• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.413-431
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• 2011

An Epithemal Au-Ag mineralized zone is developed in the Moisan area of Hwangsan-myeon, Haenam-gun, Jeol-lanam-do, Korea, which is located in the southwestern part of the Ogcheon metamorphic zone. It is hosted in the Hwangsan volcaniclastics of the Haenam Formation of the Late Cretaceous Yucheon Group. This research investigated the characteristics of bedding arrangement, fold, fault, fracture system, quartz vein and the time-relationship of the fracture system to understand the geological structure related to the formation of the mineralized zone. On the basis of this result, the tectonic environment at the time of the mineralization was considered. Beds mainly trend east-northeast and gently dip into north-northwest or south-southeast. Their poles have been rearranged by subhorizontal-upright open fold of (east)-northeast trend as well as dip-slip fault. Fracture system was formed through at least 6~7 different deformation events. D1 event; formation phase of the main fracture set of EW (D1-1) and NS (D1-2) trends with a good extensity, D2 event; that of the extension fracture of NW trend, and conjugate shear fracturing of the EW (dextral) and NS (sinistral) trends, D3 event; that of the extension fracture of NE trend, and conjugate shear refracturing of the EW (sinistral) and NS (dextral) trends, D4 event; that of the extension fracture of NS trend showing a poor extensity, D5 event; that of the extension fracture of NW trend, and conjugate shear refracturing of the EW (dextral) and NS (sinistral) trends, D6 event; that of the extension fracture of EW trend showing a poor extensity. Frequency distribution of fracture sets of each deformation event is D1-1 (19.73 %)> D1-2 (16.44 %)> D3=D5 (14.79 %)> D2 (13.70 %)> D4 (12.33 %)> D6 (8.22 %) in descending order. The average number of fracture sets within 1 meter at each deformation event is D6 (5.00)> D5 = D4 (4.67)> D2 (4.60)> D3 (4.13)> D1-1 (3.33)> D1-2 (2.83) in descending order. The average density of all fractures shows 4.20 fractures/1 m, that is, the average spacing of all fractures is more than 23.8 cm. The frequency distribution of quartz veins at each orientation is as follows: EW (52 %)> NW (28 %)> NS (12 %)> NE (8 %) trends in descending order. The average density of all quartz veins shows 4.14 veins/1 m, that is, the average spacing of all quartz veins is more than 24.2 cm. Microstructural data on the quartz veins indicate that the epithermal Au-Ag mineralization (ca. 77.9~73.1 Ma) in the Moisan area seems to occur mainly along the existing D1 fracture sets of EW and NS trends with a good extensity not under tectonic stress but non-deformational environment directly after epithermal rupture fracturing. The D1 fracturing is considered to occur under the unstable tectonic environment which alternates compression and tension of NS trend due to the oblique northward subduction of the Izanagi plate resulting in the igneous activity and deformation of the Yucheon Group and the Bulguksa igneous rocks during Late Cretaceous time.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.235-242
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• 2010

Two moderate earthquakes with local magnitude 4.9 and 5.0 at the Yellow Sea area occurred successively around Hong island on March 22, 2003 and Baengnyeong island on March 30, 2003, respectively, close to the Korean Peninsula. Focal mechanisms by the waveform inversion analysis are strike slip faulting with a thrust component for the March 22 event, and normal faulting for the March 30 event. The direction of P-axes of two events were ENE-WSW which were similar to previous studies on that of P-axes in and around the Korean Peninsula. Moment magnitudes determined by the waveform inversion analysis were 4.7 and 4.5, respectively, whereas those determined by spectral analysis were 4.8 and 4.6, respectively. As regards the March 22 event, regional stress by combined tectonic forces from compressions of plates colliding to the Eurasian plate, rather than mere local stress, was indicated. However, it was estimated that the March 30 event took place when the weak zone generated from the existing collision zone was reactivated when subjected to local stress in the tensile direction. This seismological observation indirectly supports the idea that the collision zone may extend to the Korean Peninsula.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 1977

