• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.6 s.181
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• pp.663-674
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• 2006

It is very important that analysis of textures in rock, the moving of hydrothermal solution along the structures, epithermal vein textures, mineralization and composition minerals to confirm the hydrothermal ore deposits and ore genesis. The purpose of this study is to confirm the gold mineralization and ore genesis through the moving of hydrothermal solution along the structure lines and epithermal vein textures by using Color-corescanner techniques. The three drilling hole cores of Sunshin Gold Mine in Haenam area in Jeonnam Province were into a digital image data. Digital image data of gold bearing epithermal vein textures were analyzed detaily by Color-corescanner. There are several epithermal vein textures, namely Comb texture, Cavity texture, Bladed texture, Zonal texture, Brecciated texture and Combined texture. Gold mineralization is dominated in vein type textures, but high grade gold are enbedded in brecciated texture. Ore genesis is epithermal gold deposit. This Color-corescanner techniques can cover the missing part of the examine with the naked eye, and can examine closely the situation of ore deposit development and genesis by detail checking the textures in rock, mineralization and so on.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2019

The Wugang banded iron formation (BIF) is located within the Taihua complex at the southern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). In this study, we analyzed major elements and rare-earth elements in iron ores from the Wugang BIF, to study the type of BIFs and their formation mechanism in combination with previously-published data from the literature. We found that the iron ores from the Wugang BIF display two types of banding textures, which can be described as weak banding or no banding. The samples are composed of coarse-grained magnetite, quartz, pyroxene, and amphibole. Based on our geochemical results, mixing of a hydrothermal fluid with sea water led to the precipitation of the Wugang BIF, and there is evidence of crustal contamination. These results, combined with previous literature data, almost all of the iron ores lack Ce anomalies, though some samples show negative Ce anomalies. Our results indicate that the Wugang BIF was formed in a dominantly reducing environment, although the surfaces were relatively oxidized. Geochemical evidence suggests that the Wugang BIF iron ores were formed in a near-shore continental-shelf environment or in a back-arc basin. The BIF is known as interbedded with migmatite, amphibole gneiss, minor quartz and marble, which indicating lack of volcanic materials input. This study, combined with previous results on geochemical interpretation of related wall rock of Wugang BIF, demonstrated that Wugang BIF belongs to Superior-type BIF.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.91-107
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• 1995

충남 예산-공주-청양지역의 대흥, 평안, 신양(청당)광산에서 산출되는 녹니석에 관하여 화학적 및 성인적 연구를 하였다. 이들 광상은 초염기성암기원의 사문암이 열수변질작용을 받아 생성되었다. 활석 광석의 주 구성 광물은 활석, 녹니석, 금운모, 각섬석류, 사문석, 탄산염광물 등이고 이밖에 감람석, 휘석류, 크롬철석, 스멕타이트, 녹니석/스멕타이트의 혼합층상광물들과 같은 팽윤성 광물들이 소량 산출된다. 이 중 감람석과 크롬철석은 광상의 초염기성암 기원을 지시하는 중요한 광물이다.녹니석은 활석 광석의 불순 광물 중 가장 많은 양을 차지하는 광물이다. 이들 녹니석은 성인적으로 활석과 밀접하게 연관된 녹니석과 그렇지 않은 녹니석의 두 가지 뚜렷한 타입으로 나뉘어지며 이들은 화학적으로 명확한 차이를 보인다. 전자의 녹니석은 Mg/(Mg+Fe)비가 높으며 매우 일정한 범위의 Mg/(Mg+Fe)qkl (0.784∼0.951/산소수 14 기준)를 보여주고, 높은 8면체 치환양 (0.892 (-0.200∼0.692)/산소수 14, 이상적인 클리노클로어/차모사이트 성분 기준)과 넓은 범위의 Al 함량 변화 (2.975 (1.085∼3.160)/산소수 14 기준), 높은 Cr, Ni 함량을 갖는다. 이들은 매우 제한되고 높은 Mg/(Mg+Fe)비를 갖는 환경에서 생성되었으며 따라서,활석과 밀접하게 연관된 녹니석은 생성시, 주변암에 둘러싸여 있는, 초염기성암 기원의 사문암에 의해 주로영향을 받았다. 후자의 녹니석은 전자의 녹니석에 비하여 Fe 함량이 더 놓으며 광범한 범위의 Mg/(Mg+Fe)비 (0.378∼0.852/산소수 14 기준)를 보여주고, 더 적은 범위의 8면체 치환양 (0.560 (-0.035∼0.525)/산소수 14, 이상적인 클리오클로어/차모사이트 성분 기준)과, 전반적으로는 더 높은 값을 가지면서 더 좁은 범위의 Al 함량 변화 (1.491 (1.468∼2.959)/산소수 14 기준)를 보여주며, 낮은 Cr, Ni 함량을 갖는다. 이들은 낮은 Mg/(Mg+Fe)비를 갖고 전자에 비해 Al이 풍부한 환경에서 생성되었으며, 따라서 활석과 연관되지 않은 녹니석은 생성시 광체와 인접한 화강아질 편마암에 의해 주로영향을 받았을 것으로 생각된다. 녹니석의 이러한 2가지 화학조성상의 경향은 녹니석과 공존하는 운모류나 각섬석류들의 화학분석결과와도 잘 일치한다. 이러한 결과는 이 지역의 활석 광상이 초염기성암 기원의 사문암이 열수변질작용을 받아 생성되었음을 명확하게 지시하며, 따라서 활석 광석내에 존재하는 녹니석은 활석의 근원 광물로서 녹니석편암 및 녹니석 편마암 매의 녹니석이 활석화되고 남은 잔존광물이 아니라, 주변암에 의해 성분상의 영향을 받은 열수와 사문암과의 변질교대작용에 의한 활석화과정 중에 주로 생성된 것으로 추정된다. 이러한 결과는 연구지역의 활석광상이 초염기성암의 사문암화 작용과 활석화 작용의 두 가지 변질작용에 의해 형성되어졌음을 알려준다.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.613-621
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• 1995

