Two Rare Geological Phenomena Found in Korea
The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on September 9 that it has issued a preliminary designation for two unique geological heritage sites in the Buan region as National Natural Monuments. The sites are the "Buan Gyeokpori Pepperlite" on the western coast of Byeonsan Peninsula and the "Spherical Structures within the Tuff Cone at Solseom, Docheong-ri" located off the coast of Docheong-ri, Buan.
The Buan Gyeokpori Pepperlite is a rock layer approximately 1 meter thick, distributed at the base of the coastal cliffs of Jeokbyeokgang on the Byeonsan Peninsula. It was formed by the mixing of hot lava and unconsolidated sediments. Scientists refer to it as "Pepperite" because the process of mixing and solidifying resembles the appearance of pepper being sprinkled. Traces of steam explosions and mixing, which occurred as lava passed through sediment layers containing water or moisture, remain clearly visible in the rock, making it a geologically rare phenomenon.
While pepperite typically forms in thin layers, in the Gyeokpori area it is observed as thick bands. This demonstrates that various forms of pepperite can develop within lava due to the injection of sediments under the weight of lava flows. The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, "It allows for direct observation of both synchronous volcanic activity with sedimentation and the interactions between water and magma."
The Spherical Structures within the Tuff Cone at Solseom, Docheong-ri, are part of a volcanic island formed during the late Cretaceous period, about 87 million years ago. Numerous spherical structures, resembling clusters of grapes, appear within the tuff at the base of the island. Each was formed as iron oxide components in hydrothermal fluids precipitated before the volcanic ash solidified. This is a rare volcanic rock formation process both domestically and internationally, vividly illustrating the volcanic activity of the late Cretaceous period.
The Cultural Heritage Administration will collect opinions from various sectors for a month and finalize the designation as a Natural Monument after a review by the Natural Heritage Committee.
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