• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.265-277
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• 2015

Hydrothermal alteration patterns and environment are studied by mineral assemblages and chemical analyses of surface and core samples from Miryang pyrophyllite deposit. The alteration zones of this deposit can be divided into three zones on the basis of mineral assemblage; advanced argillic, phyllic, and propylitic zone. Advanced argillic zone mainly consists of pyrophyllite-dickite (-quartz) and corresponds to principal mining ore. The common mineral assemblage of phyllic zone and propylitic zone are sericite-quartz-dickite and chlorite-quartz, respectively. Horizontal and vertical alteration patterns and major element geochemistry indicate that pyrophyllite ores have been formed several times by hydrothermal alteration. And it also suggests that the huge ore bodies may be extended from the deeper part of recent quarries to the south-southeastern direction. The paragenesis of ore minerals and polytype (2M) suggest that ore deposit was formed at about $300-350^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.377-393
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• 2010

Pumiceous tuffs occurring in the Beomgockri Group are examined applied-mineralogical characteristics and their controling factors to evaluate their potentials as the adsorption-functional mineral resources. The pumiceous tuffs are diagenetically altered to low-grade zeolitcs and bentonites in the Janggi area. Compositional specialty due to the presence of pumice fragments induces the altered tuffs to exhibit the characteristic adsorption property combined with cation exchange capacity, specific surface area, and acidic pH. Unusual lower pH in the adsorption-functional mineral substances is turned out to be originated from the presence of H-smectite having $H^+$ in the interlayer site of the sheet structure. On account of disordered crystallinity resulting from the exchanged $H^+$ in the interlayer site, the smectite commonly forms crenulated edges in the planar crystal form and exhibits characteristic X-ray diffraction patterns showing comparatively lower intensities of basal spacings including (001) peak than conventional Ca-smectite. Based on the interpretation of paragenetic relations and precursor of the H-smectite, a genetic model of the peculiar clay mineral was proposed. The smectite formation may be facilitated resulting from the precipitation of opal-CT at decreasing pH condition caused by the release of H+ during diagenetic alteration of pumice fragments. Because of the acidic smectite, the low-grade mineral resources from the Beomgockri Group may be applicable to the adsorption industry as the raw materials of acid clays and bed-soil.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.73-84
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• 2010

Gold and silver deposits within the Eunjeok and Sangeun mines are located in Yeongam district, Cheollanamdo-province. They are composed of vein ore bodies infilling the fractures of Cretaceous rhyolitic tuff. The Eunjeok mine have three gold and silver bearing hydrothermal veins which is infilling the fracture of rhyolitic tuff. Major ore minerals within the Eunjeok and Sangeun mines are arsenopyrite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena and minor ores are electrum, native silver and argentite. Sericitization is dominant in alteration zone and chloritization and dickitization is minor. Quartz veins in the Eunjeok and Sangeun mine have the similar paragenesis and vein textures such like breccia, crustiform, comb and vuggy morphology indicating the formation of typical epithermal environment. In order to carry out the preliminary feasibility study of mine according to the commodity and elucidate the occurrence features of mineral resources from Eunjeok and Sangeun mine, common commodity (Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mo, W, Au and U), and industrial commodity (In, Re, Ga, Ge, Se, Te, Y, Eu and Sm) for 17 ore specimen were analyzed. It is tentatively thought that there is no exploitable mine for iron, lead, zinc, copper, tungsten and uranium based on the preliminary result. If the reserves are secured through the detailed prospecting in case of molybdenum and silver, it is tentatively thought that there will be exploitable deposits depending on international metal price. If we assume the vein width from 0.25 m to 2 m including alteration zone with the gold grade of 80g/t, it is inferred that the resources amount of the Eunjeok-Sangeun mines range from 6.5 to 65ton. However, as the vein structure of the Eunjeok and Sangeun mines is developed together with alteration zone, it should be estimated to include potential alteration zone in order to yield the average grade. It is needed to carry out more exploration in the near future because the reserves can be flexibly estimated according to the change of average grade considering the alteration zone.

