K-Ar Ages for Mesozoic Volcanic Rocks in the Geumdang Island, Jeonam, Korea

Abstract

Based on mineral assemblages, field occurrences, the volcanic rocks distributed in the Geumdang Island area are divided into three types: rhyolite, porphyritic rhyolite and intermediated dyke rock. In a diagram of [TAS (total alkalisilica)], rhyolites and porphyritic rhyolites belong to the rhyolite-dacite field and rhyolite field, respectively. As to the times when the rhyolite and porphyritic rhyolite rocks were formed a whole rock K-Ar age was obtained. These absolute age determinations have revealed that the former (rhyolite) has an age of 76-78 Ma and belongs to the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) and the latter (porphyritic rhyolite) is 71-72 Ma in age and thus belongs to the boundary between the Campanian and Maastrichtian. These geological ages are associated with the igneous activity of the Yuchon Group which occurred vigorously in the southern part of the Korean peninsula during the Late Cretaceous. The various geological ages of volcanic rocks distributed in the southwestern part of the peninsula and of igneous rocks found in the Cretaceous formation which contain a wide variety of minerals indicate that in this area, volcanic activities continued vigorously as a result of the collision of the Eurasian and Pacific Plates between 108-71 Ma.