The earth's crust is unceasingly undergoing deformations because of the forces acting upon it. The relationship between the tectonic forces and the resulting deformations are found from the states of stresses in the earth's crust induced by these forces. The study has been attempted to analyze the deformations of the overlying sedimentary layers, which are deformed by the magma intrusion along its lower boundary. The elastic model is constructed to analyze the geologic structures, by means of the theory of elasticity, and then the appropriate boundary conditions are given. The solution of the Airy stress function which satisfies the given boundary conditions is derived from the analytic method. The internal stress distributions of the deformed elastic model layer are portrayed by principal stress trajetories, and then the corresponding potential faults and joints systems are predicted from the Coulomb-Mohr failure criterion. The internal displacement distributions are shown by the calculated displacement components vectors, namely horizontal, vertical and net components. Results of the numerical calculations show the developments of some geologic structures as follows; (1) one set of shear joints and or two sets of shear joints which are oppisite directions, and one set of extension joints parallel to the ${\sigma}_1$ direction, (2) one set of high angle thrusts and normal faults, (3) symmetric fold; both limbs are dipping in opposite direction with low angle. The field work at the Wall-A San area, located near Jinju City, in southern Korea, had accomplished to compare the field structures with the predicted ones. The results of the comparison exhibits the developments of joint and fault systems satisfactorily consistent with each others. But the area does not show any type of folding, in spite of the intrusion of a granodiorite massif, this fact is one of the important features of the whole Kyungsang sedimentary basins of Mesozoic age distributed at the south-eastern parts of Korea. For this reason, it is thought that the magma intrusion had occurred with extremly low pressure. The geologic structures have been modified by the erosion and weathering throughout the geologic time, and the conditions of the sedimentary layers (width, thickness and radius of magma) are not the same as before, being intruded by the magma. To enlighten this, it is preferable to study these geologic structures with analyses of various types of rheological models.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2008

Late Cretaceous to early Tertiary paleostress was evaluated by analyzing the healed microcracks in the Cretaceous granite of the Goheung area, south Korea. Healed microcracks in five granite samples (GH-1, GH-3, GH-4, GH-5, GH-8) were investigated and measured according to direction. The directions of maximum horizontal principal stress in GH-1, GH-3, and GH-4 are dominantly $N60^{\circ}W\;and\;N70^{\circ}E,\;N20^{\circ}W\;and\;N50^{\circ}W$, while minor directions are N-S and $N30^{\circ}E$. In GH-5 and GH-8, $N40^{\circ}E\;and\;N10^{\circ}E$ are the most dominant directions, while $N40^{\circ}W$ is the minor direction. Thus overall, the most dominant directions of healed microcracks in the study area are oriented $N60^{\circ}W$, while minor directions are oriented $N20^{\circ}W,\;N20^{\circ}E\;and\;N70^{\circ}E$, essentially NE. Combining the paleostress results of this study with other studies, the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress in the study area during the late Cretaceous to the early Tertiary should perhaps be changed WNW to NE. The reason for this is thought to be the complex tectonic movements which occurred in northeast Asia at that time.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.31-43
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• 1998

A total of 469 granitic samples were collected from 44 sites in the Ulsan fault area, southeast Korea. According to the previous petrographic studies, the granitic rocks have been divided into four groups (Hornblende biotite granodiorite, Hornblende granite, Biotite granite and Alkali-feldspar granite). NRM intensities, values of low field magnetic susceptibility, and magnetic behaviors during stepwise demagnetization experiments suggest rather a three-fold classification: In this scheme, Hornblende granite and Biotite granite are grouped together, as they did not show any significant differences in magnetic characteristics. Based on the Ishihara (1979)'s criterion, Alkali-feldspar granite is classified as ilmenite-series granite, whereas others are classified as magnetite-series granite. In the eastern part of the study area including the Tertiary basin area, declinations of site-mean characteristic remanent magnetizations (ChRMs) show clockwise deflection of more than 30 from the reference direction of east Asia. Both along and in the adjacent region of the Ulsan fault-line, however, no deflection of remanent direction was observed. A boundary line between the deflected and undeflected site-mean ChRMs is defined in this study, which runs roughly parallel to the Ulsan fault-line at the distance of about 6km eastward from the fault-line. We suggest that this newly found boundary line, which we call Yonil tectonic line, released dextral simple shear stress acted in the southeastern part of the Korean peninsula during the opening stage of the East Sea in the Early Cenozoic.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.351-363
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• 2012

Although the Korean peninsula has been considered as a largely aseismic region compared with the surrounding high seismic areas such as North China and Japan, there are more than thirty Quaternary faults reported so far, which are mostly centered in the southeastern peninsula. Structural studies of active faults exposed in Yangnam-myeon of Gyeongju, SE Korea are largely interpreted to post date the late Quaternary, suggesting that the NE-trending reverse faults may result from the active stress regime in the peninsula. The prevailing present-day E-W $S_{Hmax}$ orientations in the peninsula are consistent with the nature of plate forcing stemming from the convergence between the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates. It is clear that the Quaternary faults have been reactivated, although resolving more elaborate time intervals responsible for a future rupture remains a significant challenge. This study contributes to better assess many of potential seismic hazards in the study area, in particular, in terms of seismic stability for foundation of nuclear power plant.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.153-163
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• 2012

The Earth's surface deforms vertically in response to a variety of sources relating to lithospheric and sub-lithospheric processes, and distinguishing the continental mechanisms for vertical motions of the lithosphere remains a fundamental challenge in geosciences. A key prerequisite to the challenge is documentation of the temporal and spatial pattern of vertical motions in different tectonic settings. This study is aimed at elucidating the geodynamic factors that can contribute to vertical motions of the Earth's surface in intraplate continental settings including the Neogene uplift in the Korean peninsula based on numerous recent achievements in relevant fields. Ultimately, deciphering the interplay between the Earth's surface and the Earth's interior processes leads us to the notion of "the importance of geomorphic landscape" as a prism to view the dynamics of the Earth's inside.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.1 s.53
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• pp.89-97
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• 2007

