• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.579-585
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• 1995

The Samkwang mine is Cretaceous gold-silver-bearing deposits located in the western part of the Ogcheon belt The ore deposits have been emplaced within granite gneiss of the Precambrian age. The Au-Ag deposits are hydrothermal-vein type, characterized by arsenic-, gold- and silver-bearing sulphides, in addition to the principal ore-forming sulphides arsenopyrite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrite and pyrrhotite. Their proven reserves are 355,000 MT, and grades are 8.4 g Au/t and 13.6 g Ag/t. On the basis of their structural characters, the Au-Ag-bearing quartz veins are classified into three types of ore veins; (1) The Main vein shows $N40^{\circ}-80^{\circ}E$ strike and $55^{\circ}-90^{\circ}SE$ dip, (2) the Sangban vein shows E-W strike and $30^{\circ}-40^{\circ}S$ dip, and (3) the Gukseong vein has $N25^{\circ}-40^{\circ}W$strike and $65^{\circ}-80^{\circ}SW$ dip. The emplacements of the ore veins are closely related to the minimum stress axis $({\sigma}_3)$ during the strike-slip movement of the study area. The ore-bearing veins filled with extension fractures during strike-slip movements were sequentially emplaced as follows: I) When ${\sigma}_1$ operates obliquely to NE-series discontinous surface, the Main fault zone $(F_1)$ developes. 2) During the same time, extension fractures ($T_1$ Gukseong veins) take place. 3) When the fault progress continuously, the existing $T_1$, may be high angle and $T_2$ (Daehung vein) developes continuously. 4) When ${\sigma}_1$ changes to sinistral sense, $T_3$ (basic dyke) occurs. 5) When a reverse fault becomes active, the Sangban vein is branched from the Guksabong vein.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2013

The geology of Sinaola state consists of Precambrian metamorphic rocks(Sonobari Complex), two Paleozoic units(lower non-differentiated metamorphic rocks and upper Carboniferous sedimentary rocks), five Mesozoic units(metavolcanic, clastic, and calcareous rocks), Cenozoic volcanic rocks, and Quaternary clastic sediments and volcanic flows. The Sinaola state is potentially rich in metallic mineral resources with lower degree of non-metallic mineral resources. They are related to a variety of geological environments and are mainly physiographically located on the Sierra Madre Occidental. Mainly known mineral deposits are of gold and silver followed by zinc, lead, copper and some iron. The state also has deposits of molybdenum, tungsten and bismuth that have been occasionally exploited. There is a reference of nickel and cobalt mineralization, but these deposits have been exploited only at a small scale.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.391-405
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• 2003

The Daebong gold-silver deposit consists of mesothermal massive quartz veins thar are filling the fractures along fault shear (NE, NW) Bones within banded or granitic gneiss of Precambrian Gyeonggi massif. Based on vein mineralogy, ore textures and paragenesis, ore mineralization of this deposits is composed of massive white quartz vein(stage I) which was formed in the same stage by multiple episodes of fracturing and healing, and transparent quartz vein(stage II) which is separated by a major faulting event. Stage I is divided into the 3 substages. Ore minerals of each substages are as follows: 1) early stage I=magnetite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, 2) middle stage I=pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, marcasite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, electrum and 3) late stage I=pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, electrum, argentite, respectively. Ore minerals of the stage II are composed of pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena and electrum. Systematic studies (petrography and microthermometry) of fluid inclusions in stage I and II quartz veins show fluids from contrasting physical-chemical conditions: 1) $H_2O-CO_2-CH_4-NaCl{\pm}N-2$ fluid(early stage I=homogenization temperature: 203∼3$88^{\circ}C$, pressure: 1082∼2092 bar, salinity: 0.6∼13.4 wt.%, middle stage I=homogenization temperature: 215∼28$0^{\circ}C$, salinity: 0.2∼2.8 wt.%) related to the stage I sulfide deposition, 2) $H_2O-NaCl{\pm}CO_2$ fluid (late stage I=homogenization temperature: 205∼2$88^{\circ}C$, pressure: 670 bar, salinity: 4.5∼6.7 wt.%, stage II=homogenization temperature: 201-3$58^{\circ}C$, salinity: 0.4-4.2 wt.%) related to the late stage I and II sulfide deposition. $H_2O-CO_2-CH_4-NaCl{\pm}N_2$ fluid of early stage I is evolved to $H_2O-NaCl{\pm}CO_2$ fluid represented by the $CO_2$ unmixing due to decrease in fluid pressure and is diluted and cooled by the mixing of deep circulated meteoric waters ($H_2O$-NaCl fluid) possibly related to uplift and unloading of the mineralizing suites. $H_2O-NaCl{\pm}CO_2$ fluid of stage II was hotter than that of late stage I and occurred partly unmixing, mainly dilution and cooling for sulfide deposition. Calculated sulfur isotope compositions ({\gamma}^{34}S_{H2S}$) of hydrothermal fluids (3.5∼7.9%o) indicate that ore sulfur was derived from mainly an igneous source and partly sulfur of host rock. Measured and calculated oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions ({\gamma}^{18}O_{H_2O}$, {\gamma}$D) of ore fluids (stage I: 1.1∼9.0$\textperthousand$, -92∼-86{\textperthansand}$, stage II: 0.3{\textperthansand}$, -93{\textperthansand}$) and ribbon-banded structure (graphitic lamination) indicate that mesothermal auriferous fluids of Daebong deposit were two different origin and their evolution. 1) Fluids of this deposit were likely mixtures of $H_2O$-rich, isotopically less evolved meteoric water and magmatic fluids and 2) were likely mixtures of $H_2O$-rich. isotopically heavier $\delta$D meteoric water and magmaticmetamorphic fluids.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.171-181
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• 2022

