• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.135-145
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• 2023

Aggregate is used to produce stable materials like concrete and asphalt and is fundamental to meet the social needs of housing, industry, road, energy and health. A total of 42.35 billion tons of aggregate were produced in 2021 worldwide, an increase of 0.91% compared to the previous year. Among them, 2 billion tons were produced in China, India, European Union and United States, making up to 71.75% of the share. South Korea has witnessed a constant increase in aggregate production, overtaking Mexico and Japan for seventh place with 390 million tons and 0.85% of the share. The industrial sand and gravel produced globally amounted to 352.66 million tons. The top seven countries with the highest production were China, United States, Netherlands, Italy, India, Turkey and France, and their production exceeded 10 million tons and held a share of 74.69%. Exports of natural rock recorded $21.68 billion in 2021, increased by $2.3 billion compared to the previous year, while exports of artificial rock increased by $2.66 billion to $13.59 billion. Exports of sand reached $1.71 billion with United States, Netherlands, Germany and Belgium being the four countries with the highest exports of sand. The four countries exported more than $100 million in sand and took up 57.70% of the total amount. Exports of gravel totaled $2.75 billion, with China, Norway, Germany, Belgium, France and Austria in the lead, making up to 48.30% of the total share. The aggregate quarry started to surge in the 1950s due to the change in people's lifestyle such as population growth, urbanization and infrastructure delvelopment. Demand for aggregate is also skyrocketing to prevent land reclamation and flood caused by sea-level rise. Demand for aggregate, which was around 24 gigatons in 2011, is expected to double to 55 gigatons in 2060. However, it is likely that aggregate extraction will heavily damage the ecosystem and the world will eventually face a shortage of aggregate followed by tense social conflict.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.119-134
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• 2003

Yuksipryeong two-mica granite presents strongly peraluminous characteristics in both mineralogy and geochemistry. It has high aluminum saturation index with 1.15∼l.20 and high corundum with 2.20∼2.98 wt% CIPW norm. As the color index is <16% and FeO$\^$T/+ MgO + TiO$_2$is average 1.9 wt％, it corresponds to leucogranite. Yuksipryeong two-mica leucogranite shows negative linear trend for TiO$_2$, Al$_2$O$_3$, FeO, Fe$_2$O$_3$, MgO, CaO, K$_2$O, P$_2$O$\_$5/, Rb, Ba, and Sr as SiO$_2$increases, and the positive relation of Zr and Th, which result from feldspar, biotite, apatite and zircon fractionation. Pegmatitic dike has higher SiO$_2$and P$_2$O$\_$5/, but lower another major elements. Yuksipryeong two-mica leucogranite has lower Rb, but higher Ba and Sr than Manaslu, Hercynian two-mica leucogranites, and S-type granites in Lachlan Fold Belt. Pegmatitic dike has higher Rb and Nb but lower Ba, Sr, Zr, Th, and Pb contents than Yuksipryeong two-mica leucogranite, resulting in removing or mobilizing for some trace elements from the granitic melt. Yuksipryeong two-mica leucogranite has total REEs with 95.7∼l23.3 ppm, and chondrite-normalized REE pattern is very steep ((La/Yb)$\_$N/ = 6.9∼24.8), light REEs (LREEs)-enriched End heavy REEs (HREEs)- depleted pattern with low to moderate Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu＊= 0.7∼0.9). While pegmatitic dike has low total REEs with 7.0 ppm, and chondrite-normalized REE pattern is flat-pattern ((La/Yb)$\_$N/ = 2.1) with strong negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu＊= 0.2). The melt compositions having formed two-mica leucogranites depend on not only the source rock but also the amounts of the residual remaining after melting of source rocks. The CaO/Na$_2$O and Rb/Sr-Rb/Ba ratios depend mainly on the composition of source rocks in the strongly peraluminous granite, that is, plagioclase/clay ratio of the source rocks. Yuksipryeong two-mica leucogranite has higher CaO/Na$_2$O and lower Rb/Sr-Rb/Ba ratios than Manaslu and Hercynian two-mica leucogranites (Millevaches and Gueret) derived from clay-rich, plagioclase-poor (polite), which suggest that the probable source rocks for Yuksipryeong two-mica leucogranite is clay-poor, plagioclase-rich quartzofeldspathic rocks. As the concentrations of Al$_2$O$_3$remain nearly constant but those of TiO$_2$increases as increasing temperature in the strong peraluminous melt, the Al$_2$O$_3$/TiO$_2$ratio may reflect relative temperature at which the melts have formed. Comparing the polite-derived Manaslu and Hercynian two- mica leucogranites, Manaslu two-mica leucogranite has higher Al$_2$O$_3$/TiO$_2$ratio than latter, and its melt have formed at relatively lower temperature ($\leq$ 875$^{\circ}C$) than Hercynian two-mica leucogranites. Likewise, comparing the quartzofeldspathic rock-derived granites, Yuksipryeong two-mica granite has higher Al$_2$O$_3$/TiO$_2$, ratio than S-type granites in Lachlan Fold Belt (>875$^{\circ}C$). The melt formed Yuksipryeong two-mica leucogranite are considered to have been formed at temperature at below the maximum 875$^{\circ}C$C$.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.335-349
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• 2014

