Okcheon Metamorphic Belt Research Articles

계명산층 변성화산암의 변성시기

옥천변성대 계명산층 변성화산암에서 분리한 저어콘의 일부 입자들 연변부에는 덧성장 누대가 잘 발달되어 있음이 발견되었다. 이러한 덧성장 누대들은 대체로 낮은 Th/U 비율을 갖는 것으로 확인되었으며, 계명산층 변성화산암이 변성작용을 받는 동안에 생성된 것으로 판단된다. 이 중에서 비교적 넓은 폭을 가진 구역들에 대하여 SHRIMP U-Pb 분석을 할 수 있었다. 분석결과 <TEX>$259.7{\pm}3.3Ma$</TEX> (n=8, <TEX>$2{\sigma}$</TEX>)의 일치곡선 연령을 구할 수 있었으며, 이 연령은 계명산층 변성화산암의 변성시기를 나타낸다. We identified well developed overgrowth rims from several zircon grains separated from the Gyemyeongsan metavolcanics of the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt. Such overgrowth rims reveal generally quite low Th/U ratios indicating formation during the metamorphism. We were able to conduct SHRIMP U-Pb spot analyses from the relatively wide overgrowth rims and determined a concordia age of <TEX>$259.7{\pm}3.3Ma$</TEX> (n=8, <TEX>$2{\sigma}$</TEX>), which indicates timing of the regional metamorphism occurred in the Gyemyeongsan Formation.

남원화강암과 순창화강암의 SHRIMP U-Pb 연령

남원화강암과 순창화강암은 한반도의 남서부에서 각각 영남육괴와 옥천변성대를 관입하고 있는 인접암체이다. 이 연구에서는 가장 신뢰도가 높은 연령 분석방법으로 평가되는 SHRIMP를 이용하여 남원화강암과 순창화강암체의 저어콘 U-Pb 연대측정을 실시하였다. 그 결과 남원화강암체로부터 <TEX>$185.8{\pm}0.9(2{\sigma})$</TEX> Ma의 정치연령을 구하였다. 한편 순창화강암체의 북부지역으로부터는 <TEX>$175.0{\pm}2.0(2{\sigma})$</TEX> Ma, 그리고 중부지역으로부터는 <TEX>$179.8{\pm}0.9(2{\sigma})$</TEX> Ma의 연령을 구하였으며, 순창화강암체의 분석자료 전체로부터는 <TEX>$177.4{\pm}1.3(2{\sigma})$</TEX> Ma의 평균연령이 계산되었다. 이러한 결과는 순창화강암에 현저한 변형을 초래한 호남전단대의 활동이 약 175Ma 이후에도 일어났음을 확인해준다. The Namwon and Sunchang granites are neighbouring plutons intruding the Yeongnam massif and the Okcheon metamorphic belt, respectively in the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula. In this study, SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages are determined from these plutons. The results show that the emplacement age of the Namwon granite is <TEX>$185.8{\pm}0.9(2{\sigma})$</TEX> Ma. We obtained <TEX>$175.0{\pm}2.0(2{\sigma})$</TEX> Ma from the northern part and <TEX>$179.8{\pm}0.9(2{\sigma})$</TEX> Ma from the central part of the Sunchang granite, yielding <TEX>$177.4{\pm}1.3(2{\sigma})$</TEX> Ma as the average age of the pluton. Such age results confirm that the Honam shear zone, which cause marked deformation of the Sunchang granite, was active after ca. 175 Ma.