It is understood that many big tungsten deposits such as the Sangdong in Korea, Fugigatami in Japan, Yukon in Canada, Pine Creek in U.S.A and Vostok in Russia were formed at late Cretaceous ages. However, most of tungsten mineralization in China where half the total world tungsten ores is reserved took place in late Jurassic to early Cretaceous ages. While the close association of molybdenum with tungsten mineralization is observed in the deposits related with Cretaceous magma, tungsten deposits in China related with late Jurassic to early Cretaceous show a close association of tin as well as molybdenum mineralization. It is characteristic that tungsten mineralization in China was followed by tin mineralization. The mode of occurrence of tungsten ore deposits in China is various and may represent the origin of tungsten in general, since the larger half of total amount of tungsten ores in the world are reserved in China. In case of Korea, more than 90% of total production of tungsten was occupied by the Sangdong tungsten deposit, which produced molybdenite as a byproduct Even if tin is detected in ppm unit content, no cassiterite is found in the Sangdong tungsten orebody. A similar type of two tungsten deposits is comparatively studied in order to confirm the published data; one is the Moping tungsten deposit in China and the other is the Dehwa tungsten deposit in Korea. Mineral assemblages occurring in quartz veins of both deposits are more or less same except that zinnwaldite and cassiterite occur only in the former deposit Ages of zinnwaldite and muscovite closely with molybdenite in the former deposit are 181.1 Ma and 167.8 Ma respectively, while muscovites associated with molybdenite in the latter deposit show ages of 80.9 Ma and 80.2 Ma. These results may represent deficient supply of tin from the source granitoid from which tungsten was derived in Korean peninsula during Cretaceous period, while tin supplied during tungsten mineralization tended to increase and the active tin mineralization followed the Jurassic tungsten mineralization in China.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.301-314
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• 2009

The Taebaeksan mineralized province, which is the most important one in South Korea, is rich in zinc-lead-tungsten-iron-copper-molybdenum-silver-gold mineral resources and has a diversity of deposit styles. These deposits principally coexist in time and space with porphyry-related epigenetic deposit such as skarn, hydrothermal replacement, mesothermal vein, and Carlin-like deposits. The magmatic-hydrothermal systems in the Taebaek fold belt is genetically characterized by the Bulguksa subvolcanic rocks(ca. $110{\sim}50\;Ma$) related to northwestward subduction of the paleo-Pacific Plate. The most important zinc-lead deposits in the area are the Uljin, Yeonhwa II and Shinyemi skarn, the Janggun hydrothermal replacement, and the Yeonhwa I intermediate-mixed (skarn/hydrothermal replacement) ones. In the present study, we present a compilation of metal production and mineral assemblage of the zinc-lead deposits. The metal difference of deposit styles in the area indicates a cooling path from intermediate-sulfidation to low-sulfidation state in the polymetallic hydrothermal system, reflecting spatial proximity to a magmatic source.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.25-38
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• 2001

Contrasts in the style of the gold-silver mineralization in geologic and tectonic settings in Korea, together with radiometric age data, reflect the genetically different nature of hydrothermal activities, coinciding with the emplacement age and depth of Mesozoic magmatic activities. It represents a clear distinction between the plutonic settings of the Jurassic Daebo orogeny and the subvolcanic environments of the Cretaceous Bulgugsa igneous activities. During the Daebo igneous activities (about 200-130 Ma) coincident with orogenic time, gold mineralization took place between 197 and 127 Ma. The Jurassic deposits commonly show several characteristics: prominent association with pegmatites, low Ag/Au ratios in the ore-concentrating parts, massive vein morphology and a distinctively simple mineralogy including Fe-rich sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, Au-rich eIectrum. pyrrhotite and/or pyrite. During the Bulgugsa igneous activities (120-60 Ma), the precious-metal deposits are generally characterized by such features as complex vein morphology, medium to high AgiAu ratios in the ore concentrates, and abundance of ore minerals including base-metal sulfides, Ag sulfides, native silver, Ag sulfosalts and Ag tellurides. Vein morphology, mineralogical, fluid inclusion and stable isotope results indicate the diverse genetic natures of hydrothermal systems. The Jurassic Au-dominant deposits were formed at the relatively high temperature (about 300 to 450$^{\circ}$C) and deep-crustal level (>3.0 kb) from the hydrothermal fluids containing more amounts of magmatic waters (3180; 5-10 %0). It can be explained by the dominant ore-depositing mechanisms as CO2 boiling and sulfidation, suggestive of hypo/mesothermal environments. In contrast, mineralization of the Cretaceous Au-Ag type (108-71 Ma) and Agdominant type (98-71 Ma) occurred at relatively low temperature (about 200 to 350$^{\circ}$C) and shallow-crustal level «1.0 kb) from the ore-fonning fluids containing more amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters (15180; -10-5%0). These characteristics of the Cretaceous precious-metal deposits can be attributed to the complexities in the ore-precipitating mechanisms (mixing, boiling, cooling), suggestive of epilmesothermal environments. Therefore, the differences of the emplacement depth between the Daebo and the Bulgugsa igneous activities directly influence the unique temporal and spatial association of the deposit type.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.19 no.spc
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• pp.139-149
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• 1986

