• 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.