• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.93-113
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• 2008

This study presents petrochemistry and $^{40}Ar/^{39}Ar$ absolute ages of subsurface volcanic rock cores from twenty(20) boreholes in the eastern lowland (altitude loom below) of Jeju Island, Handeong-Jongdal-Udo-Susan-Samdal-Hacheon areas, and discusses topography and volcanism in the area. The subsurface volcanic rock cores are mainly basalts in composition with minor tholeiitic andesites and basaltic trachyandesites. Sequences of intercalated tholeiitic, transitional and alkalic lavas suggest that tholeiitic and transitional to alkalic lavas must have erupted contemporaneously. Especially, occurrences of trachybasalts and basaltic trachyandesites at the bases in the area imply that the volcanism in the area was initiated with slightly differentiated alkaline magma activity. The $^{40}Ar/^{39}Ar$ absolute ages of the subsurface volcanic rock cores range from $526{\pm}23ka\;to\;38{\pm}4Ka$. The lava-forming Hawaiian volcanic activities of the eastern lowland can be divided into five sequences on the basis of sediment distribution, whole rock geochemistry and $^{40}Ar/^{39}Ar$ absolute ages of the subsurface volcanic rock cores; stage I-U$(550{\sim}400Ka)$, stage II$(400{\sim}300Ka)$ and stage III$(300{\sim}200Ka)$ during syn-depositional stage of Seoguipo Formation, and stage IV$(200{\sim}100Ka)$ and stage V(younger than 100Ka) during post-depositional stage. In the eastern lowland of Jeju Island, compositional variations and local occurrences of the subsurface volcanic rocks as well as existences of various intercalated sediment layers (including hydrovolcanogenic clasts) suggest that the volcanism must have continued for long time intermittently and that the land has been progressively glowed from inland to coast by volcanic activities and sedimentation. It reveals that the subsurface volcanic rocks in the eastern lowland of Jeju Island must have erupted during relatively younger than 200Ka of stages IV and V. The results of this study are partly in contrast with those of previous studies. This study stresses the need that previous reported volcanic activities in Jeju Island based on K-Ar ages of volcanic rocks should be carefully reviewed, and that stratigraphic correlation from boreholes should be conducted by quantitative criteria combined with petrography and petrochemstry as well as radiometric studies of volcanic rock cores.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.123-154
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• 1982

