• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.105-117
• /
• 1996

The Baegjeon Au-Ag and Sb deposits, small of disseminated-type gold deposits are formed as a result of epithermal processes associated a shallow-seated Cretaceous Yeogdun granitoids intrusion. The orebodies are formed by the replacement of carbonate minerals in thin-bedded oolitic limestone beds favorable for mineralization within the upper-most Cambrian Pungchon Limestone Formation. The mineralization can be recognized one stage, ore minerals composed of base metal sulfides, electrum, AgSb-S, Ag-Cu-S, and Sb-S minerals. Gold-bearing minerals consist of electrum and submicroscopic invisible gold in pyrite and arsenopyrite. The composition of electrums ranges from 33.58 to 63.48 atomic % Ag. Fluid inclusion studies reveal that ore fluids were low saline $NaCl-CO_2-H_2O$ system. Temporary fluid mixing and boiling occured in later stage. Fluid inclusion data indicates the homogenization temperatures and salinities of NaCl eqivalent wt% were 176 to $246^{\circ}C$ and from 0.0 to 4.8 wt%, respectively. And $-logfs_2$, of mineralization obtained by thermodynamic considerations as 12.4 to 13.8 atm. The ${\delta}^{34}S_{H_2S}$, values of hydrothermal sulfides were calculated to be 6.8 to 10.2‰ which was of sedimentary origin. The ${\delta}^{18}O_{H_2O}$ and ${\delta}^{13}C_{CO_2}$, range from -3.9 to 9.6‰, from -1.1 to -2.2‰, and ${\delta}D$ range from -89 to -118‰, respectively. The Au deposition during mineralization seems to have occurred as a result of decrease of temperature, $fs_2$, $fo_2$, and pH probably due to oxidation by meteoric water mixing, which destabilized original $Au(HS)^-{_2}$. The mineralization of the Baegjeon deposits is similar to the Carlin-type deposits characterized by sediments-hosted epithermal bedding replacement disseminated gold deposits.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.167-184
• /
• 1980

The granitic plutons associated with Ogcheon geosynclinal zone can be grouped into three different subzones; SE-Subzone for the migmatitic and schistose granites of the southeast margin, 101-181m.y. old; NW-Subzone for those of the northwest margin, 112-163m. y. old; and C-Subzone for those of central part of the zone, 63-183m.y. old. The intrusives in C-Subzone are further subdivided into the older, adamellite to granodiorite (148-183m.y. old) and the younger, perthitic granites (63-106m,y. old). The metallogenic distribution of South Korea suggests that, in the Ogcheon Zone, it is possible to delineate an elongated polymetallogenic province in the general orientation of the zone intimately related with the migmatite and plutonic zones mentioned. Moreover, the mineralization in the province was basically controlled by the patterns of local geology involving country rocks and related igneous bodies, that permit subdivision of the province into the following three parts: Northeast (NE) Province consists dominantly of thick Paleozoic calcareous sediments; Middle (M) Province is characterized by predominant argillaceous and partly calcareous sediments of Precambrian to Late Paleozoic age; and Southwest (SW) Province consisting mainly of volcanic and arenaceous sediments of Mesozoic age. The three different plutonic zones with three different country rock provinces above mentioned make a combination which consists of nine classes. Each class can be assumed to be characterized by specific mineralization type. In order to classify the mineralization types, the present study sampled twenty six ore deposits and mineralized areas in Ogcheon zone as shown figure 2; eight ore deposits from plutonic SE-Subzone, ten from the plutonic NE-Subzone and eight from the plutonic C-Subzone. The characteristics of the classes are as follows: NE-SE is predominant in Au-Ag vein and Sn-migmatite of katazonal occurrence; NE-C is most productive in Pb-Zn and remarkable in Fe contact deposit in mesozone and partly Pb-Zn-Cu skarn in limestone and subordinate in mesozone and partly Pb-Zn pipes; M-SE is considerable in Au-Ag vein and rare elements (Nb, Ta, etc.) of pegmatite; M-C is predominant in F-veins in epizone and Mo-W, Fe, Cu veins occur in replacement type; M-NW is productive in Fe metamorphic and skarn types, partly remarkable in Cu, Pb-Zn contact; SW-SE is barren in mineralization related to Jurassic igneous rocks; SW-C is predominant in alunite and pyrophyllite in tuffs; and SW-NW is scarece in Pb-Zn, Cu, As and Au-Ag veins.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.517-535
• /
• 2007

