• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.377-387
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• 2001

In order to elucidate sedimentation processes and depositional environments in transitional area between continental shelf and coastal zone, sedimentologic study has been done with 84 surface sediments sampled in nearshore/offshore off the mid-western coast of the Korean Peninsula for 3 years (1996${\sim}$1999). The surface sediment can be classified into 4 facies (gravelly sand, sand, silty sand and sandy silt). Mean grain size, sorting, skewenss and kurtosis varies -0.39${\sim}7.82{\Phi}$, 0.36${\sim}4.68{\Phi}$, -0.38${\sim}$0.86, -1.56${\sim}$3.43, respectively. The textural parameters show a finer-grained and poorly-sorted trend shoreward, northward and southward from the central part of the study area. The positively-skewed distribution and relationship of each textural parameters indicate a tide-dominated depositional environment. According to C/M diagram, there are 3 different domains (mode A, B, C) of sediment transport mode. The northern part is characterized by bedload transport (mode A) and represents co-influence of wave and tide, whereas domain C in the southern part is controlled by uniform suspension transport (mode C), correlating with sandy-silt area. In the broad middle area, transport processes are complex (the mixture of bedload, graded suspension and uniform suspension; mode B). Hence, the subdivision depositional environments of this study area may be classified by 3 depositional environments dependent on the interplay of sediment supplies from river, relict sediments and hydrologic conditions. In results, the nearshore and offshore areas are thus characterized as a mixing zone between coastal terrigenous sediments and relict sediments in the continental shelf by complex processes (tide, wave and river flow). These sedimentation processes play an important role in producing distinct sedimentologic features in the transitional zone linking coastal and shelfal areas.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.1 s.176
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• pp.39-51
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• 2006

Rare earth elements(REEs) in transgressive shelf core sediments were analysed to identify constraints of REE distribution patterns and sediment provenances in the northern East China Sea(ECS). Sediments of Chinese and Korean rivers, such as Huanghe and Yangtz rivers, Keum and Yeongsan rivers that supply sediments to the northern ECS, were also analysed to figure out their typical REE distribution patterns. The distribution patterns of Chinese and Korean river sediments, which are normalized with upper continental crust (UCC) REE values, appear to be enriched in middle rare earth elements (MREEs) in Chinese river sediments, whereas in light rare earth elements (LREEs) in Korean river sediments. We assign the MREE-enriched convex-type distribution pattern in Chinese river sediments as 'C-type', and the LREE-enriched linearly decreasing pattern in Korean river sediments as 'D-type'. A major constraint of the REE concentration in northern ECS core sediments is interpreted to be LREE-enriched monazite $((Ce,\;La)PO_4)$ that is ubiquitous in and around the study area. Meanwhile, the distribution pattern of northern ECS sediments appears to be between the C-type and the D-type. We suggest that the nothern ECS sediments are the mixture of China and Korea riverine sediments that have been accumulated in paleo-river mouth, paleo-coast, and present-day shelf environment as well.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.151-166
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• 1999

Both benthic and planktonic foraminifera from Core 97-02 obtained in the northern East China Sea are quantitatively analyzed for reconstructing the paleocenography of late Quaternary. Since the earliest time of the core sediment (last not older than 18000 yr B.P.), the paleo-water depth has changed from less than 20 m to near 100 m at present, which is reflected by the benthic foraminiferal assemblages: before 14000 yr B.P., the water depth was shallower than 20 m; from 14000 to 7500 yr B.P., water depth was 20-50 m; and after 7500 yr B.P., water depth was 50-100 m. The foraminiferal fauna also disclose the water mass history: during the last glacial maximum, the water that dominated the study area might be the coastal water; at the end of the last glacial maximum(14000-9500 yr B.P.), the Yellow Sea Cold Water mostly affected this area; then it gave way to the Yellow Sea Warm Current after 9500 yr B.P.; and finally, the warm water has dominated this area since 9500 yr B.P. because of the westward shift and enhancement of the Kuroshio Current.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.10 no.1_2 s.11
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• pp.34-39
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• 2004

