Abstract
The evolution of the southern part of the Ulleung Basin, East Sea (Sea of Japan) is analysed using a two-dimensional computer-based graphical simulation (SEDPAK) on a multichannel seismic profile. Iterative editing of the input data file includes various factors: initial basin configuration, local tectonic behavior, eustatic sea level, and the amounts and direction of clastic sedimentation. The sedimentary succession on the seismic profile can be divided into seven sequences bounded by sequence boundaries. The simulation relatively well reproduces evolving geometry shown on the interpreted seismic profile and burial history of sediments through time. The over 3000-m-thick sedimentary body is composed of sandstone and shale which have been accumulated in deltaic setting and as slumping or turbidites in a shelf-slope setting since the middle Miocene (16.5 Ma). The SEDPAK simulation shows all sequences except for the upper part of Sequence 5 which displays progradational clinoforms and onlapping transgressive units. It well reflects that the simulated sequences were formed during the mature stage of the back-arc basin development since the early Miocene. Scouring by incised valleys occurred extensively after the deposition of Sequence 5 on the margin, most obviously during the lowstand of sea level. Scouring may be related to the late Miocene thrusting and wrenching caused probably by collision of the Bonin Arc with the Amurian Plate. Simulation also shows the evolutionary development of the sedimentary sequences, which can track the burial history of individual layers throughout the run. When the 16.5 Ma surface is assumed to be the initial basin surface (the top of the pre-16.5 Ma sequence), the burial path of the 17.5 Ma to 16.5 Ma sequence reveals that it was at a depth of 3000 m at 12.5 Ma; 3200 to 3900 m at 6.3 Ma; at 3500 to 4200 m at 3.8 Ma; and at 4000 to 4700 m today. In addition, one can follow the burial history at a particular location using the time-depth-elevation plot for a specific column of the output within the simulated section. These features aid in the prediction of sedimentary facies distribution and geothermal history of the sequences.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aigner, T., Doyle, M., Lawrence, D. T., Epting, M. and van Vliet, A., 1989, Quantitative modeling of carbonate platforms: some examples. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication, 44, 27–37.
Chough, S.K. and Barg, E., 1987, Tectonic history of Ulleung Basin margin, East Sea (Sea of Japan). Geology, 15, 45–48.
Chough, S.K., Jeong, K.S. and Honza, E., 1985, Zoned facies of mass-flow deposits in the Ulleung (Tsushima) Basin, East Sea (Sea of Japan). Marine Geology, 65, 113–125.
Chough, S.K. and Lee, K.E., 1992, Multi-stage volcanism in the Ulleung back-arc Basin, East Sea (Sea of Japan). The Island Arc, 1, 32–39.
Guidish, T.M., Lerche, I., Kendall, Christopher C.G.St.C. and O'Brien, J.J., 1984, Relationship between eustatic sea level changes and basement subsidence. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 68, 164–177.
Haq, B.U., Hardenbol J. and Vail, P.R., 1987, Chronology of fluctuating sea-level since the Triassic (250 million years to present). Science, 235, 1156–1167.
Haq, B.U., Hardenbol, J. and Vail, P.R., 1988, Mesozoic and Cenozoic chronostratigraphy and cycles of sea-level change. In: Wilgus, C.K., Hastings, B., Kendall, C.G.St.C., Posamentier, H., Ross, C. and van Wagoner, J.C. (eds.), Sea-Level Changes: an Integrated Approach. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication, 42, 71–108.
Hayashida, A. and Ito, Y., 1984, Paleoposition of southwest Japan at 16 Ma: implication for paleomagnetism of the Miocene Ichishi Group. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 68, 335–342.
Helland-Hansen, W., Kendall, C.G.St.C., Lerche, I. and Nakayama, K., 1988, A simulation of continental basin margin sedimentation in response to crustal movements, eustatic sea level change, and sediment accumulation rates. Mathematical Geology, 20, 777–802.
Inoue, E., 1982, Geological problems on Cretaceous and Tertiary rocks in and around Tsushima-Korean Strait. United Nations Economics and Social Commission for Asian and the Pacific, Committee for Coordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral Resources in Asian Offshore Areas, Technical Bulletin, 15, 86–121.
Jervey, M.T., 1988, Quantitative Geological Modeling of Siliciclastic Rock Sequences and their Seismic Expression. In: Wilgus, C.K., Hastings, B., Kendall, C.G.St.C., Posamentier, H., Ross, C. and van Wagoner, J.C. (eds.), Sea-Level Changes: an Integrated Approach. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication, 42, 47–70.
Karig, D.E., Ingle, J.C., Jr. et al. 1975, Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 31, 927 p.
Kendall, C.G.St.C. and Lerche, I., 1988, The rise and fall of eustasy. In: Wilgus, C.K., Hastings, B., Kendall, C.G.St.C., Posamentier, H., Ross, C. and van Wagoner, J.C. (eds.), Sea-Level Changes: an Integrated Approach. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication, 42, 3–18.