Petrochemical, K-Ar dating, Sand Rb/Sr isotopes, metallogenic zoning, paleomagnetic and geotectonic studies of the Gyongsang basin were carried out to examine applicability of plate tectonics to the post-late Cretaceous igneous activity and metallogeny in the southeastern part of Korean Peninsula. The results obtained are as follows: 1. Bulgugsa granitic rocks range from granite to adamellite, whose Q-Ab-Or triangular diagram indicates that the depth and pressure at which the magma consolidated increase from coast to inland varying from 6 km, 0.5-3.3 kb in the coastal area to 17 km, 0.5-10 kb in the inland area. 2. The volcanic rocks in Gyongsang basin range from andesitic to basaltic rocks, and the basaltic rocks are generally tholeiitic in the coastal area and alkali basalt in the inland area. 3. The volcanic rocks of the area have the initial ratio of Sr^{87}/Sr^{86} varying from 0.706 to 0.707 which suggests a continental origin; the ratio of Rb/Sr changing from 0.079-0.157 in the coastal area to 0.021-0.034 in the inland area suggests that the volcanism is getting younger toward coastal side, which may indicate a retreat in stage of differentiation if they were derived from a same magma. The K_2O/SiO_2 (60%) increases from about 1.0 in the coastal area to about 3.0 in the inland area, which may suggest an increase indepth of the Benioff zone, if existed, toward inland side. 4. The K-Ar ages of volcanic rocks were measured to be 79.4 m.y. near Daegu, and 61.7 m.y. near Busan indicating a southeastward decrease in age. The ages of plutonic rocks also decrease toward the same direction with 73 m.y. near Daegu, and 58 m.y. near Busan, so that the volcanism predated the plutonism by 6 m.y. in the continental interior and 4 m.y. along the coast. Such igneous activities provide a positive evidence for an applicability of plate tectonics to this area. 5. Sulfur isotope analyses of sulfide minerals from 8 mines revealed that these deposits were genetically connected with the spacially associated ingeous rocks showing relatively narrow range of ${\delta}^{34}S$ values (-0.9‰ to +7.5‰ except for +13.3 from Mulgum Mine). A sequence of metallogenic zones from the coast to the inland is delineated to be in the order of Fe-Cu zone, Cu-Pb-Zn zone, and W-Mo zone. A few porphyry type copper deposits are found in the Fe-Cu zone. These two facts enable the sequence to be comparable with that of Andean type in South America. 6. The VGP's of Cretaceous and post Cretaceous rocks from Korea are located near the ones($71^{\circ}N$, $180^{\circ}E$ and $90^{\circ}N$, $110^{\circ}E$) obtained from continents of northern hemisphere. This suggests that the Korean peninsula has been stable tectonically since Cretaceous, belonging to the Eurasian continent. 7. Different polar wandering path between Korean peninsula and Japanese islands delineates that there has been some relative movement between them. 8. The variational feature of declination of NRM toward northwestern inland side from southeastern extremity of Korean peninsula suggests that the age of rocks becomes older toward inland side. 9. The geological structure(mainly faults) and trends of lineaments interpreted from the Landsat imagery reveal that NNE-, NWW- and NEE-trends are predominant in the decreasing order of intensity. 10. The NNE-trending structures were originated by tensional and/or compressional forces, the directions of which were parallel and perpendicular respectively to the subduction boundary of the Kula plate during about 90 m.y. B.P. The NWW-trending structures were originated as shear fractures by the same compressional forces. The NEE-trending structures are considered to be priginated as tension fractures parallel to the subduction boundary of the Kula plate during about 70 m.y. B.P. when Japanese islands had drifted toward southeast leaving the Sea of Japan behind. It was clearly demonstrated by many authors that the drifting of Japanese islands was accompanied with a rotational movement of a clock-wise direction, so that it is inferred that subduction boundary had changed from NNE- to NEE-direction. A number of facts and features mentioned above provide a suite of positive evidences enabling application of plate tectonics to the late Cretaceous-early Tertiary igneous activity and metallogeny in the area. Synthesizing these facts, an arc-trench system of continental margin-type is adopted by reconstructing paleogeographic models for the evolution of Korean peninsula and Japan islands. The models involve an extention mechanism behind the are(proto-Japan), by which proto-Japan as of northeastern continuation of Gyongsang zone has been drifted rotationally toward southeast. The zone of igneous activity has also been migrated from the inland in late-Cretaceous to the peninsula margin and southwestern Japan in Tertiary.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.53-66
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• 2010

We report petrologic characteristics including $^{40}Ar-^{39}Ar$ absolute ages of the subsurface lavas recovered from borehole cores in two islets, Marado and Gapado, off the southwestern coast of Jeju in southernmost Korea and discuss on the volcanism in the region. The lavas in Gapado are apparently divided into one unit with bright colored, aphanitic texture and sheet jointed, and another unit with dark colored and massive. The outcrops often show differentially weathered pattern due to textural difference. While, the lavas in Marado have vesicular and glomerporphyric texture, even though each lava flow unit in Marado has slight unique texture with variation of vesicularity and phenocrysts. The chemical composition of rock core samples from Gapa borehole and Mara borehole shows that the lavas from Gapado and Marado are classified into basaltic trachyandesite($SiO_2$ 52.6-53.6 wt%, $Na_2O+K_2O$ 7.3-7.5 wt%) and tholeiitic andesite($SiO_2$ 51.7-52.8 wt%, $Na_2O+K_2O$ 3.6-4.1 wt%), respectively. The measured $^{40}Ar-^{39}Ar$ plateau ages range from $824{\pm}32\;Ka$(MSL -69 m) to $758{\pm}\;Ka$(MSL 19 m) for core samples of Gapa borehole and $259{\pm}168\;Ka$(MSL -26 m) for a core sample of Mara borehole, respectively. The absolute age of Gapado basaltic trachyandesite is well correlated with that of Sanbangsan trachyte(Won et al., 1986). Meanwhile, the age of a sample in Marado has $259{\pm}168\;Ka$(MSL -26 m) with poor plateau age formation and high error range. We report the data in caution but the rock composition and absolute age of Marado tholeiitic andesite are relatively correlated with those of lava units from Duksu and Sangmo-2 boreholes, indicating the volcanism during 260-150 Ka. On the basis of interpretation of occurrences of exposed and subsurface volcanic rocks of the study area, stratigraphic relationship with adjacent borehole cores and the bathymetry chart of surrounding area, it indicates that the lavas in Gapado were formed around 800 Ka during relatively early stage of volcanic activity in Jeju Island. Meanwhile, Marado may have originated around 260-150 Ka during relatively young stage of volcanism in Jeju Island. It is inferred that the volcanisms have originated in land and these islets were individual ancient volcanoes. The apparent topography has been re-shaped by tidal erosion due to transgression.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.83-115
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• 2013

