• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 2001

To consider the distribution of the surface sediments and sedimentary processes in tidal flat after the construction of sea-walls in the semiclosed Muan Bay, the southwest coast of Korea, studies on the sediments and sedimentation rates along two transect lines from February 1999 to March 2000 were carried out. The surface sediments in the bay are classified into 5 facies on the basis of textural parameters. The gravelly sediments including the cobbles and pebbles deposited in the bay-mouth are relic sediments which are formed in nearshore and fluvial environments at the low stand of sea level. In addition, it is considered that the muddy sediments widely distributed on the tidal flat might be originated from suspended matter transported from several rivers and/or offshore. Although the sedimentation rates on the tidal flat vary with season, their estimation rates are -8.9 mm/yr on Line-GR and -48.9 mm/yr on Line-YH, respectively. The erosion-dominated processes in the tidal flat would be caused by strengthened ebb tides due to the decrease of tidal choking at Mokpogu and the migration of tidal currents at the bay-mouth. The hydrodynamical changes mentioned above are interpreted to be occurred after/before the construction of sea-dike/sea-walls in coastal zone of Mokpo.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.48-55
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• 2009

To investigate the paleoceanographic environmental changes around the Okinawa Trough, Japan, a piston core (RN88-PC5) was conducted on benthic foraminiferal species composition, assemblage, sedimentological and geochemical analyses. Trubidite sediment intercalated in studied core contains different benthic foraminiferal species, dwelling in shallow coral reef species, from normal hemipelagic sediment. These different benthic foraminiferal species and its assemblage are interpreted as reworked sediment when turbidite current occurred, synchronically. Grain size analysis clearly showed that mean grain size difference occurred between trubidite and hemipelagic sediments. Geochemical analysis also showed the difference of chemical composition between two sedimentary facies. Results of the foraminiferal oxygen isotope analysis showing global surface water warming records since the last 10 ka. The geochemcial analysis and previous works showed that turbidite sediment of studied core indicating sporadic occurrence of regional paleoceanographic events. Assemblage of shallow coral reef benthic foraminifera especially occurred with turbidite layer clearly support the sporadic occurrence of paleoceanographic events such as regional earthquake.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.349-356
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• 2010

Analysis of high-resolution seismic profiles acquired from the southeastern continental shelf of Korea reveals that the late Quaternary transgressive deposits consist of six seismic units created in response to sea-level rise. These units with different seismic facies and geometry can be grouped into two distinct depositional wedges (paralic and marine) bounded by a ravinement surface. The paralic component underlying the ravinement surface consists of the sediment preserved from shoreface erosion and contains incised-channel fill, ancient beach-shoreface deposit and estuarine deposit. The top of paralic unit is truncated by a ravinement surface and overlain by marine component. The marine component consists of the sediment produced through shoreface erosion during landward transgression and contains mid-shelf sand sheet, mid-shelf sand ridge and inner shelf sand sheet. Such transgressive stratigraphic architecture of six sedimentary units is controlled by a function of lateral changes in the balance among rates of relative sea-level rise, sediment input and marine processes at any given time.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2009

This article carried studies of the petrographical and petrochemical characteristics on the Cretaceous volcanic rocks in the area of Janggun peak and Gyemyeong peak which is located at the northeastern area of Mt. Geumjeong, Busan. The areas are composed of andesitic rock, sedimentary rock, rhyolitic rock, and intrusive hornblende, biotite granites, in ascending order. According to petrochemistry, the major elements show the calc-alkaline rock series ranged medium-K to high-K. With increasing $SiO_2$, $Al_{2}O_{3}$, $Fe_{2}O_{3}$, $TiO_2$ CaO, MgO MnO and $P_{2}O_{5}$ are decreased and $K_{2}O$ and $Na_{2}O$ are increased in the volcanic rocks. The trace element compositions show high LILE/HFSE ratios and negative anomaly of Nb, and REE patterns show enrichments in LREE and (-) anomaly values increase of Eu from the basaltic andesite to andesite facies, therefore the volcanic rocks have typical characteristics of continental margin arc calc-alkaline volcanic rocks, produced in the subduction environment. The volcanic rock show nearly the same patterns in spider and REE diagram. Fractional crystallization of the basaltic magma would have produced the calc-alkaline andesitic magma. And the rhyolitic magma seems to have been evolved from the basaltic andesitic magma with fractional crystallization of plagioclase, pyroxene, hornblende, biotite.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.635-648
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• 1995

