• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.119-131
• /
• 2001

A mean characteristic remanent magnetization was obtained for the first time in Korea from volcanic and pyroclastic sedimentary rocks distributed in Haenam Area, located in southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula. The age of the prevailing rocks in this area belongs mostly to Late Cretaceous, with a few exceptions of Early Cretaceous, mainly based on K/Ar whole rock age dating. Characteristic remanent magnetizations of these have both normal and reverse polarities with antipodal direction, which were interpreted to be the primary remanent magnetizations obtained by the ambient Earth's magnetic field at the time of formation of the concerned rocks. The source magnetic minerals of the remanent magnetization has been identified as magnetite. The mean direction of characteristic remanent magnetization obtained from the Late Cretaceous rocks in this study is Dm/Im=21.4 supper(o)/57.1 supper(o) (${\alpha}_{95}=13.4^{\circ}$, k=350.0). The paleomagnetic pole position calculated from this result for the Late Cretaceous, is $72.5^{\circ}N/199.9^{\circ}E$ (dp/dm= $14.2^{\circ}/19.5^{\circ}E$), which matches well with those of 80 Ma ($76.2^{\circ}N/198.9^{\circ}E$) and 90 Ma ($76.2^{\circ}N/200.1^{\circ}E$) of the Eurasian Continent's APWP (Apparent Polar Wander Path). This result strongly indicates that the studied area, belonging to the Eurasian Continent, have suffered very little geotectonic movement after the Late Cretaceous. The deflection of declination of remanence from Early Cretaceous rocks in the study area may indicate that the micro-block was counterclockwisely rotated with vertical axis between the late of Early Cretaceous and the early of Late Cretaceous.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.195-206
• /
• 2004

Paleomagnetic and rock-magnetic investigations have been carried out for the Cretaceous sedimentary rocks in the Poongam (also called Gapcheon) Basin in the eastern South Korea. A total of 128 independently oriented core samples were drilled from 13 sites for this study. The mean direction after bedding correction (D/I=353.1$^{\circ}$/55.6$^{\circ}$, k=21.5, =$$\alpha$_{95}$=10.1$^{\circ}$) is more dispersed than the mean direction before bedding correction (D/I=10.5$^{\circ}$/56.9$^{\circ}$, k=73.9, =$$\alpha$_{95}$=5.3$^{\circ}$), and the stepwise unfolding of the characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) reveals a maximum value of k at 20% unfolding. Secondary authigenic hematite accompanied by altered clays such as chlorite was identified by the electron microscope observations. These results collectively imply that the ChRM is remagnetized due to the formation of the secondary authigenic hematite after tilting of the strata. It is interpreted that the chemical remagnetization was connected to the introduction of mixed magmatic-meteoric fluids, which formed hydrothermal vein deposits near the study area. The paleomagnetic pole position (214.3$^{\circ}$E, 81.6$^{\circ}$N, =$A_{95}$=7.4$^{\circ}$) of the Cretaceous sedimentary rocks calculated from remagnetized directions is close to those of the Late Cretaceous and Tertiary poles of the Korean Peninsula. This Late Cretaceous to Tertiary remagnetization seems to be widespread over the Okcheon Belt because the chemical remagnetization is previously reported to be found in rocks from other Cretaceous small basins (e.g., Eumseong, Gongju and Youngdong basins) along the Okcheon Belt and some Paleozoic strata from the Okcheon unmetamorphosed zone.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.559-569
• /
• 1995