논산지역 지하수중 우라늄과 라돈의 수리지질학적 특성과 정밀함량분포

논산지역 100개의 지하수공을 대상으로 자연방사성 원소인 우라늄과 라돈 함량을 분석하고, 지하수의 주요 수질특성항목과의 관련성을 검토하여 이들의 산출실태와 원인을 연구하였다. 또한 이를 바탕으로 방사성물질 정밀함량분포도를 작성하였다. 우라늄은 불검출에서부터 최대 378 <TEX>${\mu}g/L$</TEX>까지 범위가 넓게 나타난다. 평균치는 8.57 <TEX>${\mu}g/L$</TEX>, 표준편차 42.88 <TEX>${\mu}g/L$</TEX>, 중앙값은 0.56 <TEX>${\mu}g/L$</TEX>으로서 매우 낮다. 우라늄과 라돈의 상관계수는 0.42로서 약간 관련성이 있으나, 이들과 기타 수질항목들과는 거의 무관하다. 지하수의 우라늄함량 분포도를 살펴보면 우라늄 함량은 97%가 30 <TEX>${\mu}g/L$</TEX> 이하의 값을 가지며, 30 <TEX>${\mu}g/L$</TEX> 이상인 지점의 지질은 주로 화강암 또는 화강암과 변성암의 경계 부분이며, 옥천대지역 지하수의 우라늄 함량은 대부분 1 <TEX>${\mu}g/L$</TEX> 이하로 낮게 나타났다. 논산지역 100개 지하수 전체의 라돈 함량은 128~9,140 pCi/L 범위, 평균 2,186 pCi/L, 표준편차 1,725 pCi/L, 중앙값은 1,805 pCi/L로 나타났다. 라돈 함량이 4,000 pCi/L 이상인 지역은 거의 쥬라기 화강암 지역에 있다. 전체적으로 라돈 함량이 높은 지역은 쥬라기 화강암지역이며, 낮은 지역은 퇴적암지역이다. 지하수중 방사성물질의 함량은 기본적으로 함우라늄광물을 배태하는 지질과 밀접한 관련을 가진다. A total of 100 groundwater samples were collected from the Nonsan area and the behaviors of uranium and radon as natural radionuclides were investigated with respect to other physicochemical components in the groundwater in order to understand their occurrence, properties, and origins. Radionuclide levels were used to construct detailed concentration maps. The concentration of uranium ranges from 0 to 378 <TEX>${\mu}g/L$</TEX>, with an average of 8.57 <TEX>${\mu}g/L$</TEX>, standard deviation of 42.88 <TEX>${\mu}g/L$</TEX>, and median of 0.56 <TEX>${\mu}g/L$</TEX>. The correlation coefficient between uranium and radon is 0.42, whereas these radionuclides show no relation with other physicochemical components in groundwater. It is noteworthy that the uranium level in most samples (97% of the samples) is less than 30 <TEX>${\mu}g/L$</TEX>, where the bedrock of the aquifer is granite or complex rocks located along the boundary between granite and metamorphic rocks. In the Okcheon metamorphic belt, the uranium concentration of most groundwater is less than 1 <TEX>${\mu}g/L$</TEX>. Radon levels varies from 128 to 9,140 pCi/L, with an average of 2,186 pCi/L, standard deviation of 1,725 pCi/L, and median of 1,805 pCi/L. High radon levels (> 4,000 pCi/L) are most common in regions of Jurassic granite, whereas low radon areas are found in regions of sedimentary rock. In conclusion, the distribution and occurrence of radionuclides are intimately related to the basic geological characteristics of the rocks in which the radiogenic minerals are primarily contained.

