• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.202-208
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• 2021

Induced polarization (IP) was first published in a Korean academic journal in 1973, and it was soon applied to coal and metal ore exploration. Then, in universities and research institutes, IP modeling studies using the finite element approach and experimental studies on IP responses for artificial samples were conducted. In the mid-1980s, the spectral IP (SIP) measurement module was introduced to Korea, and physical scale modeling and inversion approaches were developed. Due to the decline of the mineral resource industry, this method was not actively applied. However, the SIP method was not applied In the 1990s, IP exploration was applied in the investigation of hydrothermal deposits of sulfide minerals and bentonite mineralization zones, as well as to areas where the groundwater was contaminated by intruding seawater. In the 2000s, three-dimensional inversion of the IP approach was developed, and high-precision geophysical exploration was required to secure domestic and overseas mineral resources, so SIP experiments on rock samples and approaches for field exploration were developed. The SIP approach was proven useful for the exploration of metal deposits containing sulfide minerals by applying it to explore the mineralization zone of gold-silver deposits in the Haenam region. The IP method is considered to be effective in exploring critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, and nickel) in high-tech industries. It also is expected to be useful for environmental and geotechnical investigations.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.25-38
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• 2001

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 (about 200-130 Ma) coincident with orogenic time, gold mineralization took place between 197 and 127 Ma. The Jurassic deposits commonly show several characteristics: prominent association with pegmatites, low Ag/Au ratios in the ore-concentrating parts, massive vein morphology and a distinctively simple mineralogy including Fe-rich sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, Au-rich eIectrum. pyrrhotite and/or pyrite. During the Bulgugsa igneous activities (120-60 Ma), the precious-metal deposits are generally characterized by such features as complex vein morphology, medium to high AgiAu ratios in the ore concentrates, and abundance of ore minerals including base-metal sulfides, Ag sulfides, native silver, Ag sulfosalts and Ag tellurides. Vein morphology, mineralogical, fluid inclusion and stable isotope results indicate the diverse genetic natures of hydrothermal systems. The Jurassic Au-dominant deposits were formed at the relatively high temperature (about 300 to 450$^{\circ}$C) and deep-crustal level (>3.0 kb) from the hydrothermal fluids containing more amounts of magmatic waters (3180; 5-10 %0). It can be explained by the dominant ore-depositing mechanisms as CO2 boiling and sulfidation, suggestive of hypo/mesothermal environments. In contrast, mineralization of the Cretaceous Au-Ag type (108-71 Ma) and Agdominant type (98-71 Ma) occurred at relatively low temperature (about 200 to 350$^{\circ}$C) and shallow-crustal level «1.0 kb) from the ore-fonning fluids containing more amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters (15180; -10-5%0). These characteristics of the Cretaceous precious-metal deposits can be attributed to the complexities in the ore-precipitating mechanisms (mixing, boiling, cooling), suggestive of epilmesothermal 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 type.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.257-268
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• 2003

The Cretaceous magmatism in the Gyeongsang Basin, Korea, led to the formation of two contrasting metallogenic provinces: the Haman-Gunbug-Goseong(-Changwon) (HGGC) and the Euiseong (EU). The mineralization in the HGGC metallogenic province represents copper, gold and iron of porphyry-related deposits that display close relationships in time and space with subvolcanic granitoids. Much of copper-gold-forming events in this province are consistently constrained to the period between ca. 89 and 81 Ma. The hydrothermal systems of copper-gold vein deposits in the HGGC province are associated with ore-forming fluids of high to intermediate temperature (300∼50$0^{\circ}C$) with high salinity (20∼55 equiv. wt. % NaCl). The ore-forming fluids become progressively more diluted by the incorporation of decreased quantities of magmatic water further from the nearby intrusion, suggesting significant input and fluid mixing of a meteoric water component to the magmatic fluids during the late stage of geothermal systems. In contrast, the EU metallogenic province is characterized by polymetallic vein deposits that are consistently constrained to a period of 78∼60 Ma. The geothermal systems of polymetallic vein deposits in the EU province are derived from a narrow range of intermediate temperature (200∼40$0^{\circ}C$) with relatively low salinity(1∼7 equiv. wt.% NaCl). It may represent a mixed fluid of magmatic and meteoric waters. The base-metal mineralization in the Gyeongsang Basin shows a close spatial and temporal distinction between the proximal environment derived from shallow-level granitoids in the southwestern HGGC province and the distal condition derived from volcanic environments in the northwestern EU province.

