• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.109-126
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• 2015

Because fault gouge developed at the center of fault is recognized as one of the most important weak sites, it is evident that clay mineralogy and physical properties greatly affect the rock stability. The purpose of this study is to establish the relationship of mineralogy and physical factors that control rock stability in fault zones. We analyzed a total of 51 samples from 16 main faults which were selected from a Korea fracture map, using XRD, SEM, and physical analyses like unit weight, friction and cohesion properties. Though it is considered that the most common clay minerals comprising fault gouge are kaolinite, illite and smectite, clay mineralogy slightly varies depending on lithology: illite > smectite > kaolinite and chlorite in volcanic rocks, kaolinite and chlorite > illite > smectite in sedimentary rocks, and illite > smectite > kaolinite and chlorite in abundance, respectively. Friction angle decreases with increasing clay content. Cohesion increases with increasing clay content below the 45 % region while it decreases with increasing clay content at the region higher than 45%, with some scatters in the data. It is likely that these results are ascribed to the physical heterogeneity of fault gouges with varying content of different clay minerals.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.74-80
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• 2001

The estimation of recurrence interval for fault activity and earthquake is an important input parameter for seismic hazard assessment. In this study, the methods of recurrences interval estimation were reviewed and tentative calculation was performed for age dating data which have uncertainty. Age dating data come from previous studies of Ulsan fault system which is a well developed lineament in the southeastern part of korean Peninsula. Age dating for fault gouges, parent rocks, Quaternary sediments and veins were carried out by several researchers through various methods. Recurrence interval for fault activity was estimated on the basis of the age dating data of minor fault gouge and sediments during past 3Ma. The estimated recurrence interval was about 430-500 ka. Exact estimation of recurrence interval for fault activity need to compile more geological data and fault characteristics such as fault length, amount of displacement, slip rate and accurate fault movement age. In the future, the methods and results of fault recurrence interval estimation should be considered for establishing the criteria for domestic active fault definition.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.349-363
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• 2005

Many Quaternary faults are recognized as thin gouge and narrow cataclastic zone juxtaposing the Bulguksa granite and Quaternary deposit bed in the eastern block of the Using Fault, Korea: Gaegok 1, Caegok 2, Singye, Madong Wonwonsa and Jinhyeon faults. This study was performed to calculate chemical change, volume change, silica loss and fluid-rock ratio taken place in gouge zones of these Quaternary faults using XRF, XRD, EPMA. The chemical compositions of fault rocks reveal that the fault gouges are depleted in $SiO_2,\;Na_2\;O,and\;K_2O$ and enriched in $Al_2O_3,\;Fe_2O_3,\;P_2O_5,\;MgO,\;MnO,\;CaO,\;and\;LOI(H_2O+CO_2)$ relative to protoliths. The fact that there is enrichment of relatively immobile elements and depletion of the more soluble elements in the fault gouges relative to protoliths can be explained by fluid-assisted volume loss of $56\%$ for Caegok 1 fault, $22\%$ for Caegok 2 fault,$34\%$, for Singye fault, $8\%$ for Madong fault, $2\%$ for the Wonwonsa fault and $53\%$ for the linhyeon fault. Madong fault and Wonwonsa fault where ratios of the volume change, silica loss and fluid-rock are low might have acted as a closed system for fluid activity, whereas Caegok 1 fault and Jinhyeon fault with high ratios in those factors be an open system. The volumetric fluid-rock ratios range $10^2\sim10^4$ for all faults, being highest in Caegok 1 fault and Jinhyeon fault whose fluid activity was most significant.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.66-73
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• 2001

Yangsan fault in the southeastern part of Korean peninsula has been locally reactivated along a prexisted fault during the late Pleistocene time. Geomorphological evidence of the reactivation is revealed at the northern segment(Yugye-ri, Tosung-ri areas) of the Yangsan fault. The reactivation is distinctively characterized by fault gouge and fracture zone with high frequency in the Yugye-ri area. Obique slip separation of the area is about three meters of the middle terrace. The cumulative vertical displacement is recognized after the formation of the middle terrace. Age of the reactivated faulting is constrained to during the formation of dissected valley deposits. Average vertical slip based on paleo-event is inferred to about 0.5-0.7 meter in this area.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.183-189
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• 2010

Fault gouge samples were collected from the fault cores of the boundary faults between the Cretaceous Basement and the Tertiary Waeup Basin. Fractal dimensions (D) were obtained by using survivor grains which were analysed from six thin sections of the gouges under the optical microscope. The elliptical survivor grains show a shape preferred orientation almost parallel to clay foliation in matrix, suggesting that it was formed by the rotation of the survivor grains in abundant fine-grained matrix during repeated fault slips. The size distributions of the survivor grains follow power-laws with fractal dimensions in the 2.40-3.02 range. D values of all samples but one are higher than a specific D value equal to 2.58 which predicts the self similarity of fragmentation process in constrained comminution model (Sammis et al., 1987), which indicates large fault slip and multiple faulting. Probably the higher D values than 2.58 mean the non-self-similar evolution of cataclastic rocks where fragmentation mechanism changed from constrained comminution to the grain abrasion accompanying selective fracture of larger grains.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.63-83
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• 2021

