Thermal histories of Cretaceous basins in Korea: Implications for response of the East Asian continental margin to subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate

Thermal histories of Cretaceous sedimentary basins in the Korean peninsula have been assessed to understand the response of the East Asian continental margin to subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific (Izanagi) Plate. The Izanagi Plate subducted obliquely beneath the East Asian continent during the Early Cretaceous and orthogonally in the Late Cretaceous. First, the Jinan Basin, a pull‐apart basin, was studied by illite crystallinity and apatite fission‐track analyses. Analytical results indicate that Jinan Basin sediment was heated to a maximum temperature of approximately 287°C by burial. The sediment experienced two cooling episodes during ca 95–80 Ma and after ca 30 Ma, with a quiescent period between them. A similar cooling pattern is recognized in the Gyeongsang Basin, the largest Cretaceous basin in Korea. The Jinan and Gyeongsang Basins were cooled mainly by exhumation between ca 95 and 80 Ma, but the former was exhumed slightly earlier than the latter by transpressional force due to the subduction direction change of the Izanagi Plate. Comparison of thermal history of Korean Cretaceous basins with those of granitoids in northeastern China and the accretionary complexes in southwestern Japan reveals that the Upper Cretaceous regional exhumation of the East Asian continental margin including the Korean peninsula during ca 95–80 Ma was facilitated by the subduction of the Izanagi–Pacific ridge, which migrated northeastwards with time, resulting in the end of regional exhumation at ca 80 Ma in this region.     

Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Acid Mine Drainage around the Abandoned Youngdong Coal Mine in Korea

Abstract: To determine the geochemical characteristics of the Imgok creek impacted by acid mine drainage (AMD) generated from the abandoned Youngdong coal mine in Korea, chemical analyses of water samples and precipitates and the geochemical modelling of the precipitates were conducted. Acid mine drainage drained from the mine adit and coal refuse piles shows a low pH, high conductivity and high concentrations of Fe, Al, SO₄ and heavy metals such as Co, Cu, Ni and Zn. In the Imgok creek, the concentrations of heavy metals and major cations besides Fe are decreased by dilution, but concentrations of Fe are decreased by the formation of precipitates as well as dilution. From the results of geochemical modelling, goethite is oversaturated, and schwertmannite is the most stable solid phase in the Imgok creek. Yellowish red Fe-precipitates collected at the Imgok creek are recognized as amorphous or poorly crystallized minerals from XRD patterns and Fe_ox/Fe_totratios, and as containing chemically bonded SO₄ and OH by an IR analysis. The mole ratios of Fe/S in these precipitates, which are determined by EPMA, are 5. 1 and 6. 1.     

Two climate factors in May that affect Korean rainfall in September

This study revealed a high positive correlation between rainfall in Korea during September and the trade wind (TW)/Arctic Oscillation (AO) index in May that combines two climate factors, low-level TWs and the AO. This correlation was identified on the basis of the difference in the 850 hPa streamline analysis between the positive and negative phases selected using the combined TW/AO index. In May, the spatial pattern of the anomalous pressure systems is similar to that in the positive AO phase. These anomalous pressure systems continue in June to August (JJA) and September, but the overall spatial distribution shifts a little to the south. Particularly in September, a huge anomalous anticyclone centered over the southeast seas of Japan strengthens in most of the western north Pacific region and supplies a large volume of warm and humid air to the region near Korea. This characteristic is confirmed by the facts that during the positive TW/AO phase, the subtropical western north Pacific high (SWNPH) is more developed to the north and that the continuous positioning of the upper troposphere jet over Korea from May to September strengthens the anomalous upward flow, bringing warm and humid air to all layers. These factors contribute to increasing September rainfall in Korea during the positive TW/AO phase. Because the SWNPH develops more to the north in the positive phase, tropical cyclones tend to make landfall in Korea frequently, which also plays a positive role in increasing September rainfall in Korea.The above features are also reflected by the differences in average rainfall between the six years that had the highest May Ni o 3.4 indices (El Ni o phase) and the six years that had the lowest May Ni o 3.4 indices (La Ni a phase).     