원생대 이후 트라이아스기까지의 남한과 동북아시아의 지구조 진화

최근 송림 조산운동시기인 트라이아스기에 홍성 지역의 에클로자이트와 경기육괴 내에 광범위하게 나타나는 충돌 후 화성암이 형성되었음이 확인되었다. 이러한 새로운 발견에 의해 1980년대 말에 확인된 남중국판과 북중국판의 충돌대인 트라이아스기 친링-다비-수루 충돌대가 한반도의 홍성 지역으로 연결된 후 양평 지역을 거쳐 오대산 지역으로 연결되는 모델이 제시되었다. 그 이후 충돌대는 일본 서남부의 고생대 섭입 복합체와 북한의 고생대 섭입 복합체인 연변대로 연결될 가능성이 높다. 이럴 경우 경기육괴는 홍성-양평-오대산 충돌대를 경계로 나뉘어져야하며 충돌대 북부는 북중국판에 남부는 남중국판에 대비될 것이다. 남중국판과 북중국판의 충돌은 페름기에 한반도로부터 시작하여 중국 쪽으로 진행되었으며 트라이아스기 말에 충돌이 완료되었다. 다비-수루-홍성-양평-오대산 충돌대를 따라 동측에서 서측으로 변성조건이 체계적으로 변화한다. 가장 동측에 해당하는 오대산 지역에서는 245-230 Ma 초고온 변성작용이 한반도의 서측에 해당하는 홍성지역에서는 230Ma 고압변성작용이 그리고 중국의 수루, 다비 지역에서는 220Ma의 초고압 변성작용이 일어났다. 충돌대를 따라 나타나는 체계적인 변성조건의 변화는 충돌 전 섭입된 해양지각의 양이 동측에서 서측으로 증가하여 섭입하던 대륙판과 해양판의 분리되는 깊이가 동측에서 서측으로 점차 증가하였기 때문인 것으로 생각된다. 한반도 남부 영남육괴와 남중국판 남부에 광범위하게 나타나는 페름기-트라이아스기 섭입관련 화성암은 북중국판과 남중국판의 페름기-트라이아스기 충돌이 남중국판 남쪽 경계부에서의 섭입작용을 시작시켰을 가능성이 있음을 지시한다. 즉 한반도의 송림 조산운동 시기에는 경기육괴지역에서 대륙충돌이 일어나 한반도가 형성되었으며 동시에 대륙충돌에 의해 영남육괴 남측에 섭입대를 형성되었을 것으로 예상된다. 홍성-양평-오대산 충돌대를 경계로 하여 경기육괴 북부와 남부는 모두 콜롬비아 초대륙 형성 후기인 1870-1840 Ma에 대륙충돌이나 섭입 작용에 의해 화성 및 변성작용을 강하게 받았다. 옥천 변성대는 중국 남중국판 내에 나타나는 760Ma 경에 형성된 난후아 열곡대에 대비될 수 있으며 그럴 경우 경기육괴 남부와 영남육괴는 각각 남중국판의 북부 양쯔판과 남부 커테시아판에 대비된다. 최근 경기육괴 변성퇴적암, 옥천변성대 등에서 광역적으로 발견되는 실루리아기-데본기의 쇄설성 저어콘은 경기육괴 내에 데본기 혹은 그 이후 고생대 시기의 퇴적암이 존재할 가능성을 제시하고 있으며 홍성과 광천 지역에서 확인된 데본기의 변성작용과 함께 페름기-트라이아스기의 대륙충돌 이전인 고생대 중기에도 경기육괴에 활발한 지구조 운동이 일어났음을 지시한다. Recent studies reveal that eclogite formed in the Hongseong area and post collision igneous rocks occurred throughout the Gyeonggi Massif during the Triassic Songrim Orogeny. These new findings derive the tectonic model in which the Triassic Qinling-Dabie-Sulu collision belt between the North and South China blocks extends into the Hongseong-Yangpyeong-Odesan collision belt in Korea. The belt may be further extended into the late Paleozoic subduction complex in the Yanji belt in North Korea through the Paleozoic subduction complex in the inner part of SW Japan. The collision belt divides the Gyeonggi Massif into two parts; the northern and southern parts can be correlated to the North and South China blocks, respectively. The collision had started from Korea at ca. 250 Ma and propagated to China. The collision completed during late Triassic. The metamorphic conditions systematically change along the collision belt:. ultrahigh temperature metamorphism occurred in the Odesan area at 245-230Ma, high-pressure metamorphism in the Hongseong area at 230 Ma and ultra high-pressure metamorphism in the Dabie and Sulu belts. This systematic change may be due to the increase in the depth of slab break-off towards west, which might be related to the increase of the amounts of subducted ocecnic slab towards west. The wide distribution of Permo-Triassic arc-related granitoids in the Yeongnam Massif and in the southern part of the South China block indicate the Permo-Triassic subduction along the southern boundary of the South China block which may be caused by the Permo-Triassic collision between the North and South China blocks. These studies suggest that the Songrim orogeny constructed the Korean Peninsula by continent collision and caused the subduction along the southern margin of the Yeongnam Massif. Both the northern and southern Gyeonggi Massifs had undergone 1870-1840 Ma igneous and metamorphic activities due to continent collision and subduction related to the amalgamation of Colombia Supercontinent. The Okcheon metamorphic belt can be correlated to the Nanhua rift formed at 760 Ma within the South China blocks. In that case, the southern Gyeonggi Massif and Yeongnam Massif can be correlated to the Yangtz and Cathaysia blocks in the South China block, respectively. Recently possible Devonian or late Paleozoic sediments are recognized within the Gyeonggi Massif by finding of Silurian and Devonian detrital zircons. Together with the Devonian metamorphism in the Hongseong and Kwangcheon areas, the possible middle Paleozoic sediments indicate an active tectonic activity within the Gyeonggi Massif during middle Paleozoic before the Permo-Triassic collision.

