• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.303-314
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• 1989

The electrum-silver-sulfide mineralization of the Geojae island area was deposited in three stages (I, II, and carbonate) of quartz and calcite veins that crosscut Late Cretaceous volcanic rocks and granodiorite(83 m.y.). Stages I and II were terminated by the onset of fractunng and breCCIation events. Fluid inclusion data suggest that the gold-sulfide-bearing stages I and II each evolved from an initial high temperature( near $370^{\circ}C$) to a later low temperature(near $200^{\circ}C$). Each of those stages represented a separate mineralizing system which cooled prior to the onset of the next stage. The relationship between homogenization temperature and salinity in stages I and II suggests a complex history of boiling, cooling and dilution. Evidence of boiling indicates a pressure of < 100 bars, corresponding to a depth of 500 to 1,250m assummg hthostatlc and hydrostatic pressure regimes, respectively. Fluid inclusion and mineralogical evidence suggest that the electrum-silver mineralization was deposited at a temperature of $220-260^{\circ}C$ from ore fluids with salinities between 1.9 and 8.1 equivalent wt.% NaCl. Total sulfur concentration is estimated to be $10^{-3}$ to $10^{-4}$ molal. The estimated $fs_2$ and $fo_2$ range from $10^{-11.8}$ to $10^{-14}$ atm and $10^{-35}$ to $10^{-36}$ atm, respectively. The chemical conditions indicate that the dominant sulfur species in the ore forming fluids was a reduced form($H_2S$). Rapid cooling and dilution of ore-forming fluids by mixing with less-evolved meteoric waters led to gold-silver deposition through the breakdown of the bisulfide complex($Au(HS)_2$) as the activity of $H_2S$ decreased.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.53-69
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• 2000

To reveal the origin of the Chuncheon nephrite deposit, radiogenic isotopes of Sr and Pb, stable isotopes of 0 and H, and rare earth elements concentrations were analyzed. Such geochemical data were integrated to track the stepwise changes during the various ore formation stages. All the samples from the nephrite deposit have significantly low 0 isotopic ratios compared with the marble from which they had been formed, which reflects the very important role of the crustal circulating water with low 6180 and 6D in every stage of ore formation. There were progressive decrease of 6180 and 6D during the genesis of Chuncheon nephrite deposit. Newly formed minerals during the ore formation reveal disequilibrium with existing minerals in the respect of 0 isotope, which suggests that the ore-forming fluid of circulating water origin was involved with significant water-rock ratios in every step of ore formation process. The ore samples have Sr and Pb isotopic ratios similar to the values of Kyeonggi gneiss complex within which the deposit is located, which also suggests the important role of crustal circulating water in the genesis of the deposit. In conclusion, all the geochemical data support that major portion of the ore-forming fluid of Chuncheon nephrite deposit was derived ultimately from the surface water of meteoric origin. The meteoric water supplied Sr and Pb through leaching the rocks surrounding the ore deposits.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.1 s.51
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• pp.35-46
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• 2007

Shinyemi skarn deposits occur as Fe-Mo skarn type and Pb-Zn-Cu hydrothermal replacement type along the contact between Cretaceous Shinyemi granitoids and Cambro-Ordovician mixed limestone and dolostone sequence of the Choseon Supergroup. In the lower part of Western Shinyemi ore body two stages of skarn formation have been observed: the early, stage I (magnesian) skarn with Fe mineralization and the late, stage II(calcic) skarn with Mo mineralization. The stage I skarn spatially is overprinted by stage II skarn. The stage I skarn is predominantly composed of olivine, magnetite and diopside whereas, the stage II skarn is dominated by hedenbergite and garnet. The skarnification process occurred in two stages, both prograde and retrograde for stage I and stage II skarns. In stage I, the prograde skarns, mainly composed of anhydrous silicate minerals, were formed at relatively higher temperatures (about $400\;to\;550^{\circ}C$) under low $CO_{2}$ fugacity ($X_{CO2}<0.1$) conditions. On the other hand, the retrograde skarns that consisted of hydrous minerals were formed at lower temperatures (about $300\;to\;400^{\circ}C$).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 1989

Electrum-galena-sphalerite mineralization of the Yangpyeong-Weonju Au-Ag area was deposited in three stages of quartz and calcite veins which fill fault breccia zones. Fluid inclusion and stable isotope data show that ore mineralization was deposited at temperatures between $260^{\circ}C$ and $180^{\circ}C$ from fluids with salinities between 8.9 and 2.9 equivalent weight percent NaCl. Evidence of boiling indicates pressures of <50 bars, corresponding to depths of 220 to 550 m, respectively, assuming lithostatic and hydrostatic loads. Au-Ag deposition was likely a result of bolling coupled with cooling. Within stages I and II there is an apparent increase in ${\delta}^{34}S$ values of $H_2S$ with paragenetic time ; early -1.4~2.7‰ to later 6.6-9.2‰. The progressively heavier $H_2S$ values can be generated through isotopic re-equilibration in the ore fluid following removal of $H_2S$ by boiling or precipitation of sulfides. Measured and calculated hydrogen and oxygen isotope values of ore-forming fluids suggest meteoric water dominance, approaching unexchanged meteoric water values. Comparison of these values with those of other Korean Au-Ag deposits reveals a relationship between depth and degree of water-rock interaction. All investigated Korean Jurassic and Cretaceous gold-silver-bearing deposits have fluids which are dominantly evolved, meteoric water, but on1y deeper systems (${\geq}1.25km$) are exclusively gold-rich.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.435-443
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• 2017

