• Title/Summary/Keyword: Fe-W mineralization

Search Result 28, Processing Time 0.02 seconds

Gahnite-Sillimanite-Garnet Mineral Assemblage from the Host Rocks of the Cannington Deposit, North Queensland, Australia: Relationship between Metamorphism and Zn-Mineralization (호주 퀸즈랜드 주 캔닝턴 광상 모암의 아연-첨정석-규선석-석류석에 관한 연구 :변성작용과 아연-광화작용에 대해서)

  • Kim Hyeong Soo
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
    • /
    • v.17 no.4
    • /
    • pp.309-325
    • /
    • 2004
  • The Cannington Ag-Pb-Zn deposit, northwest Queensland, Australia developed around the host rocks composing banded and migmatitic gneisses, sillimanite-garnet schist and amphibolite. Three crystal habits of sillimanite, gahnite (Zn-spinel) and garnet porphyroblasts occurred on the host rocks of the Cannington deposit could be used to delineate metamorphism that closely associated with Zn-mineralization in the deposit. Linkages the metamorphism to Zinc-mineralization is determined in four chemical systems, KFMASH (K$_2$O-FeO-MgO-Al$_2$O$_3$-SiO$_2$-$H_2O$), KFMASHTO (K$_2$O-FeO-MgO-Al$_2$O$_3$-SiO$_2$-$H_2O$-TiO$_2$-Fe$_2$O$_3$), NCKFMASH (Na$_2$O-CaO-K$_2$O-FeO-MgO-AlO$_3$-SiO$_2$-$H_2O$) and MnNCK-FMASH (MnO-Na$_2$O-CaO-K$_2$O-FeO-MgO-AlO$_3$-SiO$_2$-$H_2O$), using THERMOCALC program (version 3.1; Powell and Holland 1988). Partial melting in MnNCKFMASH and NCKFMASH systems occurs at lower temperature than in the KFMASH and KFMASHTO systems. The partial melting temperature decreases with increasing of Na/(Na+Ca+K) of the bulk rock compositions in the MnNCKFMASH system. The host rocks have melted ca 15 vol.% in the MnNCKFMASH system at peak metamorphic conditions (634$\pm$62$^{\circ}C$ and 4.8$\pm$1.3 kbar), but partial melting have not occurred in KFMASHTO system. Based on calculations of sillimanite isograd in different systems and sillimanite modal pro-portion, prismatic and rhombic sillimanite and gahnite porphyroblasts including prismatic sillimanite inclusion probably have resulted from pressure and temperature increasing through partial melting (from 550~$600^{\circ}C$, 2.0~3.0 kbar to 700~75$0^{\circ}C$, 5.0~7.0 kbar), furthermore have experienced N-S then W-E crustal shortening during D$_1$ and D$_2$ deformation. Consequently, Zinc mineralization related to gahnite growth occurred during D$_2$ and was redistributed and upgraded by partial melting and retrograde metamorphism into structural and rheological sites during shearing in D$_3$.

Magnetite and Scheelite-Bearing Skarns in Ulsan Mine, Korea (울산 광산의 철-텅그스텐 스카른화작용)