The Pocheon skarn deposit, located at the northwestern part of the Precambrian Gyeonggi massif in South Korea, occurs at the contact between the Cretaceous Myeongseongsan granite and the Precambrian carbonate rocks, and is also controlled by N-S-trending shear zone. The skarn distribution and mineralogy reflects both structural and lithological controls. Three types of skarn formations based on mineral assemblages in the Pocheon skarn exist; a sodiccalcic skarn and a magnesian skarn mainly developed in the dolostone, and a calcic skarn developed in the limestone. Iron mineralization occurs in the sodic-calcic and magnesian skarn zone, locally superimposed by copper mineralization during retrograde skarn stage. The sodic-calcic skarn is composed of acmite, diopside, albite, garnet, magnetite, maghemite, anhydrite, apatite, and sphene. Retrograde alteration consists of tremolite, phlogopite, epidote, sericite, gypum, chlorite, quartz, calcite, and sulfides. Magnesian skarn mainly consists of diopside and forsterite. Pyroxene and olivine are mainly altered to tremolite, with minor phlogopite, talc, and serpentine. The calcic skarn during prograde stage mainly consists of garnet, pyroxene and wollastonite. Retrograde alteration consists of epidote, vesuvianite, amphibole, biotite, magnetite, chlorite, quartz, calcite, and sulfides. Microprobe analyses indicate that the majority of the Pocheon skarn minerals are enriched by Na-Mg composition and have high $Fe^{3+}/Fe^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}/Fe^{2+}$, and $Al^{3+}/Fe^{2+}$ ratios. Clinopyroxene is acmitic and diopsidic composition, whereas garnet is relatively grossular-rich. Amphiboles are largely of tremolite, pargasite, and magnesian hastingsite composition. The prograde anhydrous skarn assemblages formed at about $400^{\circ}{\sim}500^{\circ}C$ in a highly oxidized environment ($fO_2=10^{-23}{\sim}10^{-26}$) under a condition of about 0.5 kbar pressure and $X(CO_2)=0.10$. With increasing fluid/rock interaction during retrograde skarn, epidote, amphibole, sulfides and calcite formed as temperature decreased to approximately $250^{\circ}{\sim}400^{\circ}C$ at $X(CO_2)=0.10$.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.265-278
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• 2011

