--> Abstract: The Modern Continental Slope Morphologies And Kinematics in The Ulleung Basin, Offshore Korea; #90063 (2007)

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The Modern Continental Slope Morphologies And Kinematics in The Ulleung Basin, Offshore Korea

 

Choi, Byeonggoo1, Suyoung Choi2, Hun Jeong2, Ilsoo Kim2, Yongsu Lim2, Donghyun Lim2, Seoungcheol Lee2 (1) Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC), Anyang, South Korea (2) Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC),

 

Modern continental slope morphologies in the Ulleung Basin mainly resulted from the tectonic movements and the developments of drainage systems during the evolution of the backarc basin in the East Sea (Sea of Japan), offshore Korea. Evaluation of modern slope processes and its depositions is difficult because of the limited accessibilities arised from the deep water environment. The recent 500 sq.km of 3-D and a few thousands of 2-D seismic acquisition data have revealed two types of modern continental slopes developed in the Basin. One is developed by the abrupt fault block movements associated with the basin opening and the lack of drainage system which was necessary for supplying sediments into the Basin caused the high gradient angle (~ 4 degree) of modern continental slope morphology along the eastern continental area of the Korean Peninsula. The other is shown in the location around the low gradient angle (1.3-2.6 degree) of modern continental slope, as it were, sharp and almost vertical slump scars with more than 100m height are well developed across the water depth contours. From this point of view, submarine sliding and slumping events were probably triggered by the reactivation of the NW-SE trending trust faults generated by the collision between the Eurasian and Pacific Plates during the Miocene. The faults might have provided the well developed drainage systems which resulted in the low gradient angle of slope at the present time. In conclusion, the evaluation of geological histories is useful to understand the causes of modern continental slope morphologies in the Ulleung Basin.

 

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90063©2007 AAPG Annual Convention, Long Beach, California