Genesis of Kaolin-Pyrophyllite Deposits in the Youngnam Area

영남지역 고령토-납석 광상의 성인 연구

Occurrences of many kaolin-pyrophyllite deposits in the Youngnam area is related to the Late Cretaceous volcanic rocks, which are widely distributed through southern part from Tongnae-Yangsan to Miryang-Wolsung. The mode of occurrence and genesis of the kaolin-pyrophyllite deposits related to the volcanism was studied. This area is covered by andesitic rocks, rhyolite and rhyolitic welded tuff in ascending order. Lower most andesitic part is almost fresh. The altered rocks in the rhyolitic welded tuff can be classified into the following zones: silicified, pyrophyllite-kaolin, and argillic zone from the center part of ore deposit. The clay deposits occur as irregular massive, layer and funnel type about 5~20 m in width and is accompanied by thin diaspore bed outside of ore shoot. The clays chiefly consist of kaolinite, sericite, pyrophyllite, a little amount of diaspore, alunite, dumortierite, corundum and pyrite. The process of kaolinization-pyrophyllitization has a close relation to a local acidic hydrothermal solution originated from granitic rocks. Acidic hydothermal alteration occurrs mainly in the rhyolitic welded tuff. Initial solution containing $H_2S$ and others was oxidized near the surface and formed hydrothermal sulfuric acid solution.