Petrogenesis of three Cretaceous granites in the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt, South Korea: Geochemical and Nd–Sr–Pb isotopic constraints

The Sokrisan, Weolaksan and Muamsa granites in the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt (OMB), Korea are among the representative Cretaceous granites in the Korean Peninsula. Major and trace elements, and Sr–Nd isotopic data for the three granites are reported for evaluating the source characteristics and petrogenesis. The Sokrisan and Weolaksan granites are complexes of batholith type, most of which consists of biotite granite, whereas the eastern part of the body consists of hornblende–biotite granite. The Muamsa granite is a biotite granite of stock type. The three granites all have miarolitic texture suggesting that they belong to shallow intrusive type. The Muamsa granite has a Rb–Sr whole-rock age of 88.2 ± 1.7 Ma (2 σ) with an initial Sr isotopic ratio of 0.7139 ± 0.0041 (2 σ), whereas the Weolaksan granite has 89.6 ± 2.2 Ma (2 σ) with an initial Sr isotopic ratio of 0.7132 ± 0.0014 (2 σ). Recalculated Rb–Sr whole-rock age of the Sokrisan granite is 94.8 ± 3.6 Ma (2 σ) with an initial Sr isotopic ratio of 0.7084 ± 0.0029 (2 σ). The three granites have high SiO 2, FeO t/MgO, K 2O + Na 2O, and LREE contents and Rb. They are mostly depleted in Ba, Sr, P 2O 5 and TiO 2 with strongly negative Eu anomalies. The geochemical characteristics of the granites suggest mixed type of A-type and highly fractionated granite. The ε Nd( T) of the granites ranges from − 13.3 to − 15.8. The Rb–Sr whole-rock age, consistent negative values of ε Nd( T), trace element variations and consistent REE patterns from the three granites indicate that they might have been derived from a chemically similar crustal source. In tectonic discrimination diagrams, the granites fall in the range of syn-collisional to within-plate granites. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns and spider diagrams normalized by primitive mantle are similar to those of anorogenic A-type granites which were produced during the Late Yanshanian orogeny in SE China. However, negative initial ε Nd( T) values reveal that source material of the three Cretaceous granites in the OMB should be different from those of SE China.

