The Steptoean Positive Carbon Isotope Excursion (SPICE) is found in the Machari Formation which was interpreted to have been deposited on the middle to outer carbonate ramp environment. The Machari Formation is the Middle to Late Cambrian in age and distributed in the Yeongweol area, Gangweon Province, Korea. The SPICE event in the Machari Formation begins with the first appearance datum of trilobite Glyptagnostus reticulatus and ends with the first appearance of datum of trilobite Irvingella. The SPICE is found in approximately 120 m thick sequence and δ13C values in the SPICE interval range from 0.6 to 4.4‰. The SPICE in the Machari Formation is interpreted to be caused by burial of organic matter in the sea floor and subsequent increase of 13C isotope of the Late Cambrian ocean. The SPICE interval in the Machari Formation corresponds to the highstand to transgressive systems tracts.
The fluvial sequence developed along the channel margin of meander bends in the midstream of the Yeongsan River consists of channel deposits at the bottom and overbank deposits at the top, and shows a fining-upward trend. The fluvial deposits consist of 7 sedimentary facies, and facies association forms 7 architectural elements. The channel deposits formed as channel bar or point bar. The channel bar deposits consisted of architectural element of gravel bedform were formed by channel lag deposits within the channel; whereas, the channel bar deposits consisted of architectural elements of downcurrent-dipping inclined strata sets, cross-stratified and horizontally stratified sets, and horizontally stratified sets were formed by downstream migration of sand wave or downstream transport of sand by traction current in the upper flow regime conditions within the channel. The point bar deposits consist of architectural elements of down current-dipping inclined strata sets, horizontally stratified sets, cross-stratified and horizontally stratified sets, and laterally inclined and horizontally stratified sets. These architectural elements are thought to have been formed by the combined effects of the migration of sand dunes and the formation of horizontal lamination in the upper flow regime plane bed conditions. The overbank deposits consist of the architectural elements of overbank fine and sand sheet and lens. The overbank fines were formed by settling of mud from slackwater during flooding over floodplain whereas the sand sheet and lens were formed by traction of sands introduced episodically fiom channel to the overbank during flooding.
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.