• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.403-421
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• 2023

As the number of underground structures has increased in recent decades, it has become crucial to predict geological hazards ahead of a tunnel face during tunnel construction. Consequently, this study developed a finite element (FE) numerical model to simulate electrical resistivity surveys in tunnel boring machine (TBM) operations for predicting mixed ground conditions in front of tunnel faces. The accuracy of the developed model was verified by comparing the numerical results not only with an analytical solution but also with experimental results. Using the developed model, a series of parametric studies were carried out to estimate the effect of geological conditions and sensor geometric configurations on electrical resistivity measurements. The results of these studies showed that both the interface slope and the difference in electrical resistivity between two different ground formations affect the patterns and variations in electrical resistivity observed during TBM excavation. Furthermore, it was revealed that selecting appropriate sensor spacing and optimizing the location of the electrode array were essential for enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of predictions related to mixed ground conditions. In conclusion, the developed model can serve as a powerful and reliable tool for predicting mixed ground conditions during TBM tunneling.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2024

Marine magnetic surveys provide a rapid and cost-effective method for pioneer geophysical survey for many purposes. Sea-surface magnetometers offer high accuracy but are limited to measuring the scalar total magnetic field and require dedicated cruise missions. Shipboard three-component magnetometers, on the other hand, can collect vector three components and applicable to any cruise missions. However, correcting for the ship's magnetic field, particularly viscous magnetization, still remains a challenge. This study proposes a new additional correction method for ship's viscous magnetization effect in vector data acquired by shipboard three-component magnetometer. This method utilizes magnetic data collected simultaneously with a sea-surface magnetometer providing total magnetic field measurements. Our method significantly reduces deviations between the two datasets, resulting in corrected vector anomalies with errors as low as 7-25 nT. These tiny errors are possibly caused by the vector magnetic anomaly and its related viscous magnetization. This method is expected to significantly improve the accuracy of shipborne magnetic surveys by providing corrected vector components. This will enhance magnetic interpretations and might be useful for understanding plate tectonics, geological structures, hydrothermal deposits, and more.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.91-107
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• 2024

Single-channel seismic exploration has proven effective in delineating subsurface geological structures using small-scale survey systems. The seismic data acquired through zero- or near-offset methods directly capture subsurface features along the vertical axis, facilitating the construction of corresponding seismic sections. However, substantial noise in single-channel seismic data hampers precise interpretation because of the low signal-to-noise ratio. This study introduces a novel approach that integrate noise reduction and signal enhancement via matrix rank optimization to address this issue. Unlike conventional rank-reduction methods, which retain selected singular values to mitigate random noise, our method optimizes the entire singular value spectrum, thus effectively tackling both random and erratic noises commonly found in environments with low signal-to-noise ratio. Additionally, to enhance the horizontal continuity of seismic events and mitigate signal loss during noise reduction, we introduced an adaptive weighting factor computed from the eigenimage of the seismic section. To access the robustness of the proposed method, we conducted numerical experiments using single-channel Sparker seismic data from the Chukchi Plateau in the Arctic Ocean. The results demonstrated that the seismic sections had significantly improved signal-to-noise ratios and minimal signal loss. These advancements hold promise for enhancing single-channel and high-resolution seismic surveys and aiding in the identification of marine development and submarine geological hazards in domestic coastal areas.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.381-393
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• 2014

