• Title/Summary/Keyword: gold and silver ore

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Mesothermal Gold Mineralization in the Boseong-Jangheung area, Chollanamdo-province (전라남도 보성-장흥지역의 중열수 금광화작용)

  • 허철호;윤성택;소칠섭
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.35 no.5
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    • pp.379-393
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    • 2002
  • Within the Boseong-Jangheung area of Korea, five hydrothermal gold (-silver) quartz vein deposits occur. They have the characteristic features as follows: the relatively gold-rich nature of e1ectrurns; the absence of Ag-Sb( -As) sulfosalt mineral; the massive and simple mineralogy of veins. They suggest that gold mineralization in this area is correlated with late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, mesothermal-type gold deposits in Korea. Fluid inclusion data show that fluid inclusions in stage I quartz of the mine area homogenize over a wide temperature range of 200$^{\circ}$ to 460$^{\circ}$C with salinities of 0.0 to 13.8 equiv. wt. % NaCI. The homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions in stage II calcite of the mine area ranges from 150$^{\circ}$ to 254$^{\circ}$C with salinities of 1.2 to 7.9 equiv. wt. % NaCI. This indicates a cooling of the hydrothermal fluid with time towards the waning of hydrothermal activity. Evidence of fluid boiling including CO2 effervescence indicates that pressures during entrapment of auriferous fluids in this area range up to 770 bars. Calculated sulfur isotope composition of auriferous fluids in this mine area (${\delta}^34S$_{{\Sigma}S}$$\textperthousand$) indicates an igneous source of sulfur in auriferous hydrothermal fluids. Within the Sobaegsan Massif, two representative mesothermal-type gold mine areas (Youngdong and Boseong-Jangheung areas) occur. The ${\delta}^34S values of sulfide minerals from Youngdong area range from -6.6 to 2.3$\textperthousand$ (average=-1.4$\textperthousand$, N=66), and those from BoseongJangheung area range from -0.7 to 3.6$\textperthousand$ (average=1.6$\textperthousand$, N=39). These i)34S values of both areas are comparatively lower than those of most Korean metallic ore deposits (3 to 7TEX>$\textperthousand$). And, within the Sobaegsan Massif, the ${\delta}^34S values of Youngdong area are lower than those of Boseong-Jangheung area. It is inferred that the difference of ${\delta}^34S values within the Sobaegsan Massif can be caused by either of the following mechanisms: (1) the presence of at least two distinct reservoirs (both igneous, with ${\delta}^34S values of < -6 $\textperthousand$ and 2$\pm$2 %0) for Jurassic mesothermal-type gold deposits in both areas; (2) different degrees of the mixing (assimilation) of 32S-enriched sulfur (possibly sulfur in Precambrian pelitic basement rocks) during the generation and/or subsequent ascent of magma; and/or (3) different degrees of the oxidation of an H2S-rich, magmatically derived sulfur source ${\delta}^34S = 2$\pm$2$\textperthousand$) during the ascent to mineralization sites. According to the observed differences in ore mineralogy (especially, iron-bearing ore minerals) and fluid inclusions of quartz from the mesothermal-type deposits in both areas, we conclude that pyrrhotite-rich, mesothermal-type deposits in the Youngdong area formed from higher temperatures and more reducing fluids than did pyrite(-arsenopyrite)-rich mesothermal-type deposits in the Boseong-Jangheung area. Therefore, we prefer the third mechanism than others because the ${\delta}^34S values of the Precambrian gneisses and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks occurring in both areas were not known to the present. In future, in order to elucidate the provenance of ore sulfur more systematically, we need to determine ${\delta}^34S values of the Precambrian metamorphic rocks and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks consisting the basement of the Korean Peninsula including the Sobaegsan Massif.

Mesozoic Gold-Silver Mineralization in South Korea: Metallogenic Provinces Reestimated to the Geodynamic Setting (남한의 중생대 금-은광화작용: 지구동력학적 관점에서 재검토된 금-은광상구)