Neoproterozoic Bimodal Volcanism in the Okcheon Belt, South Korea, and Its Comparison with the Nanhua Rift, South China: Implications for Rifting in Rodinia

Abstract A systematic geochemical examination and zircon U‐Pb dating of Neoproterozoic bimodal volcanic rocks from the Chungju area in the northeast segment of the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt (OMB), South Korea, allow a comparison with similar rocks from the Nanhua Rift, South China. The bimodal metavolcanics of the Chungju area comprise the subalkaline to alkaline basalts (hereafter “mafic metavolcanic rocks”) and trachytes (hereafter “felsic metavolcanic rocks”). The mafic metavolcanic rocks are characterized by light rare earth element (LREE)‐enriched and “humped” trace‐element patterns with moderate depletions in Sr and Ti and variable but reasonably low eNd(T) values between +0.83 and +2.99. These geochemical features are consistent with the area's origin in an ocean island basalt (OIB) mantle source with minor crustal contamination. The felsic metavolcanic rocks are characterized by LREE‐enriched patterns with a remarkable negative Eu anomaly. They display an overall enriched trace‐element pattern with...

Mineralogy and geochemistry of metalliferous black slates in the okcheon metamorphic belt, Korea: a metamorphic analogue of black shales in the South China block

Metalliferous black slates, which were locally exploited for their low-quality coal, are distributed in the Late Proterozoic to Paleozoic Okcheon Metamorphic Belt (OMB) of the Korean Peninsula. The mineralogy of the fine matrix is dominated by either quartz–(Ba, V)–mica–graphite or Quartz-Ba-feldspar–graphite. Polycrystalline submillimeter ellipsoids and elongate lenses aligned along foliations and veinlets are scattered through the fine matrix. Both ellipsoids and veinlets include many minor minerals containing rare elements: titanite, apatite, allanite, rutile, polycrase, barite, uraninite, xenotime, armenite, zircon, molybdenite, and sphalerite. Large graphite–apatite ellipsoids (nodules) with widths of several centimeters also occur in the highly carbonaceous black slates. Goldmanite occurs locally as porphyroblasts. The maximum rare element contents are: Ba 9.7%, V 2.04%, Mo 0.13%, U 0.11%, Cr 0.33%, Cu 254 ppm, Ni 479 ppm, Zn 607 ppm, Y 255 ppm, platinum-group element (PGE) + Au 309 ppb, and carbon 57%. The occurrence of the black slates and their elemental abundances suggests that most of the rare elements were accumulated from seawater in an oxygen-poor environment. However, the high Ba content of the OMB black slates indicates some hydrothermal input into an organic-rich basin. Although metamorphism and multiple deformations prevent a direct temporal and spatial correlation, metal abundances and a close association with graphite–apatite nodules and low-quality coal suggest that the OMB black slates are metamorphosed analogues of the Early Cambrian Ba–V deposits hosted by the black shales in the South China Block.

Discovery of a c.370 Ma granitic gneiss clast from the Hwanggangri pebble-bearing phyllite in the Okcheon metamorphic belt, Korea

The chemical Th–U total Pb isochron method (CHIME) of dating was carried out on accessory minerals in samples from the Okcheon metamorphic belt in Korea. Dated minerals include xenotime and monazite with overgrown mantles in a granitic gneiss clast from the Hwanggangri Formation, metamorphic allanite in garnet-bearing muscovite–chlorite schist of the Munjuri Formation, and polycrase and monazite in post-tectonic granite from the Hwanggangri area. Overgrowth of mantles took place at 369 ± 10 Ma on c. 1750 Ma cores of xenotime and monazite in the granitic gneiss. Allanite, occurring in textural equilibrium with peak metamorphic minerals, yields a CHIME age of 246 ± 15 Ma that is discriminably older than the polycrase (170 ± 6 Ma) and monazite (170 ± 3 Ma) ages of the post-tectonic granite. These chronological data suggest that some of the metasedimentary rocks in the belt formed through a single stage of metamorphism at c. 250 Ma from post-370 Ma sediments. Late Permian age signatures have also been reported from the Precambrian Gyeonggi and Yeongnam massifs that border the Okcheon metamorphic belt, and indicate that parts of the basement massifs and the metamorphic belt were affected by the same regional metamorphic event.

