• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1988.06c
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• pp.3-67
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• 1988

Model studies on the response of homgeneous earth embankment dams subjected to strike-slip fault movement have been penomed via centrifuge and finite element analysis. The centrifuge model tests have shown that crack development in earth embankment experiences two major patters: shear failure deep inside the embankment and tension failure near the surface. The shear rupture zone develops from the base level and propagates upward continuously in the transverse direction but allows no open leakage chnnel. The open tensile cracks develop near the surface of the embankment, but they disappear deep in the embankment. The functional relationship has been developed based on the results of the centrifuge model tests incorporating tile variables of amount of fault movement, embankment geometry, and crack propagation extent in earth des. This set of information can be used as a guide line to evaluate a "transient" safety of the duaged embankment subjected to strike-slip fault movement. The finite element analysis has supplemented the additional expluations on crack development behavior identified from the results of the centrifuge model tests. The bounding surface time-independent plasticity soil model was employed in the numerical analysis. Due to the assumption of continuum in the current version of the 3-D FEM code, the prediction of the soil structure response beyond the failure condition was not quantitatively accurate. However, the fundamental mechanism of crack development was qualitatively evaluated based on the stress analysis for the deformed soil elements of the damaged earth embankment. The tensile failure zone is identified when the minor principal stress of the deformed soil elements less than zero. The shear failure zone is identified when the stress state of the deformed soil elements is at the point where the critical state line intersects the bounding surface.g surface.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.403-420
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• 1993

The Cretaceous Kyongsang Basin is known to be composed of several tectonic blocks (or subbasins) with each distinct stratigraphic succession. The study area represents a major part of one of these blocks, i. e. the $\check{U}is\check{o}ng$ block. The area is charaterized by a suite of WNW-trending sinistral strike-slip faults as well as a number of ring faults. A total of 292 independently oriented core samples were drilled from 23 sites, covering virtually all the formations of the Cretaceous $Ky\check{o}ngsang$ Supergroup. Alternating field and thermal demagnetization experiments were conducted to reveal the primary magnetization. Due to the homoclinal nature of the strata in the area, it was not possible to make use of the conventional fold test It is, however, believed that the primary remanent components have been obtained from the majority of the formations, considering the similarity of the palaeomagnetic pole positions with those of contemporary strata of other blocks and the existence of antiparallel reversed remanence. It was found neither any significant difference in magnetic declination on each side of the strike-slip faults nor systematic change of magnetic declination with distance from the fault-line. This does not support such a block rotation hypothesis associated with the strike-slip faulting in the area as alleged by some authors. The samples from the outcrops on or near the fault-lines were severely overprinted by the recent magnetic fields regardless of age and lithology. Epithermal Au-Ag-Cu-Pb-Zn mineralizations are known along some fault lines in the area. It is interpreted that these two facts are closely related with fluid circulations along the fracture zones caused by fault activities. In regard to the age of the strata as deduced from the magnetostratigraphic consideration, the $Ch\check{o}mgok$ formation and the lower strata should be older than Barremian or 124 Ma. The age of volcanics of the $Yuch^{\prime}\check{o}n$ Group sampled in this study should be younger than Campanian or 83 Ma.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.15-20
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• 1997

Source parameters of the December 13, 1996 Yeongweol earthquake are estimated using the grid test technique. Thirty polarities of P waves recorded at KMA, KIGAM, KSRS and JAPAN stations are used for the event. The obtained fault plane solution shows predominantly strike-slip motion with small amount of thrust component. The orientation of the fault is 180$\pm$10$^{\circ}$in strike, 50$\pm$5$^{\circ}$in dip and 150$\pm$5$^{\circ}$in rake, or 292$\pm$3$^{\circ}$in strike, 65$\pm$5$^{\circ}$in dip and 30$\pm$10$^{\circ}$ in rake. These solutions are very similar to those of earthquakes occurred at Sagju, Pohang and offshore Gunsan. The compressional axis of stress field is trending from ENE to WSW, which is consistent with the previously defined typical regional tectonic stress orientation in and around Korean Peninsula.. From the result of this study and other source mechanisms around the Korean Peninsula, we are of opinion that tectonic stress around the Korean Peninsula may be more attributed to the collision of Indian plate with the Eurasian plate than subduction of Pacific and Philippine plates.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 1998

Fault-plane solutions of the December 13, 1996 Yeongweol earthquake with magnitude 4.5 is obtained using the grid test technique. Thirty polarities of P waves recorded at KMA, KIGAM, KSRS and JAPAN stations are used for the event. The obtained fault plane solution shows strike-slip motion with significant amount of thrust component. The orientation of the fault is 180±20° in strike, 50±5° in dip and 150±5° in rake, or 292±3° in strike, 65±5° in dip and 30±10° in rake. These solutions are similar to those of earthquakes occurred at Sagju (Jan. 7, 1980), Pohang (Apr. 15, 1981) and offshore Gunsan (Oct. 6, 1976). The compressional axis of the stress field is trending from ENE to WSW, which is consistent with the previously defined typical regional tectonic stress orientation in and around Korean Peninsula.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.33-40
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• 2000

