• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.49 no.2
• /
• pp.97-104
• /
• 2016

Here we firstly present that a timing of reactivated event of Yangsan fault, the major fault in the southeastern Korean Peninsula, by using combined approaches of the optimized illite-polytype quantification, the K-Ar age-dating, and the recently developed illite-age-analysis (IAA) approach for the fault clays from Sangcheon-ri area of Yangsan main fault line. Two chronological record of brittle fault-activation event at about 41.5~43.5 and 50.7 Ma were determined from 3 fault gouges suggesting a crucial reactivation time-scheme. Furthermore, the regional processes that drive tectonics to form and reactivate the Yangsan fault may be explained from the chronological analysis for additional sites along the Yangsan fault.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.29-38
• /
• 2014

Recently developed illite-age-analysis (IAA) approach has been applied to determine the multiple events for the Singal and Wangsukcheon faults in the Chugaryeong fault belt, Korea. Fault reactivated events during Late Cretaceous to Paleogene events($69.2{\pm}0.3$ Ma and $27.2{\pm}0.5$ Ma) for the Singal fault and of $75.4{\pm}0.8$ Ma for the Wangsukcheon fault were determined by combined approach of the optimized illite-polytype quantification and the K-Ar age-dating of clay fractions separated from the fault clays. These absolute geochronological determinations of the multiple tectonic events recorded in the Chugaryeong fault belt are crucial to establish the tectonic evolution of the Korean Peninsula since Late Cretaceous.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.449-457
• /
• 2019

We present the K-Ar age-dating results of the bulk and the less than $0.1{\mu}m$ fraction of the fault gouges collected from some major faults in the Gyeongsang basin. We try to determine the timings of fault activation based on the mineralogical characteristics, and to interpret the spatio-temporal variability of the major fault events during the Cenozoic Era by considering together with the previous results. We propose at least the 3-times of major fault events at about 50 Ma, and just after 30 Ma and 20 Ma in the Gyeongsang basin, which were inferred from the combined approach of the K-Ar ages and the clay mineralogy of the bulk fault gouges and the <$0.1{\mu}m$ fractions. The fault activation timings of the Yangsan fault tend to be younger in the northern part than in the southern part. In particular, the inferred fault events just after 30 Ma and 20 Ma are mainly detected in the Ocheon fault and the related faults, and the fault in the Gyeongju area. The fault activation timings of the major faults can be revised accurately by using illite-age-analysis(IAA) method. These geochronological determinations of the multiple events of the major faults in the Gyeongsang basin are crucial to establish the tectonic evolution in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula during the Cenozoic Era.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.41-49
• /
• 2015

Recently developed illite-age-analysis(IAA) approach was applied to determine the fault-reactivated events for the Inje fault that cut through Precambrian biotite granitic gneiss with NNE-SSW trend in the middle of Korean peninsula. Three distinct fault-reactivated events of shallow crustal regime were recognized using the combined approach of optimized illite-polytype quantification and K-Ar age-dating of clay fractions separated from 4 fault clay samples: $87.0{\pm}0.12Ma$, $65.5{\pm}0.05$ and $66.6{\pm}1.38Ma$, $45.6{\pm}0.15Ma$, respectively. As well, $2M_1$ illite ages of 193~196 Ma and $254.3{\pm}6.96Ma$ were discernible, which may be related to the fault-activated time in the relatively deep crust. The study results suggest that the Inje fault would be firstly formed at $254.3^{\circ}$ ${\ae}6.96Ma$ and sporadically reactivated in shallow regime since about 87 Ma. These reactivation events in shallow regime might be due to the Bulguksa orogeny that would be strongly influenced in Korean peninsula at that time.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.97-104
• /
• 2017

Here we present the timings of reactivated events from a fault in the northern Pohang area, which should be located at the northern-end of Yangsan fault line, the major fault in the southeastern Korean Peninsula. Recently developed illite-age-analysis (IAA) approach was employed for determining the fault-activated timing, combined with illite-polytype quantification using the optimized full-pattern-fitting (FPF) method, and K-Ar age-dating for each size fraction($<0.1{\mu}m$, $0.1-0.4{\mu}m$, and $0.4-1.0{\mu}m$) of 4 fault clay samples. Two chronological records of brittle fault-activation events were recognized at $19.6{\pm}1.86Ma$ and $26.1{\pm}2.55-27.9{\pm}3.46Ma$. The ages are much younger than those of fault clays from Sangcheon-ri area (41.5~43.5 and 50.7 Ma), the southern part of Yangsan fault line, and are close to the timing of East Sea-opening event. Further chronological analysis for additional sites of the Yangsan fault should be needed to reveal the time-scheme of the tectonic events and their spatial distributions along the fault line.