  • Choi, Seon-Gyu;Park, Sang-Joon;Kim, Sung-Won;Kim, Chang-Seong;Oh, Chang-Whan
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.39 no.5 s.180
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    • pp.567-581
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    • 2006
  • The Au-Ag lode deposits in South Korea are closely associated with the Mesozoic granitoids. Namely, the Jurassic deposits formed in mesozonal environments related to deep-seated granitoids, whereas the Cretaceous ones were developed in porphyry-related environments related to subvolcanic granitoids. The time-space relationships of the Au-Ag lode deposits in South Korea are closely related to the changing plate motions during the Mesozoic. Most of the Jurassic auriferous deposits (about $165{\sim}145$ Ma) show fluid characteristics typical of an orogenic-type gold deposits, and were probably generated in a compressional to transpressional regime caused by an orthogonal to oblique convergence of the Izanagi Plate into the East Asian continental margin. On the other hand, strike-slip faults and caldera-related fractures together with subvolcanic activity are associated with major strike-slip faults reactivated by a northward (oblique) to northwestward (orthogonal) convergence, and probably have played an important role in the formation of the Cretaceous Au-Ag lode deposits (about $110{\sim}45$ Ma) under a continental arc setting. The temporal and spatial distinctions between the two typical Mesozoic deposit styles in South Korea probably reflect a different thermal episodes (i.e., late orogenic and post-orogenic) and ore-forming fluids related to different depths of emplacement of magma due to regional changes in tectonic environment.

The Transition of Production, Consumption and Price of Non-ferrous Metals (비철금속(非鐵金屬)의 생산(生産), 소비(消費), 시세(時勢)의 추이(推移))

  • Moon, W.J.
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.2 no.3
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    • pp.1-25
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    • 1969
  • In considering the mining industry, it is necessary to study the production, consumption and price of ore and metals in every country of the world in order to determine the trend of the industry in the present and for the future. This study is necessary especially for exporting domestically produced are which is in excess of domestic consumption and for importing are, or metal where local production does not meet domestic demand. It will be treated of Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn, W, Mo, which are the most important non-ferrous metals, and which greatly affect the mining industry of Korea. The presentation will concern itself only with the free world. About 1, 200 ton of gold are produced annually with little fluctiation in recent years. Most of the gold produced is consumed by advanced countries for industrial uses as well as for producing precious objects. The U.S.A. expends yearly about four times its domestic production and Japan about three times its domestic production for industry and arts. Because of the instability of the currency of the U.S.A., England and France, recently, the price of gold has been $ 41-42 per ounce, whereas the official price is $35.00 per ounce. It will be expected that the official price will be raised in the near future. As for silver, about 6,500 tons are produced annually with no special fluctuation change in recent years. However, the annual consumption is about 14,000 ton, so the supply and demand is extremely unbalanced. The shortage is made up by the sale of the U.S. treasury's reserve stock and the reclaiminig of silver from coins and other scrap. As the Treasury'S reserves will be exhausted in a year or two, the price of silver which is $1. 64 per ounce, will go up drastically in about a year. As for copper, 5,257,000 ton's were mined in 1966. It's production is being increased about 5% annually. However, consumption exceeds production by about 100,000 ton a year. The recent Foreign refinery copper price in the U.S.A is $ 60 per pound. The supply of copper being insufficient to meet international demands, the price will go up and with no prospect of being lowered in the near future even with the slight annual increase in production. About 2,100,000 to 2,200,000 tons of lead are produced annually. Consumption exceeds production by about 50,000-60,000 tons annually. The current price of lead in New York is $ 155 per pound. As the supply of lead is internationally stable, It will be believed that there will be no significant change in its price in the near future. In 1967, 3,926,000 tons of Zinc were produced. There is annual increase of 4-7% in production. The annual consumption exceeds production by 100,000 to 200,000 tons. The current zinc price in the St. Louis market inthe U.S.A. is $ 145 per pound. Even though its supply is stable and sufficient world wide, the consumption rate will increase at a faster pace than before; hence, the price will slowly go up. Tungsten mines yield about 11,000 tons a year. Its production has been relatively constant in the past few years. The amount of its consumption increases slowly world wide, but in the free world· there has been a slight annual decrease. However, since Red China has not been exporting their tungsten to other countries for several months, the price on the London market of S.T.U. of $Wo_3$ has increased to $ 44~46. Should Red China begin to export actively again the price will drop to $ 40~42. In 1967, 56,000 tons of Molybdenum were produced. Production exceeds consumption by 200,000 -30,000 tons annually. The current price in the U.S.A. is $ 1.72 per Mo pound. Since the rate of production in the U.S.A. is on the increase with large amounts of ore reserve, the price of molubdenum should not go up.

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Au-Ag-bearing Ore Mineralization at the Geochang Hydrothermal Vein Deposit (거창 열수 맥상광상의 함 금-은 광화작용)

  • Hong, Seok Jin;Lee, Sunjin;Choi, Sang-Hoon
    • 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.

Genetic Environments of Dongwon Au-Ag-bearing Hydrothermal Vein Deposit (동원 함 금-은 열수 맥상광상의 생성환경)

  • Lee, Sunjin;Choi, Sang-Hoon
    • 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.