Erroneous fission-track (FT) ages caused by an inappropriate calibration in the initial stage of FT dating were redefined by re-experiments and zeta calibration using duplicate samples. Revised FT zircon ages newly define the formation ages of Yucheon Group rhyolitic-dacitic tuffs as Late Cretaceous to Early Paleocene ($78{\pm}4$ Ma to $65{\pm}2$ Ma) and Gokgangdong rhyolitic tuff as Early Eocene ($52.1{\pm}2.3$ Ma). In case of the Early Miocene volcanics, FT zircon ages from a dacitic tuff of the upper Hyodongri Volcanics ($21.6{\pm}1.4$ Ma) and a dacitic lava of the uppermost Beomgokri Volcanics ($21.3{\pm}2.0$ Ma) define chronostratigraphies of the upper Beomgokri Group, respectively in the southern Eoil Basin and in the Waeup Basin. A FT zircon age ($19.8{\pm}1.6$ Ma) from the Geumori dacitic tuff defines the time of later dacitic eruption in the Janggi Basin. Based on FT zircon ages for dacitic rocks and previous age data (mostly K-Ar whole-rock, partly Ar-Ar) for basaltic-andesitic rocks, reference ages are recommended as guides for stratigraphic correlations of the Miocene volcanics and basements in SE Korea. The times of accumulation of basin-fill sediments are also deduced from ages of related volcanics. Recommended reference ages are well matched to the whole stratigraphic sequences despite complicated basin structures and a relative short time-span. The Beomgokri Group evidently predates the Janggi Group in the Eoil-Waeup basins, while it is placed at an overlapped time-level along with the earlier Janggi Group in the Janggi Basin. Therefore, the two groups cannot be uniformly defined in a sequential order. The Janggi Group of the Janggi Basin can be evidently subdivided by ca. 20 Ma-basis into two parts, i.e., the earlier (23-20 Ma) andesitic-dacitic and later (20-18 Ma) basaltic strata.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.111-128
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• 2019

Ulleung Island is the top of an intraplate alkalic volcano rising 3200 m from sea floor in the East Sea (or Sea of Japan). The emergent 984.6 m consist of eruptive products of basaltic, trachytic and phonolitic magmas, which are divided into Dodong Basaltic Rocks, and Ulleung, Seonginbong and Nari groups. The Maljandeung Tuff in the Nari Group consists of thick pyroclastic sequences which are subdivided into 4 members (N-5, U-4, 3, 2), generating from explosive eruptions during past 18.8~5.6 ka B.P. From chemical data, the Member N-5, phonolitic in composition, is considerably enriched in incompatible elements and REE patterns with significant negative Eu anomalies. The members 4, 3 and 2 are phonolitic to tephriphonolitic in composition, and their REE patterns do not have significant Eu anomalies. In variation trend diagrams, many elements show abrupt compositional gaps between members, and gradual upward-mafic variations from phonolite to tephriphonolite within each member. It suggests a downward-mafic zonation that were evolved into phonolitic zone in the lower part to tephriphonolitic zone in upper part of magma chamber. It is supposed that the chemical stratification generated from multiple mechanisms of thermal gravidiffusion, crystal fractionation, and gradual melting and sequential emplacement. The stratified magmas were explosively erupted to generate a small caldera during short period (11 ka B.P.). Especially both members (U-3, 2) were accumulated by gradually erupting from the upper phonoltic zone to the lower tephriphonoltic zone of the stratified chamber in 8.4 ka B.P. and 5.6 ka B.P. time, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.87-109
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• 2024

