Abstract
High-resolution seismic profiles across the shelf margin and trough region of the Korea Strait reveal five shallow, near-surface facies units. These are relict coastal deposits, relict delta deposits, slumps and slides, and trough lag deposits. Most deposits represent a lowstand systems tract, formed during the last lowstand of sea level. Relict coastal deposits represent a linear sediment body along the present shelf margin at water depths of 120–150 m, whereas relict delta deposits occur on the gentle, southwestern slope of the trough at water depths of about 150–200 m. Slumps and slides are dominant at the base of slope in the central trough region. Sediments on the central trough floor were partly eroded and redistributed by strong currents, resulting in lag deposits.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Choi HI and Park KS (1985) Cretaceous/Neogene stratigraphic transition and post-Gyeongsang tectonic evolution along and off the southeast coast, Korea. Journal of Geological Society of Korea 21:281–296
Chough SK, Yoon SH, and Lee HJ (1991) Submarine slides in the eastern continental margin, Korea. Marine Geotechnology 10:71–82
Díaz JI and Ercilla G (1993) Holocene depositional history of the Fluvia-Muga prodelta, northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Marine Geology 111:83–92
Diaz JI, Nelson CH, Barber JH, and Giró S (1990) Late Pleistocene transgressive and Holocene sedimentary facies on the Ebro continental shelf. Marine Geology 95:333–352
Ercilla G, Alonso B, and Baraza J (1992) Sedimentary evolution of the northwestern Alboran Sea during the Quaternary. Geo-Marine Letters 12:144–149
Field ME and Trincardi F (1991) Regressive coastal deposits on Quaternary continental shelves: preservation and legacy. In: Osborne RH (Ed.), Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication 46:107–122
Haq BU, Hardenbol J, and Vail PR (1987) Chronology of fluctuating sea levels since the Triassic. Science 235:1156–1167
Korea Hydrographic Office (1982) Marine Environmental Atlas of Korean Waters. 38 pp
Korea Institute of Energy and Resources (1982) Petroleum Resources Potential in the Continental Shelf of Korea. Seoul, Korea. 342 pp
Korea Institute of Energy and Resources (1987) Geological study on the shallow water—Marine geophysical study on the continental shelf off the southern coast between Pusan and Ulsan, Korea. KR-87-26:65–105
Matteucci TD and Hine AC (1987) Evolution of the Cape Fear terrace: A complex interaction between the Gulf Stream and a paleoshelf edge delta. Marine Geology 77:185–205
Min GH (1994) Seismic stratigraphy and depositional history of Pliocene-Holocene deposits in the southeastern shelf, Korean Peninsula. Unpublished PhD thesis. Seoul, Korea: Seoul National University. 196 pp
Park KS (1990) The seismic stratigraphy, structure and hydrocarbon potential of Korea Strait. Unpublished PhD thesis. London: Royal School of Mines, Imperial College. 441 pp
Park SC and Yoo DG (1988) Depositional history of Quaternary sediments on the continental shelf off the southeastern coast of Korea (Korea Strait). Marine Geology 79:65–75
Park SC and Yoo DG (1992) Deposition of coarse-grained sediments in the Korea Strait during late Pleistocene low sea level. Geo-Marine Letters 12:19–23
Park SC, Jang KM, and Lee SD (1990) High-resolution seismic study of modern fine-grained deposits: Inner shelf off the southeastern coast of Korea. Geo-Marine Letters 10:145–149
Posamentier HW and Vail PR (1988) Eustatic control on clastic deposition II- sequence and systems tract models. In: Wilgus CK and Hasting BS (Eds.), Sea-level Changes—An Integrated Approach. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication 42:125–154
Saito Y (1991) Sequence stratigraphy on the shelf and upper slope in response to the latest Pleistocene-Holocene sea-level changes of Sendai, northeast Japan. In: Macdonald DIM (Ed.), Sedimentation, Tectonics and Eustasy—Sea-level Changes at Active Margins. International Association of Sedimentologists, Special Publication 12:133–150
Stuart CJ and Caughey CA (1977) Seismic facies and sedimentology of terrigenous Pleistocene deposits in Northwest and central Gulf of Mexico. In: Payton CE (Ed.), Seismic Stratigraphy—Application to Hydrocarbon Exploration. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 26:249–275
Tesson M, Gensous B, Allen GP, and Ravenne CH (1990) Late Quaternary deltaic lowstand wedges on the Rhône continental shelf, France. Marine Geology 91:325–332
Trincardi F and Field ME (1991) Geometry, lateral variation, and preservation of downlapping regressive shelf deposits: eastern Tyrrhenian Sea margin, Italy. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 61:775–790
Vail PR, Mitchum RM Jr, Todd RG, Widmier JM, Thompson S III, Sangree JB, Bubb JN and Hatlelid WG (1977) Seismic stratigraphy and global changes of sea level. In: Payton CE (Ed.), Seismic Stratigraphy—Application to Hydrocarbon Exploration. American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Memoir 26:49–212
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yoo, D.G., Park, S.C., Shin, W.C. et al. Near-surface seismic facies at the Korea Strait shelf margin and trough region. Geo-Marine Letters 16, 49–56 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02202598
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02202598