Paleomagnetic data have been obtained from the Upper Carboniferous-Permian Komok and Cheolam Groups which are exposed in the E-W trending Baekunsan syncline comprising the Pyongan Supergroup in eastern Korea. Two ancient components of magnetization are recovered in these groups by detailed thermal demagnetization: a post-folding component and a pre-folding component. The post-folding component $(D/I=54.0/54.6^{\circ},\;{\alpha}_{95}=14.6^{\circ})$ is a magnetic signature of the Oaebo Orogeny and appears to have been confined mainly to Cretaceous Normal Superchron. It has been rotated clockwise since this magnetization has been acquired. The pre-folding components ($D/I=341/-9.2^{\circ},\;{\alpha}_{95}=7.2^{\circ})$, paleopole at $335.7^{\circ}E$, $44.6^{\circ}N$ for Upper Carboniferous; $D/I=358.3/11.5^{\circ},\;{\alpha}_{95}=6.3^{\circ})$, paleopole at $311.9^{\circ}E$, $58.7^{\circ}N$ for Permian) pass fold and reversal tests. These paleopoles correspond only with the contemporaneous poles from the North China Block: they are removed from the poles from the South China Block. If the results of this study are corrected for the clockwise rotation deduced from the prefolding component, the enhanced agreement with North China Block can be achieved. Therefore, a first-order correlation between the Korean Peninsula and North China at least since Upper Paleozoic times is identified in this study.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.383-393
• /
• 1993

Paleomagnetic data have been obtained from the Lower Triassic Tonggo formation which is exposed in the E-W trending Baekunsan syncline comprising the Pyongan Supergroup in eastern Korea. Two ancient components of magnetization are recovered in this formation by detailed thermal demagnetization: a post-folding component and a pre-folding component The post-folding component ($D/I=58.8/55.5^{\circ}$) is normally magnetized and appears to acquire in the Cretaceous Normal Superchron. It is a magnetic signature of the Daebo Orogeny and has been rotated clockwise since this magnetization has been acquired, in common with the main synclinal axis. The pre-folding component ($D/I=1.1/19.4^{\circ}$, Paleopole at $306.1^{\circ}E$, $63.2^{\circ}N$) passes fold and reversal tests and is inferred to be a post-depositional or early chemical diagenetic remanence of Lower-Middle Triassic age. This paleopole corresponds only with the Lower Triassic poles from the North China Block: it is removed from the contemporary poles from the South China Block. If the result of this study is corrected for the clockwise rotation deduced from the Cretaceous overprint, the enhanced agreement with the Lower Triassic poles from the North China block can be achieved. Therefore, a first order correlation between the Korean Peninsula and North China at least since Lower Triassic times is identified in this study.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.81-86
• /
• 1990

Palemagnetic study on the Deadong Super Group in the Mungyong area has been carried out to obtain the direction of NRM and virtual geomagnetic pole(VGP), and to investigate geomagnetic stratigraphy and geotectonic evolution. Twenty eight core specimens from five sites in Dangog and Bongmyongsan Formations yield magnetically stable results by thermal demagnetization test. Mean declination and inclination of Dangog and Bongmyongsan formations are $52.4^{\circ}E$ and $-57.3^{\circ}$, respectively, which indicate reversal polarity. VGP is located at $1.2^{\circ}N$ in latitude and $269.4^{\circ}E$ in longitude, which is quite different from those of other contemporary formations in China. This suggests that the study area has suffered from differnt tectonic movement caused by Daebo Orogeny occurred in the Korean Peninsula during post-Daedong and pre-Kyongsang Systems. As compared VGP of Daedong Super Group in the Mungyong area with wordwide Mesozoic paleomagnetic polarity stratigraphy, it is correlated with the reverse Epoch in the Graham normal interval. This suggests that the time of formations of Dangog and Bongmyongsan is in the age of 190-195 my.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.395-401
• /
• 1993