In the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula, the Yangsan Fault, an active fault zone, has developed. Many earthquakes occur around these faults, and the possibility of earthquakes occurring along the branch faults is being discussed. On the other hand, the Yeongdeok Fault is reported in Yeongdeok-gun, which is the northern part of the Yangsan fault. In this study, goemorphic characteristics of a set faults found on the outcrop of the gentle slope of the coast of Byeonggok-myeon were analyzed and granulometric and geochemical characteristics of sediments and other materials, including fault gouges were analyzed. The outcrop of Byeonggok-myeon is the part of the fault core and can be divided into two parts. Theses fault are formed on the upper part of the Mesozoic bedrock and the tertiary sedimentary layer of red sand-supported clasts are covered in several sedimentary units. The faults were normal fault sets, and a number of vertical cracks were developed, and glossy surfaces were observed in the fault area. It appears that these faults have occurred after alluvial deposition had been formed. In the case of samples from fault gouges, there were differences in particle size and geochemical characteristics from the surrounding area.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.121-128
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• 2001

This is a case study of stability analysis and reinforcement design for the tunnel where the collapse of the entrance slops occured along the fault zone developed in the bed rock. According to the site investigation, the main factor of sliding is the influence of fault gouge and heavy rainfall. Considering the in-situ condition, the versatile reinforcement methods is needed, and so the close investigation on the site area was accompanied with the stability analysis of tunnel and slops. The FRP(Fiberglass reinforced plastic) grouting method improved the defect of Steel Umbrella Arch Method, such as oxidation, low work efficiency, the material's heavy weight, is adapted as the reinforcement methods.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.293-300
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• 2023

The Shape Preferred Orientation (SPO) method has been used to analyze the orientation of fault motion, which is utilized as basic data for fault kinematics studies. The rigid grains, which as quartz, feldspar, and rock fragments, in the fault gouge are arranged in the P-shear direction through rigid body rotation by a given shear stress. Using this characteristic, the fault motion can be estimated from the SPO inversely. Recently, a method for securing precision and reliability by measuring 3D-SPO using X-ray CT images and examining the shape of a large number of particles in a short time has been developed. As a result, the SPO method analyzes the orientation of thousands to tens of thousands of particles at high speed, suggests the direction of fault motion, and provides easy accessibility and reliable data. In addition, the shape information and orientation distribution data of particles, which are by-products obtained in the SPO analysis process, are expected to be used as basic data for conducting various studies such as the local deformation of fault rocks and the fault generation mechanism.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.245-248
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• 2001

During the core drilling for the design of a railway bridge crossing over the inferred fault system along the river, fracture zone, extends vertically more than the bottom of borehole, filled with fault gouge was found. The safety of bridge could be threatened by the excessive subsidence or the reduced bearing capacity of bedrock, if a fault would be developed under or around the pier foundation. Thus, a close examination of the fault was required to rearrange pier locations away from the fault or to select a reinforcement method if necessary. Geophysical methods, seismic reflection method and electrical resistivity survey over the water covered area, were applied to delineate the weak zone associated with the fault system. The results of geophysical survey clearly showed a number of faults extending vertically more than 50m. Reinforcement was not desirable because of the high cost and the water contamination, etc. The pier locations were thus rearranged based on the results of geophysical surveys to avoid the undesirable situations, and additional core drillings on the rearranged pier locations were carried out. The bedrock conditions at the additional drilling sites turned out to be acceptable for the construction of piers.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.277-285
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• 2009

In order to assess the fault behavior by the geometric analysis of fault slip, the study area between Yangsan city and Shinkwang-myon, Pohang city along the strike of the Yangsan fault is divided into 5 domains($A{\sim}E$ domains) based on the strike change of main fault, the type of fault termination, the cyclic variation of fault zone width, deformation pattern of fault rocks and angular deviation of secondary shears. And, we would apply the relationship between the mode of fault sliding and the resultant deformation texture obtained from previous several experimental studies of simulated fault gouge to the study of the Yangsan fault. To understand sliding behavior of the fault we measured the data of fault attitude and fault slip, and analyzed relationships between the main fault and secondary Riedel shear along the Yangsan fault. The sliding behavioral patterns in each section were analyzed as followings; the straight sections of A, D and E domains were analyzed as the creeping section of stably sliding. In contrast, the curved section of B domain was analyzed as the locked section of stick-slip movement.