  • Choi, Seon-Gyu;Imai, Naoya
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
    • /
    • v.26 no.1
    • /
    • pp.41-54
    • /
    • 1993
  • The Ulsan Fe-W deposit, which can be classified as a calcareous skarn deposit, is represented by ore pipe consisting principally of magnetite and lesser amounts of scheelite with minor sulphides, sulphosaits, arsenides, sulpharsenides, etc. At Ulsan mine, metasomatic processes of skarn growth may be divided broadly into two stages based on the paragenetic sequence of calc-silicate minerals and their chemical composition; early and late skarn stages. Early stage has started with the formation of highly calcic assemblages of wollastonite, diopsidic clinopyroxene and nearly pure grossular, which are followed by the formation of clinopyroxenes with salite to ferrosalite composition and grandite garnets with intermediate composition. Based on these calc-silicate assemblages, the temperatures of early skarn formations have been in the ranges of $550^{\circ}$ to $450^{\circ}$. The calc-silicate assemblages formed during the earlier half period of late skarn stage show the enrichment of notable iron and slight manganese, and the depletion of magnesium; clinopyroxenes are hedenbergitic, and grandite garnets are andraditic. The formation temperatures during this skarn stage are inferred to have been in the range of $430^{\circ}$ to $470^{\circ}C$ at low $X_{CO_2}$ by data from fluid inclusions of late andraditic garnets. The later half period of late skarn stage is characterized by the hydrous alteration of pre-existing minerals and the formation of hydrous silicates. The main iron-tungsten mineralization representing prominent deposition of magnetite immediately followed by minor scheelite impregnation has taken place at the middle of early skarn stage, while complex polymetallic mineralization has proceeded during and after the late skarn stage. Various metals and semimetals of Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Ag, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Pb and Bi have been in various states such as native metal, sulphides, arsenides, sulphosaits, sulpharsenides and tellurides.

  • PDF

Mineralogy and Chemical Compositions of Dangdu Pb-Zn Deposit (당두 연-아연 광상의 산출광물과 화학조성)

  • Lim, Onnuri;Yu, Jaehyung;Koh, Sang Mo;Heo, Chul Ho
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
    • /
    • v.46 no.2
    • /
    • pp.123-140
    • /
    • 2013
  • The Dangdu Pb-Zn deposit is located at approximately 10 km south of Jecheon, Korea. Geology of Dangdu deposit area consists of Pre-cambrian metamorphic rocks, Ordovician sedimentary rocks, Jurassic and Cretaceous igneous rocks. The ore deposit is developed along the fracture trending $N20{\sim}40^{\circ}W$ in Ordovician limestone and is considered to be a skarn type ore deposit. The shape of ore bodies developed in the Dangdu ore deposit can be divided into lens-form(two ore bodies of -30 m level adit and one ore body of -63 m level adit) and pocket-form developed in -30 m level adit. Ore minerals observed in the ore deposits are magnetite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, cosalite, marcasite, hessite, native Bi and bismuthinite. Chemical composition of sphalerite ranges FeS 14.14~18.08 mole%, CdS 0.44~0.70 mole%, MnS 0.52~1.13, 1.53~2.09 mole%. Galena contains a small amount of silver with an average of 0.54 wt.%. An average composition of cosalite is Ag 2.43 wt.%, Bi 44.36 wt.%, Pb 35.05 wt.% which results the chemical formula of cosalite as $Pb_{1.7}Bi_{2.1}Ag_{0.2}S_5$. Skarn minerals consist of epidote, garnet, pyroxene, tremolite, quartz and calcite. The zoning pattern of the ore deposit can be subdivided into epidote-clinopyroxene zone, epidote-clinopyroxene-chlorite zone and epidote-garnet-clinopyroxene zone from the central part of the ore body towards the wall rocks. The chemical composition of garnet shows an increasing trend of grossular from epidote-clinopyroxene zone to epidote-garnet-clinopyroxene zone. Clinopyroxene occurs as a solid solution of diopside and hedenbergite, and the ratio of johannsenite increases from epidote-clinopyroxene zone to epidote-clinopyroxene-chlorite and epidote-garnet-clinopyroxene zones. The mineralization of the ore deposit is considered to be one stage event which can be separated into early skarn mineralization stage, middle ore mineralization stage and late low temperature mineralization stage. The temperature estimation from the low temperature mineralization range from $125{\sim}300^{\circ}C$ which is considered to be representing the temperature of late mineralization.