Lower Ordovician rock samples were collected from 23 sites located at the Okcheon non-metamorphic zone, near Taeback and Yeongweol areas, southern part of the Korean Peninsula. A characteristic magnetic component was obtained from four sites. This stable direction ($Dm=-19.4^{\circ}$, $Im=24.1^{\circ}$) which is carried by hematite of very high temperature $679^{\circ}C$), successfully pass both of reversal test and paleopole reliability test, and is regarded as a primary direction. The remagnetized components can be divided into three on the basis of their characteristic directions and magnetic minerals. The first which is carried by hematite, magnetite and pyrrhotite, is widely found at the whole sites. It shows syn- or post-tectonic remagnetization according to strongly negative fold test and distribution between Mesozoic and present field directions. The second, in situ, is distinguishable from the present field direction. After bedding correction, it is identical to Late Triassic to Early Jurassic direction. Its magnetic carrier is considered to be a single component hematite, which may be acquired by pre-tectonic CRM in the Okcheon orogenic zone. The third, which is carried by magnetite and hematite, is characterized by stable reversed direction. These minerals may be acquired by the thermal or chemical process in unknown period. Paleopole position is $169.2^{\circ}E$ in longitude and $59.9^{\circ}S$ in latitude, which indicates that the study area was located at $12.6^{\circ}S$ in paleo-latitude and belonged to northern end of the Gondwana in Early Ordovician.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.395-405
• /
• 2014

A 570 cm-long sediment core was retrieved at $9^{\circ}57^{\prime}N$ and $131^{\circ}42^{\prime}W$ in 5,080 m water depth from the northeast equatorial Pacific and its stratigraphy was established with $^{10}Be/^9Be$ and paleomagnetic measurements. Successive AF demagnetization reveals eight geomagnetic field reversals. In the reference geologic time scale, the eight reversal events correspond to an age of about 4.5 Ma. However, $^{10}Be/^9Be$-based age yields 9.5 Ma at a depth of 372 cm. Such a large discrepancy in determined ages is attributed to an extremely low sedimentation rate, 0.4 mm/kyr on average, of the study core and resultant loss or smoothing of geomagnetic fields. The composite age model reveals a wide range in the sedimentation rate - varying from 0.1 to 2.4 mm/kyr. However, the sedimentation rate shows systematic variation depending on sedimentary facies (Unit II and III), which suggests that each lithologic unit has a unique provenance and transport mechanism. At depths of 110-80 cm with a sedimentation rate of about 0.1 mm/kyr, ancient geomagnetic field reversal events of at least a 1.8 Myr time span have not been recorded, which indicates the probable existence of a hiatus in the interval. Such a sedimentary hiatus is observed widely in the deep-sea sediments of the NE equatorial Pacific.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.337-349
• /
• 1992

