Paleostress fields from calcite twins in the Pyeongan Supergroup, South Korea

Abstract   Paleostress fields of the Late Paleozoic to Early Mesozoic Pyeongan Supergroup that is distributed along the northeastern part of the Ogcheon Belt in South Korea were investigated using the calcite strain gauge (CSG) technique. Combining the results of this study with those of other studies investigating the relationship between twin strain, twin density and width, which are used as indicators of deformation conditions in the natural low-temperature deformation of limestone, it was estimated that calcite twins in the study area were probably formed at temperatures lower than 170°C. From two samples, two different principal paleostress directions were inferred from calcite twins, while only one direction was inferred from two other samples. This result suggests that deformation occurred during two or more different tectonic events in the Pyeongan Supergroup during the Mesozoic era. The maximum shortening axis was oriented in two directions, northeast–southwest and northwest–southeast, respectively, which coincide well with the paleostress directions inferred from the stress inversion for many fault sets. Combining the results of the paleostress analysis from this and other studies, we hypothesize that the directions of the maximum shortening axis in the Pyeongan Supergroup changed from northeast–southwest during the pre-Daebo orogeny period (Late Triassic period) to northwest–southeast during the syn-Daebo orogeny period (Early Jurassic to Early Cretaceous period) in the Mesozoic era.     

Correlation of in situ modulus of deformation with degree of weathering, RMR and Q-system

Geotechnical investigation projects in Korea produced data on the in situ modulus of deformation of rock masses (E _M) measured with the borehole test, rock mass rating (RMR), and Q-system. The modulus of deformation of rock masses was correlated with the degree of weathering, RMR, and Q values. Determination of E _M for each degree of weathering allows for the results to be used to classify the degree of weathering or to predict E _M. The relation between E _M and RMR is represented by $ E_{\text{M}} = 10^{{\frac{{{\text{RMR}} - 16}}{50}}} $ , which returns values 2–3 times lower than those reported in previous studies. Despite scatter in the values, due to larger dataset used in this study, the proposed equation may be used to predict the in situ modulus of deformation from RMR values. In addition, the relation between modulus of deformation and Q values is $ E_{\text{M}} = 10^{{0.32{ \log }Q + 0.585}} $ .     

Determination of Joint Roughness Coefficients Using Roughness Parameters

This study used precisely digitized standard roughness profiles to determine roughness parameters such as statistical and 2D discontinuity roughness, and fractal dimensions. Our methods were based on the relationship between the joint roughness coefficient (JRC) values and roughness parameters calculated using power law equations. Statistical and 2D roughness parameters, and fractal dimensions correlated well with JRC values, and had correlation coefficients of over 0.96. However, all of these relationships have a 4th profile (JRC 6–8) that deviates by more than ±5 % from the JRC values given in the standard roughness profiles. This indicates that this profile is statistically different than the others. We suggest that fractal dimensions should be measured within the entire range of the divider, instead of merely measuring values within a suitable range. Normalized intercept values also correlated with the JRC values, similarly to the fractal dimension values discussed above. The root mean square first derivative values, roughness profile indexes, 2D roughness parameter, and fractal dimension values decreased as the sampling interval increased. However, the structure function values increased very rapidly with increasing sampling intervals. This indicates that the roughness parameters are not independent of the sampling interval, and that the different relationships between the JRC values and these roughness parameters are dependent on the sampling interval.     

Paleostress reconstructions based on calcite twins in the Joseon Supergroup, northeastern Ogcheon Belt (South Korea)

Abstract   Paleostress of the Joseon Supergroup in the northeastern part of the Ogcheon Belt, South Korea, is reconstructed in the Jecheon–Danyang area with the help of calcite twinning. In the study area, the average twin thickness and intensity increase with the total twin strain increase. From the appearance of twins, the average twin thickness and intensity, and the total twin strain, it is estimated that calcite twins were produced under temperatures lower than 200°C. The maximum shortening axis in the study area changes orientation from northeast–southwest to NNW–SSE or northwest–southeast, and finally to north–south. We suggest these three distinct stages with different orientations of the maximum shortening axis can be correlated with: (i) the Paleozoic to Early Jurassic Songrim orogeny; (ii) the Early Jurassic to Late Jurassic Daebo orogeny; and (iii) the Cretaceous Bulgugsa orogeny.     

Clarification of regional and local in situ stresses using the compact conical-ended borehole overcoring technique and numerical analysis

Abstract Stress measurement is performed to estimate the states of in situ rock stress at the Torigata open‐pit limestone mine in Japan using the compact conical‐ended borehole overcoring (CCBO) technique. A set of back and forward analyses are then carried out to evaluate the states of regional and local in situ rock stresses and the mine‐induced rock slope stability using a 3‐D finite element model. The maximum horizontal local in situ rock stress measured by the CCBO technique acts in the northeast–southwest direction. The horizontal regional tectonic stresses obtained by the back analysis are in good agreement with those of the horizontal local in situ rock stress measured by the CCBO technique. However, the horizontal regional tectonic stress is more compressive than the horizontal local in situ rock stress. This is because the horizontal regional stress due to gravity is not considered in the back‐analyzed horizontal regional tectonic stress, but it is included in the local in situ rock stress measured by the CCBO technique. The local stress obtained by the forward analysis, especially its horizontal components, is in good agreement with the horizontal local in situ rock stress measured by the CCBO technique, and the magnitude of the vertical normal stress increases more rapidly than those of the horizontal normal stresses with depth. As a result, the ratio of the horizontal normal stress to the vertical normal stress is largest at the nearest excavation level and decreases with depth. This means that the stress field within the mine‐induced rock slope is affected by the horizontal components of the local in situ rock stress.