Copper Mineralization Around the Ohto Mountain in the Southeastern Part of Euiseong, Gyeongsangbug-Do, Republic of Korea (경북·의성 동남부 오토산 주변의 동광화작용)

  • Lee, Hyon Koo;Kim, Sang Jung;Yun, Hyesu;Song, Young Su;Kim, In-Soo
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
    • /
    • v.26 no.3
    • /
    • pp.311-325
    • /
    • 1993
  • The Ohto and Tohyun copper mine which are located 4 km southeast of Euiseong, Gyeongsangbukdo, Republic of Korea show various common geologic and mineralogic features. Both copper deposits are of hydrothermal-vein types, and associated with fracture system developed during formation of the Geumseong-san caldera in late Cretaceous age. According to structures and mineral assemblages, the mineralization processes have progressed in four stages: three hypogene mineralization stages and one supergene stage. Three hypogene stages are 1) stage I forming $N5{\sim}20^{\circ}E$ veins in the Ohto mine, 2) stage II building $N5^{\circ}W{\sim}N5^{\circ}E$ veins in the Tohyun mine, and 3) stage ill bringing $N80^{\circ}E$ veins which crosscut veins of the stage II. The vein ores consist mainly of pyrite, arsenopyrite, galena and chalcopyrite, minor or trace amounts of magnetite, hematite, pyrrhotite, stannite, bournonite, boulangerite, stibnite, galenobismutite, native bismuth, marcasite, geothite and malachite. The main gangue minerals are quartz and calcite. Wallrock is altered by sericitization, chloritization, pyritization, carbonitization and argillization. Arsenic and copper contents in arsenopyrite increase from stage I to stage III (from 31.28 to 33043 atom.% As) and (from 0.04 to 0040 atom.% Co). Going from stage I to stage III Fe and Mn contents in sphalerite decreases from 12.56 to 0.44 wt.% and from 0.24 to 0.01 wt.%, respectively. The compositional data of arsenopyrite in the early stage I indicate a temperature of $420{\sim}365^{\circ}C$ and sulfur fugacity of $10^{-6.5}{\sim}10^{-8.3}$ atm. Chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite assemblage suggest that Middle stage I was deposited at below $334^{\circ}C$. The compositional data of arsenopyrite in early stage II suggest a temperature range of $425{\sim}390^{\circ}C$ and sulfur fugacity codition of $10^{-6.4}{\sim}10^{-7.3}$ atm. Based on fluid inclusion the Middle stage II was regarded as to be deposited at $420{\sim}337^{\circ}C$ (Chi et al., 1989). Referring composition of sphalerite and stannite middle-late stage II seem to be deposited around $246^{\circ}C$ and $10^{-16.5}$ atm. sulfur fugacity. The ${\delta}^{34}S$ values of sulfide minerals in the Stage I, II, III range from 4.9 to 7.6%0 and indicate igneous ore fluid origin. Based on differences in mineral assemblages, chemical composition and chemical environments of Ohto and Tohyun mine its mineralization are considered to be formed at diffent mineralization ages and by different ore fluids.

  • PDF

Copper Mineralization in the Haman-Gunbuk Area, Gyeongsangnamdo-Province: Fluid Inclusion and Stable Isotope Study (경상남도 함안-군북지역의 동광화작용: 유체포유물 및 안정동위원소 연구)