The Tertiary basins in Korea have widely been studied by numerous researchers producing individual results in sedimentology, paleontology, stratigraphy, volcanic petrology and structural geology, but interdisciplinary studies, inter-basin analysis and basin-forming process have not been carried out yet. Major work of this study is to elucidate evidences obtained from different parts of a basin as well as different Tertiary basins (Pohang, Changgi, Eoil, Haseo and Ulsan basins) in order to build up the correlation between the basins, and an overall picture of the basin architecture and evolution in Korea. According to the paleontologic evidences the geologic age of the Pohang marine basin is dated to be late Lower Miocence to Middle Miocene, whereas other non-marine basins are older as being either Early Miocene or Oligocene(Lee, 1975, 1978: Bong, 1984: Chun, 1982: Choi et al., 1984: Yun et al., 1990: Yoon, 1982). However, detailed ages of the Tertiary sediments, and their correlations in a basin and between basins are still controversial, since the basins are separated from each other, sedimentary sequence is disturbed and intruded by voncanic rocks, and non-marine sediments are not fossiliferous to be correlated. Therefore, in this work radiometric, magnetostratigraphic, and biostratigraphic data was integrated for the refinement of chronostratigraphy and synopsis of stratigraphy of Tertiary basins of Korea. A total of 21 samples including 10 basaltic, 2 porphyritic, and 9 andesitic rocks from 4 basins were collected for the K-Ar dating of whole rock method. The obtained age can be grouped as follows: $14.8{\pm}0.4{\sim}15.2{\pm}0.4Ma$, $19.9{\pm}0.5{\sim}22.1{\pm}0.7Ma$, $18.0{\pm}1.1{\sim}20.4+0.5Ma$, and $14.6{\pm}0.7{\sim}21.1{\pm}0.5Ma$. Stratigraphically they mostly fall into the range of Lower Miocene to Mid Miocene. The oldest volcanic rock recorded is a basalt (911213-6) with the age of $22.05{\pm}0.67Ma$ near Sangjeong-ri in the Changgi (or Janggi) basin and presumed to be formed in the Early Miocene, when Changgi Conglomerate began to deposit. The youngest one (911214-9) is a basalt of $14.64{\pm}0.66Ma$ in the Haseo basin. This means the intrusive and extrusive rocks are not a product of sudden voncanic activity of short duration as previously accepted but of successive processes lasting relatively long period of 8 or 9 Ma. The radiometric age of the volcanic rocks is not randomly distributed but varies systematically with basins and localities. It becomes generlly younger to the south, namely from the Changgi basin to the Haseo basin. The rocks in the Changgi basin are dated to be from $19.92{\pm}0.47$ to $22.05{\pm}0.67Ma$. With exception of only one locality in the Geumgwangdong they all formed before 20 Ma B.P. The Eoil basalt by Tateiwa in the Eoil basin are dated to be from $20.44{\pm}0.47$ to $18.35{\pm}0.62Ma$ and they are younger than those in the Changgi basin by 2~4 Ma. Specifically, basaltic rocks in the sedimentary and voncanic sequences of the Eoil basin can be well compared to the sequence of associated sedimentary rocks. Generally they become younger to the stratigraphically upper part. Among the basin, the Haseo basin is characterized by the youngest volcanic rocks. The basalt (911214-7) which crops out in Jeongja-ri, Gangdong-myon, Ulsan-gun is $16.22{\pm}0.75Ma$ and the other one (911214-9) in coastal area, Jujon-dong, Ulsan is $14.64{\pm}0.66Ma$ old. The radiometric data are positively collaborated with the results of paleomagnetic study, pull-apart basin model and East Sea spreading theory. Especially, the successively changing age of Eoil basalts are in accordance with successively changing degree of rotation. In detail, following results are discussed. Firstly, the porphyritic rocks previously known as Cretaceous basement (911213-2, 911214-1) show the age of $43.73{\pm}1.05$ 및 $49.58{\pm}1.13Ma$(Eocene) confirms the results of Jin et al. (1988). This means sequential volcanic activity from Cretaceous up to Lower Tertiary. Secondly, intrusive andesitic rocks in the Pohang basin, which are dated to be $21.8{\pm}2.8Ma$ (Jin et al., 1988) are found out to be 15 Ma old in coincindence with the age of host strata of 16.5 Ma. Thirdly, The Quaternary basalt (911213-5 and 911213-6) of Tateiwa(1924) is not homogeneous regarding formation age and petrological characteristics. The basalt in the Changgi basin show the age of $19.92{\pm}0.47$ and $22.05{\pm}0.67$ (Miocene). The basalt (911213-8) in Sangjond-ri, which intruded Nultaeri Trachytic Tuff is dated to be $20.55{\pm}0.50Ma$, which means Changgi Group is older than this age. The Yeonil Basalt, which Tateiwa described as Quaternary one shows different age ranging from Lower Miocene to Upper Miocene(cf. Jin et al., 1988: sample no. 93-33: $10.20{\pm}0.30Ma$). Therefore, the Yeonil Quarterary basalt should be revised and divided into different geologic epochs. Fourthly, Yeonil basalt of Tateiwa (1926) in the Eoil basin is correlated to the Yeonil basalt in the Changgi basin. Yoon (1989) intergrated both basalts as Eoil basaltic andesitic volcanic rocks or Eoil basalt (Yoon et al., 1991), and placed uppermost unit of the Changgi Group. As mentioned above the so-called Quarternary basalt in the Eoil basin are not extruded or intruaed simultaneously, but differentiatedly (14 Ma~25 Ma) so that they can not be classified as one unit. Fifthly, the Yongdong-ri formation of the Pomgogri Group is intruded by the Eoil basalt (911214-3) of 18.35~0.62 Ma age. Therefore, the deposition of the Pomgogri Group is completed before this age. Referring petrological characteristics, occurences, paleomagnetic data, and relationship to other Eoil basalts, it is most provable that this basalt is younger than two others. That means the Pomgogri Group is underlain by the Changgi Group. Sixthly, mineral composition of the basalts and andesitic rocks from the 4 basins show different ground mass and phenocryst. In volcanic rocks in the Pohang basin, phenocrysts are pyroxene and a small amount of biotite. Those of the Changgi basin is predominant by Labradorite, in the Eoil by bytownite-anorthite and a small amount pyroxene.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.231-237
• /
• 1986