This article discusses stratigraphy and geological history of continental shelf area covering of offshore San-in to Tsushima islands. Geological data from 5 wells and detailed seismic surveys indicate that sediments in the studied area are divided into 4 stratigraphic groups ranging from Oligocene to Tertiary in age, namely X, H, K, and D groups in ascending order. The oldest X group of Oligocene time comprises paralic sediments including volcanics deposited in the initial stage of basin-formation. N group of mainly lower Miocene time consists of deep marine sediment, representing the highest stage of transgression. Sediments of the K group of middle Miocene time show distinct off-lapping depositional pattern during the basinfilling stage. The youngest D group covers these older groups unconformably. Strong deformation of sediments prior to the deposition of the D group formed many anticlinal structures. Five exploratory wells were drilled at the selected structures, where only minor gas shows were encountered. The area provides the enough palaeotemperature to mature the source rocks at moderate depth.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.335-345
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• 2000

Physical and acoustic properties of the Southeastern Yellow Sea Mud (SEYSM) of Korea were studied by using 10 piston cores. The data were also compared with mudbelt sediments in the South Sea and the East Sea (southeastern inner shelf) of Korea. The sediments were mainly composed of homogeneous silt. Sandy mud and mud were minor components. The major source of sediment in the study area is probably the Keum River. Finegrained sediments discharged from the river are transported southward by coastal current, resulting in a gradual southward increase in porosity and a decrease in wet bulk density and sound velocity. The mean grain size especially appears to be the most important variable to determine the physical properties and velocity. The variations of physical properties with burial depth are dependent more strongly on sediment texture (especially, silt content) than compaction and/or consolidation. Correlations between the physical properties and the sediment texture show slight deviations from those of the East Sea and the South Sea of Korea in spite of similar pattern within the limiting values. This is probably due to the differences in silt contents, sedimentary environments, mineral compositions, and gas contents.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.265-274
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• 2019

To trace the provenance of fine-grained sediments in response to the growth and retreat of glaciers (i.e., Ross Ice Sheet) that affects the depositional process, various kinds of analyses including magnetic susceptibility, granulometry, and clay mineral composition with AMS ¹⁴C age dating were carried out using a gravity core KI-13-GC2 obtained from the Central Basin of the Ross Sea continental margin. The sediments mostly consist of silty mud to sand with ice-rafted debris, the sediment colors alternate repeatedly between light brown and gray, and the sedimentary structures are almost bioturbated with some faint laminations. Among the fine-grained clay mineral compositions, illite is highest (59.1-76.2%), followed by chlorite (12.4-21.4%), kaolinite (4.1-11.6%), and smectite (1.2-22.6%). Illite and chlorite originated from the Transantarctic mountains (metamorphic rocks and granitic rocks) situated to the south of the Ross Sea. Kaolinite might be supplied from the sedimentary rocks of Antarctic continent underneath the ice sheet. The provenance of smectite was considered as McMurdo volcanic group around the Victoria Land in the western part of the Ross Sea. Chlorite content was higher and smectite content was lower during the glacial periods, although illite and kaolinite contents are almost consistent between the glacial and interglacial periods. The glacial increase of chlorite content may be due to more supply of the reworked continental shelf sediments deposited during the interglacial periods to the Central Basin. On the contrary, the glacial decrease of smectite content may be attributed to less transport from the McMurdo volcanic group to the Central Basin due to the advanced ice sheet. Although the source areas of the clay minerals in the Central Basin have not changed significantly between the interglacial and glacial periods, the transport pathways and delivery mechanism of the clay minerals were different between the glacial and interglacial periods in response to the growth and retreat of Ross Ice Sheet in the Ross Sea.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 2005

Sediment texture, physical (porosity, water content, bulk density, grain density, and shear strength), and geoacoustic properties (compressional wave velocity and attenuation) were measured on eighteen core samples collected from the shelf off eastern Geoje Island, the South Sea of Korea. Based on these properties, the study area is divided into three different sub-areas: (1) Area I affected directly by the Nakdong River discharge; (2) Area II covered by the southern branch of the Nakdong River discharge; and (3) Area III dominated by relict sediment. Mean grain size, velocity, and bulk density decrease from Area $I(7.4\Phi,\;1528m/s,\;1.6g/cm^3,\;respectively)$ to Area $II(8.1\Phi,\;1485m/s,\;and\;1.5g/cm^3)$, and then increase rather rapidly in Area $III(1.4\Phi,\;1664m/s,\;and\;2.2g/cm^3)$. Porosity, on the other hand, exhibits an opposite trend, increasing from Area $I(64.5\%)$ to Area$II(73.9\%)$ and then decreasing significantly in Area $III(32.9\%)$ From the results measured and calculated, we suggest a specified geoacoustic model in the study area.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.15-31
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• 1991

