• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.665-676
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• 1996

Domestic metal mines have contributed to the national industrialization of Japan for over a century through their stable supply of raw materials. However, due to the changes which have taken place in the industries structure, mining industry has been shifted to downstream industries. At present, only three major mines are in production. In recent times, changing economic conditions have made it increasingly difficult to develop new base metal mines. Subsequently, the deposit type targeted has shifted from base metals to epithermal associated gold deposits which, if of sufficient grade and tonnage, can be economical. Accompanying the dramatic rise in the price of gold during the late 1970's, has been an increase in the geological information and our understanding of epithermal gold deposits around the Pacific rim region. In particular, the common acceptance of the plate tectonic theory and the correlation's between modem geothermal systems and fossil epithermal systems were most important developments. In 1988, the Mining Council authorized the domestic exploration of 19 districts, targeting epithermal gold mineralization. Since 1989 the Metal Mining Agency of Japan, semi-government organization, has been conducted gold exploration in such area. With new genetic concepts and new technologies, promising gold mineralization has been discovered. Two such areas which are at an advanced stage of exploration are Seta, in northern Hokkaido, and Noya, in central Kyushu.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.221-231
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• 2012

Uljin cassiterite deposit had been known to be a pegmatitic origin derived from the Wangpiri (Buncheon) granitic gneiss of Precambrian period. Lithium ore also shows the same origin and its lithium bearing mineral was ascertained to be a taeniolite. But the presence of leucocratic granites which played the role of host rocks haven't been clearly designated yet in these provinces. Even though Bonghwa and Youngweol sericite deposits situated in the vicinities of Hambaeg syncline had been known to have their host rocks as Hongjesa Granites of Precambrian period and Pegmatitic migmatite of unknown age respectively. But younger leucocratic granites are characterized by more amounts of albite and sericite (muscovite-3T type) than those of the older granitic rocks which contain plenty of biotite and chlorites. Although the younger granites show rather higher contents of alkalies such as $Na_2O$ (0.13~8.03 wt%) and $K_2O$ (1.71~6.38 wt%), but CaO (0.05~1.21 wt%) is very deficient due to the albitization and greisenization. Manisan granite, which is assumed to be Daebo granite which intruded the Gyunggi Gneiss Complex was again intruded by leucocratic granite whose microclinized part changed into kaolins. Taebaegsan region shows a wide distribution of carbonate rocks which are especially favorable to the ore depositions. And the presence of alkali granites which formed in the later magmatic evolution are well known to be worthwhile to the prospections of various rare metals and REEs resources.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.297-305
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• 2009

Ores of the Jeonnam pyrophyllite province mainly consist of not only pyrophyllite but also kaolinite, and they usually contain minor amounts of muscovite and quartz. We usually call them as porcelaneous stones which usually show lower grade characteristics in the viewpoint of Korean nonmetallic industries. Mineralogical studies for the ores and their intimate formations revealed that another kind of clay minerals could have been produced from the volcanic sediments with similar ages and compositions. Corundum is commoner than the diaspore in the pyrophyllite deposits, and so diaspore can be regarded as one of temporary minerals from which corundum would be finally formed. Kaolinite deposits contain neither diaspore nor corundum, but alunites produced by an advanced argillic alteration are often observed in the upper portions of the kaolin ores. The lowest formation interbedded with pyrophyllite and/or kaolinite ores usually contain purple tuff bed on the uppermost part, and in ascending order, siliceous formation, fine ash tuff and lapillistone are found in the study areas. As ages are becoming younger, amounts of pyrophyllite and kaolinite are radically decreased, or disappeared completely. On the other hand, content of muscovite is slightly increased, and those of plagioclase feldspars and quartz are found to have been preserved from the original rocks during alteration process. Most of ore bodies show rather well bedded formations which are easily discernable in the outcrops, but more effective discremination is desirable where rather massive ores exist. Siliceous beds and purple tuff ones on the upper part of ore bodies would be useful as marker horizons or key beds which have distinct lithologies and extensions.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.79-93
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• 1979

