• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.115-127
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• 2020

The Unsang gold deposit has been one of the three largest deposits (Daeyudong and Kwangyang) in Korea. The deposit consists of Au-bearing quartz veins filling fractures along fault zones in Precambrian metasedimentary rock and Jurassic Porphyritic granite, which suggests that it might be an orogenic-type. Based on its mineral assemblages and quartz textures, quartz veins are classified into 1)galena-quartz, 2)pyrrhotite-quartz, 3)pyrite-quartz, 4)pegmatic quartz, 5)muscovite-quartz, and 6)simple quartz vein types. The pyrite-quartz vein type we studied shows the following alteration features: sericitization, chloritization, and silicification. The quartz vein contains minerals including white quartz, white mica, chlorite, pyrite, rutile, calcite, monazite, zircon, and apatite. Rutile with euhedral or medium aggregate occur at mafic part from laminated quartz vein. Two types of rutile are distinguishable in BSE image, light rutile is texturally later than dark rutile. Chemical composition of rutile has 89.69~98.71 wt.% (TiO₂), 0.25~7.04 wt.% (WO₃), 0.30~2.56 wt.% (FeO), 0.00~1.71 wt.% (Nb₂O₅), 0.17~0.35 wt.% (HfO₂), 0.00~0.30 wt.% (V₂O₃), 0.00~0.35 wt.% (Cr₂O₃) and 0.04~0.25 wt.% (Al₂O₃), and light rutile are higher WO₃, Nb₂O₅ and FeO compared to the dark rutile. It indicates that dark rutile and light rutile were formed at different stage. The substitution mechanisms of dark rutile and light rutile are suggested as followed : dark rutile [(V³⁺, Cr³⁺) + (Nb⁵⁺, Sb⁵⁺) ↔ 2Ti⁴⁺, 4Cr³⁺ (or 2W⁶⁺) ↔ 3Ti⁴⁺ (W⁶⁺ ↔ 2Cr³⁺), V⁴⁺ ↔ Ti⁴⁺], light rutile [2Fe³⁺ + W⁶⁺ ↔ 3Ti⁴⁺, 3Fe²⁺ + W⁶⁺ ↔ Ti⁴⁺ + (V³⁺, Al³⁺, Cr³⁺) +Nb⁵⁺], respectively. While the dark rutile was formed by cations including V³⁺, V⁴⁺, Cr³⁺, Nb⁵⁺, Sb⁵⁺ and W⁶⁺ by regional metamorphism of hostrock, the postdating light rutile was formed by redistribution of cations from predating dark rutile and addition of Fe²⁺ and W⁶⁺ from Au-bearing hydrothermal fluid during ductile shear.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.115-139
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• 1984

The Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag hydrothermal vein-type deposits which comprise the Sambong mine occur within calc-alkaline volcanics of the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin. The ore mineralization took place through three distinct stages of quartz (I and II stages) and calcite veins (III stage) which fill the pre-existing fault breccia zones. These stages were separated in time by tectonic fracturing and brecciation events. The reflection variations of one mineral depending on mineralization sequence are considered to be resulted from variation in its chemical composition due to different physico-chemical conditions in the hydrothermal system. The reflection power of sphalerite increases with the content of Fe substituted for Zn. Reflectances of the sphalerite grain are lower on (111) than on (100) surface. The spectral profiles depend on the internal reflection color. Sphalerite, showing green, yellow and reddish brown internal reflection, have the highest reflection power at $544m{\mu}$ (green), $593m{\mu}$ (yellow) and $615m{\mu}$ (red) wavelength, respectively. Chalcopyrite is recognized as biaxial negative from the reflectivity data of randomly oriented grains measured at the most sensitivity at $544m{\mu}$. The microindentation hardness against the Fe content (wt. %) for the sphalerite increases to 8.05% Fe and then decreases toward 9.5% Fe content. Vickers hardness of the sphalerite is considerably higher on surface of (100) than on (111). The relationship between Vickers hardness and crystal orientation of the galena was determined to be $VHN_{(111)}$ > $VHN_{(210)}$ > $VHN_{(100)}$. The softer sulfides have the wider variation of the diagonal length in the indentation. Diagonal length in the indentation is pyrite

