• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.471-484
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• 2019

Liquefaction occurs by a temporal loss of sediment strength as a consequence of increased pore water pressure during the re-arrangement of unconsolidated, granular sediments. Liquefaction is dependent on the physical properties of the sediments and cause surface cracks, landslide, and the formation of soft-sediment deformation structures(SSDS). SSDS is formed by the combined action of the driving force and deformation mechanism(liquefaction, thixotropy, and fluidization) that is triggered by endogenic or exogenic triggers. So research on the SSDS can unravel syndepositional geological events. If detailed sedimentologic analysis together with surrounding geological context suggest SSDS formed by earthquakes, the SSDS provide a clue to unravel syndepositional tectonic activities and detailed paleoseismological information(> Mw 5) including earthquakes that leave no surface expression.

• Geosciences Journal
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.871-880
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• 2018

During and shortly after the 2017 Pohang Earthquake ($M_w$ 5.4), sand blows were observed around the epicenter for the first time since the beginning of instrumental seismic recording in South Korea. We carried out field surveys plus satellite and drone imagery analyses, resulting in observation of approximately 600 sand blows on Quaternary sediment cover in this area. Most were observed within 3 km of the epicenter, with the farthest being 15 km away. In order to investigate the ground's susceptibility to liquefaction, we conducted a trench study of a 30 m-long sand blow in a rice field 1 km from the earthquake epicenter. The physical characteristics of the liquified sediments (grain size, impermeable barriers, saturation, and low overburden pressure) closely matched the optimum ground conditions for liquefaction. Additionally, we found a series of soft sediment deformation structures (SSDSs) within the trench walls, such as load structures and water-escaped structures. The latter were vertically connected to sand blows on the surface, reflecting seismogenic liquefaction involving subsurface deformation during sand blow formation. This genetic linkage suggests that SSDS research would be useful for identifying prehistoric damage-inducing earthquakes ($M_w$ > 5.0) in South Korea because SSDSs have a lower formation threshold and higher preservational potential than geomorphic markers formed by surface ruptures. Thus, future combined studies of Quaternary surface faults and SSDSs are required to provide reliable paleoseismological information in Korea.