Clayey ores of the Jeonnam province mainly consist of pyrophyllite (monoclinic), kaolinite (1T), and minor amounts of quartz, muscovite, and feldspars. Mineralogical studies revealed that two kinds of clay minerals were mainly produced from the volcanic sediments with similar ages and compositions. Kaolinite deposits sometimes contain neither diaspore nor corundum, but alunites are often found in the upper portions of the kaolin ore bodies. On the other hand, corundum and diaspore are commoner in the pyrophyllite deposits than the kaolin deposits. As ages of rock formations are becoming younger, amounts of pyrophyllite and kaolinite are rather radically decreased, and finally disappeared. But muscovite, quartz, and plagioclase feldspars are inclined to be preserved because of weak alteration. Most of clay ore bodies contain purple tuff beds on the uppermost portion, and silicified beds, tuff, and lapillistone are found in an ascending order in the most of clay quarries. Chemical analyses show that higher contents of $Al_2O_3$ might not necessarily be due to the argillization, since some tuffs contain higher $Al_2O_3$ contents originated from feldspars. $SiO_2$ contents are fairly higher in the silicified beds than in those of adjacent formations, which might have been introduced from the ore bodies. And $K_2O$ contents are obviously lower than those of $Na_2O$ and CaO in the ores and their vicinities. Ignition losses of some of clays represent much higher contents than those of the ordinary ones because of the sporadic presence of alunite, diaspore and corundum which are accompanied with lots of $SO_4$ and $Al_2O_3$ contents. REE (rare earth element) abundances of most of volcanics and clay ores show rather higher LREE (light rare earth elements) contents, and represent small to moderately negative Eu anomalies. Though most of ores ususally show milky white color, fine-grained and well bedded formations which could be easily discernible in the most of outcrop. But more distinct characteristics are desirable where rather massive ore bodies exist. Purple tuffs and silicified beds above the ore bodies would be useful as marker horizons/key beds since they have rather obvious lithology, extension and mineralogy than those of other adjacent formations.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.3 s.178
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• pp.329-342
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to determine the geochemical characteristics for the stream sediments in the Konyang area. So we can estimate the environment contamination and understand geochemical disaster. We collect the stream sediments samples by wet sieving along the primary channels and slowly dry the collected samples in the laboratory and grind to pass a 200mesh using an alumina mortar and pestle for chemical analysis. Mineralogy, major, trace and rare earth elements are determined by XRD, XRE, ICP-AES and NAA analysis methods. For geochemical characteristics on the geological groups of stream sediments, the studied area was grouped into quartz porphyry area, sedimentary rock area, anorthosite area and gneiss area. Contents of major elements for the stream sediments in the Konyang area were $SiO_2\;41.86{\sim}76.74\;wt.%,\;Al_{2}O_{3}\;9.92{\sim}30.00\;wt.%,\;Fe_{2}O_{3}\;2.74{\sim}12.68\;wt.%,\;CaO\;0.22{\sim}3.31\;wt.%,\;MgO\;0.34{\sim}3.97\;wt.%,\;K_{2}O\;0.75{\sim}0.93\;wt.%,\;Na_{2}O\;0.25{\sim}1.92\;wt.%,\;TiO_{2}\;0.40{\sim}3.00\;wt.%,\;MnO\;0.03{\sim}0.21\;wt.%,\;P_{2}O_{5}\;0.05{\sim}0.38\;wt.%$. The contents of trace and rare earth elements for the stream sediments were $Cu\;7{\sim}102\;ppm,\;Pb\;15{\sim}47\;ppm,\;Sr\;48{\sim}513\;ppm,\;V\;29{\sim}129\;ppm,\;Zr\;31{\sim}217\;ppm,\;Li\;14{\sim}94\;ppm,\;Co\;5.6{\sim}32.1\;ppm,\;Cr\;23{\sim}259\;ppm,\;Cs\;1.7{\sim}8.7\;ppm,\;Hf\;2.1{\sim}109.0\;ppm,\;Rb\;34{\sim}247\;ppm,\;Sc\;4.5{\sim}21.9\;ppm,\;Zn\;24{\sim}609\;ppm,\;Sb\;0.8{\sim}2.6\;ppm,\;Th\;3{\sim}213\;ppm,\;Ce\;22{\sim}1000\;ppm,\;Eu\;0.7{\sim}5.3\;ppm,\;Yb\;0.6{\sim}6.4\;ppm$. Generally, the contents of $Al_{2}O_{3}\;and\;SiO_2$ had a good relationships with each other in rocks but it had a bad relationships in stream sediments for this study area. The contents of $Fe_{2}O_3$, CaO, MnO and $P_{2}O_{5}$ had a good relationships with major and minor elements in stream sediments of this study area. The contents of Co and V in the stream sediments had a good relationships with other toxic elements.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1993

A study was carried out to investigate the genesis and mineralogical characteristics of clay minerals in three different types of soil derived from the gray shale distributed in Kyeongbuk Province in Korea. The soils have been developed from parent materials of residuum (Daegu series, Sirye series), colluvium(Banho series), and alluvium (Bigog series) of the same origin of parent rock with a topographical sequence. The investigation mainly focussed on the mineralogical aspects of primary minerals of asnd and silt fractions, identification and quantification of clay minerals, and characterization of hydroxy-interlayered mineral (HIM) along with their chemical composition. The identification was done through analyses of chemical, X-ray diffraction, and thermal methods. The major clay minerals in the soils are illite, vermiculite, kaolin and HIM, while chlorite and mixed layer minerals such as illite/chlorite and illite/vermiculite were coexisted as a subsidiary minerals. The distribution of clay minerals, however, varies according to the location and types of parent material. In the soils derived from the parent material of residuum, the upper soil (Daegu series) shows higher of 2:1 type minerals such as illite, vermiculite, and HIM than 1:1 type mineral rich in the lower soil(Sirye series). Soils developed from the parent material of colluvium and alluvium were high in illlte and mixed layer minerals, but low in HIM compared with the residual soils. The predominant weathering sequence of the clay minerals in each soil could be inferred as follows according to the minerlogical distribution and quantification of clay minerals : Daegu series, illite ${\rightarrow}$ vermiculite ${\rightarrow}$ HIM ; Sirye series, vermiculite ${\rightarrow}$ kaolin minerals ; Banho sereies and Bigog series, illite ${\rightarrow}$ illlte/vermiculite and/or illite/chlorlte mixed layer ${\rightarrow}$ vermiculite.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.53-64
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• 2020

