The Bansong Group in South Korea is a sedimentary rock formed in a Mesozoic inland basin, and its top is bounded by two thrust faults: Gongsuwon Thrust Fault (GTF) and Deokpori Thrust Fault (DTF). To reconstruct the sedimentary environment of the grou...
The Bansong Group in South Korea is a sedimentary rock formed in a Mesozoic inland basin, and its top is bounded by two thrust faults: Gongsuwon Thrust Fault (GTF) and Deokpori Thrust Fault (DTF). To reconstruct the sedimentary environment of the group, fieldworks in seven sections around Danyang, Yeongwol, Pyeongchang and Jeongseon areas were conducted and measured detailed lithology of the group. Based on the field data and thin section observation, nine facies are defined and grouped into three facies associations: gravely braided river channel (FA1), sandy braided river channel (FA2), and waterlogged floodplain/overfilled lacustrine (FA3). Sections bounded by DTF show a similar succession, with predominated conglomerates at the lower part, abundant mudstones in the middle and thick sandstones at the top. Meanwhile, GTF bounded sections show restricted occurrence of conglomerate and northward thickening of mudstones and sandstone strata. Northeastward paleoflow data, which suggest fluvial system parallel to the faults, are obtained from current ripples, planar cross bedding, and imbricated clasts. Weighted mean age of 185.7 ± 1.0 Ma was acquired from U-Pb zircon age dating of tuffaceous sandstone clast in the lower part of DTF bounded section. This age had been reported from the tuff bed in the middle part of GTF bounded section. The result indicates deposition in DTF bounded sections started contemporary or slightly later than those in GTF bounded sections. Based on the facies and geochronological data, we designate the basin in which the Bansong Group was deposited as the South Yeongseo Basin, and subdivide it into the Deokpori and Gongsuwon subbasins formed by each thrust fault. GTF propagation formed Gongsuwon Subbasin and subsequent development of DTF formed Deokpori Subbasin. The axial river systems transported the sediments and alluvial fans developed on the hanging wall. Continued movement of the faults resulted in basin inversion and ceased deposition. The strata were subsequently tilted to their present-day orientation.