• 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.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.181-191
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• 2014

Olon Ovoot gold mine, Mongolia, is located in the Omnogobi province which is south 500 km from Ulaanbaatar. The mine area consists of the Devonian Bot-Uul khudag formation, the Upper Devonian intrusions, and the Upper Devonian or the Early Jurassic quartz veins. The quartz veins contain from 1 to 32 g/t gold with an average of 5 g/t gold. The quartz veins vary from 0.2 m to 25 m and are concordant or discordant with foliation of the green-schist. The mineralogy of the quartz veins is simple and consists of mainly of white massive quartz with partly transparent quartz in cavity. Quartz, sericite, chlorite, pyrite and carbonates(ankerite, dolomite and siderite) were observed in the alteration zone. Carbonate minerals occur as disseminated, coarse or fine grains with quartz, sericite, chlorite and pyrite near vein margin or within wall-rock xenoliths in quartz vein. Ankerite is present as later dark grey ankerite(13.51 to 16.89 wt.% FeO) and early white grey ankerite(16.67 to 19.90 wt.% FeO). The FeO contents of early ankerite are higher than those of later ankerite. Dolomite contains from 3.89 to 10.44 wt.% FeO and from 0.10 to 0.47 wt.% MnO. Dolomite is present as dark grey dolomite(4.06 to 6.87 wt.% FeO), light white grey dolomite(6.74 to 7.58 wt.% FeO) and grey white dolomite(7.33 to 10.44 wt.% FeO). The FeO contents of white grey dolomite are higher than those of dark grey dolomite. Siderite contains from 34.25 to 48.66 wt.% FeO, from 6.79 to 14.38 wt.% MgO, from 0.06 to 0.26 wt.% MnO and from 2.08 to 8.08 wt.% CaO.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.189-195
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• 2007

Pirquitas mine was Bolivian type deposits, which Tertiary quartz andesites caused various epithermal quartz veins and deposited minerals of Sn and Ag in it. Main mineral was cassiterite and necessaries were pyrite, arsenopyrite, pynhotite, Probable ore reserve and daily production are 200 million tons and 5 thousand tons, respectively, and both of exploration and pit development are being carried simultaneously, but in near future open pit works can be done. This mine is owned by the Canadian company of "Silver Standard Resources" and it is located on $S22^{\circ}30'25.0",\;66^{\circ}15'22.5"$, 4086m S.L. In view of infrastructure, geological environment and scale of ore reserves it is high potential area for domestic mining companies to participate share ownership.

• 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.28 no.6
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• pp.571-577
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• 1995

Several acid-sulfate clay deposits associated with silicic magmas occur in the Haenam area of the southwestern part of Korea. Geology of the studied area consists of tuffs, granitic rocks, quartz porphyry, rhyolite, andesite and sedimentary rocks. The granitic rocks and quartz porphyry intruded tuffs and sedimentary rocks. The rhyolite and tuffs around the mines have undergone hydrothermally weak or strong alteration. Gold contents with major and trace elements have been determined for a total of sixty-seven specimens of fresh igneous rocks, wall rocks and minerals such as dickite and alunite by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer and inductively coupled plasma. Gold is enriched in the alunite vein and the silicified zone, but is depleted in dickites and hydrothermally altered rocks with dickite of the Seongsan deposit. Gold is especially concentrated near the faults or conjunction area of two faults. High content of gold is shown in the mineral assemblages of alunitequartz- pyrite in the alunite vein and silicic zone of the Seongsan deposit compared with that of minerals and rocks from another deposits distributed in the studied area. Gold content in tuffs and dickites with pyrite is generally low. Gold content in silicified tuff tends to show positive correlations with content of As, Hg and Sb. Variation trends of Cd, Hg and Sb are similar to those of gold content. From the result of gold content variations, gold may be transported and concentrated by mineralizing solutions ascending along the cracks like fault. Therefore, it is important to survey alunite vein and silicified zone at the conjunction of faults, and to analyze pathfinder elements such as As, Hg and Sb for geological and geochemical exploration of gold in the studied deposits.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.6 s.181
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• pp.653-662
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• 2006