Twenty five samples of the scheelite-powellite series from twelve Korean tungsten deposits of various geologic settings were studied mineralogically and geochemically. Variations in the trace-element contents of the scheelite minerals are considered in relation to geologic settings and mineralogic properties. Scheelites from ore deposits developed in similar geologic settings and under similar physicochemical conditions are characterized by specific combinations of trace elements.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.185-197
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• 2023

The Gubong Au-Ag deposit consists of eight lens-shaped quartz veins. These veins have filled fractures along fault zones within Precambrian metasedimentary rock. This has been one of the largest deposits in Korea, and is geologically a mix of orogenic-type and intrusion-related types. Korea Mining Promotion Corporation drilled into a quartz vein (referred to as the No. 6 vein) with a width of 0.9 m and a grade of 27.9 g/t Au at a depth of -728 ML by drilling (No. 90-12) in the southern site of the deposit, To further investigate the potential redevelopment of the No. 6 vein, another drilling (No. 04-1) was carried out in 2004. In 2004, samples (wallrock, wallrock alteration and quartz vein) were collected from the No. 04-1 drilling core site to study the occurrence and chemical composition of Ti-bearing minerals (ilmenite, rutile). Rutile from mineralized zone at a depth of -275 ML occur minerals including K-feldspar, biotite, quartz, calcite, chlorite, pyrite in wallrock alteration zone. Ilmenite and rutile from ore vein (No. 6 vein) at a depth of -779 ML occur minerals including white mica, chlorite, apatite, zircon, quartz, calcite, pyrrhotite, pyrite in wallrock alteration zone and quartz vein. Based on mineral assemblage, rutile was formed by hydrothermal alteration (chloritization) of Ti-rich biotite in the wallrock. Chemical composition of ilmenite has maximum values of 0.09 wt.% (HfO₂), 0.39 wt.% (V₂O₃) and 0.54 wt.% (BaO). Comparing the chemical composition of rutile at a depth -275 ML and -779 ML, Rutile at a depth of -779 ML is higher contents (WO₃, FeO and BaO) than rutile at a depth of -275 ML. The substitutions of rutile at a depth of -275 ML and -779 ML are as followed : rutile at a depth of -275 ML Ba²⁺ + Al³⁺ + Hf⁴⁺ + (Nb⁵⁺, Ta⁵⁺) ↔ 3Ti⁴⁺ + Fe²⁺, 2V⁴⁺ + (W⁵⁺, Ta⁵⁺, Nb⁵⁺) ↔ 2Ti⁴⁺ + Al³⁺ + (Fe²⁺, Ba²⁺), Al³⁺ + V⁴⁺+ (Nb⁵⁺, Ta⁵⁺) ↔ 2Ti⁴⁺ + 2Fe²⁺, rutile at a depth of -779 ML 2 (Fe²⁺, Ba²⁺) + Al³⁺ + (W⁵⁺, Nb⁵⁺, Ta⁵⁺) ↔ 2Ti⁴⁺ + (V⁴⁺, Hf⁴⁺), Fe²⁺ + Al³⁺ + Hf ⁴⁺ + (W⁵⁺, Nb⁵⁺, Ta⁵⁺) ↔ 2Ti⁴⁺ + V⁴⁺ + Ba²⁺, respectively. Based on these data and chemical composition of rutiles from orogenic-type deposits, rutiles from Gubong deposit was formed in a relatively oxidizing environment than the rutile from orogenictype deposits (Unsan deposit, Kori Kollo deposit, Big Bell deposit, Meguma gold-bearing quartz vein).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.765-779
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• 2023

