• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.19-31
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• 2011

This study had been carried out to investigate spatial and temporal variations of the concentrations of trace metals for contaminated surface water in creek affected by leachate from the tailings impoundment of the Yeonhwa II mine for about 2 years. It was also to ascertain the metal removal efficiency for potentially deleterious metals by the artificial and natural attenuation processes such as retention ponds and hydrologic mixing of uncontaminated tributaries. The concentrations of As, Pb, Cd, and Cu for leachate in the rainy season were not detected. On the other hand, the concentrations of Zn, Fe, Mn, Al, and $SO_4^{2-}$ in the rainy season for leachate were 2-66 times higher than those in the dry season, due to the oxidation of the sulfide minerals and the dissolution of the secondary minerals. The concentrations of Zn and Cd for leachate and surface water of the upper creek in the rainy season exceeded the criteria of River Water Quality and Drinking Water Quality but in the dry season, those of analyzed all the metals (As, Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cd, Fe, Mn, and Al) for surface water sampled at the study area were below the criteria of River Water Quality and Drinking Water Quality. In regard of the attenuation efficiency for the concentrations of metals, Fe, Mn, Al, Zn, Cd, As, and Cu were removed highly at retention ponds, while the removal efficiency for major cations and sulfate ($SO_4^{2-}$) were related to mixing of the uncontaminated tributaries. Therefore, the major attenuation processes of the metal and sulfate contents in creek affected by leachate from a tailing dump were precipitation (accompanied by metal co-precipitation and sorption), water dilution, and neutralization.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.51-73
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• 1979

The zinc-lead deposits at the Yeonhwa I mine were investigated in terms of ore-forming geologic setting, structural style of ore control, geometry of individual orebodies, zoning, paragenesis and chemical composition of skarn minerals, as well as metal grades and ratios of selected orebodies. The Yeonhwa I mine is characterized by a large swarm of chimney type massive orebodies with thin skarn envelopes, boldly developed through a thick sequence of Pungchon Limestone, the overlying Hwajeol Formation, and the underlying Myobong Slate of Cambrian age. Nearly 20 orebodies of similar shape, but of varying size are arranged in a V-shaped pattern with northwest and northeast trends, clearly indicating an outstanding ore control by a conjugate system of fractures with these trends. Important orebodies are the Wolam 1, 2, 3, and 5 orebodies in the west, and the Namsan 1, 2, 3. and 5 orebodies in the east, among others. The Wolam 1 orebody, which was observed from the -360 level through the -240, -120, and 0 levels to the surface outcrops (totaling a vertical height of about 500m), shows a vertical variation in skarn mineralogy, ranging from pyroxene-garnet zone on the lower levels. through pyroxene (without garnet) zone on the intermediate levels, and finally to rhodochrosite vein on the upper levels and surface. Microprobe analyses of pyroxene and garnet on a total of 14 mineral grains revealed that pyroxenes are manganoan salitic in most samples, with downward increase of Fe and Mn, whereas garnets are highly andraditic, containing fractions of subordinate grossular with downward decrease of Fe. This indicates a reverse relationship of Fe-contents between pyroxene and garnet with depth. Ore minerals are major sphalerite, subordinate galena, and minor chalcopyrite. Sulfide gangue minerals include major pyrrhotite, and minor pyrite and marcasite of later age. Two types of variational trends in metal grades and ratios with depth are present on the plots of assay data from the Wolam orebodies: one is a steady upward increase in Pb, Zn, and Pb:Zn ratios, with a terminal decline at the top of orebody: the other is an irregular or sinusoidal change. The former is characteristic of chimney-type orebodies, whereas the latter is of vein· shaped orebodies. The Pb grades show large variations among orebodies and from level to level, whereas the Zn grades are relatively constand or less variable.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.287-297
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• 2008

In order to estimate the preliminary development feasibility according to the commodity, the content of 8 strategic metallic commoditites(Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mo, W, Au, U) in 68 ore specimens obtained from 34 metallic mines within the Taebaegsan-Hwanggangri mineralized zone were analyzed. Analytical results are as follows. The ore specimen of Sangdong mine contained 23% copper(cut-off grade=0.7%) and those of Cheongil and Samhwanghak mines contained average 5% zinc(cut-off grade=2.0%). Especially, the detailed investigation on the above-mentioned mines is required. And, in case of molybdenum(cut-off grade=0.02%) content in Yeonhwa No. 2(0.04%) and Hong-cheon mine(0.02%), and lead(cut-off grade=0.58%) content in Wongasa mine(0.70%), and gold(cut-off grade=10ppm) content in Dongmyoung(279ppm) and Samhwanghak mine(251ppm), it is required to elastically carry out the revaluation on reopening of mines in terms of the international metal price. On the other hand, in case of uranium, iron and tungsten, it is thought that there are no mines with the development potential value in this study.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.147-176
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• 1979

