik, 2020). Although research on H₂ has not yet been carried out in Korea, the potential H₂ reservoirs in the Gyeongsang Basin are highly probable based on geological and geochemical characteristics including occurrence of ultramafic rocks, inter-bedded basaltic layers and iron-copper deposits within thick sedimentary basin and igneous activities at an active continental margin during the Permian-Paleogene. The native hydrogen is expected to be clean and renewable energy source in the near future. Therefore it is clear that the origin and exploration of the native hydrogen, not yet been revealed by an integrated studies of rock-fluid interaction studies, are a field of special interest, regardless of the presence of economic native hydrogen reservoirs in Korea.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.299-307
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• 2010

In conjunction with geochemical characteristics, rate of sulfate reduction was investigated at two sediment sites in the continental slope and rise (basin) of the Ulleung Basin in the East Sea. Geochemical sediment analysis revealed that the surface sediments of the basin site (D2) were enriched with manganese oxides (348 ${\mu}mol$ $cm^{-3}$) and iron oxides (133 ${\mu}mol$ $cm^{-3}$), whereas total reduced sulfur (TRS) in the solid phase was nearly depleted. Sulfate reduction rates (SRRs) ranged from 20.96 to 92.87 nmol $cm^{-3}$ $d^{-1}$ at the slope site (M1) and from 0.65 to 22.32 nmol $cm^{-3}$ $d^{-1}$ at the basin site (D2). Depth integrated SRR within the top 10 cm depth of the slope site (M1; 5.25 mmol $m^{-2}$ $d^{-1}$) was approximately 6 times higher than that at the basin site (D2; 0.94 mmol $m^{-2}$ $d^{-1}$) despite high organic content (>2.0% dry wt.) in the sediment of both sites. The results indicate that the spatial variations of sulfate reduction are affected by the distribution of manganese oxide and iron oxide-enriched surface sediment of the Ulleung Basin.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2011

We acquired and interpreted more than 650 km of high-resolution seismic reflection profiles in the Hupo Basin, offshore east coast of Korea at $37^{\circ}N$ in the East Sea (Japan Sea) to image shallow and basement deformation. The seismic profiles reveal that the main depocenter of the Hupo Basin in the study area is bounded by the large offset Hupo Fault on the east and an antithetic fault on the west; however, the antithetic fault is much smaller both in horizontal extension and in vertical displacement than the Hupo Fault. Sediment infill in the Hupo Basin consists of syn-rift (late Oligocene. early Miocene) and post-rift (middle Miocene.Holocene) units. The Hupo Fault and other faults newly defined in the Hupo Basin strike dominantly north and show a sense of normal displacement. Considering that the East Sea has been subjected to compression since the middle Miocene, we interpret that these normal faults were created during continental rifting in late Oligocene to early Miocene times. We suggest that the current ENE direction of maximum principal compressive stress observed in and around the Korean peninsula associated with the motion of the Amurian Plate induces the faults in the Hupo Basin to have reverse and right-lateral, strike-slip motion, when reactivated. A recent earthquake positioned on the Hupo Fault indicates that in the study area and possibly further in the eastern Korean margin, earthquakes would occur on the faults created during continental rifting in the Tertiary.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.640-653
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• 2011

We simulate the propagation of earthquake waves in the continental margin of Antarctica using the elastic wave modeling algorithm, which is modified to be suitable for acoustic-elastic coupled media and earthquake source. To simulate the various types of earthquake source, the staggered-grid finite-difference method, which is composed of velocity-stress formulae, can be more appropriate to use than the conventional, displacement-based, finite-difference method. We simulate the elastic wave propagation generated by earthquakes combining 3D staggered-grid finite-difference algorithm composed of displacement-velocity-stress formulae with double couple mechanisms for earthquake source. Through numerical tests for left-lateral strike-slip fault, normal fault and reverse fault, we could confirm that the first arrival of P waves at the surface is in a good agreement with the theoretically-predicted results based on the focal mechanism of an earthquake. Numerical results for a model made after the subduction zone in the continental margin of Antarctica showed that earthquake waves, generated by the reverse fault and propagating through the continental crust, the oceanic crust and the ocean, are accurately described.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.265-274
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• 2019

To trace the provenance of fine-grained sediments in response to the growth and retreat of glaciers (i.e., Ross Ice Sheet) that affects the depositional process, various kinds of analyses including magnetic susceptibility, granulometry, and clay mineral composition with AMS ¹⁴C age dating were carried out using a gravity core KI-13-GC2 obtained from the Central Basin of the Ross Sea continental margin. The sediments mostly consist of silty mud to sand with ice-rafted debris, the sediment colors alternate repeatedly between light brown and gray, and the sedimentary structures are almost bioturbated with some faint laminations. Among the fine-grained clay mineral compositions, illite is highest (59.1-76.2%), followed by chlorite (12.4-21.4%), kaolinite (4.1-11.6%), and smectite (1.2-22.6%). Illite and chlorite originated from the Transantarctic mountains (metamorphic rocks and granitic rocks) situated to the south of the Ross Sea. Kaolinite might be supplied from the sedimentary rocks of Antarctic continent underneath the ice sheet. The provenance of smectite was considered as McMurdo volcanic group around the Victoria Land in the western part of the Ross Sea. Chlorite content was higher and smectite content was lower during the glacial periods, although illite and kaolinite contents are almost consistent between the glacial and interglacial periods. The glacial increase of chlorite content may be due to more supply of the reworked continental shelf sediments deposited during the interglacial periods to the Central Basin. On the contrary, the glacial decrease of smectite content may be attributed to less transport from the McMurdo volcanic group to the Central Basin due to the advanced ice sheet. Although the source areas of the clay minerals in the Central Basin have not changed significantly between the interglacial and glacial periods, the transport pathways and delivery mechanism of the clay minerals were different between the glacial and interglacial periods in response to the growth and retreat of Ross Ice Sheet in the Ross Sea.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.455-463
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• 2002

There have been few geophysical studies on the crustal structure of the continent-ocean zone around the middle eastern part of Korean peninsula, because of the lack of database in both land and ocean. The area for the study on the internal crustal structure using gravity data is bounded by the latitude of 37$^{\circ}$-38"N and longitude of 128$^{\circ}$-132$^{\circ}$E. WCA correction is applied to shipborne gravity data to integrate with gravity anomalies obtained on land. The high frequency components of the shipborne gravity data which are considered as the noise on survey track are effectively removed by means of correlating with satellite gravity data. The corrected shipborne free-air gravity anomaly is integrated with the Bouguer gravity anomaly on land under the same condition. The integrated gravity anomaly is divided into four areas for power spectrum analysis. The depths of Moho discontinuity increases gradually from inland to Ulleung basin. As the result of modeling based on power spectrum analysis, Moho discontinuity depth is about 33-35 km in the continental zone of Korea and 18-28 km at the continental margin. Such structural character is well elucidated in changing gravity data around Ulleung basin. The depths of Moho discontinuity in the southern ocean of Ulleung-island is 16--17 km, which is much lower than in the land. The result of crustal structure modeling in this study is similar to that computed by prior seismic exploration around this area.