Samples of porphyries, andesites, decites and sandstones were collected from 14 sites in order to study paleomagnetism and to determine K-Ar age in Guryongpo area. K-Ar age dating indicates that porphyries and volcanic rocks formed 41.7 and 22.7~19.4Ma, respectively. The mean direction of remanent magnetization for each site was generally well grouped after alternating field demagnetization. Both normal and reversed directions are present. The mean magnetic direction of the porphyries of Late Eocene and that of the volcanic rocks of Late Oligocene to Early Miocene have similar, easterly declinations. Overall magnetic direction is $Dm=43.8^{\circ}$, $Im=53.5^{\circ}$, ${\alpha}95=12.2^{\circ}$. the reliability of the observed paleomagnetic directions is ascertained by the presence of normal and reversed polarities. This is also conformed by the similarity of the declinations of the normal and reversed polarities. Observed easterly declinations in this area are attributed to local clockwise rotation of the land mass by approximately 40~50 degrees since early Miocene.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.67-83
• /
• 1986

Oriented hand samples were collected from Gobangsan Formation and Nogam Formation in the north of Danyang and south of Yeongchun, from Bansong Group in and around Danyang, from Nampo Group in Chungnam Coalfield, from Gyeongsang Supergroup distributed from Waegwan through Daegu to Gyeongsan and from Daegu to Goryong, and from volcanic flows in Jeongog area and Jeju Island to study the paleomagnetism of southern Korea since Permian. Stepwise alternating field and thermal demagnetization experiments were carried out to determine optimum fields and temperatures. Observed mean paleomagnetic directions are as follows: $D=331.5^{\circ}$, $I=25.1^{\circ}$, $a95=12.8^{\circ}$ for Permian, $D=325.6^{\circ}$, $I=46.1^{\circ}$, $a95=11.8^{\circ}$ for Triassic, $D=313.4^{\circ}$, $I=43.1^{\circ}$, $a95=16.0^{\circ}$ for early Jurassic, $D=41.3^{\circ}$, $I=64.6^{\circ}$, $a95=4.5^{\circ}$ for early Cretaceous, $D=28.3^{\circ}$, $I=58.1^{\circ}$, $a95=2.3^{\circ}$ for late Cretaceous, $D=2.0^{\circ}$, $I=55.8^{\circ}$, $a95=6.6^{\circ}$for Quaternary. To describe the tectonic translocation of southern Korean block, northern Eurasian continental block was used as a reference frame. For each age since Permian the expected northern Eurasian field directions in terms of paleolatitude and declination were calculated. The paleolatitudes of Permian ($13.2^{\circ}N$) and early Jurassic ($25.1^{\circ}N$) obtained from the study area are quite different from those of Permian ($66.0^{\circ}N$) and early Jurassic ($68.1^{\circ}N$) which are expected for northern Eurasia. The declinations of Permian ($331.5^{\circ}$) and early Jurassic ($313.4^{\circ}$) are also quite different from those of the Permian ($56.6^{\circ}$) and the early Jurassic ($47.5^{\circ}$) expected for northern Eurasia. The Cretaceous paleolatitude is similar to the expected within error limit, but the declination for the same period is significantly different from that of the expected for the northern Eurasia. From the above evidences it is suggested that the south Korean land mass had moved from low latitude in Permian to north and sutured to northern continental block since early Jurassic. The relative rotations of early Cretaceous($27.4^{\circ}$) and late Cretaceous($10.8^{\circ}$) to northern Eurasian continent reveal that the Korean land mass might be rotated clockwise in two different times, probably in late Early Cretaceous and in Tertiary.