A total of 90 surface sediment samples, collected from the continental margin area bordering east and southeast coast of Korea, were subject to the geochemical analyses with the aim of filling the gap in our knowledge of this environment. The analyzed items included the major elements (Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, K, Na, p and Mn), organic carbon, and some trace metals (Ba, Co, Cu, Sr and Zn). The sediment grain-size exerted a predominant influence on the contents of most elements, with the exceptions of Ca, K, Sr and Ba. The Ca and Sr contents, being closely interrelated each other, were mainly controlled by the calcium carbonate content. The K content, on the other hand, appeared to be influenced by both illite and feldspar. The Ba content showed a certain relationship with that of K, suggesting a common source of these two elements; potassium feldspar. The R-mode factor analysis result also reaffirmed the above-mentioned controlling factors on the sediment geochemistry. The grain-size dependency of trace metals obscures their areal distribution pattern from the total contents. However, with the metal/aluminum ratios we could differentiate the subtle difference in the metal enrichment. Hence, sediments of the southern coastal area appear to receive some anthropogenic inputs of metals, though the effect is still negligible.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.84-95
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• 1989

The feeding guild classification proposed by Fauchald and Jumars (1979) and the relationship between this guild structure and the habitat environment were examined based on the quantitative polycheate samples collected on the continental shelf off the southeastern coast of Korea. Total 12 feeding guilds were found and the major feeding guilds of polychaetes were BSX (burrowing, sessile, non-jawed), SDT (surface deposit feeding, discretely motile, tentaculate), SST (surface deposit feeding, sessile, tentaculate), BMX (burrowing, motile, non-jawed), BMJ (burrowing, motile, jawed), SDJ (surface deposit feeding, discretely motile, jawed). There were more significant associations between feeding guilds and mean grain size (${\phi}$); SST and BMJ showed a positive correlation with mean phi, whereas CDJ (carnivore, discretely motile, jawed) and FDT (filter feeding, discretely motile, tentaculate), a negative value. The CDJ and CMX (carnivore, motile, non-jawed) guilds showed positive correlations with sand content, but only SST guild showed a positive correlation with clay. The heterogeneity of sediment or sorting value (${\phi}$) was highly associated with various feeding strategies of polychaetes. Surface deposit feeders and filter feeders, sessile, and tentaculate strategies were associated with poorly sorted or heterogeneous sediments. Some preliminary polychaete feeding surfaces were posed. Southern and northern coastal region composed of muddy sediment were characterized by SDJ; northern slope of mud by SST; central coast of mud by SDT, BSX; and BMX; southern offshore of sandy sediment by SDJ and IDT (interface feeding, discretely motile, tentaculate).

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.5 no.1_2 s.6
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• pp.9-15
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• 1997

The study area is located in the Central Bransfield Basin, Antarctica. To analyze the morphology of seafloor, structure of basement, and seismic stratigraphy of the sedimentary layers, we have acquired, processed, and interpreted the multi-channel seismic data. The northwest-southeastern back-arc extension dramatically changes seafloor morphology, volcanic and fault distribution, and basin structure along the spreading ridges. The northern continental shelf shows a narrow, steep topography. In contrast, the continental shelf or slope in the south, which is connected to the Antarctic Peninsula, has a gentle gradient. Volcanic activities resulted in the formation of large volcanos and basement highs near the spreading center, and small-scale volcanic diapirs on the shelf. A very long, continuous normal fault characterizes the northern shelf, whereas several basinward synthetic faults probably detach into the master fault in the south. Four transfer faults, the northwest-southeastern deep-parallel structures, controlled the complex distributions of the volcanos, normal faults, depocenters, and possibly hydrocarbon provinces in the study area. They have also deformed the basement structure and depositional pattern. Even though the Bransfield Basin was believed to be formed in the Late Cenozoic (about 4 Ma), the hydrocarbon potential may be very high due to thick sediment accumulation, high organic contents, high heat flow resulted from the active tectonics, and adequate traps.