The Hanae deposit is located within the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin. The Cu-bearing hydrothermal quartz vein formed by narrow open-space filling along fracture in the sedimentary rocks as Jindong Formation. The Hanae Cu-bearing hydrothermal deposit shows a paragenetic sequence of pyrrhotite-pyrite $\rightarrow$ pyrite-chalcopyrite-sphalerite(${\pm}$Bi-bearing tellurides) $\rightarrow$ Ag-bearing telluride mineralization $\rightarrow$ secondary mineralization. Fluid inclusion data indicate that the Hanae Cu-bearing hydrothermal mineralization occurred from dominantly aqueous fluids at temperatures of $400^{\circ}C-200^{\circ}C$. Equilibrium thermodynamic interpretation of the mineral paragenesis and assemblages combined with fluid inclusion data indicate that early main Cu-bearing ore mineralization in the vein starts at about $350^{\circ}C$ which corresponds to sulfur fugacity from about $10^{-9.2}$ to $10^{-8.7}bar$ with oxygen fugacity of about $10^{-32.1}$ to $10^{-29.8}bar$. Late main Cu-bearing ore mineralization in the vein occurs at about $250^{\circ}C$ which corresponds to sulfur fugacity from about $10^{-13.5}$ to $10^{-11.7}bar$ with oxygen fugacity of about $10^{-38.4}$ to $10^{-35.2}bar$. The late Ag-bearing telluride mineralization in the Hanae hydrothermal system occurs at about $200^{\circ}C$ which corresponds to minium Tellirium fugacity value of about $10^{-18}bar$ with sulfur fugacity of about $10^{-14.0}$ to $10^{-10.9}bar$.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.507-522
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• 2001

At the Tongyeong mine, quartz, rhodochrosite (kutnahorite), muscovite, illite, pyrite, galena, chalcopyrite. sphalerite, acanthite, and hessite are the principal vein minerals. They were deposited under epithermal conditions in two stages. Ore mineral assemblages and associated gangue phases in stage can be clearly divided into two general associations: an early cycle (band) that appeared with introduction of most of the sulfides and electrum, and a later cycle in which base metal and carbonate-bearing assemblages (mostly rhodochrosite) became dominant. Tellurides and some electrum occur as small rounded grains within subhedral-to euhedral pyrite or anhedral galena in stageII. Sulfide mineralization is zoned from pyrite to galena and sphalerite. We have used computer modeling to simulate formation of four stages of vein genesis. The reaction of a single fluid with andesite host rock at 28$0^{\circ}C$, isobaric cooling of a single fluid from 26$0^{\circ}C$ to 12$0^{\circ}C$, and boiling and mixing of a fluid with both decreasing pressure and temperature were studied using the CHILLER program. Calculations show that the precipitation of alteration minerals is due to fluid-andesite interaction as temperature drops. Speciation calculations confirm that the hydrothermal fluids with moderately high salinities and pH 5.7 (acid), were capable of transporting significant quantities of base metals. The abundance of gold in fluid depends critically on the ratio of total base metals and iron to sulfide in the aqueous phase because gold is transported as an Au(HS)$_2$- complex, which is sensitive to sulfide activity. Modeling results for Tongyeong mineralization show strong influence of shallow hydrogenic processes such as boiling and fluid mixing. The variable handing in stageII mineralization is best explained by maltiple boilings of hydrothermal fluid followed by lateral mixing of the fluid with overlying diluted, steam-heated ground water. The degree of similarity of calculated mineral assemblages and observed electrum composition and field relationships shows the utility of the numerical simulation method in identifying chemical processes that accompany boiling and mixing in Te-bearing Au-Ag system. This has been applied in models to narrow the search area for epithermal ores.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2002