A new concept on tectonic correlation between Korea, China and Japan: Histories from the late Proterozoic to Cretaceous

The Dabie–Sulu collision belt in China extends to the Hongseong–Odesan belt in Korea while the Okcheon metamorphic belt in Korea is considered as an extension of the Nanhua rift within the South China block. The Hongseong–Odesan belt divides Korea's Gyeonggi massif into northern and southern portions. The southern Gyeonggi massif and the Yeongnam massif are correlated with China's Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks, respectively, while the northern Gyeonggi massif is part of the southern margin of the North China block. The southern and northern Gyeonggi massifs rifted from the Rodinia supercontinent during the Neoproterozoic, to form the borders of the South China and North China blocks, respectively. Subduction commenced along the southern and eastern borders of the North China block in the Ordovician and continued until a Triassic collision between the North China and South China blocks. While subduction was occurring on the margin of the North China block, high-P/T metamorphic belts and accretionary complexes developed along the inner zone of southwest Japan from the Ordovician to the Permian. During the subduction, the Hida belt in Japan grew as a continental margin or continental arc. Collision between the North and South China blocks began in Korea during the Permian (290–260 Ma), and propagated westwards until the Late Triassic (230–210 Ma) creating the sinistral TanLu fault in China and the dextral fault in the Hida and Hida marginal belt in Japan. Phanerozoic subduction and collision along the southern and western borders of the North China block led to formation of the Qinling–Dabie–Sulu–Hongseong–Hida–Yanji belt.

Magnetic fabric and rock magnetic studies of metasedimentary rocks in the central Okcheon Metamorphic Belt, Korea

Abstract Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) and rock magnetic studies have been carried out for the metasedimentary rocks in the central Okcheon Metamorphic Belt. The study area is divided into three metamorphic zones: the biotite zone, the garnet zone, and the sillimanite+andalusite zone from southeast to northwest. Magnetic foliation dipping to the northwest is the dominant magnetic fabric in the biotite zone. Magnetic lineation plunging down-dip of the vertical cleavage plane is appeared in the southeastern part of the garnet zone, while magnetic lineation plunging to southeast prevails in the middle and northwestern parts of the garnet zone. It is interpreted that this apparent synform structure, defined by AMS fabric data, was formed by successive top-to-the-southeast vergent thrusting followed by back-steepening process during the regional metamorphism in the Late Paleozoic. In the sillimanite + andalusite zone, AMS fabric is clearly defined and may reflect a tectonic fabric, recorded during the thermal metamorphism in the middle Jurassic, despite the scarcity of rock fabric in the field. The spatial distribution of magnetic mineralogy, defined by the rock magnetic results, implies the 500°C isotherm at the boundary between the biotite and garnet zones, which is associated with the transformation of pyrrhotite into magnetite above 500°C under the oxidizing condition.

Deformation history inferred from magnetic fabric in the southwestern Okcheon metamorphic belt, Korea

Magnetic fabric and rock-magnetic studies have been carried out for the non-fossiliferous, low- to medium-grade metasedimentary rocks in the southwestern part of the Okcheon metamorphic belt (OMB). Two major metamorphic events in the study area were previously recognized: regional metamorphism ( M 1) in the late Carboniferous to early Permian and contact metamorphism ( M 2) due to the intrusion of granite in the middle Jurassic. The metamorphic grade of the study area increases from the biotite zone in southeast through the garnet zone to the staurolite zone towards the northwest. Magnetic fabrics of the study area are generally well defined and can be characterized according to the metamorphic zones. Magnetic foliation is the dominant magnetic fabric in the biotite zone, while magnetic lineation prevails in both garnet and staurolite zones. We interpret the metamorphism-related deformation history of the study area based on magnetic fabrics, magnetic mineralogy and previously reported metamorphic evolution as follows. Penetrative NW-dipping cleavage, represented by magnetic foliation, was formed in the study area by prevailing NW–SE shortening event during the M 1 regional metamorphism in the late Carboniferous–early Permian. This shortening event is interpreted to be associated with the collisional event between the North and South China blocks. Cleavages dipping steeply to the southeast in the staurolite zone are attributed to the pressure exerted from the intrusion of Jurassic granite in the northwestern area.