Seismic reflection data are integrated with fieldwork data in order to understand startigraphy, structural geology and hydrocarbon potentials of Cretaceous strata in the Mesopotamian basin, Northeastern Iraq. Cretaceous strata in the basin divided into the Qamchuqa, Kometan, Bekhme and Shiranish formations, which are composed of carbonates deposited in shallow marine environment. The geological structures in these formations are mainly recognized as thrusts, detachment folds, fault propagation folds and fault bend folds. As well, NW-SE trending fractures are regularly developed, and are horizontal or perpendicular to the structures. The distribution and frequency of fractures are related to the development of the thrusts. In terms of hydrocarbon potentials, Cretaceous strata in the basin have limited capacities for source rocks and seal rocks due to the lack of organic carbon content and the well-developed fractures, respectively. Although these carbonates have limited primary porosity, however, development of the secondary porosity derived from the fractures contributes to enhance the reservoir quality. Most important factor for the reservoir quality of Cretaceous strata seems to be the frequency and connectivity of fractures relative to locations of folds and faults. The results delineated in this study will use as reference for recognizing stratigraphy and structures of Cretaceous strata and will provide useful information on hydrocarbon potentials of Cretaceous strata in the Mesopotamian basin, NE Iraq.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.280-299
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an instruction using geologic planar figures on high school students' ability of spatial visualization and geologic spatial ability and also to explore its applicability as an instructional strategy through the investigation of students' perception about the instruction using mixed methodology. For this purpose, we developed 10 planar figures of geologic structures (2 horizontal layers, 2 vertical layers, 4 angular layers, 1 fault, and 1 fold), and tested students' spatial visualization ability and geologic spatial ability before and after the implementation in class. In addition, in order to investigate students' perception on the instruction, we conducted quantitative research using questionnaires comprised of the cognitive and the affective domain, and followed by focus group interview that was conducted to obtain deeper understanding of their perception. Findings revealed that the instruction using geologic planar figures was effective to enhance spatial visualization ability and geologic spatial ability. It was also helpful for students to enhance their ability to perceive the spatial configuration of the geologic structures as well as the ability to penetrate visually into the images of the structures. The results of the students' perception on the instruction showed that the students recognized the instruction using geologic planar figures as a strongly positive teaching method both in the cognitive and affective domain. We concluded that geologic planar figures could be used as an effective tool for the lesson of 'mapping and interpreting of geological map', and be highly applicable for the advanced class in high schools.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.65-80
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• 1994

The Tertiary $Ch{\check{o}}ngja$ basin is located in the southeastern coastal area of the Korean Peninsula. It is a lozenge shaped fault-bounded basin with circa $5{\times}5km$ areal extent, isolated from other Tertiary basins by the Cretaceous Ulsan Formation in-between. The northwestern boundary of the basin is a domino/listric type normal fault trending $N30^{\circ}E$, whereas its southwestern boundary is a dextral strike-slip fault (trending $N20^{\circ}W$) with a lateral offset of more than 1 km. The basin is bounded by the East Sea on the eastern margin. Basin-fills consist of extrusive volcanic rock (Tangsa Andesites) of Early Miocene (16~22 Ma in radiometric age), unconsolidated fluviatile conglomerate (Kangdong Formation) and shallow brackish-water sandstone ($Sinhy{\check{o}}n$ Formation). The latter yields abundant Vicarya-Anadara molluscan fossils of early Middle Miocene age. The Tertiary strata become younger toward the northwestern boundary-fault of the basin, showing a zonal distribution pattern parallel to the fault: the younger sedimentary formations occupy a narrow zone of 2 km width along the northwestern boundary-fault, whereas the older Tangsa Andesites underlie them unconformably in the eastern and southeastern portions of the basin. The strata in the basin, including the Tangsa Andesites, are tilted (about $20^{\circ}$) toward the northwestern boundary-fault Sedimentary strata thicken toward the boundary-fault, forming a wedge shaped half-graben structure. A number of small-scale syndepositional normal growth faults and graben structures are observed in the sedimentary strata. These extensional structures have the same trend as the normal northwestern boundary-fault which we interpret as a pull-apart detachment fault. These characteristics imply persistent extension during the basin evolution, caused by a NW-SE directed tensional force. The $Ch{\check{o}}ngja$ basin is, thus, a kind of syndepositional tectonic basin evolved in a strike-slip (pull-apart) regime. The latter was caused by a dextral simple shear associated with the NNW-SSE opening of the East Sea. In view of the fact that the normal growth faults do not cut through the uppermost portion of the youngest $Sinhy{\check{o}}n$ Formation, it is inferred that the tensional force came to be inactive in the early Middle Miocene. This is coincident in timing with the termination of the East Sea opening (15 Ma).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.585-596
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• 2020