Physiological differences in the growth and maturation of Eisenia bicyclis and Ecklonia cava gametophytes in Korea

The objective of this study was to examine the ef fects of temperature and light intensity on growth of female gametophytes of Eisenia bicyclis and Ecklonia cava and responses of these female gametophytes to Fe addition and daylength. Female gametophytes of each species were cultured at four temperatures(10, 15, 20, and 25°C) and under a combination of four light intensities(10, 20, 40, and80 μmol photons/(m 2 ·s)) with two temperatures(15 and 20°C for E i. bicyclis; 20 and 25°C for E c. cava) to clarify their optimal growth conditions. Growth and maturation of female gametophytes of these two species under a combination of five Fe-EDTA concentrations(0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 μmol/L) and three daylengths(10,12, and 14 h) were also examined. The growth of E i. bicyclis gametophyte was maximal at approximately15–20°C, 20 μmol photons/(m 2 ·s), Fe-EDTA concentration of 8 μmol/L and daylengths of 12–14 h. While E c. c ava gametophytes showed optimal growth at approximately 20–25°C, 20 μmol photons/(m 2 ·s), FeEDTA concentration of 8 μmol/L and daylength of 14 h. Maturation of gametophytes was enhanced at Fe-EDTA concentration of 4 μmol/L for E i. bicyclis and at 2 μmol/L for E c. c ava. In conclusion, optimal growth temperatures and Fe-EDTA concentrations for maturation of E i. bicyclis and E c. c ava gametophytes were dif ferent. Higher optimal growth temperature for E c. c ava gametophytes may contribute to its wider geographical distribution compared to E i. bicyclis which has restricted habitats in Korea. This suggests that addition of Fe ion could be used to recover beds of these two species in barren grounds of Korea.     

基于重力剖面的长白山天池火山地壳岩浆囊建模

长白山天池火山是中国最具潜在喷发危险的多成因复式火山,在近2000年来,曾经发生过世界上最大规模的喷发。为了进一步研究长白山天池火山的潜在危险,有必要研究火山的岩浆囊位置和分布。为此,在长白山天池火山开展了一条南北方向的重力剖面测量。结合前人工作,如地震勘探P波速度反演和大地电磁测深（MT）电阻率反演,以及地质信息,采用人机交互的形式,建立了一条长约150km的密度模型。从建模结果图中可以发现：（1）长白山天池下方存在地壳岩浆囊;（2）长白山天池北坡地壳存在一个高阻、低密度体,深度在7~15km,距离天池2~10km,可能是富含气体的岩浆囊;（3）在南坡和北坡大约3km深度处普遍存在一个岩浆岩层;（4）在天池下存在一个已经塌陷堵塞的火山颈。     

Petrogenesis of anhydrous clinopyroxenite xenoliths and clinopyroxene megacrysts in alkali basalts from the Ganseong area of South Korea

Late Cenozoic alkali basalts in the Ganseong area of South Korea contain abundant ultramafic xenoliths and clinopyroxene megacrysts. Anhydrous clinopyroxene‐rich wehrlite–clinopyroxenites make up the majority of the xenolith population and range from wehrlite through olivine clinopyroxenite to clinopyroxenite. This study investigates the petrogenesis of wehrlite–clinopyroxenite xenoliths and clinopyroxene megacrysts on the basis of petrography and mineral and whole‐rock chemistry. Observations such as an absence of carbonate or apatite, high Ti/Eu ratio, and clinopyroxene‐dominated mineralogy lead us to rule out peridotite–melt reactions as the origin of the Ganseong wehrlites– olivine clinopyroxenites. The whole‐rock compositions (e.g. high abundance of CaO at a given MgO content and low abundance of incompatible elements, such as U, K, P, and Ti compared with mafic melts) indicate that the pyroxenites do not represent crystallized magma itself, but are rather cumulates with a small amount of residual liquid. Anhydrous and orthopyroxene‐free mineral assemblages, crystallization sequence of olivine→clinopyroxene→plagioclase, and mineral chemistries (e.g. low Cr# and high TiO₂ abundances in spinels and high TiO₂ and Na₂O abundances in clinopyroxenes at a given Mg#) suggest that relatively anhydrous intraplate alkaline basalt is the most likely candidate for the parent magma. Texture and compositions of the clinopyroxene megacrysts preclude a cognate origin via high‐pressure crystallization of the host magma. The clinopyroxene megacrysts occupy the Fe‐rich end of the compositional trends defined by wehrlite–pyroxenite clinopyroxenes. Progressive decreases in Mg# and an absence of significant compositional gaps between pyroxenite xenoliths and clinopyroxene megacrysts indicate fractionation and differentiation of a similar parental magma. We suggest that the clinopyroxene megacrysts represent fragments of pegmatitic clinopyroxenites crystallized from more advanced fractionation stages of the evolution of a series of magmatic liquids formed Ganseong wehrlite–clinopyroxenites.     

