Depositional Environment of the Cambrian Machari Formation in the Yeongweol Area, Gangweon Province, Korea

The Middle to Late Cambrian Machari Formation in the Machari area, Yeongweol, Korea consists of 7 lithofacies and 3 facies associations, which are thought to be deposits of carbonate ramp (mid to outer ramp) to basin environment. These lithofacies are bedded lime mudstone, laminated lime mudstone, bioclastic/peloidal packstone to grainstone, poloidal/bioclastic wackestone, conglomerate, mottled lime mudstone, and shale. Bedded lime mudstone facies, a few cm thick lime mudstone alternating with shale layer, is believed to have been deposited by intermittent dilute turbidity currents. Laminated lime mudstone facies, alternating lime mudstone with laminated shale, is interpreted to have been formed by fine-grained turbidity currents. Bioclastic/peloidal packstone to grainstone facies was deposited by turbidity current and peloidal/bioclastic wackestone faceis was deposited by debris flow. Conglomerate facies is thought to be deposits of storm activities. Mottled lime mudstone facies is interpreted to have been formed by bioturbation. Shale facies is interpreted to have been formed by suspension settling. Seven lithofacies of the Machari Formation are divided into three facies associations. Facies association I consisted of bedded lime mudstone facies, mottled lime mudstone facies, conglomerate facies, and bioclastic/peloidal packstone to grainstone facies, is interpreted to have been deposited on the mid ramp. Facies assocaition II consisted of bedded lime mudstone facies, laminated lime mudstone facies, bioclastic/peloidal packstone to grainstone facies, and peloidal/bioclastic wackestone facies is thought to be deposits of the outer ramp. Facies association III consisted of laminated lime mudstone facies and shale facies is interpreted to have been formed on the basin environment.