The Gyeongju Bonggilli coast, which shows traces of rocks melted by past earthquakes, is expected to be designated as a natural monument.
The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on October 15 that it plans to designate the 'Gyeongju Bonggilli Pseudotachylite,' located in the Bonggilli coast of Munmu Daewang-myeon, Gyeongju, as a nationally designated natural heritage.
Pseudotachylite is a type of fault rock formed when rocks melt due to frictional heat generated by rapid slippage along a fault during an earthquake. It serves as an important geological record that directly shows the traces of past earthquakes and fault movements.
Notably, various forms of pseudotachylite, including single vein type, fault vein type, and breccia type, can be observed in one location. This allows for a comprehensive examination of the processes of rock fracturing, frictional melting, movement, injection, and solidification of the molten material due to seismic fault movements.
In particular, the single vein type pseudotachylite at Gyeongju Bonggilli is characterized by an average thickness of about 21 cm and a maximum thickness of 40 cm, making it exceptionally thick on a global scale. It is considered significant for studying the characteristics and processes of large-scale seismic fault movements that occurred in southeastern Korea in the past. Additionally, the ability to observe various forms and structural features in one location enhances its value as a geological heritage.
The Cultural Heritage Administration will collect public opinions during a 30-day designation notice period before proceeding with the designation as a natural monument after review by the National Heritage Committee.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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