• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.275-290
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• 2023

Structural inversion refers to the reverse reactivation of extensional faults that influence basin shortening accommodated by contractional faults or folds. On the Korean peninsula, Miocene inversion structures have been found, but the Cretaceous rocks on Geoje Island may have undergone inversion as early as the Upper Cretaceous. To evaluate the structural inversion on Geoje Island, located on the eastern side of South Korea, and to determine the effects of preexisting weakness zones, field-based geometric and kinematic analyses of faults were performed. The lithology of Geoje Island is dominated by hornfelsified shale, siltstone, and sandstone in the Upper-Cretaceous Seongpori formation. NE and NW-oblique normal faults, conjugate strike-slip (NW-sinistral transpressional and E-W-dextral transtensional) faults, and NE-dextral transpressional faults are the most prominent structural features in Geoje Island. Structural inversion on Geoje Island was evidenced by the sinistral and dextral transpressional reactivation of the NW and NE-trending oblique normal faults respectively, under WNW-ESE/NW-SE compression, which was the orientation of the compressive stress during the Late Cretaceous to Early Cenozoic.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.389-397
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• 2021

Moryang Fault is geomorphologically observed as a linear fault valley from Angang through Moryang, Duckhyun and Wondong to Gimhae, and contacts with Yangsan Fault, being obliquely away to the east, at Angang disrict. The fault valley appears a V-shape feature with a width from 100 to 300 m, and has fragmental zones of the fault along the valley on a small scale. Nine fault-outcrop localities were found along the nine-kilometers valley between Daehyun-ri, Gyeongju, and Baenaemi-gogae, Yangdong-ri, Ulsan. The fault strikes the North-North-East to the Northeast and dips to the Northwest with high angles, and reveals it had been undergone predominantly sinistral reverse fault movement sense, left-lateral and right-lateral strike-slip sense in bedrocks. However, after unconsolidated sediments, there was the top-up-to-the-east dextral reverse fault movement.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.347-357
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• 2019

The main fault zone of the Yangsan Fault, located in the southeastern part of the Korean peninsula, is newly found at the Cheonjin-ri, Dudong-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, Korea. About 100 wide fault zone exposed along the Guryangcheon stream strikes N-S and dips over 70° toward east. The main fault zone is composed of N-S-striking gouge and breccia layers and enclosed lenses. Striations on the subvertical fault surfaces mainly indicate dextral slip, but moderate-angle minor reverse faults showing top-tothe-west shearing transect the foliated high-angle gouge and breccia layers. These indicate that the dextral slip along the fault, which is interpreted as the main movement of the fault, was followed by reverse slip. The fault zone is composed of N-S-striking gouge layers and enclosed, fractured lenses. Locally distributed NE-SW- to E-W-striking fault gouge layers with fractured lenses show asymmetric folds, indicating progressive dextral movement. Therefore, the exposed fault zone has a high internal complexity due to the combined effects of NNE-SSW-trending dextral shearing and E-W-trending shortening by compression. In addition, around main boundary fault between the western volcanic rocks and eastern sedimentary rocks offsets the overlying Quaternary fluvial conglomerate. This is a good example that understanding of internal structures of main fault zone (or fault core), such as the Yangsan Fault, plays an important role to study the Quaternary activity and to find the active fault.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.59-71
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• 1990

Magnetic anisotropy of a total of 213 independently oriented Tertiary rock samples from Pohang-Ulsan area has been studied. The sampled strata comprise basalts, tuffs and black shale, and range in age from Eocene to Miocene. The previous palaeomagnetic studies indicate that their magnetic carrier minerals are titanomagnetites. Among 23 sampled sites, 11 sites were found to preserve magnetic load foliation parallel to the bedding plane caused by the Iithostatic load of the overlying strata. Other 4 sites showed magnetic lineation indicating the flow direction of lava and tuffs. The remaining 8 sites revealed the magnetic tectonic foliation nearly vertical to the bedding plane. This magnetic foliation is interpreted to be generated by tectonic compression which acted nearly horizontally during the solidification stage of the strata. The compression directions deduced from the tectonic foliation of the 8 sites can be grouped into internally very consistent two group: a N-S trending one and the other WNW-ESE trending one. It is interpreted that the former N-S compression was associated with the N-S spreading of the East Sea(Sea of Japan) and the dextral strike-slip movement of the Yangsan-Ulsan fault system. The latter WNW-ESE compression is interpreted to represent the folding and reverse faulting activity in the Korean and Tsushima straits during middle/late Miocene times.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.349-359
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• 2020