Two distinctive Mesozoic hydrothermal systems occurred in South Korea: the Jurassic/Early Cretaceous(ca. $200{\sim}130$ Ma) deep-level ones during the Daebo orogeny and the Late Cretaceous/Tertiary(ca. $110{\sim}45$ Ma) shallow hydrothermal ones during the Bulgugsa event. The Mesozoic hydrothermal system and the metallic mineralization in the Korean Peninsula document a close spatial and temporal relationship with syn- to post-tectonic magmatism. The calculated ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ values of the ore-forming fluids from the Mesozoic metallic mineral deposits show limited range for the Jurassic ones but variable range for the Late Cretaceous ones. The orogenic mineral deposits were formed at relatively high temperatures and deep-crustal levels. The mineralizing fluids that were responsible for the formation of theses deposits are characterized by the reasonably homogeneous and similar ranges of ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ values. This implies that the ore-forming fluids were principally derived from spatially associated Jurassic granitoids and related pegmatite. On the contrary, the Late Cretaceous ferroalloy, base-metal and precious-metal deposits in the Taebaeksan, Okcheon and Gyeongsang basins occurred as vein, replacement, breccia-pipe, porphyry-style and skarn deposits. Diverse mineralization styles represent a spatial and temporal distinction between the proximal environment of subvolcanic activity and the distal to transitional condition derived from volcanic environments. The Cu(-Au) or Fe-Mo-W deposits are proximal to a magmatic source, whereas the polymetallic or the precious-metal deposits are more distal to transitional. On the basis of the overall ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ values of various ore deposits in these areas, it can be briefed that the ore fluids show very extensive oxygen isotope exchange with country rocks, though the ${\delta}D_{H2O}$ values are relatively homogeneous and similarly restricted.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.151-165
• /
• 1991

The Au-Ag deposits of the Euiseong area occurred in quartz veins which filled fissures in Cretaceous sedimentary and volcanic rocks. These ore veins can be classified in two types of deposits based on metallic mineral assemblages as follow: a pyrite type gold-silver deposit (Hoedong mine), characterized by Cu sulfides with Au-Ag alloy, and a Sb-rich silver deposit (Keumdongdo mine), characterized by base metal with Ag-bearing sulfosalts. Mineralogic and fluid inclusion evidences suggest that the ore minerals of these deposits was deposited from initial high temperatures (near $350^{\circ}C$) to later lower temperatures ($200^{\circ}C$) with moderate salinity fluids ranging from 5.8 to 3.8 eq. wt. % NaCl. The gold-silver mineralization of the Hoedong mine occurred at temperatures between 300 and $200^{\circ}C$ from fluids with log $f_{s_2}$ of -10 ~ -16 atm. The antimony - silver mineralization of the Keumdongdo mine were deposited at the higher temperatures (350 to $250^{\circ}C$) and $f_{S_2}$ (-10 ~ -13 atm) than gold mineralization of the Hoedong mine. The calculated log f02 of fluids at $250^{\circ}C$ in two deposits are -32 to -34 atm and -36.5 to -38.5 atm, respectively. Boiling evidences indicate that the ore mineralization of the Hoedong mine occurred at more shallow depth (0.5km) than that (1km) of the Keumdongdo mine. The above differences of depositional environments between two deposits caused the compositional changes of ore minerals such as electrum and sphalerite.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.301-314
• /
• 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
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.73-84
• /
• 2010

Gold and silver deposits within the Eunjeok and Sangeun mines are located in Yeongam district, Cheollanamdo-province. They are composed of vein ore bodies infilling the fractures of Cretaceous rhyolitic tuff. The Eunjeok mine have three gold and silver bearing hydrothermal veins which is infilling the fracture of rhyolitic tuff. Major ore minerals within the Eunjeok and Sangeun mines are arsenopyrite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena and minor ores are electrum, native silver and argentite. Sericitization is dominant in alteration zone and chloritization and dickitization is minor. Quartz veins in the Eunjeok and Sangeun mine have the similar paragenesis and vein textures such like breccia, crustiform, comb and vuggy morphology indicating the formation of typical epithermal environment. In order to carry out the preliminary feasibility study of mine according to the commodity and elucidate the occurrence features of mineral resources from Eunjeok and Sangeun mine, common commodity (Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mo, W, Au and U), and industrial commodity (In, Re, Ga, Ge, Se, Te, Y, Eu and Sm) for 17 ore specimen were analyzed. It is tentatively thought that there is no exploitable mine for iron, lead, zinc, copper, tungsten and uranium based on the preliminary result. If the reserves are secured through the detailed prospecting in case of molybdenum and silver, it is tentatively thought that there will be exploitable deposits depending on international metal price. If we assume the vein width from 0.25 m to 2 m including alteration zone with the gold grade of 80g/t, it is inferred that the resources amount of the Eunjeok-Sangeun mines range from 6.5 to 65ton. However, as the vein structure of the Eunjeok and Sangeun mines is developed together with alteration zone, it should be estimated to include potential alteration zone in order to yield the average grade. It is needed to carry out more exploration in the near future because the reserves can be flexibly estimated according to the change of average grade considering the alteration zone.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.71-77
• /
• 2019

