• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2017

The pollen analysis on the deposits of the lower marine terrace I of the estimated paleoshoreline height of 18m was performed in order to estimate the formation age of this terrace developed at the Sanha-dong coast, Ulsan, southeastern coast of the Korean peninsula. The pollen assemblage of the peat layer of SH-1 pollen zone (Quercus-Ulmus/Zelkova zone), lying directly on the marine rounded pebble layer of this terrace, shows that the climatic environment of the deposition period of SH-1 pollen zone was almost similar to that of the Postglacial climatic optimum period, but slightly cooler than that of the late warm stage of Last Interglacial(MIS 5a) in the eastern coast of Korea. This heightens the possibility that the deposition period of the marine rounded pebble layer which was covered by the above SH-1 peat layer is the MIS 5e which has been estimated by a previous study of the sedimentary facies of this terrace deposits (Choi, 2016). The pollen assemblage of SH-2 pollen zone (Pinus-Quercus zone) shows that the climate of this period was almost similar to that of the late Postglacial, but slightly cooler than that of the period of SH-1 pollen zone. This means that the climate around the Sanha-dong was still warmer in the deposition period of the peat layer of SH-2 pollen zone. Thus, the peat layer of SH-2 pollen zone was considered to have been deposited during the period from the early regression stage of the MIS 5d which is the estimated final stage in the deposition period of the above peat layer of SH-1 pollen zone to any stage in which the warmer environment of MIS 5 has still lasted. The humic silt layer of SH-3 pollen zone (Pinus-Ulmus/Zelkova-Abies zone) is assumed to have been deposited during the interstadial of the Last Glacial (MIS 3).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.485-497
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• 2019

The Jade Investiture Books in Joseon Dynasty shows diverse facies with various petrographic characteristics to green and white based on color. In lithologically, the green rocks are jade composed of calcite and serpentine, and the white ones are marbles consisting mainly in crystalline calcite. As a result of X-ray diffraction of jade rocks, the more green in color, the more increased intensity of serpentine appears. Therefore, the grade of jade is correlated with contents of serpentine. The Jade Investiture Books owned by the National Palace Museum of Korea are subdivided with 104 (41.3%) books made by only jade rocks, 98 (38.9%) books made by only marbles, and 50 (19.8%) books mixed with jade rocks and marbles. Among the mixed ones, 47 (18.6%) books consisted mainly of the marbles. This result shows the superior marble books occupy more than half of the total books. The Jade Investiture Books made in early Joseon Dynasty are composed of high grade jade. However, the grade of jade had decreased as the kings changed in process of time, and the composition of marble had increased in reverse proportion of jade. The quality of letter pigments, metal accessories and fabrics also had decreased with jade. These trends are reflected in the aspect of society such as weakening royal authority, national power and finance with the course of time. The jade of the books has different mineralogical characteristics from some modern jade produced in Chuncheon nephrite and Buyeo precious serpentine in Korea. Meanwhile, there is ancient literature that described quarries from Namyang in Hwaseong of Gyeonggi province. This area has a wide distribution of gneiss, limestone and limesilicate rocks are interbedded between muscovite schist. The limesilicate rocks contain diopside, which produced serpentine through alteration. It has possibility to make the Jade Investiture Books using these small amounts of jade through mining activity.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 1992

Precambrian metamorphic rocks of the Gapyeong-Cheongpyeong area consist of banded gneiss, augen gneiss, leucocratic gneiss, quartz schist and quartzite, together with minor intercalations of serpentinite, amphibolite and marble. Mineral assemblages of meta-sedimentary rocks are classified into three types: sillimanite-free; sillimanite-bearing; and sillimanite+K-feldspar-bearing assemblages. Compositions of metamorphic phases depend on the type of mineral assemblages. In particular, the Ca contents of plagioclase and garnet are high in sillimanite-free assemblges. Kyanite occurs in three samples, and coexists with sillimanite in one sample. The presence of kyanite indicates that metamorphic rocks of the study area have experienced the Barrovian type metamorphism. Peak metamorphic conditions estimated from various geothermobarometers and phase equilibria are 618-674$^{\circ}C$ and 6.5${\pm}$2.0 kbar for sillimanite-free assemblages, and 701-740$^{\circ}C$ and 4.4${\pm}$0.8 kbar for sillimanite-bearing assemblages, respectively. Furthermore, a clockwise P-T-time path is deduced for the study area, based on the following observations: (1) the polymorphic transition of kyanite to sillimanite, (2) the occurrence of sillimanite and K-feldspar belonging to the upper amphibolite facies, and finally (3) the retrograde metamorphism characterized by muscovite-, chlorite-, and actinolite-bearing assemblages.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.199-214
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• 2022

