Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea (한국광물학회지)

The Mineralogical Society of Korea (한국광물학회)
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Hydrothermal Alteration Around the TA 26 Seamounts of the Tofua Volcanic Arc in Lau Basin, Tonga

통가국 라우분지 TA 26 해저산의 열수변질작용

  • Cho, Hyen Goo (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Research Institute of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Kim, Young-Ho (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Research Institute of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University) ;
  • Um, In Kwon (Petroleum and Marine Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources) ;
  • Choi, Hunsoo (Petroleum and Marine Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources)
  • 조현구 (경상대학교 지구환경과학과 및 기초과학연구소) ;
  • 김영호 (경상대학교 지구환경과학과 및 기초과학연구소) ;
  • 엄인권 (한국지질자원연구원 석유해저연구본부) ;
  • 최헌수 (한국지질자원연구원 석유해저연구본부)
  • Received : 2012.11.29
  • Accepted : 2012.12.13
  • Published : 2012.12.31
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Abstract

We have researched the distribution and characteristics of seafloor hydrothermal deposits for the development of economic mineral deposits in the Lau Basin, Tonga since 2009. In this study, we interpreted hydrothermal alteration around TA 26 seamounts of the Tofua volcanic arc using X-ray diffraction analysis for bulk sample and preferred-oriented specimen of clay fraction. We used 2 core samples and several surface samples. Plagioclase and quartz are dominant mineral in the basement rock, whereas kaolin mineral and smectite are superior in marine surface sediments. Especially sulfate and sulfide minerals such as gypsum, barite, sphalerite, and pyrite are predominant in the vent sediments. When we compare the mineral composition between basement rock and sea surface sediments, argillic alteration zone composed of kaolin mineral and smectite could be produced by hydrothermal fluids. Based on the downcore variation of mineral assemblages, most portion of MC08H-06 core could be interpreted as argillic alteration zone composed of kaolin mineral and smectite except top 2 cm area. Various sulfate or sulfide minerals and argillic alteration zone suggest a high probability of massive sulfide deposits in the seafloor of the TA 26 seamount.

통가국 라우분지(Lau Basin)의 해저열수광상 개발을 위한 해저열수광상 분포 및 산상에 관한 특성을 규명하기 위하여 X선 회절분석을 통하여 해저열수광상 해저퇴적물 및 열수변질대의 광물조성을 연구하였다. 연구에 사용된 시료는 TA 26 해저산 주변에서 채취된 코어 시료, 기반암 및 해저퇴적물 시료이고, 벌크 시료와 점토 부분을 분리한 정방위 시료를 제작하여 X선 회절분석을 실시하였다. TA 26 해저산에서 채취된 기반암은 대부분 사장석과 석영으로 이루어져 있는 데 반하여, 표층퇴적물은 대부분 카올린광물과 스멕타이트로 구성되어 있다. 열수구 퇴적물은 대부분 석고, 중정석, 섬아연석, 황철석 등 황산염광물과 황화광물로 구성된다. 기반암과 해저퇴적물의 광물조성으로 미루어 보아, TA 26 해저산의 열수광화대는 주변에 스멕타이트 또는 카올린광물을 형성시키는 정도의 이질변질작용을 일으켰음을 알 수 있다. MC08H-06 시추 코어 시료는 상부는 비변질대, 하부는 스멕타이트와 카올린광물로 구성된 이질변질대에 해당한다. 다양한 황화광물과 황산염 광물의 존재, 이질변질작용에 해당하는 열수변질대의 존재는 TA 26 해저산 내에 해저열수광상이 존재하고 있음을 지시하는 것으로 판단된다.

Keywords

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