New geochronological data of U-Pb, Re-Os and the lead isotope analysis of the Cu-Mo-Au mineral deposits are reported in the Trapiche and Constancia around Apurimac province, southeastern part of Peru. The measured ages were the first regional pulse of previously reported mineralization age between 28 and 33 Ma. The lead isotopic results indicate two sources of mineralization. The first source is thought to be derived from the upper crust and the second one is thought to be derived from a mixture of the upper crust and the lower crust.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.1-19
• /
• 2004

Metallic deposits in Korea have a variety of genetic types such as hydrothermal veins, skarns, hydrothermal replacement and alaskite deposits and so on. Geological, mineralogical and geochemical features including host rock, wall-rock alteration, ore and gangue mineralogy, mineral texture and secondary mineralogy related to weathering process control the environmental signatures of mining areas. The environmental signatures of metallic deposits closed from early 1970s to late 1990s in Korea show complicate geochemistry and mineralogy due to step weathering of primary and secondary minerals such as oxidation-precipitation-remobilization. The potentiality of low pH and high heavy metal Concentration s from acid mine drainage is great in base-metal deposits associated with polymetallic mineralization, breccia-pipe type and Cretaceous hydrothermal Au veins with the amount of pyrite whereas skam, hydrothermal replacement, hydrothermal Cu and Au-Ag vein deposits are in low contamination possibility. The geoenvironmental models reflecting the various geologic features closely relate to disuibution of sulfides and carbonates and their ratios and finally effect on characteristics of environmental signatures such as heavy metal species and their concentrations in acid mine drainage.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2011

The geology of the Pacitan district which occupies Southern mountain zone in the southwestern margin of East Java, Indonesia, consists of a pile of clastics and pyroclastics grading upwards into a series of sediments of Middle Miocene age which are intruded by a number of quartz porphyries and subvolcanic dacitic to andesitic bodies in after that time. The geochemical exploration in the Pacitan district to find out anomalous areas related with metallic mineral dispersion from the concealed ore deposits had been carried out using traditional exploration techniques of geological mapping, stream sediment, panned concentrate and outcrop sampling. The anomalous zones of each element were detected in the following areas: Gempol for Cu; Jompong for Au; Kasihan for Cu-Pb-Zn. The strongest Cu-Pb-Zn anomalous values are overlapped at the Kasihan area. The geochemical survey of soil was conducted with the geological survey at the Kasihan area. The statistical values were calculated by the statistical analysis method. The patterns for Cu, Pb and Zn are similar to the normal distribution. The anomalous values of copper-lead-zinc and/or copper and zinc are overlapped at five zones surrounding quartz porphyry at the central part of the Kasihan area. The area was interpreted and chosen as an anomalous zone related with stockwork and skam mineralization, extending to approximately NNW-SSE direction.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.289-300
• /
• 2009

The Geodo mine area, had been developed for Fe and Cu ores since 1963 and abandoned in recent decades, is located in the central part of the Taebaeksan mineralized district. This area comprises of the Jangsan, Myobong, Pungchon, Hwajeol, Dongjeom, and Dumugol Formations in ascending stratigraphic order. These Formations were intruded by the Cretaceous Eopyeong granitoids that appears to produce the Geodo skarn. Their compositions are relatively oxidized quartz monzodiorite to granodiorite (magnetite series, $Fe_2O_3/FeO=0.3{\sim}1.1$). Mineralizations related skarn deposit occur in the Myobong, Pungchon, and Hwajeol Formations. The proximal skarn is zoned from andraditic garnet ($Ad_{44-95}Gr_{1-53}$) predominant adjacent to the Eopyeong granitoids to diopsidic pyroxene ($Hd_{10-100}Di_{0-89}$) predominant away from the one. The differential proportion of garnet and pyroxene is generated by water/rock ratio and their source, such as magmatic and meteoric water. This is useful tool for assessment the overall oxidation state of the entire skarn system. Gold occurs in proximal red to brownish garnet skarn, and genetically associated with Bi- and Te-bearing minerals. Skarn deposit developed in the Geodo mine area is considered as oxidized Au skarn category, based on chemical composition of the Eopyeong granitoids, zonation of skarn, and gold occurrences. Garnet-rich skarn zone will be the main target for exploration of gold in the study area. However, it is needed to the detailed survey on vertical zonation of this area as well as lateral zonation. The result of this survey would provide an important basis for the exploration of the skarn Au deposit in the Geodo mine area.