The Samgwang deposit has been one of the largest deposits in Korea. The deposit consists of series of host rocks including Precambrian metasedimentary rocks and Jurassic Baegunsa formation, which unconformably overlies the Precambrian metasedimentary rocks. The deposit consists of eight lens-shaped quartz veins which filled fractures along fault zones in Precambrian metasedimentary rock, which feature suggest that it is an orogenic-type deposit. Laminated quartz veins are common in the deposit which contain minerals including quartz, ankerite, white mica, chlorite, apatite, rutile, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena. The structural formulars of white micas from laminated quartz vein and wallrock alteration are determined to be (K_1.02-0.82Na_0.02-0.00Ca_0.00)(Al_1.73-1.58Mg_0.26-0.16Fe_0.23-0.10Mn_0.00Ti_0.03-0.01Cr_0.01-0.00)(Si_3.35-3.22Al_0.79-0.65)O₁₀(OH)₂ and (K_0.75-0.67Na_0.01Ca_0.00) (Al_1.78-1.74Mg_0.16-0.15Fe_0.15-0.13Mn_0.00Ti_0.04-0.02Cr_0.01-0.00)(Si_3.33-3.26Al_0.74-0.67)O₁₀(OH)₂, respectively. It suggest that white mica from laminated quartz vein has higher interlayer cation (K+Na+Ca) and Fe+Mg+Mn+Ti content in octahedral site compared to the white mica from the wallrock alteration. Compositional variations in white mica from laminated quartz vein can be caused by phengitic or Tschermark substitution ((Al³⁺)^VI+(Al³⁺)^IV <-> (Fe²⁺ or Mg²⁺)^VI)+(Si⁴⁺)^IV) and (Fe³⁺)^VI <-> (Al³⁺)^VI substitution. Ankerite from laminated quartz vein has compositional variations of FeO and MgO contents along crystal growth direction. The geochemical and textural features suggest that laminated quartz vein from the Samgwang gold-silver deposit was formed during ductile shear stage, which is an important main gold-silver ore-forming event in orogeinc deposit.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.299-316
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• 2002

The Samkwang gold-silver deposits consist of gold-silver-bearing hydrothermal massive quartz veins which filled the fractures along fault shear (NE, NW) zones within Precambrian banded or granitic gneiss of Gyeonggi massif. Ore mineralization of this deposits occurred within a single stage of quartz vein which was formed by multiple episodes of fracturing and healing. Based on vein mineralogy and paragenesis, massive quartz veins are divided into two main paragenetic stages which are separated by a major faulting event. Main ore mineralization occurred at stage I. Wall-rock alteration from this deposits occur as mainly sericitization, chloritization, silicification and minor amounts of pyritization, carbonitization, propylitization and argillitization. Ore minerals are composed mainly of arsenopyrite (29.21-32.24 As atomic %), pyrite, sphalerite (6.45-13.82 FeS mole %), chalcopyrite, galena with minor amounts of pyrrhotite, marcasite, electmm (39.98-66.82 Au atomic %) and argentite. Systematic studies of fluid inclusions in early quartz veins and microcracks indicate two contrasting physical-chemical conditions: 1). temperature (215-345$^{\circ}$C) and pressure (1296-2022 bar) event with $H_{2}O-CO_{2}-CH_{4}-NaCl$fluids (0.8-6.3 wt. %) related to the early sulfide deposition, 2). temperature (203-441$^{\circ}$C) and pressure (320 bar) event with $H2_{O}$-NaCI $\pm$ $CO_{2}$ fluids (5.7-8.8 wt. %) related to the late sulfide and electrum assemblage. The H20-NaCI $\pm$ $CO_{2}$ fluids represent fluids evolved through fluid unmixing of an $H_{2}O-CO_{2}-CH_{4}-NaCl$fluids due to decreases in fluid pressure and influenced of deepcirculated meteoric waters possibly related to uplift and unloading of the mineralizing suites. Calculated sulfur isotope compositions (${\delta}^{34}S_{fluid}$) of hydrothermal fluids (1.8-4.9$\textperthousand$) indicate that ore sulfur was derived from an igneous source. Measured and calculated oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions (${\delta}^{18}O_{I120}$, ${\delta}D$) of ore fluids (-5.9~10.9$\textperthousand$, -102~-87$\textperthousand$) indicate that mesothermal auriferous fluids at Samkwang gold-silver deposits were likely mixtures of $H_{2}O$-rich, isotopically less evolved meteoric water and magmatic fluids.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.537-549
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• 2007