• Mineral and Industry
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.45-59
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• 2009

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2020

The genesis of ore bodies is a very diverse and complex process, and the target depth of mineral exploration increases. These create a need for predictive mineral exploration, which may be facilitated by the advancement of machine learning and geological database. In this study, we confirm that the faults and igneous rocks distributions and magnetic data can be used as input data for potential mapping using deep neural networks. When the input data are constructed with faults, igneous rocks, and magnetic data, we can build a potential mapping model of the metal deposit that has a predictive accuracy greater than 0.9. If detailed geological and geophysical data are obtained, this approach can be applied to the potential mapping on a mine scale. In addition, we confirm that the magnetic data, which provide the distribution of the underground igneous rock, can supplement the limited information from the surface igneous rock distribution. Therefore, rather than simply integrating various data sets, it will be more important to integrate information considering the geological correlation to genesis of minerals.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2013

The geology of Sinaola state consists of Precambrian metamorphic rocks(Sonobari Complex), two Paleozoic units(lower non-differentiated metamorphic rocks and upper Carboniferous sedimentary rocks), five Mesozoic units(metavolcanic, clastic, and calcareous rocks), Cenozoic volcanic rocks, and Quaternary clastic sediments and volcanic flows. The Sinaola state is potentially rich in metallic mineral resources with lower degree of non-metallic mineral resources. They are related to a variety of geological environments and are mainly physiographically located on the Sierra Madre Occidental. Mainly known mineral deposits are of gold and silver followed by zinc, lead, copper and some iron. The state also has deposits of molybdenum, tungsten and bismuth that have been occasionally exploited. There is a reference of nickel and cobalt mineralization, but these deposits have been exploited only at a small scale.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2018

The geology of Hidalgo state in Mexico is formed by a Precambrian metamorphic rock base which discordantly supports a strong Paleozoic sedimentary rock sequence. Triassic-Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks overlie the above-mentioned rocks at a discordant angle. These Mesozoic rocks are in turn covered by a Cenozoic structure which is marine at its base. At the top, the structure changes to andesitic and basaltic composition volcanic rocks. And, a great variety of mineral deposits, both metallic and nonmetallic, is present in Hidalgo state. The host rocks of these deposits are also very varied in age from Mesozoic to Tertiary. Mineralization age corresponds to Tertiary in 90% of the area. Hidalgo state occupies as an important place in national silver and manganese production. Main mineral deposits correspond to argentiferous veins hosted in sedimentary rocks. Following in order of importance are lead and zinc, as well as some small iron deposits. There is evidence of tin and molybdenum mineralization, but these deposits have not been exploited because of their low grade and volume. And, Hidalgo state has different types of nonmetallic mineral deposits such as sedimentary, hydrothermal, metamorphic and volcanic origins.