  • 허철호;윤성택;최상훈;최선규;소칠섭
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
    • /
    • v.36 no.2
    • /
    • pp.75-87
    • /
    • 2003
  • The Haman-Gunbuk mineralized area is located within the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin along the southeastern part of the Korean peninsula. Major ore minerals, magnetite, scheelite, molybdenite and chalcopyrite, together with base-metal sulfides and minor sulfosalts, occur in fissure-filling tourmaline, quartz and carbonates veins contained within Cretaceous sedimentary and volcanic rocks anu/or granodiorite (118{\pm}$3.0 Ma). The ore and gangue mineral paragenesis can be divided into three distinct stages: Stage 1, tourmaline+quartz+Fe-Cu ore mineralization; Stage II, quartz+sulfides+sulfosalts+carbonates; Stage 111, barren calcite. Earliest fluids are recorded in stage I and early por-tions of stage II veins as hypersaline (35~70 equiv. wt.% NaCl+KCl) and vapor-rich inclusions which homogenize from ~30$0^{\circ}C$ to $\geq$50$0^{\circ}C$. The high-salinity fluids are complex chloride brines with significant concentrations of sodium, potassium, iron, copper, and sulfur, though sulfide minerals are not associated with the early mineral assemblage produced by this fluid. Later solutions circulated through newly formed fractures and reopened veins, and are recorded as lower-salinity(less than ~20 equiv. wt.% NaCl) fluid inclusions which homogenize primarily from ~200 to 40$0^{\circ}C$. The oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions of fluid in the Haman-Gunbuk hydrothermal system represents a progressive shift from magmatic-hydrothermal dominance during early mineralization stage toward meteoric-hydrothermal dominance during late mineralization stage. The earliest hydrothermal fiuids to circu-late within the granodiorite stock localiring the ore body at Haman-Gunbuk could have exsolved from the crystal-lizing magma and unmixed into hypersaline liquid and $H_2O$-NaCl vapor. As these magmatic fluids moved throughfractures, tourmaline and early Fe, W, Mo, Cu ore mineralization occurred without concomitant deposition of othersulfides and sulfosalts. Later solutions of dominantly meteoric origin progressively formed hypogene copper and base-metal sulfides, and sulfosalt mineralization.

A Geochemical Study on Trace Elements in the Granitic Rocks in relation to Mineralization in the Limestone Area of the Taebaegsan Basin (화강암류중 미량원소와 태백산분지내 석회암지역 광화작용과의 지구화학적 관계)

  • Lee, Jae Yeong
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
    • /
    • v.20 no.3
    • /
    • pp.179-196
    • /
    • 1987
  • Various skarn ore deposits of Pb-Zn, Fe-Cu, W-Mo and others are widely distributed in the study area which consists mainly of Cambro Ordovician calcareous rocks. The ore deposits are all in close association with specific types of granitic rocks of mid-late Cretaceous age according to the kinds of ores: Fe-Cu deposit with granodiorite-quartz monzodiorite, Pb-Zn deposit with granite-granodiorite, W-Mo deposit with granite, and Mn deposit with quartz porphyry. The granitic rock of Fe-Cu deposit has lower content in K and higher in Ca than those of Pb-Zn deposits. On the contrary, the granitic rock of W-Mo deposit has much higher content in K and lower in Ca in comparison to those of Pb-Zn deposits. However, the granitic rock of Mn deposit shows similar variation to those of Pb-Zn deposits. Lithophile trace elements of Sr and Rb tend to vary in close relation with major elements of K and Ca, respectively. In good contrast, chalcophile elements of Cu, Pb, Zn, Wand Mo are enriched in the granitic rocks of their ore deposits, and other trace elements of Ni and Co show a trend to vary in relation with Mg, Fe and Cu, which have the same replacement index (0.14) as Ni and Co. Average K/Rb and Ca/Sr ratios of the granitic rocks range nearly within 300~150 and 150~40, respectively, and the distribution pattern of the ratios is different according to the kind of ore deposits: Fe-Cu deposit is plotted toward K-Rb poor region whereas Pb-Zn and W-Mo deposits toward K-Rb rich region. In contrast, Fe-Cu and Fe deposits are plotted toward Ca-Sr rich region whereas Pb-Zn deposit toward Ca-Sr poor region. The variation trend of chemical elements of the mid-late Cretaceous granitic rocks in the study area is similar to that of the Cretaceous granitic rocks in the Gyeongsang Basin. Therefore, this geochemical result may be applicable to determining what kinds of ore deposits a Cretaceous granitic rock is favourable for, and whether it is productive or non-productive for systematic geochemical exploration works.

