A Study on Genesis of Alunite Deposits of Jeonnam Area

전남지역(全南地域) 명반석광상(明礬石鑛床)의 성인(成因)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究)

The south and southwestern parts of Jeonra-namdo has been known as an alunite province in Korea. The alunite deposits investigated for the present study are Okmaisan, Seongsam, Bugog, Gasado south, Gasado north, Jangsando, Dogcheon and Jungyongri deposits. The main purpose of this study is to depict the genetical origin of the alunite deposits. The rocks distributed in the areas mentioned above consist chiefly of rhyolitic tuff, breccia tuff and andesitic tuff of Cretaceous age which represent different episodes of volcanic activities during Cretaceous epoch. The attitude of bedding of the tuffaceous rocks varies from place to place but generally dips very gently. The alunite deposits are embedded mostly in the rhyolitic tuff so that they appear as layered deposits, this occurrence may be the result of stratigraphic and lithologic controls. The result of this study can be summarized as below. The mineral sequence studied by the mineral paragenesis and the result of the spectrograph anlyses is such that (1) alunite was formed at first and pyrophyllite was nearly contemporaneous with alunite but pyrophyllite formation can be recognized as a secondary mineralization products, (2) kaoline was succeeded to form later and hematite finally deposited, and (3) pyrite was deposited from the begining to the end of the above mineralization period. The compositional change of host rocks is such that CaO, $SiO_2$ and $Na_2O$ were largely removed from the parent rocks and some $Al_2O_3$ and $SO_3$ were transported by the solution so as to enrich the rocks. The sequencial process of such mineralization has resulted in forming those distinguish mineral zones; alunite, kaoline, pyrophyllite, silicifide and sulphide zone which manifest irregular shape. These deposits were formed by hydrothermal solution which was possibly low temperature and contained sulphuric acid originated from $H_2S$ and $SO_2$ gases.