Two kinds of basaltic outcrop consisting of vesicular gas-pipe and the host massive basalt were observed in the Taeheung-ri area of Namwon-eup, Jeju Island. This is clear evidence of the magmatic differentiation of lava flows after an eruption. Although the petrographic study revealed that both parts contained the same mineral phases such as olivine, clinopyroxene, and plagioclases with accessory alkaline feldspar, and titanite, their contents and compositions are more evolved in the vesicular gas-pipe. Its anorthite and wollastonite contents in plagioclase and clinopyroxene, respectively, are lower than those of the host massive basalt. The whole-rock XRF analysis indicates that vesicular gas-pipe had lower MgO content and higher CaO, Al₂O₃, P₂O₅, Fe₂O₃, Na₂O, TiO₂, SiO₂, and K₂O contents than those of the host massive basalt. Both parts of basalt are classified as tholeiite in the TAS diagram, but the former is plotted in a more differentiated area with higher SiO₂ content than the latter. Large ion lithophile elements are enriched in both types of basalt, but the enrichment is more conspicuous in the former. Rare earth elements are more abundant n porous gas-pipe than in the host massive basalt. In particualr light rare earth elements are highly enriched in both types of basalt ralative to those of chondrite, indicating typical ocean island basalts (OIBs). These findings indicate that the magma differentiation possibly occurred after an eruption, which can be explained by the gas-driven filter-pressing.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.217-223
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• 2010

This study was conducted to reclassify Dongsong series based on the second edition of Soil Taxonomy and to discuss the formation of Dongsong series distributed on the lava plain at Cheolweon in Korea. Morphological properties of typifying pedon of Dongsong series were investigated, and physico-chemical properties were analyzed according to Soil Survey Laboratory Methods Manual. The typifying pedon of Dongsong series has brown (7.5YR 4/2) silty clay loam Ap horizon (0-16 cm), brown (7.5YR 4/2) silty clay loam BA horizon (16-22 cm), brown (7.5YR 4/2) silty clay Bt1 horizon (22-50 cm), reddish brown (5YR 5/4) silty clay Bt2 horizon (50-92 cm), and brown (7.5YR 4/3) silty clay loam Bt3 horizon (92-120 cm). It occurs on lava plain derived from baslt materials. The typifying pedon has higher bulk density than 0.90 Mg $m^{-3}$. That can not be classified as Andisol. But it has an argillic horizon from a depth of 22 to more than 120 cm, and a base saturation (sum of cations) of less than 35% at 125 cm below the upper boundary of the argillic horizon. It can be classified as Ultisol, not as Andisol or Alfisol. It has aquic conditions for some time in normal years in one or more horizons within 50 cm of the mineral soil surface, redoximorphic features between a depth of 25 cm, and a depth of 40 cm from the mineral soil surface, and redox concentrations, and 50%or more redox depletions with chroma of 2 or less in the matrix within the upper 12.5 cm of the argillic horizon. Therefore it can be classified as Aquult. It has episaturation, and keys out as Epiaquult. It has 50% or more chroma of 3 or more in one or more horizons between a depth of 25 cm from the mineral soil surface, and a depth of 75 cm. It can be classified as Aeric Aquult. Dongsong series have 35%or more clay at the particle-size control section, and have mesic soil temperature regime. Therefore they can be classified as fine, mesic family of Aeric Epiaquults, not as fine, mesic family of Typic Epiaqualfs. The Quarternary volcanic activities occurred in Jeju Island, Ulrung Island, Baekryeong Island, Cheolweon area, and Mt. Paekdu et al. in the Korean Penninsula. Most of them belong to the central eruption type, but Cheolweon area may be of the fissure eruption type. Dongsong series occur on Cheolweon lava plains derived from basaltic materials. Most soils distributed in Jeju Island, and derived from mainly pyroclastics are developed as Andisols. But Dongsong series distributed in Cheolweon lava plains which have a relatively dry climate and derived from basaltic materials are developed as Ultisols.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.60-71
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• 2007