The Yeongnam Massif is one of representative basement provinces in the Korean Peninsula, which has experienced high-temperature, low-pressure (HTLP) regional metamorphism and partial melting. Here we reviewed recent developments in Paleoproterozoic (1.87-1.84 Ga) hot orogenesis of the Yeongnam Massif, typified by the granulite-facies metamorphism and partial melting recorded in the HTLP rocks. In particular, spatiotemporal linkage between the metamorphic and magmatic activities, including the Sancheong-Hadong anorthositic magma as a heat source, provides a key to understand the widespread HTLP metamorphism and partial melting in the Yeongnam Massif. Crustal anatexis, resulting from the fluid-present melting and muscovite/biotite dehydration melting, has yielded various types of leucosomes and leucogranites. Zircon and monazite petrochronology, using in-situ U(-Th)-Pb data from the secondary ion mass spectrometry, indicates that the HTLP metamorphism and anatexis lasted over a period of ~15 Ma at ca. 1870-1854 Ma. In addition, a fluid influx event at ca. 1840 Ma was locally recognized by the occurrence of incipient charnockite. Taken together, the Yeongnam Massif preserves a prolonged evolutionary record of the HTLP metamorphism, partial melting, and fluid influx diagnostic for a hot orogen. Such an orogen is linked to the Paleoproterozoic orogeny widespread in the North China Craton, and most likely represents the final phase of crustal evolution in the Columbia/Nuna supercontinent.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 2010

This study investigated the sedimentary environment changes in the Baramarae beach of Anmyeondo through spatio-temporal surface sediment analysis. In the winter season 2009, surface sediments were classified into 7 sedimentary facies such as gravel, sand, gravelly sand, gravelly muddy sand, muddy sand, silty sand, and sandy silt. Time-series analysis of average grain size from 2002 to 2009 revealed that the average grain size of sediments became finer and sorting was much worse. On the contrary, during the same period, the grain size became coarsening-trend and sorting was much better in beach area. These different grain size patterns resulted from the different change characteristics of beach and tidal flats. The southwestern beach area was connected to the open sea and thus fine sediments were removed by the environments with relatively high-energy. The sedimentation of fine sediments in the bay resulted from the tidal current action and the reduction of energy by the topographic effects. Fine sediments in the outer part of southwestern tidal flats could be explained such that the Seomot isle blocked ocean waves and as a result, low-energy environments accelerated sedimentations of fine sediments.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.235-246
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• 2011

Sea level fluctuations during the Holocene reconstructed by the results of age dating, microfossils researches and sedimentary facies from coastal alluvial plains contain the valuable informations on climatic changes. The sea level during 'maximum phase of transgression' during 6,000~5,000 yr BP was slightly higher than the present by approximately 0.8~1.0 m and the summer temperature conditions seemed to be higher than those of the present by 2~3℃ in the Central Europe when the period of 'Climatic Optimum' might be dominant. The sea level in Korean Peninsula was assumed by 0.8~1.0 m higher at that time compared to the present and climate seemed to be warmer. At 2,000~1,800 yr BP in Korean Peninsula, the sea level reached the higher stand than the present by approximately 1.1~1.3 m and the climatic conditions might be warm similar to the period of 'Climatic Optimum'. Although the temperature in the Central Europe during the period of 'Subboreal' was about 2~3℃ cooler, it is supposed that the sea level in Korean Peninsula was relatively higher than the present. The sea level at 2,300 yr BP might be similar to that of the present, which was the lowest level since the mid-Holocene. From the fact, climatic environment during the cold period might not be reflected exactly in the sea level.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.25-37
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate the history of phenomenon(hereinafter called mass-movement) of movement of inorganic material originated from hillslope by denudation of hillslope surrounding the watershed during Holocen period in the Chaamgol watershed(hereinafter called study watershed) uppermost stream of Maegokcheon Cheonan-si Chungnam. To do this, for the object of allivium distributed in valley bottom of study watershed, facies analysis, radiocarbon dating and grain size analysis were conducted and geomorphological analysis on study watershed conducted together. The result is like the following. It was confirmed that over around 9,100yrBP~to recent due to a few times of mass-movement occurred in time scale of 10²~10³ years, a large quantity of inorganic material is mixed in organic material layer originated from wetland formed in valley bottom of study watershed or exists between organic material layers. And it was found that in study watershed, mass-movement occurred in instable period of hillslope after the Early Holocen existed at least 8 times (M1 period~M8 period) and wetland environment formed in the stable period of hill slope existed total 4 times (W1 period~W4 period). This analysis result will be used in the future as basic material in research of Holocen climate change of Maegokcheon watershed and in restoration of denudation process of hillslope following this.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.93-105
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• 2024