Genesis of the Ogcheon Gold-silver Deposit in Republic of Korea: Ore Minerals, Fluid Inclusion and Stable Isotope Studies (옥천 금-은광상의 생성환경: 광석광물, 유체포유물 및 안정동위원소 연구)

  • Yoo, Bong Chul
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.46 no.2
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    • pp.153-163
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    • 2013
  • The Ogcheon Au-Ag deposit consists of two quartz veins that fill the NE or NW-trending fissures in the metasedimentary rocks of unknown age. The quartz veins occur mainly in the massive type with partially breccia and cavity. They can be found along the strike for about minimum 50 m and varied in thickness from 0.1 to 0.3 m. The mineralogy of quartz veins from the Ogcheon deposit is mainly composed of hydrothermal alteration minerals such as pyrite, quartz, sericite, chlorite, clay minerals and sulfides including pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena. Fluid inclusion data from quartz indicate that homogenization temperatures and salinity of mineralization range from 184 to $362^{\circ}C$ and from 0.0 to 6.6 wt.% eq. NaCl, respectively. These suggest that ore forming fluids were progressively cooled and diluted from mixing with meteoric water. Sulfur(${\delta}^{34}S$: 0.4~8.4‰) isotope composition indicates that ore sulfur was derived from mainly magmatic source although there is a partial derivation from the host rocks. The calculated oxygen(${\delta}^{18}O$: 4.9~12.1‰) and hydrogen(${\delta}D$: -92~-74‰) isotope compositions suggest that magmatic and meteoric ore fluids were equally important for the formation of the Ogcheon deposit and then overlapped to some degree with another type of meteoric water during mineralization.

Gold Mineralization of the Youngbogari Mine, Youngdong Area (영동지역 영보가리 광산의 금광화 작용)

  • Heo, Chul-Ho;Chi, Se-Jung
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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    • v.20 no.2 s.52
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    • pp.115-124
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    • 2007
  • Electrum-sulfide mineralization of the Youngbogari mine area occurred in two stages of massive quartz veins that fill the fractures along the fault/shear zones in the Precambrian gneiss. Ore mineralogy is simple, consisting of arsenopyrite $(31.4{\sim}33.4atom.%As)$, pyrite, sphalerite $(4.1{\sim}17.6mole%FeS)$, galena, chalcopyrite, argentite, and electrum. Electrum $(60.3{\sim}87.6atom.%Ag)$ is associated with galena, chalcopyrite and late sphalerite infilling the fractures in quartz and sulfides. Fluid inclusion data show that ore mineralization was formed from $H_2O-CO_2-CH_4-NaCl$ fluids $(X_{CO2+CH4}=0.0\;to\;0.2)$ with low salinities (0 to 10wt.% eq. NaCl) at temperatures between $200^{\circ}\;and\;370^{\circ}C$. Gold-silver mineralization occurred later than the base-metal sulfide deposition, at temperatures near $250^{\circ}C$ and was probably a result of cooling and decreasing sulfur fugacity caused by sulfide precipitation and/or $H_2S$ loss through fluid unmixing.

Mesothermal Gold-Silver Mineralization at the Bodeok Mine, Boseong Area : A Fluid Inclusion and Stable Isotope Study (전남(全南) 보성지역(寶城地域) 보덕광산(寶德鑛山)의 심부(深部) 중온형(中溫型) 금(金)-은(銀) 광화작용(鑛化作用): 유체포유물(流體包有物) 및 안정동위원소(安定同位元素) 연구(硏究))

  • So, Chil-Sup;Yun, Seong-Taek;Kim, Se-Hyun;Youm, Seung-Jun;Heo, Chul-Ho;Choi, Seon-Gyu
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.26 no.4
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    • pp.433-444
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    • 1993
  • Electrum (32~73 atom. % Ag)-sulfide mineralization of the Bodeok mine in the Boseong area was deposited in two stages of mineralogically simple, massive quartz veins that fill the fractures along fault shear zones in Precambrian gneiss. Radiometric dating indicates that mineralization is Late Jurassic age ($155.9{\pm}2.3$ Ma). Fluid inclusion data show that ore mineralization was formed from $H_2O-CO_2$ fluids with variable $CO_2$ contents ($X_{CO_2}=0.0$ to 0.7) and low salinities (0.0 to 7.4 wt. % eq. NaCl) at temperatures between $200^{\circ}$ and $370^{\circ}C$. Evidence of fluid unmixing ($CO_2$ effervescence) indicates pressures up to 1 kbar. Gold-silver deposition occurred later than base-metal sulfide deposition, at temperatures near $250^{\circ}C$ and was probably a result of cooling and decreasing sulfur activity caused by sulfide precipitation and/or $H_2S$ loss (through fluid unmixing). Calculated sulfur isotope compositions of ore fluids (${\delta}^{34}S_{{\Sigma}S}=1.7$ to 3.3‰) indicate an igneous source of sulfur in hydrothermal fluids. Measured and calculated O and H isotope compositions of ore fluids (${\delta}^{18}O_{water}=4.8$ to 7.2‰, ${\delta}D_{water}=-73$ to -76‰) indicate that mesothermal auriferous fluids at Bodeok were likely mixtures of $H_2O-rich$, isotopically evolved meteoric waters and magmatic $H_2O-CO_2$ fluids.