Groundwater from public wells was monitored during one year with two month interval for hydrogeochemical parameters and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as environmental tracers in Jeju Island. Concentrations of major cations and $SiO_2$ show variation less than 10% whereas $NO_3$ and dissolved oxygen (DO) showed larger variation though DO variation did not change oxic or suboxic condition. $NO_3$ concentration has no consistent seasonal pattern with the largest variation of 35%. Groundwater ages determined by CFCs became temporarily younger by 5 years in October for groundwater with ages of 15 to 25 years, which can be attributed to infiltrating water in rainy season. Compared to air temperature, groundwater temperature has much smaller variation with no phase difference, which can be accounted for by a two-component model consisting of infiltrating water from surface and deeper groundwater with negligible temperature variation. The relatively small variation in groundwater age and temperature indicates that groundwater recharge through fast flow-paths is much smaller compared with basal groundwater in terms of aquifer storage.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.603-612
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• 1997

Cretaceous sedimentary-volcanoclastic formations of the Kyeongsang Supergroup were intruded by granitic rocks in the late Cretaceous and early Tertiary. In the Euiseong and Shinryeong area, these intrusives have various compositions including gabbro, diorite，biotite granite and feldspar porphyry. Associated volcanic rocks consist of two chemically distinct types: the bimodal suite of basalt and rhyolite in the Keumseongsan caldera, and the felsic suite of andesite and rhyolite in the Sunamsan-Hwasan calderas. Most rocks are subalkaline, and follow a typical differentiation path of the calc-alkaline magma. The granitic rocks can be distinguished chemically from the volcanics by high Zr/Y ratios. Differences in Zr/Y and K/Y ratios between the two volcanic suites can be accounted for by mantle source and fractionation. Chondrite-normalized trace element abundances of granitic rocks are depleted in Th and K, whereas those of the Keumseongsan rhyolites are depleted in Sr and Ti. Rb, La and Ce is enriched in rhyolites of the Sunamsan-Hwasan calderas. $Rb-SiO_2$ and Rb-Y+Nb discrimination diagrams suggest that the intrusives and volcanics have a volcanic arc setting. K-Ar ages indicate four plutonic episodes : diorite (89 Ma), granite (66~62 Ma), granite and porphyry (55~52 Ma) and gabbro (52~45 Ma), and two volcanisms : bimodal basaltic and rhyolitic volcanism (71~66 Ma) in the Keumseongsan caldera, and felsic andesitic and rhyolitic volcanism (61~54 Ma) in the Sunamsan-Hwasan calderas. Geochemical and age data thus suggest that the igneous rocks are related to several geologic episodes during the late Cretaceous to early Tertiary.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.121-138
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• 2018

We have examined the petrotectonic setting and magmatic evolution from petrochemical characteristics of major and trace elements for the Cretaceous volcanic rocks in and around the Mireukdo Island. The volcanic rocks, can be devided into Jusasan, Unmunsa, Yokji and Saryang subgroups on the ascending order, are classified as basalt, basaltic andesite, andesite, dacite and rhyolite on TAS diagram. Petrochemical data show that the rocks are calc-alkaline series, and suggest that erupted earlier medium-K series and later high-K series. The volcanic rocks provide a case in which the calc-alkaline magma are formed, not only from separate protoliths, but following separate paths from source to surface. Earlier and later subgroups take different paths to the surface respectively, and are emplaced in the shallow crust as a series of discrete magma chambers through the volcanic processes. After emplacement, each chamber evolves indepently through fractional crystallization with a little assimilation of wall rock. The volcanic rocks have close petrotectonic affinities with orogenic suite and subduction-related volcanic arc. The rhyolitic magma can be derived from calc-alkaline andesitic magma by fractional crystallization with crustal assimilation, which may be derived from a partial melt of peridotite in the upper mantle.