The Daum Vent Field (DVF) was newly discovered in the Central Indian Ridge during the hydrothermal expedition by the Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST) in 2021. In this paper, we describe the detailed mineralogy and geochemistry of hydrothermal chimney and mound to understand the nature of hydrothermal mineralization in the DVF. The mineral assemblages (pyrite±sphalerite±chalcopyrite) of dominant sulfides, FeS contents (mostly <20 mole %) of sphalerite, and (Cu+Zn)/Fe values (0.001-0.22) of bulk compositions indicate that the DVF has an strong affinity with basaltic-hosted seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposit along the oceanic ridge. Combined with the predominance of colloform and/or dendritic-textured pyrite and relatively Fe-poor sphalerite in chimneys, the fluid-temperature dependency of trace element systematics (Co, Mn, and Tl) between chimney and mound indicates that the formation of mound was controlled by relatively reducing and high-temperature fluids compared to chimney. The δ³⁴S values (+8.31 to +10.52‰) of pyrite reflect that sulfur and metals were mainly leached from the associated basement rocks (50.6-61.3%) with a contribution from reduced seawater sulfur (38.7-49.4%). This suggests that the fluid-rock interaction, with little effect of magmatic volatile influx, is an important metal source for the sulfide mineralization in the DVF.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.69-81
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• 2021

The exposed rocks in the Zacatecas state include mainly Mesozoic sedimentary and volcanic, Cenozoic volcanic and plutonic rocks. Paleozoic metamorphic rocks found in the northwestern portion of the state are considered as the most ancient rocks. These rocks correspond to the Caopas Formation which underlays the Later Paleozoic Rodeo Formation. The Mesozoic sequences are represented by a marine sedimentary sequence of the Later Triassic and the red beds of the Triassic-Jurassic Nazas Formation. The marine sediments of the Upper Jurassic overlay the Nazas Formation or metamorphic rocks from the Paleozoic. The Cretaceous sequences comprises marine sedimentary rocks in the north and northeast, and a volcanosedimentary set in the center and southeast. The Cenozoic is represented by volcanic nondifferentiated rocks, intrusive igneous rocks of acid and intermediate composition, and continental conglomerates with evaporitic sediments. The Quarternary sequences includes basalts, piedmont deposits, alluviums and occasionally, layers of evaporites and saltpeter. Furthermore, a great diversity of mineral deposits of both metallic and nonmetallic types occur in Zacatecas state. The rocks composing these deposits are extremely varied and include formations from Paleozoic to Tertiary. The mineralization age of ore deposits corresponds to the Tertiary in approximately 90%, and their genesis is mainly considered as epigenetic.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.139-153
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• 2024

Recently, resources-rich advanced countries are putting more effort into mineral resource exploration as mineral resource depletion worsens along with deepening resource nationalism regarding mineral resources. Therefore, one of the methods used to explore mineral resources is to explore through the chemical composition of mineral. Pyrite, which is formed throughout the mineralization process and regardless of the mineral commodity type, is widely used as major geochemical indicator in mineral deposit exploration using content and list of trace elements in the pyrite. In this paper, the author aims to report on indicator elements that can be used when exploring lead-zinc orebody by studying the occurrence and chemical composition of pyrites from wallrock, wallrock alteration and lead-zinc orebody in the Janggun lead-zinc deposit. This deposit is hydrothermal replacement deposit formed by reaction of lead and zinc-bearing hydrothermal fluid and Paleozoic Janggum limestone formation. The wallrock alteration that is remarkably recognized with Pb-Zn mineralization at this hydrothermal replacement orebody consists of mainly rhodochrositization with minor of dolomitization, pyritization, sericitization and chloritization. Pyrite, which is occurred from wallrock, wallrock alteration, and lead-zinc orebody, is classified into three types (Py I type, Py II type, and Py III type) based on the texture, occurrence and paragenetic relationship. Pyrite on the basis of paragenetic sequence are as followed : Py I type (wallrock and wallrock alteration) → Py II type (wallrock alteration and Pb-Zn orebody) → Py III type (wallrock alteration and Pb-Zn orebody). Trace elements with a large content change in pyrite by all types are Mn, As, Ag, Sb and Pb elements, but trace elements with a small content change in pyrite are Zn, Cu, Cd, Se, Te, Co, Ni, Au, In and Sn elements. The substitution of these elements in all pyrite types is as followed: Fe²⁺↔Co²⁺ substitution (Py I type), 3Fe²⁺↔Ag¹⁺+(Mn²⁺+Ni²⁺+As²⁺)+(As3++Sb3+) substitution (Py II type) and 3Fe²⁺↔Ag¹⁺+(Mn²⁺+As²⁺+Pb²⁺)+(Mn³⁺+As³⁺+Sb³⁺), S^1-↔(As^1-+Sb^1-) substitution (Py III type). This means that Mn, As, Sb, Ag and Pb elements were enriched during evolution of hydrothermal fluid. Therefore, based on the above research results, pyrite is a useful mineral for exploration of lead-zinc orebody. And when exploring lead-zinc orebody with similar geological conditions, lead-zinc orebody is explored through the enrichment of as indicator elements.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.268-277
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• 2009

