• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.121-137
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• 2000

Weathering profiles which were developed under a temperate, humid environment and relatively steep geography, show a thick saprolite and soil horiaon in the Precambrian granitic gneiss of the Yoogoo area. In the weathering profiles, secondary minerals such as interstratified biotite/vermiculite, tri- or di-octahedral vermiculite, halloysite, kaolinite, illite, smectite, gibsite and geothite were observed. Kaolinization of biotite is the most prevalent mechanism but vermiculitization is a minor from all ofweathering profiles. Biotite altered to B/V mixed layer-vermiculite, to illite and to halloysite, kaolinite and gibbsite. Halloysite is the most frequently observed weathering product of biotite in these profiles. Goethite is observed at the around or opened fissures of altered biotite. Tubular halloysite aggregates was fDrmed from dissolution-precipitation of plagioclase. The occurrence of halloysite aggregates is divided into a preferentially oriented type and a wrinkled one which were resulted from the dissolved type of plagioclase. Fe-bearing minerals have also been subjected to dissolution leaving the precipitation of geothite along dissolution voids. The profile of granitic gneiss is a typical weathering pattern showing a clay minerals increase toward the surface. Weathering of minerals were controlled by locally acidic and good-drainage environment, and formed a various and complicated secondary minerals in this study area.