• Spatial Information Research
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• v.14 no.1 s.36
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• pp.129-150
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• 2006

Mineral potential mapping is an important procedure in mineral resource assessment. The purpose of this study is to analyze mineral potential using weight of evidence model and a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment to identify areas that have not been subjected to the same degree of exploration. For this, a variety of spatial geological data were compiled, evaluated and integrated to produce a map of potential mineral in the Gangreung area, Korea. for this, a spatial database considering mineral deposit, topographic, geologic, geophysical and geochemical data was constructed for the study area using a GIS. The used mineral deposits were non-metallic(Kaolin, Porcelainstone, Silicastone, Mica, Nephrite, Limestone and Pyrophyllite) deposits of sedimentary type. The factors relating to mineral deposits were the geological data such as lithology and fault structure, geochemical data, including the abundance of Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Si, Sr, V, Zn, $Cl^-,\;F^-,\;{PO_4}^{3-},\;{NO_2}^-,\;{NO_3}^-,\;SO_{42-}$, Eh, PH and conductivity and geophysical data, including the Bouguer and magnetic anomalies. These factors were used with weight of evidence model to analyze mineral potential. Probability models using the weight of evidence were applied to extract the relationship between mineral deposits and related factors, and the ratio were calculated. Then the potential indices were calculated by summation of the likelihood ratio and mineral potential maps were constructed from Geographic Information System (GIS). The mineral potential maps were then verified by comparison with the known mineral deposit areas. The result showed the 85.66% in prediction accuracy.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.753-765
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• 2021

The Dongwon Au-Ag deposit is located within the Paleozoic Taebaeksan province, Okcheon belt. Mineral paragenesis can be divided into two stages (stage I, ore-bearing quartz veins; stage II, barren carbonate veins) by major tectonic fracturing. Stage I, at which the precipitation of major ore 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 with minor magnetite, pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite; middle, characterized by introduction of electrum and base-metal sulfides with minor sulfosalts; late, marked by argentite, Cu-As (and/or Sb) and Ag-Sb sulfosalts with base-metal sulfides. Fluid inclusion data show that stage I ore mineralization was deposited between initial high temperatures (≥430℃) and later lower temperatures (≤230℃) from fluids with salinities between 6.0 to 0.4 wt. percent equiv. NaCl. The relationship of salinity and homogenization temperature suggest that ore mineralization at Dongwon was deposited mainly due to fluid boiling, cooling and dilution via influx of cooler, more dilute meteoric waters. Changes in stage I vein mineralogy reflect decreasing temperature and fugacity of sulfur by evolution of the Dongwon hydrothermal system with increasing paragenetic time. The Dongwon deposit may represents a Korean-type and/or Au-Ag type mesothermal/epithermal gold-silver deposit.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.3 s.41
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• pp.169-179
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• 2005

Acidic metavolcanic rocks distributed around the Chungju iron deposit show significantly high abundances of rare earth elements and high field strength elements. Relatively high ${\epsilon}_{Nd}$(0) values and lack of negative Nb anomaly suggest that assimilation of crustal material is not involved in their generation. They are plotted within the within-plate environment according the tectonic discrimination diagrams. Such geochemical characteristics are very similar to the acidic metavolcanic rocks of Munjuri Formation. They also show geochemical characteristics of Al-type magma of Eby (1992). All such diagnostic characters indicate differentiation of mantle-derived magma produced from the rift environment, related to the breakup of continent. In contrast to the alkali granites and the rare metal deposit both having age of c. 330 Ma, Sm-Nd isotopic data of the acidic metavolcanic rocks do not form well defined isochron. However, the alkali granites reveal low ${\epsilon}_{Nd}$(0) values, while the acidic metavolcanic rocks and the rare metal deposit both have significantly higher ${\epsilon}_{Nd}$(0) values. Considering such differences, we propose following generation hypothesis: The acidic metavolcanic rocks around Chungju iron deposit was erupted at 750 Ma as rest of the acidic metavolcanic rocks of Gyemyeongsan and Munjuri Formations. About 330 Ma ago, partial melting of existing Al-type igneous materials and some old crustal materials produced alkali granite. The rare metal deposit was also produced by redistribution of related materials within the acidic volcanics due to hydrothermal activities occurred at the same time. Sm-Nd isotopic systematics of the acidic metavolcanic rocks were disturbed during the regional metamorphic event at ca. 280 Ma.