Chilgok Geummubong tree fern fossil site is the type locality where tree fern stem fossils (Cyathocaulis naktongensis) were first discovered by Tateiwa in 1925. Recognized for its academic value, it was designated as a natural monument in the 1930s during the Japanese colonial period, and preserved and managed for over 90 years. However, at the time of discovery, the stratigraphic level of tree fern fossils could not be located because the fossils were fragments detached from the rock body, and thus the Geummubong area where the conglomerate/sandstone layers of the Nakdong Formation are distributed, has been designated as a cultural heritage area. Only in the 2000s, when tree fern fossils were directly recovered from the outcrops near the designated area, the sedimentary rock facies containing the fossils were interpreted, and the anatomical characteristics of the Mesozoic tree fern fossils could be described and identified as a species level. Such studies are, in these days, redefining classification criteria done by Japanese paleontologist, Ogura. That is, Korean researchers pointed out that the classification criteria of the tree fern fossils (Cyathocaulis) reported early from Chilgok were ambiguous, and the possibility that the two species were the same species was suggested. In addition, it is necessary to reorganize designated areas as a way to resolve social conflicts and civil complaints caused by various regulations that have continued for a long time.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.301-312
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• 2015

A commercial gas field was found in the southwestern continental shelf of the Ulleung Basin, East Sea in the late 1990s. To develop additional gas field, an exploration well was drilled through the coarse infill of submarine canyon near the gas field, but it was uneconomic to develop hydrocarbons. Using newly acquired deep seismic reflection and previous well data, we have identified additional geological structure which has hydrocarbon potentials below submarine canyons in the southwestern margin of the basin. Based on the interpretation of the deep seismic reflection and well data, the sequences of the study area can be classified into the syn-rift megasequence(MS1), post-rift megasequence(MS2), syn-compressional megasequence(MS3), and post-compressional megasequence(MS4) in relation to the tectonic events. MS1, deposited simultaneously with the basin formation before the middle Miocene, is characterized by chaotic seismic facies with low- to moderate-amplitude and low frequency reflections. MS2 comprises laterally continuous, low- to moderate-amplitude reflections, showing progradational stacking patterns due to high rates of sediment supply during basin expansion in the middle Miocene. MS3 is mainly composed of continuous reflections with high amplitude and moderate- to high-frequency which are interpreted as coarse-grained sediments. The coarse-grained sediments of MS3 sequence is widely truncated by several submarine canyons which filled with fine-grained sediment of MS4 to form a stratigraphic trap of hydrocarbon. Therefore, the reservoir and seal of the hydrocarbon trap in the study area are coarse-grained sediment of MS3 and submarine canyon filled with fine-grained sediment of MS4, respectively. A flat-spot seismic anomaly, which may indicate the presence of hydrocarbon, is observed within the stratigraphic trap.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.57-79
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• 1993

Chuncheon nephrite, which was formed by the polymetasomatic alteration of dolomitic marble, can be classified into pale green, green, dark green, and grey types on the basis of their occurrence, mineralogical and textural characteristics. The nephrites consist obiefly of fibrous or hairlike(length/width ratio>10) cryptocrystalline(crystal width < $2{\mu}m$) tremolite, and include less amounts of micro-crystalline diopside, calcite, clinochlore, and sphene as impurities. The oriented and rather curved crystal aggregate, of nephritic tremolite are densely interwoven, resulting in a massive-fibrous texture which may explain the characteristic toughness of nephritic jade. The characteristic greenish color of the nephrite may be preferably related to Fe rather than Cr and Ni. However, the variation of color and tint in the Chuncheon nephrite also depends on the mineralogical and textural differences such as crystallinity, texture, and impurities. The chemical composition of the nephritic tremolite is not stoichiometric and rather dispersed especially in the abundances of Al, Mg, and Ca. Al content and Mg/Ca ratio for the nephritic tremolite are slightly increased with deepening in greenish color of the nephrite. Fe content in the nephritic tremolite is generally very low, but comparatively richer in the dark green nephrite. In nephritic tremolite, wide-chain pyriboles are irregularly intervened between normal double chains, forming a chain-width disorder. Most nephritic tremolites in the Chuncheon nephrite show various type of chain-width defects such as triple chain(jimthompsonite), quintuple chain (chesterite), or sometimes quadruple chain in HRTEM observations. The degree of chain-width disorder in the nephritic tremolite tends to increase with deepening in greenish color. Triple chain is the most common type, and quadruple chain is rarely observed only in the grey nephrite. The presence of pyribole structure in the nephritic tremolite is closely related to the increase of Al content and Mg/Ca ratio, a rather dispersive chemical composition, a decrease of relative intensity in (001) XRD reflection, and an increase in b axis dimension of unit cell. In addition, the degree and variation of chain-width disorder with nephrite types may support that an increase of metastability was formed by a rapid diffusion of Mg-rich fluid during the nephrite formation.