The Ulsan Fault Zone (UFZ) of NNW trend is developed in the Gyeongsang Basin, the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula, and the Quaternary faults have been found around the UFZ. The faults generally thrust the Bulguksa igneous rocks of Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary upon the Quaternary deposits or are developed within the Quaternary deposits. They mainly show the reverse-slip sense of top-to-the west movement. The lines connecting the their outcrop sites show a zigzag-form which is similar to the orientation of their fault surfaces which show the various trends, like (W)NW, N-S, (E)NE, ENE trends. The E-W trending dextral strike(-slip) fault is found in the Quaternary deposits of the Singye-ri valley. It cuts the N-S trending reverse fault and are cut by the N-S trending thrust fault again. Two types of at least two times of Quaternary tectonic movements related to the formation of neotectonic fault zone in the Singye-ri valley are considered from such the geometric and kinematic characteristics of Quaternary faults. One is the reverse faulting of N-S trend by the E-W directed 1st compression and associated the strike-slip tear faulting of E-W trend, and then the thrust faulting of N-S trend by the E-W directed 2nd compression. The other is the reverse faulting of N-S trend, and then the dextral strike-slip faulting of E-W trend by the NW-SE directed compression, and then the thrust faulting of N-S trend. In this paper is suggested the development history of Singye-ri neotectonic fault zone on the basis of the various orientations of Quaternary fault surfaces around the UFZ, and the zigzag-form connecting line of their outcrop sites, and the compressive arc-shaped lineaments which convex to the west reported recently in the Yangsan Fault Zone.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.635-643
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• 2009

In this paper, a Quaternary fault is described, which is developed in the mid-eastern part of Ulsan Fault Zone, near the southern Gaegok-ri, Oedong-eub, Gyeongju, Korea. The Gaegok 6 fault is developed along the contact between Early Tertiary granite and Quaternary gravel deposit overlying unconformably the granite. The fault strikes $N02^{\circ}{\sim}22^{\circ}E$ and dips $45^{\circ}{\sim}80^{\circ}$ to the west. This fault has a 30~50 cm wide cataclastic shear zone with gouge zone, mixed with Quaternary sediments and fault breccia of granite. In the main Quaternary fault plane, the orientation of striation is $17^{\circ}$, $356^{\circ}$, indicating a dextral strike-slip faulting with some normal component. There is another striation ($78^{\circ}$, $278^{\circ}$ and $43^{\circ}$, $270^{\circ}$) with reverse-slip sense, developed on the subsidiary plane which cuts the main Quaternary fault plane. In brief, the fault has been developed between the granite in the western part and the Quaternary gravel deposit in the eastern part. The western block of fault is uplifted. The striations and movement senses of faults indicate multiple compressional stages in this region. The fault has a similar orientation, westward dipping geometric pattern, and reverse sensed kinematic pattern with Gaegok 1 fault developed in the north. Thus, the Gaegok 6 fault is probably a southern extension of Gaegok 1 fault.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.83-94
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• 2008