The Yeonhwa II zinc-lead mine is characterized by a dozen of moderately dipping tabular orebodies of skarn and zinc-lead sulfides, developed in accordance with the ENE-trending bedding thrusts and bedding planes of the Pungchon Limestone and underlying Myobong Formation, mostly along the contacts of a ENE-trending sill and a NW-trending dike of quartz mononite porphyry. The orebodies occur in three groups: (1) the footwall Wolgok orebodies with respect to the sill, (2) the hangingwall Wolgok orebodies, and (3) the Seongok orebodies extended from dike contacts into carbonate beds. Mineral compositions of these orebodies are dominated by calc-silicates (skarn) associated with ore minerals of sphalerite, galena, and chalcopyrite, as well as sulfide gangue of pyrrhotite. A pair of exo- and endo-skerns in the Wolgok footwall contact aureole between the Pungchon Limestone and quartz monzonite porphyry on the -120 level represents a well-developed symmetrical pattern of mineral zoning: a garnet/quartz zone in the center of exoskarn, two zones of pyroxene with ore minerals on both sides of the garnet/quartz zone, further outwards-an epidote/chlorite-bearing hornfelsic zone in the Myobong slate beyond a zone of unaffected limestone, and an epidote-dominated zone of endo skarn on the opposite side toward fresh quartz monzonite porphyry. These features indicate a combination of two effects on the skarn formation: (1) differences in composition of the host rocks(sedimentary and ignous), and (2) progressive outward migration of inner zones on outer zones on the course of metasomatic replacement of the pre-existing minerals. Microprobe analyses of garnet, pyroxene, pyroxenoids, epidote, and chlorite for nine major elements on a total of 23 mineral grains revealed that: the pyroxenes are hedenbergitic, in most zones, with a gradual decrease of Fe- and Mn-contents toward the central zone, whereas the garnets are andraditic in outer zones, but are grossularitic in the central zone. This indicates a reverse relationship of Fe-contents between pyroxene and garnet across the exoskarn zones. Pyroxenoids are lacking in wollastonite but are dominated by pyroxmangite, rhodonite and bustamite, indicating a Mn-rich nature in bulk chemistry. Pseudomorphic fluorite after garnet occurs abundantly reflecting a fluorine-enhanced evidence of the skarn-forming fluids. Epidote contains 0.19-0.25mole fraction of pistacite, and chlorite is Mn-rich but is Mg-poor. Sulfide mineralization took place with the most Fe-rich pyroxene rather than with garnet as indicated by the fact that the highest value of hedenbergite mole fraction occurs in the ore-bearing pyroxene zone. The Yeonhwa II ores are characterized by high zinc and low lead in metal grade, with minor quantity of copper content in almost constant grade. The hangingwall Wolgok and Seongok orebodies, that formed in a more open environment with respect to their local configurations of geologic setting, are more variable in metal grades and ratios, than are the footwall Wolgok orebodies formed in a more closed condition in a narrow interval of sedimentary beds.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2003

The chemical composition of the arsenopyrite Ib adjoining“triple mutual contact”arsenopyrite + pyrite + hexagonal pyrrhotite may serve as a useful geothermometer in Stage II. In this study it corresponds to temperature T=33$0^{\circ}C$ and f( $S_2$)=10$^{-9.5}$ atm. And the pyrite-hexagonal pyrrhotite buffer curve indicates the probable range of the two variables; T= 315∼345$^{\circ}C$, and f( $S_2$)=10$^{-1}$0.5/∼10$^{-9}$ atm. The present antimony-bearing arsenopyrite (arsenopyrite Ic) is characterized by relatively high content of antimony, ranging from 4.95 to 8.91 percent Sb by weight and excess of iron and deficiency of anions are evident. Such a high antimonian arsenopyrite has never been known within single grain. But being the high content of antimony as in the arsenopyrite Ic, it does not serve as a geothermometer. The results of microprobe analyses for four pairs of asenopyrite and sphalerite in Stage III indicate the temperature range from 310 to 34$0^{\circ}C$, and sulphur fugacity range from 10$^{-10}$ ∼10$^{-9}$ atm. These values seem to correspond with those inferred from the Fe-As-S system.m..

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.17-20
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• 1989

Two rhyolitic rocks were taken at punggog of the Jangseong sheet in the Taebaegsan mineralized area and isotopically dated by K-Ar whole rock method. One is a rhyolite which gives $62.69{\pm}1.15Ma$ and the other is a rhyolitic tuff which gives $51.67{\pm}6.64Ma$, respectively. Generally K-Ar whole rock ages of the volcanic rocks can be assumed to be the formation age of them, if there is no geological criterion of secondary effects. But the two rhyolitic rocks were slightly hydrothermally altered and the age the rhyolitic tuff is a little younger than that of the rhyolite. However, there is no geological criterion to show any big hiatus between them in field, yet. Therefore, the age data would be interpreted, as that the rhyolitic rock mass has been probably extruded at about 60 Ma, a little older than 60 Ma, in the area. The ages of them probably appear to be secondary ages after the alteration. This fact well coincides with the K-Ar whole rock age of quartz-porphyry ($57.25{\pm}0.89Ma$) distributed near the 1st Yeonhwa Pb-Zn mine (Park et al., personal comm.), because the quartz-porphyry look to be a product of hydrothermal alteration of the volcanic rock.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.19 no.spc
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• pp.139-149
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• 1986

Compositional variation of sphalerites from various hydrothermal metallic ore deposits in Korea were investigated in mine and local, and regional scale. The sphalerites were partially analyzed for iron, manganese, and cadmium by using an electron probe microanalyzer(EPMA). The contents of iron and cadmium in sphalerites collected from the Weolam deposit of the No.1 Yeonhwa mine are not variable with increase of depth, but manganese content is highly variable. Sphalerites from lead-zinc deposits which are geologically associated with hypabyssal and effusive activity are characterized by high manganese (more than 1.0 MnS mole %) and low cadmium contents (less than 0.5 CdS mole %). Relatively manganese rich sphalerites are found in the deposits where sphalerites are enriched in iron content. Variation of cadmium content is very limited compared with that of manganese content. Sphalerites from most tungsten and some gold-silver deposits are remarkably high in cadmium content, but most of base metal and iron deposits are low in cadmium content. Cadmium content in sphalerites which occur in the metallic ore deposits genetically associated with plutonic activity shows a tendency to high variation. Available amounts of cadmium in sphalerites could be originated from the initial enrichment during the magmatic and postmagmatic processes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.369-381
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• 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.