Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology (광물과 암석)

The Petrological Society of Korea & The Mineralogical Society of Korea (한국암석학회 & 한국광물학회)
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Preliminary Study on the Genesis and Nickel Potential of Ultramafic Rocks in Chungnam Yugu area, South Korea

충남 유구지역 초염기성암의 성인과 니켈 잠재성에 대한 예비연구

  • Ijeung Kim (Critical Minerals Research Center, Mineral Resources Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources) ;
  • Sang-Mo Koh (Critical Minerals Research Center, Mineral Resources Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources) ;
  • Otgon-Erdene Davaasuren (Critical Minerals Research Center, Mineral Resources Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources) ;
  • Gi Moon Ahn (Critical Minerals Research Center, Mineral Resources Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources) ;
  • Chul-Ho Heo (Mineral Resources Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources) ;
  • Bum Han Lee (Critical Minerals Research Center, Mineral Resources Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources)
  • 김이정 (한국지질자원연구원 광물자원연구본부 희소금속광상연구센터) ;
  • 고상모 (한국지질자원연구원 광물자원연구본부 희소금속광상연구센터) ;
  • 오트곤-에르덴 다바슈렌 (한국지질자원연구원 광물자원연구본부 희소금속광상연구센터) ;
  • 안기문 (한국지질자원연구원 광물자원연구본부 희소금속광상연구센터) ;
  • 허철호 (한국지질자원연구원 광물자원연구본부) ;
  • 이범한 (한국지질자원연구원 광물자원연구본부 희소금속광상연구센터)
  • Received : 2023.12.01
  • Accepted : 2023.12.18
  • Published : 2023.12.30
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Abstract

We investigated the nickel potential and genesis of ultramafic rocks in the Yugu area to secure nickel resources in South Korea. The Yugu ultramafic rocks, located in the southwest of the Gyeonggi Massif, are characterized by spinel peridotite and exhibit strong serpentinization along their boundaries. The serpentinization is observed as olivine transformed to antigorite and chrysotile, while pentlandite, the nickel sulfide mineral, altered into millerite and awaruite. Serpentine displays distinct foliation, aligning subparallel to the ultramafic rock boundaries and foliation of Yugu gneiss. This suggests that the uplift of ultramafic rocks resulted in hydrothermal infiltration likely sourced from the Yugu gneiss metamorphism. The Yugu ultramafic rocks are residues after 5~18% partial melting of abyssal peridotite. Enriched light rare earth elements and Eu imply secondary metasomatism. Geochemistry suggests a link between the formation of Yugu ultramafic rock and the Triassic collision of the North and South China continents. The nickel content is around 0.17~0.21%, mainly contained in olivine and serpentine. Hence, in addition to the mineral processing study on the sulfide minerals, focused studies on oxide minerals for enhanced nickel recovery within the Yugu ultramafic rock are strongly suggested.

핵심 광물인 니켈의 국내 확보를 위해 충남 유구지역 초염기성암에 대한 니켈 잠재성 및 성인 연구를 수행하였다. 경기육괴의 남서쪽에 위치한 유구 초염기성암은 첨정석 감람암으로, 경계부를 따라 사문석화가 강하게 진행되어 있다. 사문석화작용으로 감람석은 안티고라이트 및 크리소타일로, 니켈 황화광물인 펜틀란다이트는 밀러라이트 및 어웨루이트로 변질되었다. 사문석은 일부 강한 엽리를보이며, 초염기성암 경계 및 유구편마암 면구조와 주로 평행하게 발달한다. 이는 초염기성암의 융기 과정 동안 편마암의 변성작용으로부터 공급받은 열수가 단층 경계를 따라 침투하여 사문석화된 것으로 해석된다. 유구 초염기성암의 기원은 심해저 페리도타이트이며 약 5~18% 정도의 부분 용융을 겪은 잔여물로 해석된다. 부화된 경희토류원소 및 Eu는 맨틀이 2차적인 교대변성작용을 겪었음을 암시한다. 이러한 지화학 결과는유구 감람암의 형성이 중생대 초기 북중국판과 남중국판의 대륙 충돌과 관련 있음을 시사한다. 유구 초염기성암 내 니켈은 0.17~0.21%로, 상당량이 감람석 및 사문석에 포함된다. 따라서 마그마 기원인 유구 초염기성암의 니켈 회수율을 높이기 위해 황화광물의 선광연구와 더불어 산화광물을 대상으로 하는 침출 연구가 요구된다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 논문은 과학기술정보통신부에서 지원한 한국지질자원연구원 기본사업(GP2023-004)으로 연구가 수행되었습니다. 세심하게 심사해주신 두 분의 심사위원 분들께 감사드립니다.

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