Macrobenthic fauna were collected seasonally using the van Veen Grab $(0,1/m^2)$ to investigate the benthic faunal assemblages on the soft-bottoms around the Youngjong Island during October 1991 to July 1992. A total of 266 species was identified. Of these polychaetes comprised 111 species $(41.7\%)$; crustaceans $75(28.2\%)$ molluscs, $59 (22.2\%)$ and others including echinoderms, $27(7.9\%)$. Mean density and biomass were estimated to be 498 $ind./m^2$ and 54.8$g./m^2$, respectively. Polychaetes were the most dominant faunal group in terms of abundance $(332\;ind./m^2)$ and number of species as well, whereas echinoderms were predominant in biomass $(332\;g./m^2)$. The dominant species were Mediomastus sp., Heteromastus sp., Nipponomysella oblongata, and Nephts polyranchia; the abundance of these species showed seasonal variations. The study area was divided into three regions by cluster analysis based on the similarity of species composition. The first region consisted of intertidal flat (G-I); the second, shallow subtital region of muddy sand (G-II); the third, channel region of mud sediments (G-III). The intertidal flat showed the highest density, and the channel was the lowest density, but the Highest in species diversity. Distribution of macrobenthic faunal assemblages of the study area seemed to be controlled by sedimentary facies and duration of tidal exposure.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2017

The pollen analysis on the deposits of the lower marine terrace I of the estimated paleoshoreline height of 18m was performed in order to estimate the formation age of this terrace developed at the Sanha-dong coast, Ulsan, southeastern coast of the Korean peninsula. The pollen assemblage of the peat layer of SH-1 pollen zone (Quercus-Ulmus/Zelkova zone), lying directly on the marine rounded pebble layer of this terrace, shows that the climatic environment of the deposition period of SH-1 pollen zone was almost similar to that of the Postglacial climatic optimum period, but slightly cooler than that of the late warm stage of Last Interglacial(MIS 5a) in the eastern coast of Korea. This heightens the possibility that the deposition period of the marine rounded pebble layer which was covered by the above SH-1 peat layer is the MIS 5e which has been estimated by a previous study of the sedimentary facies of this terrace deposits (Choi, 2016). The pollen assemblage of SH-2 pollen zone (Pinus-Quercus zone) shows that the climate of this period was almost similar to that of the late Postglacial, but slightly cooler than that of the period of SH-1 pollen zone. This means that the climate around the Sanha-dong was still warmer in the deposition period of the peat layer of SH-2 pollen zone. Thus, the peat layer of SH-2 pollen zone was considered to have been deposited during the period from the early regression stage of the MIS 5d which is the estimated final stage in the deposition period of the above peat layer of SH-1 pollen zone to any stage in which the warmer environment of MIS 5 has still lasted. The humic silt layer of SH-3 pollen zone (Pinus-Ulmus/Zelkova-Abies zone) is assumed to have been deposited during the interstadial of the Last Glacial (MIS 3).

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 1992

Precambrian metamorphic rocks of the Gapyeong-Cheongpyeong area consist of banded gneiss, augen gneiss, leucocratic gneiss, quartz schist and quartzite, together with minor intercalations of serpentinite, amphibolite and marble. Mineral assemblages of meta-sedimentary rocks are classified into three types: sillimanite-free; sillimanite-bearing; and sillimanite+K-feldspar-bearing assemblages. Compositions of metamorphic phases depend on the type of mineral assemblages. In particular, the Ca contents of plagioclase and garnet are high in sillimanite-free assemblges. Kyanite occurs in three samples, and coexists with sillimanite in one sample. The presence of kyanite indicates that metamorphic rocks of the study area have experienced the Barrovian type metamorphism. Peak metamorphic conditions estimated from various geothermobarometers and phase equilibria are 618-674$^{\circ}C$ and 6.5${\pm}$2.0 kbar for sillimanite-free assemblages, and 701-740$^{\circ}C$ and 4.4${\pm}$0.8 kbar for sillimanite-bearing assemblages, respectively. Furthermore, a clockwise P-T-time path is deduced for the study area, based on the following observations: (1) the polymorphic transition of kyanite to sillimanite, (2) the occurrence of sillimanite and K-feldspar belonging to the upper amphibolite facies, and finally (3) the retrograde metamorphism characterized by muscovite-, chlorite-, and actinolite-bearing assemblages.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.235-246
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• 2011