  • PDF

Geochemical Exploration Technics in the Pungchon Limestone Area (풍촌 석회암지대 탐사에 적용될 새 지화학탐사법 연구)

  • Moon, Kun Joo
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
    • /
    • v.23 no.4
    • /
    • pp.369-381
    • /
    • 1990
  • Most of significant ore deposits in South Korea such as the Sangdong W - Mo, the Yeonhwa Pb-Zn and the Geodo Cu-Fe skarn ore deposits occur at the southern limb of the Hambaeg syncline in the Taebaeg Basin. The mineralization took place in the interbedded limestone of the Myobong Formation and the Pungchon limestone of the Great Limestone Group of the Cambrian age, generally striking E-W and dipping 25-30 degrees north. There are no outcrops of the skarn-type orebody at the northern limb of the syncline. In order to find a clue of a possible hidden orebody localized at the limestones in the northern limb, a lithogeochemical exploration by using carbon isotope and some elements such as Si, Ca, Fe and Al at the Sangdong Mine area has been attempted as for a modelling study. For this study, 45 samples from the Pungchon limestone which do not show any megascopic indication of mineralization have been taken in both the mineralized zone and the unminerallized zone at the Sangdong Mine area. Analytical data show that there are big differences in the contents of CaO and $Al_2O_3$ between the Pungchon limestone of the mineralized zone and that of the unmineralized zone. Carbon isotope data exhibit that ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of the Pungchon limestone in the mineralized zone are highter than those in the unmineralized zone. The difference in the analytical values of CaO, $Al_2O_3$ and the carbon isotope between the mineralized and the unmineralized zones is as follows ; Unminerallized zone Mineralized zone CaO 51.3% 43.5% $Al_2O_3$ 0.6% 2.4% ${\delta}^{13}C$ -0.39 permil -0.56 permil $Fe_2O_3$ 0.9% 1.4% $SiO_2$ 3.0% 2.4% The decrease in the Si content of the Pungchon limestone in the mineralized zone is contrary to the result of the previous study (Moon, 1987). On the basis of identification of the increase in the Al content of the limestone in the mineralized zone, it could be deduced that the decrease in the Si content of the Pungchon limestone might be due to the result of increase in the alteration products mainly occurred along fracture-system such as joint cracks or minor faults and that the phenomena shown by the Si and Al content in the mineralized zone might be derived from the thermal effect of granite extended mineralizing activity to the overlied limestone on the surface. Higher mean values of Fe and Al as well as lower mean values of carbon content and the ${\delta}^{13}C$ than mean values of those in the Pungchon limestone at the northern limb of the Hambaeg Syncline may be applicable in exploration for blind orebodies.

  • PDF

Geologic and Fluid Inclusion Studies of Chongyang Tungsten Ore Deposits, South Korea (청양중석광상(靑陽重石鑛床)의 지질(地質)과 유체포유물(流體包有物)에 의(依)한 온도측정(溫度測定)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Kim, Kyu Han
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
    • /
    • v.10 no.1
    • /
    • pp.1-18
    • /
    • 1977
  • Chongyang tungsten ore deposits, one of the most important tungsten mines in South Korea, me open space filling hydrothermal vein deposits embedded in Precambrian biotite gneiss and, Cretaceous (?) granite porphyry. Some wolframite-bearing quartz veins are closely associated with -quartz porphyries which strike about $N15^{\circ}-25^{\circ}W$ and dip $800^{\circ}SE$ to vertical. Mineralization took place in near vertical vein systems of 5 to 2000 meter long in the biotite gneiss and granite porphyry stock during early Cretaceous and Tertiary (?) period. The hydrothermal mineral paragensis has indicated that there were two major stages: vein and vug stages. The principal vein mineral is wolframite in a gangue of quartz with small amount of fluorite, pyrite, beryl and carbonate minerals. Present in minor amounts are molybdenite, bithmuthinite, native bismuth, arsenopyrite, galena, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite and scheelite. Fluid inclusion study from the minerls at Chongyang mine reveals that vein stage fluids attained a temperature range of $200^{\circ}C-355^{\circ}C$ and vug stage $160^{\circ}C-350^{\circ}C$. The filling temperatures show the higher range of $200^{\circ}-355^{\circ}C$ in quartz and $280^{\circ}C-348^{\circ}C$ in beryls, whereas the lower emperature range of $283^{\circ}C-295^{\circ}C$ in rhodochrosite and $160^{\circ}-253^{\circ}C$ in fluorites. These temperatures are in reasonably good agreement with mineral paragnesis in this ore deposits. Volfamite minerals were analysed for major components. $WO_3$, MnO and FeO by wet chemical method. Chemical analysis indicates that they contain 70.56-71.54% $WO_3$, 8.52-10.01% MnO and 10.00-11.58% FeO. MnO/FeO ratios of wolframites shows the range of 0.78-0.94 which maybe indicates a comparatively high temperature type of hydrothermal deposits.

