Abstract
Contrasts in the style of the gold-silver mineralization in geologic and tectonic settings in Korea, together with radiometric age data, reflect the genetically different nature of hydrothermal activities, coinciding with the emplacement age and depth of Mesozoic magmatic activities. It represents a clear distinction between the plutonic settings of the Jurassic Daebo orogeny and the subvolcanic environments of the Cretaceous Bulgugsa igneous activities. During the Daebo igneous activities (c.a. 200-150 (?) Ma) coincident with orogenic time, gold mineralization took place between c.a. 195 and 135 (127 ?) Ma. The Jurassic Au deposits commonly show several characteristics; prominent association with pegmatites, low Ag/hu ratios in the ore-concentrating parts, massive vein morphology and a distinctively simple mineralogy including Fe-rich sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, Au-rich electrum, pyrrhotite and/or pyrite. During the Bulgugsa igneous activities $(110\~50Ma)$, the precious-metal deposits are generally characterized by such features as complex vein morphology, medium to high AE/AU ratios in the ore concentrates, and diversity of ore minerals including base-metal sulfides, pyrite, arsenopyrite, Ag-rich electrum and native silver nth Ag sulfides, Ag-Sb-As sulfosalts and Ag tellurides. Vein morphology, mineralogical, fluid inclusion and stable isotope results indicate the diverse genetic natures of hydrothermal systems in Korea. The Jurassic Au-dominant deposits (orogenic type) were formed at the relatively high temperature $(about\;300^{\circ}\;to\;450^{\circ}C)$ and deep-crustal level $(4.0{\pm}1.5\;kb)$ from the hydrothermal fluids containing more amounts of magmatic waters $(\delta\;^{18}O_{H2O}\;5\~10\%_{\circ})$. It can. It can be explained by the dominant ore-depositing mechanisms as $CO_2$ boiling and sulfidation, suggestive of hypo- to mesothermal environments. In contrast, the Cretaceous Au-dominant $(l13\~68\;Ma),\;Au-Ag \;(108\~47\;Ma)$ and Ag-dominant $(103\~45\;Ma)$ deposits, which correspond to volcanic-plutonic-related type, occurred at relatively low temperature $(about\;200^{\circ}\;to\;350^{\circ}C)$ and shallow-crustal level $(1.0\{pm}0.5\;kb)$ from the ore-forming fluids containing more amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters$(\delta\;^{18}O_{H2O}\;-10\~5\%_{\circ})$. These characteristics of the Cretaceous precious-metal deposits can be attributed to the complexities in the ore-precipitating mechanisms (mixing, boiling, cooling), suggestive of epi- to mesothermal environments. Therefore, the differences of the emplacement depth between the Daebo and the Bulgugsa igneous activities directly influence the unique temporal and spatial association of the deposit styles.
