• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.3 s.49
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• pp.197-207
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• 2006

In the coal-bearing formations of the Janggi Group, which are reported as typical clastic sediments, several beds of volcaniclastic rocks are actually found in the Yeongil area. The coal-bearing formations generally exhibit alternating lithologic characteristics of pyroclastic and epiclastic sedimentary facies. Tuff and tuffaceous sandstone rich in pumice fragments are characteristic in the coal-bearing fermations. Diagenetic minerals found in the pyroclastic rocks of the upper and lower coal-bearing formations are montmorillonite, clinoptilolite, opal-CT, and quartz. Several tuffaceous beds correspond to the low-grade ores of zeolites and bentonite, and moreover, these ores mostly occur as thin beds less than 1 m in thickness. Thus, the potential of altered tuffaceous rocks as the resources typical of zeolite and bentonite seems to be low. However, based on mineral composition and CEC determinations, it can be evaluated that these tuffaceous rocks mostly have the promising potential for utilization as the absorbent-functional mineral resources such as acid clays, if these low-grade ores plus adjacent tuffaceous rocks are collectively exploited.