• 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.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 1987

The Cheolam silver deposits are emplaced along the fractures in breccia dike and the Hongjesa granite. Breccia dike contains fragments of late Cretaceous acidic volcanic rocks and other fragments of various rocks distributed in the mine area. Therefore it is presumed that the mineralization was taken place in later than late Cretaceous time. Mineral paragenesis is complicated by multiple episodes of fracturing. Six distinct depositional stages can be recognized: stage I, deposition of base metal sulfides; stage II, deposition of base metal sulfides and silver minerals; stage III, deposition of carbonates; stage IV, deposition of silver minerals and base metal sulfides; stage V, deposition of silver minerals; stage VI, deposition of barren quartz. Silver minerals from the deposits are native silver, acanthite, pyrargyrite, argentian tetrahedrite, stephanite, polybasite, pearceite, allargentum, antimonial silver and electrum. Fluid inclusion studies ware carried out for stage I, II, IV and VI quartz and stage III calcite. Homogenization temperatures for each stage are as follows: stage I, from $225^{\circ}$ to $360^{\circ}C$; stage II, from $145^{\circ}$ to $220^{\circ}C$; stage III, from $175^{\circ}$ to $240^{\circ}C$; stage IV, from $130^{\circ}$ to $185^{\circ}C$; stage VI, from $120^{\circ}$ to $145^{\circ}C$. Salinities of ore fluids were in the range of 4 and 10 wt.% equivalent NaCl over stage I and stage VI. Ore mineralogical data of each stage indicate that temperatures are within the range of homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions and sulfur fugacities declined steadily from $10^{-9.7}atm$. to $10^{-18.7}atm$. through stage I into stage V.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1998

In Pohang area, basaluminite accompanying a little amounts of hydrobasalumnite, super-genetically occurs as whitish cryptocrystalline (2-4 $\mu\textrm{m}$) clay-like aggregates in the vicinity of altered carbonate concretions embedded within mudstones of the Tertiary Yeonil Group. A hydrobasaluminite changed readily into a basaluminite at room temperature in air, and, in turn, into a metabasaluminite when heating to 150$^{\circ}$~30$0^{\circ}C$. For the basaluminite, a monoclinic unit-cellparameters (a=14.845$\AA$, b=10.006$\AA$, c=11.082$\AA$, $\beta$=122.15$^{\circ}$) were calculated by X-ray powder diffraction data. Its basal reflections (001 and 002) are XRD analyses strongly indicate that the aluminum sulphate mineral has a layer structure and, at least, three types of water, i.e., (1) interlayer water (9.0 wt %), (2) crystal water (8.0 wt %), and (3) structural water (19.0 wt %). may present in its lattice. Based on TG-DTG data combined with EDS and IR analyses, a new chemical formula of Al5SO4(OH)134H2O was given to the basaluminite. Field occurrence and stable isotope data ($\delta$18O, $\delta$D, $\delta$34S) for the basaluminite seem to reflect that it was formed by the leached meteoric solution from surrounding mudstones during or after uplifting. An interaction of the acid solution with carbonate concretion and the resultant local neutralization of the fluid rich in Al3+ and SO42- are major controls on the basaluminite formation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.157-173
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• 1974

The Red Hill deposit of the Dongjom Copper Mine is the most promising deposit of the mine and under intensive exploration at present although there are eight more deposits of vein type. With total 2160m drilling of 9 holes completed and 400m drilling on two holes underway, the nature of the Red Hill deposit has come more clear. The copper content in the whole ore body is meager so far as the exploration done up to present indicates, but there are evidences that mineralization covers all over the granodiorite cupola at the Red Hill area. The petrological work and assay on the samples taken by the writers indicate that granodiorite rocks can be divided into fresh zone and alteration zone. Alteration zone consists of potassic and argillic zones accompanyied by silicification zone on basis of Lowell and Guilbert model Argillic zone has closely related with a mineralization in the Red Hill deposit. It has been cleared that the alteration acompanyied with the mineralization took place not only &long vertical fissures but also in the irregular lateral zone, the nature of which is unknown. Judging from the results of exploration and petrochemical study on the Red Hill deposit which is imbedded in a southern part of the granodiorite cupola, it can be concluded by the writer's opinion that the Red Hill deposit is possibly a porphyry copper deposit, because the shape of the ore body, mineral zoning and paragenesis and wall rock alteration resemble to those of typical porphyry copper deposits. It is the writers' opinion that more exploration work is required so as to evaluate the deposit.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.49-63
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• 2003

