Economic and Environmental Geology (자원환경지질)

The Korean Society of Economic and Environmental Geology (대한자원환경지질학회)
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Genesis of Bonanza-style Ores in Uichang Area, Changwon City: Geochemical Interpretation by Reaction Path Modeling

창원시 의창지역 보난자형 금광상 성인 : 반응경로 모델링에 의한 지구화학적 해석

  • Lee, Seung-han (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Pukyong National University) ;
  • No, Sang-gun (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resoures) ;
  • Park, Maeng-Eon (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Pukyong National University)
  • 이승한 (부경대학교 지구환경과학과) ;
  • 노상건 (한국지질자원연구원) ;
  • 박맹언 (부경대학교 지구환경과학과)
  • Received : 2017.03.28
  • Accepted : 2017.04.28
  • Published : 2017.04.28
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Abstract

Gold mineralization of Samjeong and Yongjang gold mines in Uichang area shows characteristics of Bonanza-type gold deposits. Ores are mainly developed along the contact parts between quartz vein and arkosic sandstone beds(Fe-rich bed) in sedimentary rock. Electrum, silver sulfide and sulfate minerals are mainly in the ores. On the other hand, gold mineralization is less developed in cherty rock and andesitic rock than arkosic sandstone. The study highlights characteristics of gold precipitation in the deposit on the basis of numerical modelling of the reactions between the assumed hydrothermal ore fluids with multicomponent heterogeneous equilibrium calculations. Aqueous species, gases and minerals, containing electrum are included in the calculations. The reaction result between hydrothermal ore fluids and arkosic sandstone show that pH increasing in the ore-forming fluid would trigger precipitation of quartz, chlorite, sericite, chalcopyrite, galena, pyrite, electrum, actinolite and feldspar. The numerical modelling also illustrates the drastic increase of pH and desulfidation lead to precipitation of electrum. Ag/Au ratios in the ore vary with pH conditions and subsequently precipitation of silver-bearing sulfides such as acanthite and polybasite. The modelling of the reaction between andesitic rock and ore-forming fluid shows that mineral assemblages of the case are analogous to ones of the reaction between arkosic sandstone and fluid except the latter has little portion of electrum. The abovementioned modelling results suggest that gold-silver mineralization is bounded by host rocks at the study area.

의창지역의 삼정광산과 용장광산의 금광화작용은 보난자(Bonanza)형 금광상의 특성을 나타낸다. 광상은 퇴적암 내의 장석질 사암과 석영맥의 접촉부에서 주로 산출되며, 금과 은을 함유하는 광물은 에렉트럼과 더불어 은황화광물 및 황산염광물로 산출된다. 반면, 광상의 모암이 쳐트질 암석과 안산암인 경우에는 금광화작용이 장석질 사암의 경우보다 미약하게 발달된다. 이 연구에서는 금의 침전 특성을 파악하기 위하여 열수용액과 장석질 사암 및 안산암간의 수치모델링에 의한 다성분 다상계 평형계산을 실시하였다. 모델링에서는 함금은 광물인 에렉트럼 및 수용액상 또는 기상 원소들이 사용되었다. 반응경로 모델링 결과, pH가 증가함에 따라 석영, 녹니석, 견운모, 황동석, 방연석, 황철석, 에렉트럼, 양기석과 장석이 침전되었다. 또한, 에렉트럼은 모암과 광화용액 간의 반응에 의한 급격한 pH 증가와 탈황화작용에 의해 침전되었음을 확인하였다. 금 은비는 용액의 pH 조건이나 아칸다이트와 폴리바사이트와 같은 은황화 광물 침전에 의해 변화되었다. 한편, 안산암과 열수용액과의 반응에서 침전된 광물은 열수용액과 장석질 사암과의 반응에서 침전된 광물과 유사하지만 상대적으로 적은 양의 에렉트럼이 침전되었다. 이러한 연구결과로 미루어 볼 때 의창지역 보난자형 금광화작용의 부광대는 모암 규제에 의해 형성되었다고 판단된다.

Keywords

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