The Pungcheon-myeon, Andong, consists mainly of Precambrian metamorphic rocks, Jurassic igneous rocks, Cretaceous sedimentary rocks (Hasandong, Jinju and Iljik Formations) and Cretaceous igneous rocks (gabbroic rocks, dykes), in which several major faults are developed; Andong fault of ENE trend, which is the boundary fault of the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin and the Precambrian-Jurassic basement (Yeongnam Massif), Namhu fault parallel to it, Maebong fault of NNW direction, bow-shaped Gwangdeok fault of ENE direction which is convex toward SSE direction, and Hahoe fault of NNE direction. This paper is researched the geological structures around these major faults by means of the detailed geometric analysis on beddings, joints, faults and drag folds. As a result, a reverse slip faulting of top-to-the SSE movement accompanied with a regional drag folding is recognized from the arrangement of bedding poles measured around the Gwangdeok and Hahoe faults at its northeastern extension, and a zone of Gwangdeok drag fold of 150-300 m width, which is wider at the central and eastern parts of Gwangdeok fault and narrower at its western part and Hahoe fault, is also defined. It indicates that the Hahoe and Gwangdeok faults are a single fault and their movements are coeval unlike the results of earlier reasearchers. And, In this area are recognized two types of faults [(E)NE${\sim}$EW(fault I), WNW${\sim}$NNW (fault II), trending faults] and four types of joints [EW (I), (N)NW (II), NNE (III), NE (IV) trending joints]. These fractures were formed at least through four different events, named as Dn to Dn+3 phases. (1) Dn phase; the formation of joint (I) (Gwangdeok joint) and the intrusion of acidic dykes of EW trend under the compression of EW direction. (2) Dn+1 phase; the formations of joint (II) (Maebong joint), lens-shaped boudinage of acidic dykes, oblique-slip reverse fault (Fault I-Gwangdeok fault) under the compression of (N)NW direction, and the formation of regional zone of Gwangdeok drag fold accompanying the Gwangdeok faulting. (3) Dn+2 phase; those of joint (III), Fault II (Maebong fault) by dextral strike-slip movement of Maebong joint under the compression of NNE direction, and the extension cutting of Dn+1 structures due to the Maebong faulting. (4) Dn+3 phase; the jointing (IV) and the reactivation of Fault II as oblique-slip type with predominant dextral motion which took place under the compression of NE direction. It also suggests that the Maebong fault is not a tear fault deveolped during thrust tectonics of the Andong and Gwangdeok faults but is a post-fault during different tectonic event.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.33-49
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• 2016

The study area, located in Sinam-ri, Ulsan, in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula, is mainly composed of hornblende granite (ca. 65 Ma). Fracturing and reactivation of a fault striking ENE-WSW was strongly controlled by the intrusion of a mafic dyke (ca. 44 Ma), which behaves as a discontinuity in the mechanically homogeneous pluton, increasing the instability of the basement in this area. A geometric and kinematic study undertaken to interpret the faults and fractures was performed in a trench excavated almost perpendicular to the orientation of the dyke. The analysis of structural elements, such as dykes, veins, and faults, is used to infer the deformation history and to determine the paleostress orientations at the time of formation of the structures. The deformation history established based on this analysis is as follows: (1) NNE-SSW, E-W, ENE-WSW, and NE-SW trending fractures had already developed in the pluton before dyke intrusion; (2) felsic dykes intruded under conditions of σ_Hmax oriented N-S and σ_Hmin oriented E-W; (3) mafic dykes intruded under conditions of σ_Hmax oriented E-W and σ_Hmin oriented N-S; (4) dextral reactivation of the main fault associated with the development of hydrothermal quartz veins under conditions of σ_Hmax oriented E-W and σ_Hmin oriented N-S; (5) sinistral reactivation of the main fault and high-angle normal faults under conditions of σ_Hmax oriented NE-SW and σ_Hmin oriented NW-SE; and (6) dextral reactivation of the main fault and NE-SW low-angle reverse faults under conditions of σ_Hmax oriented NW-SE and σ_Hmin oriented NE-SW. These results are consistent with the tectonic history of the Pohang-Ulsan block in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula, and indicates the tectonic deformation of the southern area of the Ulsan fault bounded by Yangsan fault was analogous to that of the Pohang-Ulsan area from the Cenozoic. This work greatly aids the selection of sites for critical facilities to prevent potential earthquake hazards in this area.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.485-505
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• 2022