Quartz veins from the Jukwangri area of Hwawon-myeon are epithermal quartz veins that are filling the NW or NE-trending faults within Precambrian metasedimentary rocks. Based on their prolongation and ore grades, No. 1 quartz vein can be traced for about 200 m and varies 0.1 to 3 m in thickness. Mineralization of No. 1 quartz vein can be divided into hypogene and supergene stages. Hypogene stage is associated with hydrothermal alteration minerals(phyllic and argillic zones) such as illite, sericite and sulfides such as pyrite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite. chalcopyrite, galena, argentian tetrahedrite. Supergene stage is composed of Fe-Mn oxide, Zn-Fe oxide and Pb oxide. Fluid inclusion data indicate that homogenization temperature and salinity of hypogene stage range from 187 to $306^{\circ}C$ and ken 0.0 to 6.2 wt.% eq. NaCl, respectively. They suggest that ore forming fluids were progressively cooled and diluted from mixing with meteoric water. Oxygen($-4.1{\sim}4.1%o$) and hydrogen($-107{\sim}-88%o$) isotope com-positions indicated that hydrothermal fluids were derived from meteoric and evolved by progressive mixing with meteoric water during mineralization.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2008

The Cretaceous Gajok gold-silver deposit within porphyry granite is located nearby the Cretaceous Pungam basin at the northeastern area in Republic of Korea. The Gajok gold-silver deposit is distinctively composed of a multiple-complex hydrothermal veins with comb, crustiform chalcedony quartz and vug textures, implying it was formed relatively shallower depth. The hypogene open-space filling veins could be divided into 5 paragenetic sequences, increasing tendency of Ag-rich electrum and Ag-phases with increasing paragenetic time. Electrum with high gold contents (${\sim}50$ atomic % Au) as well as sphalerite with high FeS contents (${\sim}6$ mole % FeS) are representative ore minerals in the middle stage. The late stage is characterized by silver-phase such like native silver and/or argentite, coexisting with Ag-rich electrum ($10{\sim}30$ atomic % Au) and Fe-poor sphalerite (< 1 mole % FeS). The ore-forming fluids evolution started at relatively high temperature and salinity (${\sim}360^{\circ}C$, ${\sim}7\;wt.%$ eq. NaCl) and were evolved by dilution and mixing mechanisms on the basis of fluid inclusion study. The gold-silver mineralization proceeded from ore-forming fluids containing greater amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters(${\delta}^{18}O$; $-0.6{\sim}-6.7\;%o$). These results imply that gold-silver mineralization of the Cretaceous Gaiok deposit formed at shallow-crustal level and could be categorized into low-sulfidation epithermal type, related to Cretaceous igneous activity.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.141-153
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• 2016

The Manjang deposit is emplaced in Hwajeonri formation comprising limestone that is interbeded with slate and phyllite in the central Okcheon Group. It consists of the Main and the Central orebody of Cu-bearing hydrothermal vein deposit and the Western orebody of iron skarn deposit. Based on coexisting mineral assemblage the skarnization can be divided into prograde skarnization (stage I : clinopyroxene ${\pm}$ magnetite ${\pm}$ quartz, stage II : garnet + clinopyroxene ${\pm}$ magnetite ${\pm}$ quartz) and retrograde hydrothermal alteration (stage III: magnetite + amphibole + quartz ${\pm}$ garnet ${\pm}$ clinopyroxene ${\pm}$ chlorite ${\pm}$ epidote ${\pm}$ fluorite ${\pm}$ calcite, stage IV: fluorite ${\pm}$ pyrrhotite ${\pm}$ chalcopyrite ${\pm}$ amphibole ${\pm}$ quartz ${\pm}$ calcite). Diopside is abundant in stage I, and hedenbergite was produced in stage II and III. Garnet compositions change from grandite to andradite, which suggests a redox transition from relatively reduced to oxidized condition during the skarn formation. Magnetite in stage I and II has relatively constant Fe contents, while in the stage III it has increased Si and Ca concentrations. This variation could indicate that magnetite was more strongly affected by host rocks during the retrograde stage. Sulfur isotope compositions of pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite produced in stage IV are within the range of + 5.9~6.9 ‰, corresponding to igneous origin, but slightly high sulfur isotope values could be attributed to an interaction with host rocks, limestone.