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Genetic Environments of Au-Ag-bearing Gasado Hydrothermal Vein Deposit (함 금-은 가사도 열수 맥상광상의 성인)

  • Ko, Youngjin;Kim, Chang Seong;Choi, Sang-Hoon
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.55 no.1
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    • pp.53-61
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    • 2022
  • The Gasado Au-Ag deposit is located within the south-western margin of the Hanam-Jindo basin. The geology of the Gasado is composed of the late Cretaceous volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks and acidic or intermediate igneous rocks. Within the deposit area, there are a number of hydrothermal quartz and calcite veins, formed by narrow open space filling along subparallel fractures in the late Cretaceous volcaniclastic sedimentary rock. Vein mineralization at the Gasado is characterized by several textural varieties such as chalcedony, drusy, comb, bladed, crustiform and colloform. The textures have been used as exploring indicators of the epithermal deposit. Mineral paragenesis can be divided into two stages (stage I, ore-bearing quartz veins; stage II, barren carbonate veins) considering major tectonic fracturing event. Stage I, at which the precipitation of Au-Ag bearing 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 and pyrrhotite with minor chalcopyrite, sphalerite and electrum; middle, characterized by introduction of electrum and base-metal sulfides with minor argentite; late, marked by argentite and native silver. Au-Ag-bearing mineralization at the Gasado deposit occurred under the condition between initial high temperatures (≥290℃) and later lower temperatures (≤130℃). Changes in stage I vein mineralogy reflect decreasing temperature and fugacity of sulfur (≈10-10.1 to ≤10-18.5atm) by evolution of the Gasado hydrothermal system with increasing paragenetic time. The Gasado deposit may represents an epithermal gold-silver deposit which was formed near paleo-surface.

Hydrothermal Alteration and Its Cenetic Implication in the Casado Volcanic-hosted Epithermal Cold-Silver Deposit: Use in Exploration (가사도 화산성 천열수 금은광상의 열수변질대 분포 및 성인: 탐사에의 적용)

  • 김창성;최선규;최상훈;이인우
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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    • v.15 no.3
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    • pp.205-220
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    • 2002
  • The gold-silver deposits in the Casado district were formed in the sheeted and stockwork quartz veins which fill the fault fractures in volcanic rocks. K-Ar dating of alteration sericite (about 70 Ma) indicates a Late Cretaceous age for ore mineralization. These veins are composed of quartz, adularia, carbonate, and minor of pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, Ag-sulfosalts (argentite, pearceite, Ag-As-Sb-S system), and electrum. These veins are characterized by chalcedonic, comb, crustiform and feathery textures. Based on the hydrothermally altered mineral assemblages, regional alteration zoning associated with mineralization in the Gasado district is defined as four zones; advanced argillic (kaolin mineral-alunite-quartz), argillic (kaolin mineral-quartz), phyllic (quartz-sericite-pyrite) and propylitic (chlorite-carbonate-quartz-feldspar-pyroxene) zone. Phyllic and propylitic zones is distributed over the study area. However, advanced argillic zone is restricted to the shallow surface of the Lighthouse vein. Compositions of electrum ranges from 14.6 to 53.7 atomic % Au, and the depositional condition for mineralization are estimated in terms of both temperature and sulfur fugacity: T=245。$~285^{\circ}C$, logf $s_2$=$10^{-10}$ ~ $10^{-12}$ Fluid inclusion and stable isotope data show that the auriferous fluids were mixed with cool and dilute (158。~253$^{\circ}C$ and 0.9~3.4 equiv. wt. % NaCl) meteoric water ($\delta^{18}$ $O_{water}$=-10.1~8.0$\textperthousand$, $\delta$D=-68~64$\textperthousand$). These results harmonize with the hot-spring type of the low-sulfidation epithermal deposit model, and strongly suggest that Au-Ag mineralization in the Gasado district was formed in low-sulfidation alteration type environment at near paleo-surface.