Rare and unusual occurrence of hydrothermal minerals were found in Geode mine area. They are developed in the late stage of hydrothermal alteration of earlier skarns and later by the open-space filling crystallization. The alteration of earlier skarns of clinopyroxene, garnet, and plagioclase formed mainly chlorite or sometimes uncommon hydrothermal minerals of prehnite, illite, and pumpellyite. Open-space filling crystallization characterized by hydrothermal minerals developedin open sapce or good are prehnite, pumpellyite, clinozoisite, illite, and Ca-zeolites of stilbite annstellerite. Mineral phases and paragenesis are examined in detail by microscopy, XRD, SEM, and EPMA. Using the Schreinemaker's method, equibrium reactions among these minerals are establishedand isothemal-isobaric phase diagrams of $\mu$$H_2O$-$\mu$$CO_2$cot are plotted. Hydrothermal minerals such asprehnite, pumpellyite, clinozoisite, illite, and some chlorite were ffrmed under high partial pressure of $CO_2$with relatively low $H_2$O fugacity. Later, stilbite and calcite in association with illite crystallized under relatively both high partial Pressure of $CO_2$and high $H_2$O fugacity.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.99-114
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• 2004

Mineralogical characteristics of fracture-filling minerals from deep borehole in the Yuseong area were studied for the radioactive waste disposal project. There are many fracture zones in the deep drill holes of the Yuseong granite, which was locally affected by the hydrothermal alteration. According to the results of hole rock analysis of drill core samples, $SiO_2$ contents are distinctly decreased, whereas $Al_2$$O_3$ and CaO contents and L.O.I. values are increased in the -90 m∼-130 m and -230 m∼-250 m zone, which is related to the formations of filling minerals. Fracture-filling minerals mainly consist of zeolite minerals (laumontite and heulandite), calcite, illite ($2M_1$ and 1Md polytypes), chlorite, epidote and kaolinite. The relative frequency of occurrence among the fracture-filling minerals is calcite zeolite mineral > illite > epidote chlorite kaolinite. Judging from the SEM observation and EPMA analysis, there is no systematic change in the texture and chemical composition of the fracture-filling minerals with depth. In the study area, low temperature hydrothermal alteration was overlapped with water-rock interactions for a long geological time through the fracture zone developed in the granite body. Therefore the further study on the origin and paragenesis of the fracture-filling minerals are required.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2011

The Geopung Cu deposit consists of two subparallel quartz veins that till the NE-trending fissures in Triassic Cheongsan granite. The quartz veins occur mainly massive with partially cavity and breccia. They can be followed along strike for about 500 m and varies in thickness from 0.2 to 2.2 m. Based on the mineralogy and paragenesis of veins, mineralization of quartz veins can be divided into hypogene and supergene stages. Hypogene stage is associated with hydrothermal alteration minerals such as sericite, pyrite, quartz, chlorite, clay minerals and sulfides such as pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, marcasite, sphalerite, stannite, chalcopyrite and galena. Supergene stage is composed of geothite. Fluid inclusion data from quartz indicate that homogenization temperatures and salinity of hypogene stage range from 163 to $356^{\circ}C$ and from 0.2 to 7.2 wt.% eq. NaCl, respectively. They suggest that ore forming fluids were progressively cooled and diluted from mixing with meteoric water. Sulfur (${\delta}^{34}S$: 4.3~9.2‰) 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 (${\delta}^{18}O$: 0.9~4.0‰) and hydrogen (${\delta}D$: -86~-69‰) isotope compositions suggest that magmatic and meteoric ore fluids were equally important for the formation of the Geopung Cu deposit and then overlapped to some degree with another type of meteoric water during mineralization.