The 2017 Pohang Earthquakes occurred near a drill site in the Pohang Enhanced Geothermal System. Water injected for well stimulation was believed to have reactivated the buried near-critically stressed Miocene faults by the accumulation of the Quaternary tectonic strain. However, surface expressions of the Quaternary tectonic activity had not been reported near the epicenter of the earthquakes before the site construction. Unusual, large-scale water-escaped structures were identified 4 km away from the epicenter during a post-seismic investigation. The water-escaped structures comprise Miocene mudstones injected into overlying Pleistocene coastal sediments that formed during Marine Isotope Stage 5. This indicates the vulnerable state of the mudstones long after deposition, resulted from the combined effects of rapid tectonic uplift (before significant diagenesis) and the development of an aquifer at their unconformable interface of the mudstone. Based on the detailed field analysis and consideration of all possible endogenic triggers, we interpreted the structures to have been formed by elevated pore pressures in the mudstones (thixotropy), triggered by cyclic ground motion during the earthquakes. This interpretation is strengthened by the presence of faults 400 m from the study area, which cut unconsolidated coastal sediment deposited after Marine Isotope Stage 5. Geological context, including high rates of tectonic uplift in SE Korea, paleo-seismological research on Quaternary faults near the study area, and historical records of paleoearthquakes in SE Korea, also support the interpretation. Thus, epicenter and surrounding areas of the 2017 Pohang Earthquake are considered as a paleoseismologically active area, and the causative fault of the 2017 Pohang Earthquakes was expected to be nearly critical state.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.55-68
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• 2008

At present underground structures such as road tunnels, railway tunnels, underground petroleum storages and radioactive waste storages are being constructed in numerous places in Korea. For the construction of underground structrues, it should be accounted for natural factors (geology, hydrogeology, soil, vegetation, topography and drainage patterns) and human-social factors (land use, urbanization, population, culture and transportation). Especially, hydrogeology should be regarded as an important factor for evaluating the safety of underground structures and their impact to groundwater system around the structures. This study aimed to recognize hydrogeological characteristics of shallow formations in the area from Dongrae crossway to Seo-Dong where 45 boreholes were drilled for the construction of Line-3 subway in Busan Megacity. Slug tests for unsaturated and saturated zones were conducted on 30 boreholes in the study area. From the result of the slug tests, it was identified that average zonal hydraulic conductivity in the unsaturated zone was higher than that in the saturated zone. Besides, the slug test result in the saturated zones may reflect hydraulic properties of the upper most part of the saturated zones.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2008

We present a method for interpreting seismic records with arrivals and waveforms having characteristics which could be generated by extremely inhomogeneous velocity structures, such as non-typical oceanic crust, decollement at subduction zones, and seamounts in oceanic regions, by comparing them with synthetic waveforms. Recent extensive refraction and wide-angle reflection surveys in oceanic regions have provided us with a huge number of high-resolution and high-quality seismic records containing characteristic arrivals and waveforms, besides first arrivals and major reflected phases such as PmP. Some characteristic waveforms, with significant later reflected phases or anomalous amplitude decay with offset distance, are difficult to interpret using only a conventional interpretation method such as the traveltime tomographic inversion method. We find the best process for investigating such characteristic phases is to use an interactive interpretation method to compare observed data with synthetic waveforms, and calculate raypaths and traveltimes. This approach enables us to construct a reasonable structural model that includes all of the major characteristics of the observed waveforms. We present results here with some actual observed examples that might be of great help in the interpretation of such problematic phases. Our approach to the analysis of waveform characteristics is endorsed as an innovative method for constructing high-resolution and high-quality crustal structure models, not only in oceanic regions, but also in the continental regions.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 2005

Recently, the imaging of geological structures beneath water-covered areas has been in great demand because of numerous tunnel and bridge construction projects on river or lake sites. An electrical resistivity survey can be effective in such a situation because it provides a subsurface image of faults or weak zones beneath the water layer. Even though conventional resistivity surveys in water-covered areas, in which electrodes are installed on the water bottom, do give high-resolution subsurface images, much time and effort is required to install electrodes. Therefore, an easier and more convenient method is sought to find the strike direction of the main zones of weakness, especially for reconnaissance surveys. In this paper, we investigate the applicability of the streamer resistivity survey method, which uses electrodes in a streamer cable towed by ship or boat, for delineating a fault zone. We do this through numerical experiments with models of water-covered areas. We demonstrate that the fault zone can be imaged, not only by installing electrodes on the water bottom, but also by using floating electrodes, when the depth of water is less than twice the electrode spacing. In addition, we compare the signal-to-noise ratio and resolving power of four kinds of electrode arrays that can be adapted to the streamer resistivity method. Following this numerical study, we carried out both conventional and streamer resistivity surveys for the planned tunnel construction site located at the Han River in Seoul, Korea. To obtain high-resolution resistivity images we used the conventional method, and installed electrodes on the water bottom along the planned route of the tunnel beneath the river. Applying a two-dimensional inversion scheme to the measured data, we found three distinctive low-resistivity anomalies, which we interpreted as associated with fault zones. To determine the strike direction of these three fault zones, we used the quick and convenient streamer resistivity.