Parameters including the seismic sources and the elastic wave propagation characteristics were analysed using the observed ground motions from 12 Fukuoka region earthquakes. The Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm was applied to invert all the variables non-linearly and simultaneously with S wave energy in fiequency domain. Average stress drop of 12 events and local attenuation parameter $\kappa$ under seismic stations were estimated to about 79.2-bar and 0.043 respectively. Regional attenuation parameter, Qo and ${\eta}$, were also estimated to be about 248.1 and 0.558 respectively. Low value of Qo seems to caused by inhomogeneous tectonic characteristics between Japan island and southern Korean peninsula. $\kappa$ values are much higher than that characterizing EUS (Eastern United States) region, and nearly similar to that of WUS (Western Waited States) region. If the informations on site specific amplification of all the seismic stations are known, $\kappa$ values can be estimated more precisely. All the values including the seismic sources and the site and crustal scale propagation characteristics can be used as seismic design parameters.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.2 s.183
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• pp.171-189
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• 2007

A study of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) was undertaken on Cretaceous granitic, volcanic and sedimentary rocks in the eastern region of the Yangsan fault, southeast Korea. A total of 542 independently oriented core samples collected form 77 sites were studied. The main magnetic mineral in granitic rocks is magnetite according to the magnitude of bulk susceptibility, high-temperature susceptibility variation and isothermal remanent magnetization. Both of magnetic lineation and foliation with NE-SW trends are revealed in the granitic rocks, while volcanic rocks show scattered directions and sedimentary rocks show only load foliation parallel to the bedding planes. The following evidences read to the conclusion that both magnetic fabrics in the granitic rocks have been obtained by a tectonic stress before full solidification of the magma: (i) A fully hardened granitic rocks would get hardly any fabric, (ii) Difference of the magnetic fabric trends with those of the geological structures in the granitic rocks themselves formed by brittle deformation after solidification (e.g. patterns of small-faults and joints), (iii) Kinking of biotite and undulose extinction in quartz observed under the polarizing microscope, (iv) Discordance of magnetic fabrics in the granitic rocks with those in the surrounding rocks. The NE-SW trend of the magnetic foliations suggests a NW-SE compressive stress of nearly contemporaneous with the emplacement of the granitic rocks. The compression should have caused a sinistral strike-slip movement of the Yangsan Fault considering the trend of the latter. As the age of the granitic rocks in the study area is reported to be around $60\sim70$ Ma, it is concluded that the Yangsan fault did the sinistral strike-slip movement during this time (L. Cretaceous Maastrichtian - Cenozoic Paleocene).

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.467-482
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• 2022

The Yeonghae basin is located at the northeastern part of the Yangsan fault (YSF; a potentially active fault). The study of the architecture of the Yeonghae basin is important to understand the activity of the Yangsan fault system (YSFS) as well as the basin formation mechanism and the activity of the YSFS. For this study, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used to highlight the marginal faults, and structural fieldwork was performed to understand the geometry of the intra-basinal structures and the nature of the bounding faults. DEM analysis reveals that the eastern margin is bounded by the northern extension of the YSF whereas the western margin is bounded by two curvilinear sub-parallel faults; Baekseokri fault (BSF) and Gakri fault (GF). The field data indicate that the YSF is striking in the N-S direction, steeply dipping to the east, and experienced both sinistral and dextral strike-slip movements. Both the BSF and GF are characterized dominantly by an oblique right-lateral strike-slip movement. The stress indicators show that the maximum horizontal compressional stress was in NNE to NE and NNW-SSE, which is consistent with right-lateral and left-lateral movements of the YSFS, respectively. The plotted structural data show that the NE-SW is the predominant direction of the structural elements. This indicates that the basin and marginal faults are mainly controlled by the right-lateral strike-slip movements of the YSFS. Based on the structural architecture of the Yeonghae basin, the study area represents a contractional zone rather than an extensional zone in the present time. We proposed two models to explain the opening and developing mechanism of the Yeonghae basin. The first model is that the basin developed as an extensional pull-apart basin during the left-lateral movement of the YSF, which has been reactivated by tectonic inversion. In the second model, the basin was developed as an extensional zone at a dilational quadrant of an old tip zone of the northern segment of the YSF during the right-lateral movement stage. Later on, the basin has undergone a shortening stage due to the closing of the East Sea. The second model is supported by the major trend of the collected structural data, indicating predominant right-lateral movement. This study enables us to classify the Yeonghae basin as an inverted strike-slip basin. Moreover, two opposite strike-slip movement senses along the eastern marginal fault indicate multiple deformation stages along the Yangsan fault system developed along the eastern margin of the Korean peninsula.