The characteristics of the mineralization and geology in the northern Mt. Taebaek mining district are found to be similar with those reported from Nevada district where the Carlin-type gold deposit occurs characteristically as repeated metallic ore deposits in space and time. Though two spots of hs and several spots of Sb anomalies were recognized in the Yeongweol area, they have no relationship with any metalliferous mineralization. On the other hand, two spots of As anomaly in the Jeongseon area have shown to be related with metalliferous ore deposits (mainly Ag-Au), and they are closely associated with Sb anomaly. Some elements of altered limestones in the study such as Au, Ag, As, Sb, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Mo area are closely associated together, and are more enriched in the Jeongseon area than in the Yeongweol area. In particular, Sb and As which may reflect the occurrence of the Carlin-type gold deposit are highly enriched. However, the base metals such af Zn and Pb are highly variable according to samples. The patterns of the enrichment factor for Sb and As, as well as those for Ag and Au, are very similar with those reported from the Carlin-type gold deposits in Nevada. These similarities in elemental distribution may imply that hydrothermal ore mineralization in the study areas was possibly originated from a fluid with the characteristics of the Carlin-type gold mineralization found in Nevada, China, and Indonesia. However, the pattern of base metals and Mo are different. This may result from different chemistry and/or mineralogy of host rock in the study areas.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.325-340
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• 2017

The Seongdo Pb-Zn deposit, located in the northwestern part of the Ogcheon Metamorphic Belt, consists of skarn ore replacing limestone within the Hwajeonri Formation of Ogcheon Group and hydrothermal vein ore filling the fracture of host rock. Skarn minerals comprise mostly hedenbergitic pyroxene, garnet displaying oscillatory zonal texture composed of grossular and andradite, and a small amount of wollastonite, tremolite, and epidote, indicating reducing condition of formation. Ore minerals of skarn ore include sphalerite and galena with a small amount of pyrite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite. In hydrothermal vein ore, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite occur with a small amount of galena, native Bi, and stannite. Chemical compositions of sphalerite vary from 17.4 mole% FeS in average for dark grey sphalerite, 3.6 mole% for reddish brown sphalerite in skarn ore, and to 10.3 mole% FeS in hydrothermal vein ore. In comparison with representative metallic deposits in South Korea on the FeS-MnS-CdS diagram, skarn and hydrothermal vein ore plot close to the field of Pb-Zn deposits and Au-Ag deposits, respectively. Arsenic contents of arsenopyrite in hydrothermal vein ore decrease from 31.93~33.00 at.% in early stage to 29.58~30.21 at.% in middle stage, and their corresponding mineralizing temperature and sulfur fugacity are $441{\sim}490^{\circ}C$, $10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-4.5}atm$. and $330{\sim}364^{\circ}C$, <$10^{-8}atm$. respectively. Phase equilibrium temperatures calculated from Fe and Zn contents for coexisting sphalerite and stannite in hydrothermal vein are $236{\sim}254^{\circ}C$. Sulfur isotope compositions are 5.4~7.2‰ for skarn ore and 5.4~8.4‰ for hydrothermal vein ore, being similar or slightly higher to magmatic sulfur, suggesting that ore sulfur was mostly of magmatic origin with partial derivation from host rocks. However, much higher sulfur isotope equilibrium temperatures of $549^{\circ}C$와 $487^{\circ}C$, respectively for skarn ore and hydrothermal ore, than those estimated from phase equilibria imply that isotopic equilibrium has not been fully established.