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Research Article

Microstructural Features and K-Ar Ages of Fault Gouges from Quaternary Faults along the Northern Yangsan Fault, SE Korea
Chang Oh Choo1
,
Tae Woo Chang2
,
Kounghoon Nam3
,
Jong-Tae Kim4
,
Chang-Ju Lee5
,
Gyo-Cheol Jeong6*
1Professor, Department of Earthquake Prevention Engineering, Andong National University
2Emeritus Professor, Department of Geology, Kyungpook National University
3Post-Doctor, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, China
4CEO and Principal Researcher, Nature and Tech Inc.
5CEO and Principal Researcher, Daeyeong Construction and Engineering
6Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Andong National University
*Corresponding Author
31 March 2023. pp. 121-136
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Abstract

Microstructural characterization, identification of mineral assemblages, and K-Ar age dating of fault gouges from five Quaternary fault sites segmented along the northern Yangsan Fault, SE Korea were performed to understand formation condition and multiple activity of faults. The mean and median sizes of particles of bulk gouges vary among the studied faults: 1.75 µm and 1.43 µm for the Danguri Fault, 1.94 µm and 1.79 µm for the Yukjae Fault, 5.57 µm and 4.16 µm for the Yugye Fault, and 5.55 µm and 2.31 µm for the Bogyeongsa Fault. Fault gouges contain abundant secondary minerals, including smectite, chlorite, illite, kaolinite, laumontite, and mordenite, which are found in association with quartz and feldspar. K-Ar dating of the fault gouges (both bulk samples and separate size fractions) yields ages ranging from 59.1 to 18.8 Ma, with bulk ages of 47.6 Ma for the Yukjae Fault, 59.1 Ma for the Ansim Fault, 39.4 Ma for the Yugye Fault, and 22.6 Ma for the Bogyeongsa Fault. The finer fractions generally have younger K-Ar ages compared with the coarser fractions, and the finest fraction (<0.2 µm) is the youngest for each fault. Hydrothermal alteration of the gouges is considered to have occurred under low-temperature (100~200°C) conditions during faulting. Microstructural features and clay mineral assemblages of fault gouges and brecciated rocks should be considered when interpreting fault events and reactivation, in addition to age dating of faulting.

Keywords
fault rocks
K-Ar age dating
Yangsan Fault
fault gouge
clay minerals
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society of Engineering Geology
  • Publisher(Ko) :대한지질공학회
  • Journal Title :The Journal of Engineering Geology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :지질공학
  • Volume : 33
  • No :1
  • Pages :121-136
  • Received Date : 2023-03-13
  • Revised Date : 2023-03-27
  • Accepted Date : 2023-03-28
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.9720/kseg.2023.1.121
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