National Institute of Maritime Survey: "Evidence of Volcanic Origin Discovered at Ieodo"

Seafloor topography of Ieodo and the location of tuff breccia extraction.

[Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] It has been confirmed through sediment investigations in the surrounding waters that Ieodo was formed by a volcanic eruption in the past.

The National Oceanographic Research Institute of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 28th that analysis of a rock fragment (45×35×10 cm) discovered during a seabed sediment survey around Ieodo last year revealed that Ieodo is a volcanic body formed by a past volcanic eruption.

Ieodo, located 149 km southwest of Marado, the southernmost point of South Korea, hosts a marine science station.

According to the Oceanographic Research Institute, the rock fragment collected at a depth of about 56 meters is tuff, which is volcanic ejecta that has solidified, featuring stratification and numerous holes presumed to be traces of shellfish habitation. An institute official stated, "The stratification observed in the tuff is a sedimentary layer formed by the accumulation of volcanic ash during an eruption, providing evidence that Ieodo is composed of volcanic-origin rock layers. Additionally, the holes approximately 10 mm in diameter on the rock surface, along with the shell fragments and coral reefs that created these holes, indicate that part of the volcanic body is a wave-cut platform."

The institute explained that based on these analysis results, it can be confirmed that Ieodo was exposed to the atmosphere during a period when sea levels were lower in the past, and later remained as a submarine volcanic body as sea levels rose again.

This research was conducted jointly by the Oceanographic Research Institute and Professor Jang Tae-su's research team at Korea Maritime and Ocean University. The collected tuff is currently exhibited at the annex of the Oceanographic Research Institute.

Lee Eun-il, head of the Marine Science Survey Research Division at the Oceanographic Research Institute, said, "Following this study, we plan to conduct additional research to clarify the geological connection between Ieodo and Jeju Island."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.