Kendall, C.G.St.C., Strobel, J.S., Cannon, R.L., Bezdek, J. and Biswas, G., 1991, The simulation of the sedimentary fill of basins. Journal of Geophysical Research, 96, 6911–6929.
Kendall, C.G.St.C., Moore, P., Strobel, J.S., Cannon, R.L., Perlmutter, M., Bezdek, J. and Biswas, G., 1991, Simulation of the sedimentary fill of basins: in sedimentary modeling. In: Franseen, E., Watney, W.L., Kendall, C.G.St.C. and Ross, W. (eds.), Computer Simulations and Methods for Improved Parameter Definition. Kansas Geological Survey, Kansas city, p. 9–30.
Kendall, C.G.St.C., Whittle, G.L., Ehrlich, R., Moore, P.D., Cannon, R.L. and Hellmann, D.R., 1993, Computer sedimentary simulation models sequence stratigraphy. Oil and Gas Journal, 91, 46–51.
Lawrence, D.T., Doyle, M. and Aigner, T., 1990, Stratigraphic simulation of sedimentary basins: concepts and calibrations. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 74, 273–295.
Matsuda, K., 1979, Collision of the Izu-Bonin Arc with central Honshu: Cenozoic tectonics of the Fossa Magna, Japan. In: Uyeda, S., Kroenke, R.W. and Kobayashi, K. (eds.), Geodynamics of the Western Pacific. Center for Academic Publications, Japan Scientific Societies Press, Tokyo, p. 409–421
Minami, A., 1979, Distribution and characteristics of the sedimentary basin offshore San-in to Tsushima Island. Japanese Association for Petroleum Technology Journal, 44, 321–328. (in Japanese)
Nester, D. and Mitchum, B., 1989, Exploration and production evaluation Block VI-I, Ulleung Basin. Exploitech Inc., Houston, v. 1–7. (unpublished exploration report)
Otofuji, Y. and Matsuda, T., 1983, Paleomagnetic evidence for the clockwise rotation of southwest Japan. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 62, 349–359.
Posamentier, H.W., Jervey, M.T. and Vail, P.R., 1988, Eustatic controls on clastic deposition (I): conceptual framework. In: Wilgus, C.K., Hastings, B., Kendall, C.G.St.C., Posamentier, H., Ross, C. and van Wagoner, J.C. (eds.), Sea-Level Changes: an Integrated Approach. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication, 42, 109–124.
Posamentier, H.W. and Vail, P.R., 1988, Eustatic controls on clastic deposition(II): sequence and systems tract models. In: Wilgus, C.K., Hastings, B., Kendall, C.G.St.C., Posamentier, H., Ross, C. and van Wagoner, J.C. (eds.), Sea-Level Changes: an Integrated Approach. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication, 42, 125–154.
Reedman, A.J. and Um, S.H., 1975, Geology of Korea, Korea Institute of Energy and Resources, Seoul, 139 p.
Scaturo, D.M., Strobel, J., Kendall, C.G.St.C., Wendte, J.C., Biswas, G., Bezdek, J. and Cannon, R.L., 1989, Judy Creek: a case study for a two-dimensional sediment deposition simulation. In: Wilson, J.L. and Read, J.F. (eds.), Controls on Carbonate Platform and Basin Development. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication, 44, 64–76.
Sclater, J.C., Royden, L., Horvath, L., Burchfiel, B.C., Semkin, S. and Stegena, L., 1980, The formation of the Intra-Carpathian basins as determined from subsidence data. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 51, 139–162.
Strobel, J.S., Cannon, R.L., Kendall, C.G.St.C., Biswas, G. and Bezdek, J, 1989, Interactive (SEDPAK) simulation of clastic and carbonate sediments in shelf to basin settings. Computers and Geosciences, 15, 1279–1290.
Uyeda, S. and Kanamori, H., 1979, Back-arc opening and the mode of subduction. Journal of Geophysical Research, 84, 1049–1061.
Vail, P.R. and Todd, R.G., 1981, Northern North Sea Jurassic unconformities, chronostratigraphy and sea level changes from seismic stratigraphy. Proceeding of the Petroleum Geology of the Continental Shelf of NW Europe Conference, London, Mar. 4–6, 1980, p. 216–235.
Van Wagoner, J.C., Posamentier, H.C., Mitchum, R.M., Jr., Vail, P.R., Sarg, J.F., Loutit, T.S. and Hardenbol, J., 1988, An overview of the fundamentals of sequence stratigraphy and key definitions. In: Wilgus, C.K., Hastings, B., Kendall, C.G. St.C., Posamentier, H., Ross, C. and van Wagoner, J.C. (eds.), Sea-Level Changes: an Integrated Approach. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication, 42, 39–46.
Yoon, S.H. and Chough, S.K., 1995, Regional strike slip in the eastern continental margin of Korea and its tectonic implications for the evolution of Ulleung Basin, East Sea (Sea of Japan). Geological Society of America Bulletin, 107, 83–97.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cheong, D., Whittle, G. & Kendall, C.G.S.C. Graphical simulation of clastic margin progradation: Ulleung Basin, offshore Korea. Geosci J 3, 63–73 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02910236
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02910236