• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2019

The Wugang banded iron formation (BIF) is located within the Taihua complex at the southern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). In this study, we analyzed major elements and rare-earth elements in iron ores from the Wugang BIF, to study the type of BIFs and their formation mechanism in combination with previously-published data from the literature. We found that the iron ores from the Wugang BIF display two types of banding textures, which can be described as weak banding or no banding. The samples are composed of coarse-grained magnetite, quartz, pyroxene, and amphibole. Based on our geochemical results, mixing of a hydrothermal fluid with sea water led to the precipitation of the Wugang BIF, and there is evidence of crustal contamination. These results, combined with previous literature data, almost all of the iron ores lack Ce anomalies, though some samples show negative Ce anomalies. Our results indicate that the Wugang BIF was formed in a dominantly reducing environment, although the surfaces were relatively oxidized. Geochemical evidence suggests that the Wugang BIF iron ores were formed in a near-shore continental-shelf environment or in a back-arc basin. The BIF is known as interbedded with migmatite, amphibole gneiss, minor quartz and marble, which indicating lack of volcanic materials input. This study, combined with previous results on geochemical interpretation of related wall rock of Wugang BIF, demonstrated that Wugang BIF belongs to Superior-type BIF.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 1998

The Dabie-Sulu ultra-high pressure metamorphic (UHPM) zone is commonly suggested to be a collisional belt between the Sino-Korea craton (North China craton) and Yangtze craton (Zhai and Cong, 1996). Two important questions in formulating the tectonic evolution of the northeast Asia are : (1) the boundary between the UHPM zone and the Sino-Korea craton in the Shandong peninsula and (2) the extension of this Chinese UHPM zone into the Korean peninsula. There have been different opinions on the boundary between UHPM zone and the Sino-Korea craton in the Shandong peninsula. For example, the boundary has been suggested to be the Tan-Lu fault (Bai et al., 1993; Wang and Cong, 1996), or Wulian-Rongcheng fault (Cao et al., 1990). Our recent study finds out new evidences, indicating that the possible boundary is the Kunyushan granitoid complex zone, which occurs along the Wulian-Muping fault. Our new evidences are : (1) the basic rocks west to the Kunyushan granitoid zone are high-pressure granulites rather than eclogites (Zhai, 1996) with their Sm-Nd isotopic ages of 1750 Ma and 2788 Ma, representing their retrograde metamorphic and petrogenetic ages, respectively (Li et al., 1997b); (2) the orthogneisses west to the Kunyushan granitoid zone yield 2600-2900 Ma zircon ages and 1600-2020 Ma Rb-Sr and chemical U-Th-total Pb ages, with no younger data (Enami et al., 1993; Ishizaka et al., 1994), having a typical characteristic for the early Precambrian rocks in the Sino-Korea craton; (3) the orthogneisses east to the Kunyushan granitoid zone have 110-320 Ma isotopic ages with a peak value of 180-230 Ma, showing a typical characteristic of metamorphic rocks in the UHPM zone; (4) the Kunyushan granitoid zone consists of numerous granitic bodies, stocks and veins, which have 1900-2000 Ma, 610-710 Ma and 124-180 Ma istotopic ages indicating a long and complicated evolution history of this granitoid zone. There are many lenses and enclosures of metamorphic rocks from the Sino-Korea craton and Sulu UHPM belt in the Kunyushan granitoid zone. Zhai et al. (1998) have defined the Kunyushan granitoid zone as the Jiaodong Boundary complex zone. Some geologists suggested that the UHPM zone extend eastward to the Korea peninsula (Yin and Nie, 1993; Wang and Cong, 1996) and possibly to the Imjingang belt (Chang, 1994; Ree et al., 1996). Unfortunately, there has not been a conclusive evidence indicating that UHPM rocks occur in the Korea peninsula. In this regard, it becomes more important to compare metamorphic rocks in the Shandong peninsula with those in northern and southern Korea peninsula.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.3 s.41
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• pp.127-140
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• 2005

