• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2001

Geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions and K-Ar ages are analyzed in volcanic rocks from Weno Island, Caroline Islands. Seven Weno lava samples of alkali basalt and basaltic trachyandesite are aphyric or sparsely phyric comprising olivine, plagioclase, and clinopyroxene phenocrysts. Whole-rock geochemical variation of Weno lavas reflects main fractional crystallization of olivine and Cr-spinel phenocrysts. Newly determined K-Ar ages of Weno lavas range from 6.7 to 11.3 Ma (late Miocene), indicating their formation during primary volcanic stage of Chuuk Islands. Trace element compositions of Weno lavas are very similar to those of typical ocean island basalts (OIBs), suggesting their formation during intra-plate mantle plume activity. The plume composition is isotopically very similar to that of Hawaiian hot spot. However, the age span of Chuuk volcanism is longer than that of the other individual volcanoes in the Pacific.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.175-184
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• 1974

Weathering of granites has a great geochemical significance, because of their chemical stability near the earth surface which is more pronounced than in most other rocks. The author intended to observe the relative mobility of major elements in weathering process of the granite, distributed on outskirts of Iri city Jeolla-bugdo, Korea. He analysed fresh granites and weathered ones from the Baeg-Gu granite mass and obtained following conclusions in the triangle-diagrams and the oxidized variation diagrams of the samples. 1) The increasing phenomena of $H_2O$ was observed clearly in early and late stages of weathering process. 2) The early stage of weathering is commenced by physical weathering and followed by chemical weathering. 3) The ratio of $FeO/Fe_2O_3$, FeO/MgO, and $SiO_2/Al_2O_3$ decreased uniformly from early to late stage of weathering processes. 4) It was proved that weathering potential of granite was larger than that of basaltic rock. 5) The order of mobility in major elements was Ca, Na and K

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.313-331
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• 2022

Natural or native abiotic molecular hydrogen (H₂) is a major component in natural gas, however yet its importance in the global energy sector's usage as clean and renewable energy is underestimated. Here we review the occurrence and geological settings of native hydrogen to demonstrate the much widesprease H₂ occurrence in nature by comparison with previous estimations. Three main types of source rocks have been identified: (1) ultramafic rocks; (2) cratons comprising iron (Fe²⁺)-rich rocks; and (3) uranium-rich rocks. The rocks are closely associated with Precambrian crystalline basement and serpentinized ultramafic rocks from ophiolite and peridotite either at mid-ocean ridges or within continental margin(Zgonnik, 2020). Inorganic geological processes producing H₂ in the source rocks include (a) the reduction of water during the oxidation of Fe²⁺ in minerals (e.g., olivine), (b) water splitting due to radioactive decay, (c) degassing of magma at low pressure, and (d) the reaction of water with surface radicals during mechanical breaking (e.g., fault) of silicate rocks. Native hydrogen are found as a free gas (51%), fluid inclusions in various rock types (29%), and dissolved gas in underground water (20%) (Zgonnik, 2020). Although research on H₂ has not yet been carried out in Korea, the potential H₂ reservoirs in the Gyeongsang Basin are highly probable based on geological and geochemical characteristics including occurrence of ultramafic rocks, inter-bedded basaltic layers and iron-copper deposits within thick sedimentary basin and igneous activities at an active continental margin during the Permian-Paleogene. The native hydrogen is expected to be clean and renewable energy source in the near future. Therefore it is clear that the origin and exploration of the native hydrogen, not yet been revealed by an integrated studies of rock-fluid interaction studies, are a field of special interest, regardless of the presence of economic native hydrogen reservoirs in Korea.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2009