The Geochang Au-Ag deposit is located within the Yeongnam Massif. Within the area a number of hydrothermal quartz and calcite veins were formed by narrow open-space filling of parallel and subparallel fractures in the granitic gneiss and/or gneissic granite. Mineral paragenesis can be divided into two stages (stage I, ore-bearing quartz vein; stage II, barren calcite vein) by major tectonic fracturing. Stage I, at which the precipitation of major ore 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 with minor pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite; middle, characterized by introduction of electrum and base-metal sulfides with minor sulfosalts; late, marked by hematite with base-metal sulfides. Fluid inclusion data show that stage I ore mineralization was deposited between initial high temperatures (≥380℃ ) and later lower temperatures (≤210℃ ) from H₂O-CO₂-NaCl fluids with salinities between 7.0 to 0.7 equiv. wt. % NaCl of Geochang hydrothermal system. The relationship between salinity and homogenization temperature indicates a complex history of boiling, fluid unmixing (CO₂ effervescence), cooling and dilution via influx of cooler, more dilute meteoric waters over the temperature range ≥380℃ to ≤210℃. Changes in stage I vein mineralogy reflect decreasing temperature and fugacity of sulfur by evolution of the Geochang hydrothermal system with increasing paragenetic time. The Geochang deposit may represents a mesothermal gold-silver deposit.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.202-208
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• 2021

Induced polarization (IP) was first published in a Korean academic journal in 1973, and it was soon applied to coal and metal ore exploration. Then, in universities and research institutes, IP modeling studies using the finite element approach and experimental studies on IP responses for artificial samples were conducted. In the mid-1980s, the spectral IP (SIP) measurement module was introduced to Korea, and physical scale modeling and inversion approaches were developed. Due to the decline of the mineral resource industry, this method was not actively applied. However, the SIP method was not applied In the 1990s, IP exploration was applied in the investigation of hydrothermal deposits of sulfide minerals and bentonite mineralization zones, as well as to areas where the groundwater was contaminated by intruding seawater. In the 2000s, three-dimensional inversion of the IP approach was developed, and high-precision geophysical exploration was required to secure domestic and overseas mineral resources, so SIP experiments on rock samples and approaches for field exploration were developed. The SIP approach was proven useful for the exploration of metal deposits containing sulfide minerals by applying it to explore the mineralization zone of gold-silver deposits in the Haenam region. The IP method is considered to be effective in exploring critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, and nickel) in high-tech industries. It also is expected to be useful for environmental and geotechnical investigations.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.753-765
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• 2021

The Dongwon Au-Ag deposit is located within the Paleozoic Taebaeksan province, Okcheon belt. Mineral paragenesis can be divided into two stages (stage I, ore-bearing quartz veins; stage II, barren carbonate veins) by major tectonic fracturing. Stage I, at which the precipitation of major ore 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 with minor magnetite, pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite; middle, characterized by introduction of electrum and base-metal sulfides with minor sulfosalts; late, marked by argentite, Cu-As (and/or Sb) and Ag-Sb sulfosalts with base-metal sulfides. Fluid inclusion data show that stage I ore mineralization was deposited between initial high temperatures (≥430℃) and later lower temperatures (≤230℃) from fluids with salinities between 6.0 to 0.4 wt. percent equiv. NaCl. The relationship of salinity and homogenization temperature suggest that ore mineralization at Dongwon was deposited mainly due to fluid boiling, cooling and dilution via influx of cooler, more dilute meteoric waters. Changes in stage I vein mineralogy reflect decreasing temperature and fugacity of sulfur by evolution of the Dongwon hydrothermal system with increasing paragenetic time. The Dongwon deposit may represents a Korean-type and/or Au-Ag type mesothermal/epithermal gold-silver deposit.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.117-127
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• 1993