The Samyuri area of Jeoksang-myeon, Muju-gun at the Middle Yeongnam Massif consists of granitic gneiss, porphyroblastic gneiss and leucocratic gneiss, which correspond to Precambrian Wonnam Series. Here we discuss a geochemical implication of the data based on major element composition, trace element, rare earth element (REE), Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotope systematics of the boring cores in the granite gneiss area. The boring cores are granitic gneiss (including biotite gneiss) and amphibolite. The major and trace element compositions of granitic gneiss and amphibolite suggest that the protolith belongs to TTG (Tonalite-Trondhjemite-Granodiorite) and tholeiitic series, respectively. Chondrte-normalized REE patterns vary in LREE, HREE and Eu anomalies. The granitic gneiss and amphibolite have Sm-Nd whole rock age of $2,026{\pm}230(2{\sigma})$ Ma with an initial Nd isotopic ratio of $0.50979{\pm}0.00028(2{\sigma})$ (initial ${\epsilon}_{Nd}=-4.4$), which suggests that the source material was derived from old crustal material. Particularly, this initial ${\epsilon}$ Nd value belongs to the range of the geochemical evolution of Archean basement in North-China Craton, and also corresponds to the initial Nd isotope evolution line by Lee et al. (2005). In addition, chondrite-normalized REE pattern and initial Nd value of amphibolite are very similar to those of juvenile magma in crustal formation process.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2010

The Cenozoic alkali basalts are distributed over Korea, both on central part as Bangnyeongdo, Ganseong, Pyeongtaek-Asan and Jogongni and also on southernmost part Jejudo. The ultramafic mantle xenoliths carried by Korean alkali basalts are spinel lherzolites. Garnet lherzolite that is more stable at the deeper level has not been reported so far, indicating that the lithospheric thickness under Korea does not reach deep enough to the stable zone of garnet lherzolite. The crustal evolution history of the Korean peninsula, at least some part of it, seemingly started since the Archean, it normally should have lithospheric thickness greater than 150 km. However, the mantle xenoliths carried by the Cenozoic alkali basalts indicate the maximum depth of origination in the much shallower range of 60-90 km. Such significantly thinner lithospheric thickness of the Korean peninsula than expected is quite similar to the case of North China Craton having lithospheric thickness of ca. 80 km in average, suggesting thinning of the lithospheric mantle in a depth scale of a few tens of kilometers during the past geologic time. The main causal events for such significant thinning of the lithospheric mantle can be continental collisional events of Paleoproterozoic and early Mesozoic similar to the case of North China Craton, which are also supported by Paleoproterozoic igneous and metamorphic events during the 1.9-2.0 Ga occurring all over the Korean peninsula and also early Mesozoic continental collisional event which has been discussed on lively arguments.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.215-225
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• 2018

Musan iron deposit in North Korea and iron deposits in Anshan-Benxi area in China are Archean banded iron formations and included in Longgang block in Eastern block of North China Craton. Host formations of Musan iron deposit and Anshan-Benxi iron mineralized belt are Musan group and Anshan group, respectively. These groups consist of magnetite-bearing quartzite, amphibolite, schist, and migmatite. Host rock of banded iron formation in Musan deposit and Anshan-Benzi mineralized belt is magnetite-bearing quartzite. Shape of ore bodies in Musan deposit is horse's hoof due to the fold while shape of orebodies in Anshan-Benxi mineralized belt is layer. The previous studies revealed the both of banded iron formations are contemporaneously deposited during the late Archean (Musan deposit and iron deposits in Anshan-Benxi area: 2.66-2.52 Ga and 2.55-2.53 Ga, respectively). Musan deposit and iron deposits in Anshan-Benxi mineralized belt belolng to Algoma type BIFs. In conclusion, the characteristics of geology, formation ages, and deposit types of Musan deposit and Anshan-Benxi minerlized belt are very similar.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.207-217
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• 2011

Here we report major element composition, trace and rare earth element abundance, Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic composition from Deokgu leucogranite. Chondrite-normalized REE pattern and its Eu anomaly are divided into 3 types systematically, and have close relationship with $SiO_2$ contents. Such geochemical characteristic indicates that the leucogranite was derived by feldspar fractionation from a common source magma. Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr whole rock ages are $1,785{\pm}180Ma$ (initial $^{143}Nd/^{144}Nd\;ratio=0.51003{\pm}0.00016,\;2{\sigma}$; ${\varepsilon}_{Nd}(T)=-5.9$) and $1,735{\pm}260Ma$ (initial $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr\;ratio=0.702{\pm}0.046,\;2{\sigma}$), respectively. Initial ${\varepsilon}_{Nd}$ value indicates that the magma should be derived from the crustal material. This initial ${\varepsilon}_{Nd}$ value also corresponds well with those from the Precambrian granitoids from North-China Craton rather than those of South-China Craton.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.3 s.45
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• pp.119-127
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• 2006