Fine-grained peridotite xenoliths are rarely trapped in the basaltic rocks from the southeastern part of Jeju Island. Based on textural characteristics of the constituent phases showing uniform-sized, fine-grained tabular to mosaic grains with rare porphyroclastic relics, the studied samples can be defined as fine-grained, foliated porphyroclastic peridotites (FPP). Almost no significant difference among the FPPs in textures and major element compositions implies that the FPPs were derived from a structural domain, experiencing similar deformation events and deformation patterns. Moreover, the bimodal distribution with kink-banded porphyroclasts ($2{\sim}3mm$) and stain-free neoblasts ($200{\sim}300{\mu}m$), straight to gently curved grain boundaries with triple junctions, interstitial melt pockets, and microstructures for migrating grain boundary suggest that the studied samples went through dynamic recrystallization (${\pm}$ static recrystallization) in the presence of melt/fluid movement along foliation planes. No notable difference between the FPP and common protogranular xenoliths in major element compositions and geochemical evolution also implies that the FPP and protogranular xenoliths were from a similar horizon. Thus, the textural and geochemical characteristics of the FPPs reflects deformation events occurred at a localized and narrow zone within the lithospheric mantle beneath the Jeju Island. Although further detailed studies are necessary to define deformation events, the most possible process which could trigger deformation in the FPP in the rigid upper mantle was the ascending basaltic magma forming high-stress deformation zones. The suggested high-stress deformation zones in the lithosphere beneath the Jeju Island may be produced by paleo-faulting events related to the ascent of basalt magma before Jeju Island was formed.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.128-139
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• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the tectonic setting of the volcanic edifice at Mt. Baekdu by analyzing petrochemical characteristics of Holocene felsic volcanic rocks distributed in the Baekdusan stratovolcano edifice and summit of the Cheonji caldera rim, as well as Pleistocene mafic rocks of the Gaema lava plateau and Changbaishan shield volcano edifice. During the early eruption phases, mafic eruption materials, with composition ranging from alkali basalt to trachybasalt, or from subalkaline (tholeiitic) basalt to basaltic andesite formed the Gaema lava plateau and Changbaishan shield volcanic edifice, whereas the Baekdusan stratovolcano edifice and Holocene tephra deposits near the summit of the Cheonji caldera comprises trachytic and rhyolitic compositions. Analysis results revealed bimodal compositions with a lack of 54-62 SiO₂, between the felsic and mafic volcanic rocks. This suggested that magmatic processes occurred at the locations of extensional tectonic settings in the crust. Mafic volcanic rocks were plotted in the field of within-plate volcanic zones or between within-plate alkaline and tholeiite zones on the tectonic discrimination diagram, and it was in good agreement with the results of the TAS diagram. Felsic volcanic rocks were plotted in the field of within-plate granite tectonic settings on discrimination diagrams of granitic rocks. None of the results were plotted in the field of arc islands or continental margin arcs. The primitive mantle-normalized spider diagram did not show negative (-) anomalies of Nb and Ti, which are distinctive characteristics of subduction-related volcanic rocks, but exhibited similar patterns of ocean island basalt. Trace element compositions showed no evidence of, magmatic processes related to subduction zones, indicating that the magmatic processes forming the Baekdusan volcanic field occurred in an intraplate environment. The distribution of shallow earthquakes in this region supports the results. The volcanic rocks of the Baekdusan volcanic field are interpreted as the result of intraplate volcanism originating from the upwelling of mantle material during the Cenozoic era.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.45-59
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• 2014

This study has been designed to collate distribution, morphology, petrology of columnar joint in South Korea. Reported columnar joint areas in South Korea are 68, until the present time. These can be divided into five group by geography and volcanic activity. 1) The 16 columnar joint areas are distributed in Hantangang region. The 15 areas in this region are composed of basaltic lava in the Quaternary period, and the other 1 area is composed of volcanic rocks in the Cretaceous period. 2) The 18 columnar joint areas are distributed in Jeju island. Most of them are composed of basaltic lava(alkali basalt and Hawaiite), and the Sanbangsan and Baegrokdam area are composed of trachyte in the Quaternary period. Colonnade, entablature and chisel mark of the columnar joint are typically occur in basaltic lava. 3) The 5 columnar joint areas are distributed into the Ulleung island and Dokdo including Guksubawi. These are consisted of relatively well-formed trachyte columns in the Quaternary period. 4) The 8 columnar joint areas are distributed into the Pohang, Gyeongju and Ulsan region and consist of the Tertiary period volcanic rock. It's shape are dome, radial, horizontal and vertical. The 4 columnar joint areas are reported in the Pyeongtaek and Asan city of Chungcheongnamdo and Gosung of Gangwondo. All of them are the Tertiary period basalt. 5) The 15 columnar joint areas are distributed into the west and south coast region. Those are consisted of various rock type(from basalt to dacite), various occurrences(lava flow to welded tuff), and various diameters(20 cm to several meters). The columnar joint of Mudeung mountain and Juwang mountain are welded tuff in the Cretaceous period. The columnar joint is distributed over a wide area in South Korea, 5 in Gangwondo, 13 in Gyeonggido, 2 in Chungnam, 14 in Gyeongbuk, 1 in Jeonbuk, 10 in Jeonnam, 5 in Gyeongnam, and 18 in Jeju. The columnar joints in South Korea can be arranged in order of formative period, 18 in the Cretaceous period, 12 in the Tertiary period, and 38 in the Quaternary period. By magma series, 36 are belong to alkaline series and 32 are belong to sub-alkaline series.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.57-70
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• 1999