Sea level fluctuations during the Holocene reconstructed by the results of age dating, microfossils researches and sedimentary facies from coastal alluvial plains contain the valuable informations on climatic changes. The sea level during 'maximum phase of transgression' during 6,000~5,000 yr BP was slightly higher than the present by approximately 0.8~1.0 m and the summer temperature conditions seemed to be higher than those of the present by 2~3℃ in the Central Europe when the period of 'Climatic Optimum' might be dominant. The sea level in Korean Peninsula was assumed by 0.8~1.0 m higher at that time compared to the present and climate seemed to be warmer. At 2,000~1,800 yr BP in Korean Peninsula, the sea level reached the higher stand than the present by approximately 1.1~1.3 m and the climatic conditions might be warm similar to the period of 'Climatic Optimum'. Although the temperature in the Central Europe during the period of 'Subboreal' was about 2~3℃ cooler, it is supposed that the sea level in Korean Peninsula was relatively higher than the present. The sea level at 2,300 yr BP might be similar to that of the present, which was the lowest level since the mid-Holocene. From the fact, climatic environment during the cold period might not be reflected exactly in the sea level.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.93-105
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• 2024

Chilgok Geummubong tree fern fossil site is the type locality where tree fern stem fossils (Cyathocaulis naktongensis) were first discovered by Tateiwa in 1925. Recognized for its academic value, it was designated as a natural monument in the 1930s during the Japanese colonial period, and preserved and managed for over 90 years. However, at the time of discovery, the stratigraphic level of tree fern fossils could not be located because the fossils were fragments detached from the rock body, and thus the Geummubong area where the conglomerate/sandstone layers of the Nakdong Formation are distributed, has been designated as a cultural heritage area. Only in the 2000s, when tree fern fossils were directly recovered from the outcrops near the designated area, the sedimentary rock facies containing the fossils were interpreted, and the anatomical characteristics of the Mesozoic tree fern fossils could be described and identified as a species level. Such studies are, in these days, redefining classification criteria done by Japanese paleontologist, Ogura. That is, Korean researchers pointed out that the classification criteria of the tree fern fossils (Cyathocaulis) reported early from Chilgok were ambiguous, and the possibility that the two species were the same species was suggested. In addition, it is necessary to reorganize designated areas as a way to resolve social conflicts and civil complaints caused by various regulations that have continued for a long time.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.328-336
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• 2007

A piston core (587 cm long) was recovered from the upper slope of a seamount in the Korea Plateau. Three episodes of sedimentation were identified based on sedimentary facies, grain size distribution, carbonate constituents and initial $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr$ ratio of carbonates. The lower part of the core, Unit I-a (core depth $465{\sim}587cm$) is composed of shallow marine carbonate sediments the deposited by storm surges, and is about $13{\sim}15Ma$ (Middle Miocene) based on $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr$ initial ratio. This suggests that the depositional environment was relatively shallow enough to be influenced by storm activities. Unit I-b (core depth $431{\sim}465cm$) is mostly composed of turbidites, and Sr isotope ages of bivalves and planktonic formaminifera are about $11{\sim}14\;and\;6{\sim}13Ma$, respectively. This indicates that the Korea Plateau maintained shallow water condition until 11 Ma, and began to subside since then. However, planktonic foraminifera were deposited after 11 Ma and redeposited as turbidites as a mixture of planktonic foraminifera and older shallow marine carbonates about 6 Ma ago. Unit II (core depth $0{\sim}431cm$) is composed of pelagic sediments, and the Sr isotope age is younger than 1 Ma, thus the time gap is about 5 Ma at the unconformity. About 1 Ma ago, the Korea Plateau subsided down to a water depth of about 600 m. The sampling locality was intermittently influenced by debris flows and/or turbidity currents along the slope, resulting the deposition of re-transported coarse shallow marine and volcaniclastic sediments.