Detrital zircons in iron-bearing quartzite of the Seosan Croup from southeastern part of the Cyeonggi Hassif were analysed for SHRIHP U-Pb ages. Among 42 analyses, 38 data yield concordant ages (less tan 10 % discordancy), and they concentrated at 1781~1898 Ma (n=19), $1781{\sim}1898\;Ma(n=19),\;1935{\sim}1941\;Ma(n=4),\;1996\;Ma,\;2120\;Ma\;2403{\sim}2459\;Ma(n=5)$, 2661 Ma and 3198 Ma. The data indicate that sedimentation of iron-bearing quartzite should be after ca 1.78 Ga (the youngest detrital zircon age), and argue against some of conventional idea that iron-bearing quartzite of the Seosan Group might be correlated with the Archean iron-bearing quartzite in the North China Craton.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.293-309
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• 2014

The Qinling-Dabie-Sulu-Hongseong-Odesan collision belt was formed by the collision between the North China and South China Cratons during late Permian to Triassic. During the collision, Triassic post-collision igneous rocks regionally intruded in the Qinling and the Hongseong-Odesan collision belts which represent the western and eastern ends of the collision belt, respectively. However, no and minor Triassic post-collision igneous activities occur in the Dabie and Sulu belts respectively. The peak metamorphic pressure conditions along the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu-Hongseong-Odesan belt indicate that the slab break-off occurred at the depth of ultra-high pressure (UHP) metamorphic condition in the Dabie and Sulu belts and at the depths of high pressure (HP) or high pressure granulite (HPG) metamorphic condition in the Qinling and Hongseong-Odesan belts. In the Dabie and Sulu belts the heat supply from the asthenospheric mantle through the gab formed by slab break-off could not cause an extensive melting in the lower continental crust and lithospheric mantle directly below it due to the very deep depth of slab break-off. On the other hand, in the Qinling and Hongseong-Odesan belts, shallower slab break-off caused the emplacement of regional post collision igneous rocks. The post-collision igneous rocks occur in the area to the north of the Mianlu Suture zone in the western Qinling belt and crop out continuously eastwards into the areas to the north of the Shangdan Suture zone in the eastern Qinling belt through the areas within the South Qinling block. This distribution pattern of post collision igneous rocks suggests that the Triassic collision belt in the Mianleu Suture zone may be extended into the Shangdan Suture zone after passing through the South Qinling block instead into the boundary between the South Qinling block and the South China Craton.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.199-214
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• 2022

The Yeongnam Massif is one of representative basement provinces in the Korean Peninsula, which has experienced high-temperature, low-pressure (HTLP) regional metamorphism and partial melting. Here we reviewed recent developments in Paleoproterozoic (1.87-1.84 Ga) hot orogenesis of the Yeongnam Massif, typified by the granulite-facies metamorphism and partial melting recorded in the HTLP rocks. In particular, spatiotemporal linkage between the metamorphic and magmatic activities, including the Sancheong-Hadong anorthositic magma as a heat source, provides a key to understand the widespread HTLP metamorphism and partial melting in the Yeongnam Massif. Crustal anatexis, resulting from the fluid-present melting and muscovite/biotite dehydration melting, has yielded various types of leucosomes and leucogranites. Zircon and monazite petrochronology, using in-situ U(-Th)-Pb data from the secondary ion mass spectrometry, indicates that the HTLP metamorphism and anatexis lasted over a period of ~15 Ma at ca. 1870-1854 Ma. In addition, a fluid influx event at ca. 1840 Ma was locally recognized by the occurrence of incipient charnockite. Taken together, the Yeongnam Massif preserves a prolonged evolutionary record of the HTLP metamorphism, partial melting, and fluid influx diagnostic for a hot orogen. Such an orogen is linked to the Paleoproterozoic orogeny widespread in the North China Craton, and most likely represents the final phase of crustal evolution in the Columbia/Nuna supercontinent.