The volcanic rocks of Ulleungdo reveal very high alkali element abundances and most of them have high K20/Na20 ratios and belong to potassium-series. Ulleungdo volcanics show very wide range of variation in their composition from basalts to trachytic basalt, basaltic trachyandesite, trachyandesite, and finally to trachyte on total alkali-silica diagram. Such a general trend of compositional variation can be explained well by differentiation due to fractional crystallization of various minerals. Olivine, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, ilmenite, and apatite are suggested as the major fractionated minerals. Ulleungdo volcanics show Nb/U and PbICe ratios similar to oceanic volcanics such as MORB and OIB, but significantly different .from volcanic rocks of island arc environments, which suggest that they are not directly related with subduction along the Japanese arc. LREE abundances of Ulleungdo volcanics are highly enriched compared with HREE abundances ((La)N=193-420, (L~)~=7.5-19.5).O nly trachyte-1 show appreciable negative Eu anomalies among various rock types, which suggests significant amount of plagioclase were fractionated. However, trachyte-2, trachyte-3, phonolite, and pumice reveal quite different variation trend of trace and rare earth element abundances from trachyte-1, which suggest that they have originated from different magma batches and have experienced different differentiation processes. A prominent bimodal distribution, thus lacking of intermediate composition, is observed from the Ulleundo volcanics.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.19-36
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• 1983

The study revealed that the sequence of volcanism in Ulrung island can be classified into 5 stages, and the volcanic history is summerized as follow: 1st stage: Eruption of basaltic agglomerates, tuffs and lavas, 2nd stage: Eruption of trachytic and trachyandesitic agglomerates and tuffs, 3rd stage: Eruption of trachyte lavas and their lapilli tuffs, 4th stage: Eruption of trachyte lavas and nepheline phonolites, 5th stage: Eruption of pumice, trachytic ash and lapilli, and plutonic ejecta (fragments of alkali gabbro, monzonite and alkali feldspar syenite) and a subsequent caldera formation. Finally, a small scale eruption of leucite bearing trachyandesite lava in the caldera. Several evidences show that there have been long erosional intervals between the 1st and 2nd stages and between the 4th and 5th stages. A K-Ar age for trachybasalt lava of the 1st stage was determined to be 1.8 Ma, and a $C^{14}$ age, 9300Y. (Machida, 1981) is available for these volcanic events. Therefore, it is considered that volcanic activity of the island above sea level began at least in early Pleistocene, and continued to until 9300 years ago exploding large amount of pumice, prior to pouring out of leucite bearing trachyandesite from the inner caldera. Using solidification index (SI) of Kuno, microscopic texture and mineral composition as criteria of the classification, the volcanic rocks are classified into alkali basalt, trachybasalt, trachyandesite, trachyte and phonolite. These are mostly prophyritic in texture. Main constituent minerals of alkali basalt and trachybasalt are plagioclase, olivine, Ti-augite and magnetite. Principal minerals of trachyandesite are plagioclase, anorthoclase, clinopyroxenes, kaersutite, biotite and magnetite. Trachyte and phonolite consist mainly of anorthoclase, clinopyroxene and magnetite, showing typical trachytic texture in groundmass. In solidification index, alkali basalt ranges from 39 to 27, trachybasalt 17 to 14, trachyandesite 12 to 9 and trachyte 8.15 to 0.72. A trend of compositional variation showing a typical alkali volcanic rock series is revealed on $SiO_2$-oxides and SI-oxides diagrams. In $SiO_2$-total alkali diagram, alkali lime index and An-Ab'-Or diagram, the samples fall into the fields of potassic series of the alkali volcanic rock series, whereas in A-F-M diagram show a trend toward the alkali enrichment with a curve approaching toward the iron apex. In particular, trachybasalt lavas in this island have higher total iron contents which is comparable to alkali rocks in other areas, e. g. as Gough and Tristan volcanic islands located near the Mid-Oceanic ridge in South Atlantic Ocean.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2003

The Paekrogdam summit crater area, Mt. Halla, Jeju Island, Korea, composed of Paekrogdam trachyte, Paekrogdam trachybasalt, and Manseidongsan conglomerate in ascending order. Joint systems show concentric and radial patterns around the summit crate wall. The Paekrogdam crater is a summit crater lake which erupted the tuffs, scorias and lava flows of Paekrogdam trachybasalt after the emplaceent of Paekrogdam trachyte dome. SiO$_2$ contents of mafic and felsic lavas are respectively, 48.0∼53.7 wt.％ and 60.7∼67.4 wt.%, reflecting bimodal volcanism. And lavas with SiO$_2$ between 53.7 wt.% and 60.7 wt.％ are not found. According to TAS diagram and K$_2$O-Na$_2$O diagram, the volcanic rocks belong to the normal alkaline rock series of alkali basalt-trachybasalt-basaltic trachyandesite and trachyte association. Oxide vs. MgO diagrams represent that the mafic lavas fractionated with crystallization of olivine, clinopyroxene, magnetite and ilmenite and felsic trachyte of plagioclase and apatite. The characteristics of trace elements and REEs shows that primary magma for the trachybasalt magma would have been derived from partial melting of garnet peridotite mantle. In the discrimination diagrams, the volcanic rocks are plotted at the region of within plate basalt (WPB).

• 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.