Compositional variation of sphalerites from various hydrothermal metallic ore deposits in Korea were investigated in mine and local, and regional scale. The sphalerites were partially analyzed for iron, manganese, and cadmium by using an electron probe microanalyzer(EPMA). The contents of iron and cadmium in sphalerites collected from the Weolam deposit of the No.1 Yeonhwa mine are not variable with increase of depth, but manganese content is highly variable. Sphalerites from lead-zinc deposits which are geologically associated with hypabyssal and effusive activity are characterized by high manganese (more than 1.0 MnS mole %) and low cadmium contents (less than 0.5 CdS mole %). Relatively manganese rich sphalerites are found in the deposits where sphalerites are enriched in iron content. Variation of cadmium content is very limited compared with that of manganese content. Sphalerites from most tungsten and some gold-silver deposits are remarkably high in cadmium content, but most of base metal and iron deposits are low in cadmium content. Cadmium content in sphalerites which occur in the metallic ore deposits genetically associated with plutonic activity shows a tendency to high variation. Available amounts of cadmium in sphalerites could be originated from the initial enrichment during the magmatic and postmagmatic processes.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.58-70
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• 1992

From the K-Ar age determinations for the clay deposits and their surrounded rocks in southwest Korea, the ages of the ore formation in all clay deposits fall in very narrow range from 78.1 to 81.4 Ma. K-Ar ages of clay deposits are slightly younger than those of the Cretaceous volcanic rocks (Hwangsan Formation, 81.4 to 86.4 Ma) and are slightly older than those of the Cretaceous granitic rocks (77.1 to 81.5 Ma). These results indicate that clay deposits were formed with genetical relation to late Cretaceous felsic magmatism. Weolgagsan granite, which has been previously considered to be Cretaceous, is proved to be formed its age in Jurassic (140.9 and 144.8 Ma). The close relationships of K-Ar ages between the clay deposits and Cretaceous granitic rocks suggest that the clay deposits were formed during the hydrothermal alterations caused by the thermal effects (hydrothermal circulation) of the granitic intrusions rather than by the hydrothermal activities associated with volcanic activities.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2022

The Gasado Au-Ag deposit is located within the south-western margin of the Hanam-Jindo basin. The geology of the Gasado is composed of the late Cretaceous volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks and acidic or intermediate igneous rocks. Within the deposit area, there are a number of hydrothermal quartz and calcite veins, formed by narrow open space filling along subparallel fractures in the late Cretaceous volcaniclastic sedimentary rock. Vein mineralization at the Gasado is characterized by several textural varieties such as chalcedony, drusy, comb, bladed, crustiform and colloform. The textures have been used as exploring indicators of the epithermal deposit. Mineral paragenesis can be divided into two stages (stage I, ore-bearing quartz veins; stage II, barren carbonate veins) considering major tectonic fracturing event. Stage I, at which the precipitation of Au-Ag bearing minerals occurred, is further divided into three substages (early, middle and late) with paragenetic time based on minor fractures and discernible mineral assemblages: early, marked by deposition of pyrite and pyrrhotite with minor chalcopyrite, sphalerite and electrum; middle, characterized by introduction of electrum and base-metal sulfides with minor argentite; late, marked by argentite and native silver. Au-Ag-bearing mineralization at the Gasado deposit occurred under the condition between initial high temperatures (≥290℃) and later lower temperatures (≤130℃). Changes in stage I vein mineralogy reflect decreasing temperature and fugacity of sulfur (≈10^-10.1 to ≤10^-18.5atm) by evolution of the Gasado hydrothermal system with increasing paragenetic time. The Gasado deposit may represents an epithermal gold-silver deposit which was formed near paleo-surface.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.79-93
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• 1979

Twenty five samples of the scheelite-powellite series from twelve Korean tungsten deposits of various geologic settings were studied mineralogically and geochemically. Variations in the trace-element contents of the scheelite minerals are considered in relation to geologic settings and mineralogic properties. Scheelites from ore deposits developed in similar geologic settings and under similar physicochemical conditions are characterized by specific combinations of trace elements.