In order to elucidate the growth mechanism of sulfide chimney formed as a result of seafloor hydrothermal mineralization, we carried out the mineralogical and fluid inclusion studies on the inactive, sulfide- and silica-rich chimney which has been recovered from a hydrothermal field in the Cleft segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. According to previous studies, many active and inactive vents are present in the Cleft segment. The sulfide- and silica-rich chimney is composed of amorphous silica, pyrite, sphalerite and wurtzite with minor amounts of chalcopyrite and marcasite. The interior part of the chimney is highly porous and represents a flow channel. Open spaces within chimneys are typically coated with colloform layers of amorphous silica. The FeS content of Zn-sulfides varies widely from 13.9 to 34.3 mole% with Fe-rich core and Fe-poor rims. This variation possibly reflects the change of physicochemical characteristics of hydrothermal fluids. Chemical and mineralogical compositions of the each growth zone are also varied, possibly due to a thermal gradient. Based on the microthermometric measurements of liquid-rich, two-phase inclusions in amorphous silica that was precipitated in the late stage of mineralization, minimum trapping temperatures are estimated to be about 1140 to 145$^{\circ}$C with the salinities between 3.2 and 4.8 wt.% NaCI equiv. Although the actual fluid temperatures of the vent are not available, this study suggests that the lowtemperature conditions were predominant during the mineralization in the hydrothermal field at Cleft segment. Comparing with the previously reported chimney types, the morphology, colloform texture, bulk chemistry, and a characteristic mineral assemblage (pyrite + marcasite + wurtzite + amorphous silica) of this chimney indicate that the chimney have been formed from a relatively low-temperature (<250$^{\circ}$C) hydrothermal fluid that was changed by sluggish fluid flow and conductive cooling.

• 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.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.307-323
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• 2018

The Inseong Au-Ag and base metal deposit, located in Chungchengbuk-do, Korea, consists of series of quartz veins filling fissures. The deposit occurs in Hwanggangri meta-sediment formation, a lime pebble-bearing phyllite, in the Okcheon Supergroup. Abundant ore minerals in the deposit are pyrite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena. The gangue minerals are quartz, calcite and chlorite. Hydrothermal alteration such as chlorization, silicitication, sericitization and carbonitization can be observed around the quartz veins. 4 vein stages can be distinguished based on its paragenetic sequence, vein structure, alteration features and ore minerals. Microthermometry of the fluid inclusion assemblages occur in the veins are conducted to reconstruct a hydrothermal P-T evolution. Fluid inclusions in clean and barren quartz vein in stage 1 have Th of $270{\sim}342^{\circ}C$ and salinity of 1.7~6.4 (NaCl eqiv.) wt%. Euhedral quartz crystal in stage 2 have Th of $108{\sim}350^{\circ}C$ and salinity of 0.5~7.5 wt%. Barren milky quartz vein in stage 3 have Th of $174{\sim}380^{\circ}C$ and salinity of 0.8~7.5 wt%. Calcite vein in stage 4 have Th of $103{\sim}265^{\circ}C$ and salinity of 0.7~6.4 wt%. Calculated paleodepth about 0.5~1.5 km (hydrostatic pressure) indicate epithermal ore-forming condition. Shallow depth but relatively high-T hydrothermal fluids possibly create a steep geothermal gradient, sufficient for base metal precipitation in the Inseong deposit.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.278-291
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• 2001

Mesothermal gold vein minerals of the Seolhwa mine were deposited in a single stage of massive quartz veins which filled the mainly NE-trending fault shear zones exclusively in the granitoid of the Gyeonggi Massif. The Seolhwa mesothermal gold mineralization is spatially associated with the Jurassic granitoid of 161 Ma. The vein quartz contains three main types of fluid inclusions at 25$^{\circ}$C: 1) low-salinity (< 5 wt.% NaCl), liquid CO$_{2}$-bearing, type IV inclusion; 2) gas-rich (> 70 vol.%), aqueous type II inclusions; 3) aqueous type I inclusions (0${\sim}$15 wt.% NaCl) containing small amounts of CO$_{2}$. The H$_{2}$O-CO$_{2}-CH$_{4}$-N$_{2}$-NaCl inclusions represent immiscible fluids trapped earlier along the solvurs curve at temperatures from 430$^{\circ}$ to 250$^{\circ}$C and pressures of 1 kbars. Detailed fluid inclusion chronologies may suggest a progressive decrease in pressure during the auriferous mineralization. The aqueous inclusion fluids represent either later fluids evelved through extensive fluid unmixing (CO$_{2}-CH$_{4}$ effervescence) from a homogeneous H$_{2}$O-CO$_{2}-CH$_{4}$-N$_{2}$-NaCl fluid due to decreases in temperature and pressure, or the influence of deep circulated meteoric waters possibly related to uplift and unloading of the mineralizing suites. The initial fluids were homogeneous containing H$_{2}$O-CO$_{2}-CH$_{4}$-N$_{2}$-NaCl components and the following properties: the initital temperature of >250$^{\circ}$ to 430$^{\circ}$C, X$_{CO}\;_{2}$ of 0.16 to 0.62, 5 to 14 mole% CH$_{4}$, 0.06 to 0.3 mole% N$_{2}$ and salinities of 0.4 to 4.9 wt.% NaCl. The T-X data for the Seolhwa gold mine may suggest that the Seolhwa auriferous hydrothermal system has been probably originated from adjacent granitic melt which facilitated the CH$_{4}$ formation and resulted in a reduced fluid state evidenced by the predominance of pyrrhotite. The dominance of negative ${\delta}\;^{34}$S values of sulfides (-0.6 to 1.4$%_o$o) are consistent with their deep igneous source.