Ag-Au vein ores from the Weolyu mine, Youngdong district, contain significant germanium (up to 145g/t, average 34.9g/t), in the form of argyrodite ($Ag_8GeS_6$). Mineral chemistries of argyrodite and its associated minerals were determined by electron probe microanalysis. Twenty eight elements in thirteen ore samples were analyzed using an ICP mass spectrometer. Argyrodite occurs in the paragenetically later mineral assemblage consisting of carbonates+quartz+native silver+argentite+Ag-sulfosalts, indicating that the germanium mineralization represents the culmination of a complex mineral sequence which includes early gold and late silver deposition. The mean formula of the argyrodite is $Ag_{7.90}\;(Ge_{0.76}Sn_{0.04})S_6$, with minor amounts of Cu, Fe, Sb, As, Sn, and Zn. The Weolyu argyrodite shows systematic substitutions of Ag by Cu, and of Ge by Sb. Chemical analyses of vein ores indicate that metals were precipitated in the order of $Fe{\rightarrow}Pb$, $Zn{\rightarrow}Cu{\rightarrow}Ag$, Sb, As, Ge. Germanium has a strong geochemical affmity with As and Sb, and Cu, Pb, Zn, Mo, and Sr show weak positive correlations with Ge. Germanium deposition at Weolyu was mainly a result of cooling of hydrothermal fluids (down to $175^{\circ}C{\sim}210^{\circ}C$, due to increasing involvement of cooler meteoric waters in the epithermal system.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.713-726
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• 2007

The Daebong deposit consists of gold-silver-bearing mesothermal massive quartz veins which fill fractures along fault zones($N10{\sim}20^{\circ}W,\;40{\sim}60^{\circ}SW$) within banded gneiss or granitic gneiss of Precambrian Gyeonggi massif. Ore mineralization of the deposit is composed of massive white quartz vein(stage I) which was formed in the same stage by multiple episodes of fracturing and healing and transparent quartz vein(stage II) which is separated by a major faulting event. The hydrothermal alteration of stage I is sericitization, chloritization, carbonitization, pyritization, silicification and argillization. Sericitic zone occurs near and at quartz vein and includes mainly sericite, quartz, and minor illite, carbonates and epidote. 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 0.36 to 0.59($0.51{\pm}0.10$) and 0.66 to 0.73($0.70{\pm}0.02$), and belong to muscovite-petzite series and brunsvigite, respectively. 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 $a3(Fe_5Al_2Si_3O_{10}(OH){_6}=0.00964{\sim}0.0291,\;a2(Mg_5Al_2Si_3O_{10}(OH){_6}= 9.99E-07{\sim}1.87E-05,\;a1(Mg_6Si_4O_{10}(OH){_6}=5.61E-07{\sim}1.79E-05$. It suggest that chlorite from the Daebong deposit is iron-rich chlorite formed due to decreasing temperature from $T>450^{\circ}C$. Calculated $log\;{\alpha}K^+/{\alpha}H^+,\;log\;{\alpha}Na^+/{\alpha}H^+,\;log\;{\alpha}Ca^{2+}/{\alpha}^2H^+$ and pH values during wall-rock alteration are $4.6(400^{\circ}C),\;4.1(350^{\circ}C),\;4.0(400^{\circ}C),\;4.2(350^{\circ}C),\;1.8(400^{\circ}C),\;4.5(350^{\circ}C),\;5.4{\sim}6.5(400^{\circ}C)\;and\;5.1{\sim}5.5(350^{\circ}C)$, respectively. Gain elements (enrichment elements) during wallrock alteration are $K_2O,\;P_2O_5,\;Na2O$, Ba, Sr, Cr, Sc, V, Pb, Zn, Be, Ag, As, Ta and Sb. Elements(Sr, V, Pb, Zn, As, Sb) represent a potentially tools for exploration in mesothermal and epithermal gold-silver deposits.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.221-235
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• 1989

Gold-silver mineralization of the Goryeong-Waegwan area was deposited in three stages of quartz and calcite veins which fill fissures in Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of the Sindong Group. Radiometric dating indicates that mineralization is Late Cretaceous age(98 Ma) likely associated genetically with intrusion of a small biotite granite stock. Fluid inclusion and stable isotope data indicate that Au-Ag ore was deposited at temperatures between $280^{\circ}C$ and $230^{\circ}C$ from fluids with salinities between 1.7 and 8.7 equiv.wt.% NaCl. Evidence of boiling indicates pressures of <100 bars, corresponding to depths of 425 and 1,150m, respectively, assuming lithostatic and hydrostatic loads. Within ore stage I there is an apparent decrease in ${\delta}^{34}S$ values of $H_2S$ with paragenetic time, from +1.4 to -2.5 per mil. This pattern was likely achieved through progressive increases in pH and activity of oxygen accompanying boiling. Measured and calculated hydrogen and oxygen isotope values of ore-forming fluids(${\delta}D$ = -90 to -100 per mil; ${\delta}^{18}O$ = +3.9 to -11.4 per mil) indicate meteoric water dominance, approaching unex-changed meteoric water values. Au-Ag deposition is thought to be the result of cooling and dilution of a boiling fluid through mixing with less evolved meteoric waters.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.177-193
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• 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.