Amphibole 40Ar/ 39Ar Geochronology from the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt, South Korea and its Tectonic Implications

An understanding of the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt (OMB) in South Korea is central to unraveling the tectono-metamorphic evolution of East Asia. Amphibole-bearing rocks in the OMB occur as calcsilicate layers and lenses in psammitic rocks, in the psammitic rocks themselves, and in the mafic volcanic layers and intrusives. Most amphiboles fail to show 40Ar/ 39Ar plateau ages; those that do have ages ranging from 132 to 975 Ma. The disturbed age pattern and wide variation in 40Ar/ 39Ar ages can be related to metamorphic grade, retrograde chemical reactions, excess Ar and amphibole composition. The oldest age (975 Ma) can be interpreted either as an old igneous or metamorphic age predating sedimentation or a false age caused by excess Ar. The youngest age of 132 Ma and the disturbed age pattern found in amphiboles from rocks located close to Jurassic granitoids are the result of retrograde thermal metamorphic effects accompanying intrusion of the granitoids. Some medium- or coarse-grained amphiboles in the calcsilicates are aggregates of fine-grained crystals. As a result, they are heterogeneous and prove to be readily affected by excess Ar. A disturbed age pattern in amphiboles from the calcsilicates occurring in the high-grade metamorphic zone may also be the product of excess Ar. On the other hand, the disturbed pattern of amphiboles present in the calcsilicates from the low-grade metamorphic zone could arise from both excess Ar and mixed ages. However, amphiboles from psammitic rocks and some calcsilicates in the high-grade metamorphic zone and in intrusive metabasites display real plateau ages of 237 to 261 Ma. The temperature conditions in the high-grade metamorphic zone were higher than the argon closing temperature for amphibole, and the amphiboles in this zone give plateau ages only when they are homogeneous in composition, lack excess Ar, and have not been thermally affected by intrusion of the granitoids. The unmodified 40Ar/ 39Ar ages prove rather younger than the age of the Late Paleozoic metamorphic event of 280 to 300 Ma, but they are close to muscovite K-Ar ages of 263 to 277 Ma. These 40Ar/ 39Ar amphibole ages are interpreted as the time of cooling that followed the main regional, intermediate-P/T metamorphic climax. The results demonstrate that interpretation of 40Ar/ 39Ar amphibole ages in an area subjected to several metamorphic events can be accomplished only by undertaking a thorough tectono-metamorphic study, accompanied by detailed chemical analysis of the amphiboles.

Metamorphic Evolution of the Southwest Okcheon Metamorphic Belt in South Korea and Its Regional Tectonic Implications

The Hwasan area of the southwest Okcheon metamorphic belt in South Korea underwent intermediate-P/T M1 metamorphism in the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian. Mica K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar ages of the pelitic and psammitic rocks are concentrated at ˜160 Ma. Granites in the northern and western parts of the Hwasan area have K-Ar mica ages of ˜156 Ma. Carbonaceous material throughout the Hwasan metasediments exhibits a narrow range in d002 of 3.353 to 3.359 Å, corresponding to that of fully ordered graphite, consistent with amphibolite-facies conditions of ˜500°C. Graphitic carbon is also distributed throughout lower-grade greenschist-facies rocks formed during the main M1 metamorphic episode. These results, along with the occurrence of a thermal metamorphic aureole (>500°C) in the metasediments close to the mid-Jurassic granites, suggest that the study area was overprinted by low-P/T M2 metamorphism due to the intrusions of the plutons. This latter event, however, failed to re-equilibrate mineral assemblages of the earlier metamorphism, except within a narrow aureole of 1-2 km around the Jurassic granites.

