• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.103-118
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• 2004

In Cheongsong area, very rare spherulitic rhyolites both in Korea and foreign countries occur as dykes showing various types. The spherulites in them represent an undercooling caused by very fast cooling of the dykes in a shallow depth near to the surface and the variety of types were resulted from the difference of relative cooling rate. Cheongsong spherulitic rhyolites can be classified into five types; radiated simple spherulite, layered simple spherulite, layered multiple spherulite, radiated-layered multiple spherulite, radiating layered multiple spherulite. Radiated simple and radiating layered multiple spherulites formed by diffusion current caused by undercooling related to very fast cooling. On the other hand, layered multiple spherulites formed by relatively slow diffusion as a Liesegang ring during relatively slow cooling. If the cooling rate is between the two cases, layered simple spherulites formed. This interpretation indicates that Chrysanthemum, Dandelion, Dahlia and Sunflower types which are included in radiated simple or radiating layered multiple spherulites formed in the dykes with the fastest cooling rate in Cheongsong area while Peony, Rose and Innominate types classified as layered multiple spherulite formed in the dykes with the relatively slowest cooling rate. At the cooling rate between them, Apricot type spherulite formed. The K-Ar age-dating for Cheongsong spherulitic rhyolites indicate them to be formed between 48 and 50 Ma. The Cheongsong rhyolites are very valuable for research and preservation because of their rarity, beauty and diversity.