  • PDF

Element Dispersion and Wallrock Alteration from Samgwang Deposit (삼광광상의 모암변질과 원소분산)

  • Yoo, Bong-Chul;Lee, Gil-Jae;Lee, Jong-Kil;Ji, Eun-Kyung;Lee, Hyun-Koo
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
    • /
    • v.42 no.3
    • /
    • pp.177-193
    • /
    • 2009
  • The Samgwang deposit consists of eight massive mesothermal quartz veins that filled NE and NW-striking fractures along fault zones in Precambrian granitic gneiss of the Gyeonggi massif. The mineralogy and paragenesis of the veins allow two separate discrete mineralization episodes(stage I=quartz and calcite stage, stage II-calcite stage) to be recognized, temporally separated by a major faulting event. The ore minerals are contained within quartz and calcite associated with fracturing and healing of veins that occurred during both mineralization episodes. The hydrothermal alteration of stage I is sericitization, chloritization, carbonitization, pyritization, silicification and argillization. Sericitic zone occurs near and at quartz vein and include mainly sericite, quartz, and minor illite, carbonates and chlorite. Chloritic zone occurs far from quartz vein and is composed of mainly chlorite, quartz and minor sericite, carbonates and epidote. Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratios of sericite and chlorite range 0.45 to 0.50(0.48$\pm$0.02) and 0.74 to 0.81(0.77$\pm$0.03), and belong to muscovite-petzite series and brunsvigite, respectiveIy. Calculated $Al_{IV}$-FE/(FE+Mg) diagrams of sericite and chlorite suggest that this can be a reliable indicator of alteration temperature in Au-Ag deposits. Calculated activities of chlorite end member are $a3(Fe_5Al_2Si_3O_{10}(OH)_6$=0.0275${\sim}$0.0413, $a2(Mg_5Al_2Si_3O_{10}(OH)_6$=1.18E-10${\sim}$7.79E-7, $a1(Mg_6Si_4O_{10}(OH)_6$=4.92E-10${\sim}$9.29E-7. It suggest that chlorite from the Samgwang deposit is iron-rich chlorite formed due to decreasing temperature from high temperature(T>450$^{\circ}C$). Calculated ${\alpha}Na^+$, ${\alpha}K^+$, ${\alpha}Ca^{2+}$, ${\alpha}Mg^{2+}$ and pH values during wallrock alteration are 0.0476($400^{\circ}C$), 0.0863($350^{\circ}C$), 0.0154($400^{\circ}C$), 0.0231($350^{\circ}C$), 2.42E-11($400^{\circ}C$), 7.07E-10($350^{\circ}C$), 1.59E-12($400^{\circ}C$), 1.77E-11($350^{\circ}C$), 5.4${\sim}$6.4($400^{\circ}C$), 5.3${\sim}$5.7($350^{\circ}C$)respectively. Gain elements(enrichment elements) during wallrock alteration are $TiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3(T)$,CaO, MnO, MgO, As, Ag, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, W, V, Br, Cs, Rb, Sc, Bi, Nb, Sb, Se, Sn and Lu. Elements(Ag, As, Zn, Sc, Sb, Rb, S, $CO_2$) represents a potential tools for exploration in mesothermal and epithermal gold-silver deposits.