Ridge Subduction-Related Jurassic Plutonism in and around the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt, South Korea, and Implications for Northeast Asian Tectonics

The Okcheon metamorphic belt (OMB) in central South Korea is surrounded by Middle Jurassic granitoid batholiths that intruded South Korea extensively; the granitic bodies form a complex about 200 km long and 150 km wide as part of a Mesozoic granite belt along the East Asian continental margin. Middle Jurassic magmatism was related to ridge subduction that occurred around 200 to 166 Ma, with the main magmatic period between 175 and 166 Ma; main cooling ages range from 168 to 152 Ma. The magmatism was divided into two stages: (1) a deeper, earlier stage, which resulted in emplacement of diorite, granodiorite and granite as shown in the northeast OMB; and (2) a shallower, younger stage, which resulted in emplacement of granite and two-mica granite as shown in the southwest OMB. Most granitoids are peraluminous to metaluminous I-type granitoids that originated in a volcanic arc; an exception is an S-type two-mica granite. Inherited cores of 998 and 262 Ma U-Pb SHRIMP II zircon ages from the two-mica granite indicate that two-mica granite is reworked crustal material formed by earlier magmatism before the Middle Jurassic event. Together with previous studies on the Middle Jurassic granitoids, the present result indicates that subduction of the Farallon-Izanagi ridge beneath Asia caused widespread igneous activity throughout South Korea, especially during Middle Jurassic ridge subduction.

Tectono‐metamorphic evolution of the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt, South Korea: Tectonic implications in East Asia

Abstract The tectonic history of the Okcheon Metamorphic Belt (OMB) is a key to understanding the tectonic relationship between South Korea, China and Japan. The petrochemistry of 150 psammitic rocks in the OMB indicates that the depositional environment progressively deepened towards the northwest. These data, combined with the distribution pattern of oxide minerals and the abundance of carbonaceous material, support a half‐graben basin model for the OMB. Biotite and muscovite K–Ar dates from metasediments in the central OMB range from 102 to 277 Ma. K–Ar ages of 142–194 Ma are widespread throughout the area, whereas the older ages of 216–277 Ma are restricted to the metasediments of the middle part of the central OMB. The younger (Cretaceous) ages are only found in metasediments that are situated near the Cretaceous granite intrusions. The 216–277 Ma dates from weakly deformed areas represent cooling ages of M1 intermediate pressure/temperature (P/T) metamorphism. The relationship between age distribution and deformation pattern indicates that the Jurassic muscovite and biotite dates can be interpreted as complete resetting ages, caused by thermal and deformational activities associated with Jurassic granite plutonism. Well‐defined 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages of 155–169 Ma for micas from both metasediments and granitic rocks can be correlated with the main Jurassic K–Ar mica ages (149–194 Ma). U–Pb zircon dates for biotite granite from the southwest OMB are 167–169 Ma. On the basis of the predominantly Jurassic igneous and metamorphic ages and the uniformity of d002 values for carbonaceous materials in the study area, it is suggested that the OMB has undergone amphibolite facies M2 metamorphism after M1 metamorphism. This low P/T M2 regional thermal metamorphism may have been caused by the regional intrusion of Jurassic granites. The OMB may have undergone tectono‐metamorphic evolution as follows: (i) the OMB was initiated as an intraplate rift in the Neoproterozoic during break‐up of Rodinia, and may represent the extension of Huanan aulacogen within the South China block; (ii) sedimentation continued from the Neoproterozoic to the Ordovician, perhaps with several unconformities; (iii) M1 intermediate P/T metamorphism occurred during the Late Paleozoic due to compression caused by collision between the North and South China blocks in an area peripheral to the collision zone; and (iv) during the Early to Middle Jurassic, north‐westward subduction of the Farallon‐Izanagi Plate under the Asian Plate resulted in widespread intrusion of granites, which triggered M2 low P/T regional thermal metamorphism in the OMB. This event also formed the dextral Honam shear zone at the boundary between the OMB and Precambrian Yeongnam massif.