On November 15, 2017, a Mw 5.4 Pohang Earthquake occurred at about 4 km hypocenter in the Heunghae area, and caused great damage to Pohang city, Korea. In the Heunghae area, which is the central part of the Pohang Basin, the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Supergroup and the Late Cretaceous to Early Paleogene Bulguksa igneous rocks as basement rocks and the Neogene Yeonil Group as the fillings of the Pohang Basin, are distributed. In this paper, structural and geological researches on the crustal deformations (folds, faults, joints) in the Pohang Basin and the coseismic ground deformations (sand volcanoes, ground cracks, pup-up structures) of Pohang Earthquake were carried out, and the deformation history of the Pohang Basin and characteristics of the coseismic ground deformations were considered. The crustal deformations were formed through at least five deformation stages before the Quaternary faulting: forming stages of the normal-slip (Gokgang fault) faults which strike (N)NE and dip at high angles, and the high-angle joints of E-W trend regionally recognized in Yeonil Group and the faults (sub)parallel to them, and the conjugate normal-slip faults (Heunghae fault and Hyeongsan fault) which strike E-W and dip at middle or low angles and the accompanying E-W folds, and the conjugate strike-slip faults dipped at high angles in which the (N)NW and E-W (NE) striking fault sets show the (reverse) sinistral and dextral strike-slips, respectively, and the conjugate reverse-slip faults in which the NNE and NNW striking fault sets dip at middle angles and the accompanying N-S folds. Sand volcanoes often exhibit linear arrangements (sub)parallel to ground cracks in the coseismic ground deformations. The N-S or (N)NE trending pop-up structures and ground cracks and E-W or (W)NW trending ground were formed by the reverse-slip movement of the earthquake source fault and the accompanying buckling folding of its hanging wall due to the maximum horizontal stress of the Pohang Earthquake source. These structural activities occurred extensively in the Heunghae area, which is at the hanging wall of the earthquake source fault, and caused enormous property damages here.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.613-624
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• 1997

A study of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) was conducted on the Ordovician-Eocene strata in the Taebaek area. The study area is a northeastern part of the Okchon belt, sometimes called as Paegunsan Synclinal Area. A total of 600 independently oriented samples were collected from 60 sites covering the whole area. With a few exception of late Cretaceous-Eocene volcanic rocks, all the sampled strata are nonmetamorphosed sedimentary rocks, mainly sandstones. Among the 60 sites, 5 sites showed flow lineation lying on the bedding plane, 11 sites showed load foliation parallel to the bedding plane, and 21 sites showed tectonic foliation unrelated to the bedding plane. The tectonic foliations are defined by $k_1-k_2$ ($k_{max}-k_{int}$) anisotropy plane, and are considered as a result of tectonic forces acted perpendicularly to the foliation plane in the geologic past. Regardless of sample-site locations, tectonic force directions defined by $k_3$ ($k_{min}$) axis perpendicular to the tectonic foliation are consistent among the strata of the same geologic age. In the course of geologic time, however, the tectonic force directions showed a clockwise rotation: approximately E-W in the Ordovician sites, NW-SE in the Permian sites, N-S in the Triassic sites, and lastly NE-SW in the late Cretaceous-Eocene sites. The pre-Permian directions showed better clustering in the in-situ (geographic) coordinates, while the younger directions become better clustered after the bedding-tilt correction. It is interpreted that the major tectonic structures of the Taebaek area were controlled by the above-mentioned tectonic forces: The Paegunsan Syncline and the Hambaeksan Fault must have been generated by the NW-SE force of late Permian-early Triassic time. It was then reactivated in the reverse (dextral) sense by the N-S force of Triassic time. The Osipchon Fault in the eastern part of the study area was either generated or reactivated by the NE-SW force of late Cretaceous-Eocene time. The Permo-Triassic NW-SE force should be an expression of the Songnim Disturbance in the Korean peninsula, which is in turn related with the SCB/NCB collision in China.