Compositional Variation of Arsenopyrites in Arsenic and Polymetallic Ores from the Ulsan Mine, Republic of Korea, and their Application to a Geothermometer (울산광산산(蔚山鑛山産) 유비철석(硫砒鐵石)의 조성변화(組成變化) 및 지질온도계(地質溫度計)에 대(對)한 적용(適用))

  • Choi, Seon-Gyu;Chung, Jae-Ill;Imai, Naoya
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
    • /
    • v.19 no.3
    • /
    • pp.199-218
    • /
    • 1986
  • Arsenopyrite in arsenic and polymetallic ores from calcic Fe-W skarn deposit of the Ulsan mine, Republic of Korea, has been investigated by means of electron microprobe analysis and X-ray diffractometry. As a result, it is revealed that the Ulsan arsenopyrite may be classified into the following three species with different generation on the basis of its mode of occurrence, chronological order during polymetallic mineralization and chemical composition; arsenopyrites I, II and III. 1) Arsenopyrite I-(Ni, Co)-bearing species belonging to the oldest generation, which has crystallized together with (Ni, Co)-arsenides and -sulpharsenides in the early stage of polymetallic mineralization. In rare cases, it contains a negligible amount of antimony. It occurs usually as discrete grains with irregular outline, showing rarely subhedral form, and is diffused in skarn zone. The maximum contents of nickel and cobalt are 10.04 Ni and 2.45 Co (in weight percent). Occasionally, it shows compositional zoning with narrow rim of lower (Ni+Co) content. 2) Arsenopyrite II-arsenian species, in which (Ni+Co) content is almost negligible, may occur widely in arsenic ores, and its crystallization has followed that of arsenopyrite I. It usually shows subhedral to euhedral form and is closely associated with $l{\ddot{o}}llingite$, bismuth, bismuthinite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, bismuthian tennantite, etc. It is worthy of note that arsenopyrite II occasionally contains particles consisting of both bismuth and bismuthinite. 3) Arsenopyrite III-(Ni, Co)-free, S-excess and As-deficient species is close to the stoichiometric composition, FeAsS. It occurs in late hydrothermal veins, which cut clearly the Fe-W ore pipe and the surrounding skarn zone. It shows euhedral to subhedral form, being extremely coarse-grained, and is closely associated with pyrite, "primary" monoclinic pyrrhotite, galena, sphalerite, etc. Among three species of the Ulsan arsenopyrite, arsenopyrite I does not serve as a geothermometer, because (Ni+Co) content always exceeds 1 weight percent. In spite of the absence of Fe-S minerals as sulphur-buffer assemblage, the presence of $Bi(l)-Bi_2S_3$ sulphur-buffer enables arsenopyrite II to apply successfully to the estimation of either temperature and sulphur fugacity, the results are, $T=460{\sim}470^{\circ}C$, and log $f(S_2)=-7.4{\sim}7.0$. With reference to arsenopyrite III, only arsenopyrite coexisting with pyrite and "primary" monoclinic pyrrhotite may serve to restrict the range of both temperature and sulphur fugacity, $T=320{\sim}440^{\circ}C$, log $f(S_2)=-9.0{\sim}7.0$. These temperature data are consistent with those obtained by fluid inclusion geothermometry on late grandite garnet somewhat earlier than arsenopyrite II. At the beginning of this paper, the geological environments of the ore formation at Ulsan are considered from regional and local geologic settings, and physicochemical conditions are suspected, in particular the formation pressure (lithostatic pressure) is assumed to be 0.5kb (50MPa). The present study on arsenopyrite geothermometry, however, does not bring about any contradictions against the above premises. Thus, the following genetical view on the Ulsan ore deposit previously advocated by two of the present authors (Choi and Imai) becomes more evident; the ore deposit was formed at shallow depth and relatively high-temperature with steep geothermal gradient-xenothermal conditions.

  • PDF