Geochemical Evolution of Hydrothermal Fluids at the Daejang Cu–Zn–Pb Vein Deposit, Korea

Abstract: The Daejang mine is located within the Cretaceous Gyeongsang basin. Mineral paragenesis can be divided into four stages (stages I, II, III and IV) by major tectonic fracturing. Stages I, III and IV are economically barren. Stage II, at which the precipitation of major ore minerals occurred, is further divided into three substages with paragenetic time based on minor fractures and discernible mineral assemblages: substage IIa, marked by deposition of quartz and Fe–sulfides; substage IIb, by introduction of base-metal sulfides within carbonates and some quartz; substage IIc, by quartz and carbonates with various sulfosalts. Fluid inclusion data indicate a complex geochemical evolution of hydrothermal fluids. Both CO₂–rich and H₂O–rich fluids were trapped in fluid inclusions at stage I and substage IIa. It is suggested that a compositionally heterogeneous fluid was formed by fluid boiling and CO₂ immiscibility at temperatures of about 400° to 300°C. Composite lodes of base-metal sul–fides, carbonates and quartz at substage IIb were deposited in open spaces created by fracturing. The fracturing event prompted rapid decreases in pressure and temperature of residual fluids and resulted in retrograde fluid boiling at about 200 bars and 300°–250°C during substage IIb. The progressive loss of CO₂ by CO₂ effervescence and retrograde boiling from substage IIa and IIb fluids resulted in pH increase and related increase in carbonate activity, causing deposition of abundant carbonates. The change in pH also caused the decrease of stability of hydrogen sulfide with Cu, Zn and Pb chloride complexes (as main transporting agents at Daejang) and resulted in the pricipitation of base-metal minerals. Deposition of Ag– and Sb-bearing sul–fides and sulfosalts of substage IIc occurred at temperatures of about 250° to 150°C from a dominantly aqueous fluid with low salinity (down to 3. 0 equiv. wt % NaCl). At this substage, aqueous fluid formed by mixing with cooler and less saline meteoric groundwater. There is a systematic decrease in caculated δ¹⁸O_water values with the mineralization stage (and decreasing temperature) in the Daejang hydrothermal system, from values of about 11% for stage I, through about 4% for stages II and III, to about –3 per mil for stage IV. The result of stable isotope and fluid inclusion studies are interpreted to indicate progressive less evolved and/or unexchanged meteoric water influx of an early hydrothermal system formed by highly evolved meteoric waters.     

Wintertime suspended sediment simulation in the Huanghai and East China Seas

A simulation of suspended sediment movement relating to tidal and wave forcing during a winter monsoon in November 1983 in the Huanghai and East China Seas continental shelf is attempted by using the model describing the cohesive/non-cohesive sediment resuspension generated by interactions between currents and waves.model simulation showed that sediment concentration was increased by resuspension at shallow depths during the strong storm conditions due to high bottom stress interacted between currents and waves. This result is in general agreement with observations in horizontal distribution of suspended sediment distribution.At three current meter mooring positions off the southern Shandong Peninsula resuspension occurred only at a depth of 22m,nearest coastal position and at deeper parts at depths of 51 and 80m wave-current interaction effects were not significant. It has shown that the present model simulation demonstrated the capability of reproduction of suspended sediment movement under wintertime extreme event reasonably well.     

Preliminary Results of the Ground-Based Orographic Snow Enhancement Experiment for the Easterly Cold Fog （Cloud） at Daegwallyeong during the 2006 Winter

The snow enhancement experiments, carried out by injecting AgI and water vapor into orographically enhanced clouds (fog), have been conducted to confirm Li and Pitter’s forced condensation process in a natural situation. Nine ground-based experiments have been conducted at Daegwallyeong in the Taebaek Mountains for the easterly foggy days from January–February 2006. We then obtained the optimized condi- tions for the Daegwallyeong region as follows: the small seeding rate (1.04 g min-1) of AgI for the easte...