The assessment of earthquake hazards involved consideration of earthquake magnitude, frequency, last movement and probability of occurrence. The appraisal of earthquake potential is feasible because historical data show a good correlation between earthquake size and the fault rupture parameters of length, displacement, and area. Additionally, the characteristics of fault behavior should be considered to evaluate the earthquake potential magnitude. In this study, in order to evaluate the earth quake potential by the fault behavioral patterns, based on the experimental background which the geometric characteristics of the individual domains, such as strike, width, fault tip patterns, and orientation of secondary shears reflect sliding behavioral patterns in each section, the straight sections of A, D and E domains were examined to the creeping section of stably sliding. In contrast, the curved section of B domain was examined to the locked section of stick-slip movement. These results of studies can be applied to evaluate the earthquake potential magnitude from the fault structural parameters.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.18 no.2 s.23
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• pp.5-16
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• 2004

The geomorphic deformation of the alluvial fans by tectonic movement was investigated along the lineaments of the northem part of the Ulsan(Bulguksa) fault system. Based on the aerial photographs interpretation and field surveys Ulsan fault system was identified as an active reverse fault which has displaced the Quatemary fan deposits. Buguksa fault system strikes for the direction of NW-SE and N-S. These two lineaments of active fault are crossing at Jinty village in Gyeongju city and the fault plane forms here almost vertical dip. The lateral pressures from the two directions have possibly influenced on the formation of the vertical dip at jinty villagy. It should be resulted from that the two pressures responsible for the active reverse fault at which the one with the NW-SE strike thrusts the hanging wall of Tohamsan block southwestward and the other pressure with the N-S strike thrusts it westward over the foot wall of the fan deposits. The marine oxygen isotope stage 8(0.30-0.25 Ma. BP) and stage 6(0.20-0.14 Ma. BP) are presumed to be the ages of high and middle surfaces of the alluvial fan, repectively. The vertical displacements on the high surfaces along the Bulguksa fault system are about 1.05 m at Ha-Dong, 9.5-10.5 m at Jinhyun-Dong, and about 10 m high at Jinty village. And the vertical displacement on the middle surface was measured about 6 m high at Ha-Dong. The average slip rate of vertical displacements is calculated about 0.03-0.43 mm/y.

• 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.30 no.5
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• pp.459-467
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• 1997

In order to examine the primary trends and characteristics of geological lineaments along the southwestern boundary of Okcheon zone, we carried out the analysis of geological lineament trends over six selected sub-areas using Landsat-5 TM images and digital elevation model. The trends of lineaments is determined by a minimum variance method, and the resulting geological lineament map can be obtained through generalized Hough transform. We have corrected look direction biases reduces the interpretability of remotely sensed image. An approach of histogram modification is also adopted to extract drainage pattern specifically in alluvial plains. The lineament extracting method adopted in this study is very effective to analyze geological lineaments, and that helps estimate geological trends associated various with the tectonic events. In six sub-areas, the general trends of lineaments are characterized NW, NNW, NS-NNE, and NE directions. NW trends in Cretaceous volcanic rocks and Jurassic granite areas may represent tension joints that developed by rejuvenated end of the Early Cretaceous left-lateral strike-slip motion along the Honam Shear Zone, while NE and NS-NNE trends correspond to fault directions which are parallel to the above Shear Zone. NE and NW trends in Granitic Gneiss are parallel to the direction of schitosity, and NS-NNE and NE trends are interpreted the lineation by compressive force which acted by right-lateral strike-slip fault from late Triassic to Jurassic. And in foliated Granite, NE and NNE trends are coincided with directions of ductile foliation and Honam Shear Zone, and NW-NNW trends may be interpreted direction of another compressional foliation (Triassic to Early Jurassic) or end of the Early Cretaceous tensional joints. We interpreted NS-NNE direction lineation is related with the rejuvenated Chugaryung Fault System.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.7-14
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• 2003

The precious-meta] mineralization of epithermal type in the Korean Peninsula, which is spread over a broader range of ca. 110 to 60 Ma with a major population between 90 and 70 Ma, mainly occurred along the NE-trending major strike-slip fault systems (i.e., the Gongju and Gwangju ones) that commonly include volcano-tectonic depressions and calderas. The occurrence of epithermal mineralization during Late Cretaceous clearly indicates that the geologic setting of the Korean Peninsula changed to the favorable depth of ore formation with very shallow-crustal environments (〈1.0 kb) accompanied with gold-silver (-base-meta]) mineralization. Epithermal gold-silver deposits in Korea are primarily distinguished as sediment-dominant and volcanic-dominant basins by using criteria of varying alteration, ore and gangue mineralogy deposited by the interaction of different ore-forming fluids with host rocks and meteoric waters. These differences between the central and southern portions are causally linked to the tectonic evolution of the Peninsula during the Cretaceous time. In the Early Cretaceous, the sinistral strike-slip movements due to the oblique subduction of the Izanagi Plate resulted in the Gongju and Gwangju fault systems in the central portion of the Korean Peninsula, which was accompanied with a number of sediment-dominant basins formed along these faults. During the Late Cretaceous, the mode of convergence of the Izanagi Plate changed to northwesteward so that orthogonal convergence occurred with a calc-alkaline volcanism. As results, volcanic-dominant basins were developed in the southern portion of the Peninsula, accompanied with volcano-tectonic depressions and caldera-related fractures. The magmatism and related fractures during Late Cretaceous may play an important role in the formation of geothermal systems. Thus, such fault zones may be favorable environments for veining emplacement that is closely related to the precious-metal mineralization of epithermal type in the Korean Peninsula.