• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.583-594
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• 2000

The Middle Carboniferous Yobong Formation with North-South trending is distributed in the Yeongheungri and Samokri of Yeongwoleup, Kangwon Province, Korea. A light gray thick and massive pure limestone is developed in the middle part of the Yobong Formation and it has been exploited for a long time. This study was carried out to investigate the lithological characteristics and geochemical compositions of the limestones and to figure out how geologic structures control the disribution of the limestones of the formation. The limestones of the Yobong formation are characterized by the fine and dense textures and the light gray to light brown in color. The limestones are composed of crinoid fragments, small foraminifers, fusulinids, gastropods, ostracods, etc. Based on the amount of grains and matrix, the Yobong Limestone can be classified as fine packstones and wackestones. The chemical analysis of limestones of the Yobong Formation was carried out to measure the contents of CaO, MgO, Al$_2$O$_3$, Fe$_2$O$_3$ and SiO$_2$. The content of CaO ranges from 48.12 to 59.31% and its average is about 54.52%. The average content of MgO is about 0.32% and the coutents of Al$_2$O$_3$, Fe$_2$O$_3$ and SiO$_2$ are relatively low. The amounts of Al$_2$O$_3$, Fe$_2$O$_3$ and SiO$_2$ of the limestones vary according to the kinds of limestone and their stratigraphical horizons in the formation. Generally, the CaO content of the limestones of the Yobong Formation decreases towards the top of the formation. Using geometric and structural analysis, we determined five progressively overprinted phases of deformation recorded in the study area. The anticline and syncline formed during the first and fourth deformation had controlled the distribution pattern of the Yobong Limestone of the Yobong Formation. The structures of deformation D$_1$ consist of F$_1$ isoclinal folds and foliations. The D$_2$ deformation had formed the isoclinal interstratal F$_2$ folds and axial plane cleavages which are locally developed within mudstones. The structural elements of deformation D$_3$ are axial plane cleavages associated with recumbent F$_3$ folds. These structures are overprinted by meso-scale and regional F$_4$ folds which are regionally dominant. Finally, the structures of D$_5$ consist of the thrust faults and folds associated with the thrust faults.