Recently as the interest in the development of domestic ore deposits has increased, we can easily find some studies on exploration geophysics-based ore deposit survey in literature. Geophysical surveys have been applied to the investigation of both metallic and non-metallic ore deposit. For metallic ore-deposit survey, the 2D electrical resistivity method has been popularly used, because metallic mineral deposits are generally more conductive than surrounding media. However, geological structures are 3D rather than 2D structures, which may lead to misinterpretation in 2D inversion section. In this study, 3D effects are examined for several 3D structures such as a width-varying dyke model and a wedge-shaped model. We also investigate the effects of the direction of survey line. Numerical results show that the width-varying dyke model yields some low resistivity zone in the deep part, which is independent of real ore-body location. For the wedge-shaped model, even though the survey line is located apart from the ore body, the 2D inversion section still shows low resistivity zone in the deep part. When the survey line is not perpendicular to the strike of the ore body, the low resistivity zone is slightly broader but shallower than that obtained along the survey line perpendicular to the strike. For the survey lines that have an angle smaller than $45^{\circ}$ with the strike of the ore body, the inversion results are totally distorted. From these results, we conclude that 2-D survey and interpretation can lead to misinterpretation of subsurface structures, which may be linked to economical loss. Eventually, we recommend to apply 3-D rather than 2-D electrical resistivity survey for ore-deposit survey.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.281-292
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• 2024

North Korea relies heavily on coal as the primary energy source, playing an important role in all energy demand sectors except for the transportation sector. Approximately half of the total electricity is generated through coal-fired power plants, and coal is used to produce heat and power for all industrial facilities. Furthermore, coal has been a significant contributor to earning foreign currency through long-term exports to China. Nevertheless, since the 1980s, indiscriminate mining activities have led to rapid depletion of coal production in most coal mines. Aging mine facilities, lack of investment in new equipment, shortages of fuel and electricity, difficulties in material supply, and frequent damage from flooding have collectively contributed to a noticeable decline in coal production since the late 1980s. North Korea's coal deposits are distributed in various geological formations from the Proterozoic to the Cenozoic, but the most critical coal-bearing formations are Ripsok and Sadong formations distributed in the Pyeongnam Basin of the Late Paleozoic from Carboniferous to Permian, which are called as Pyeongnam North and South Coal Fields. Over 90% of North Korea's coal is produced in these coal fields. The classification of coal in North Korea differs from the international classification based on coalification (peat, lignite, sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal, and anthracite). North Korean classification based on industrial aspect is classified into bituminous coal, anthracite, and low-grade coal (Chomuyeontan). Based on the energy factor, it is classified into high-calorie coal, medium calorie coal, and low-calorie coal. In North Korea, the term "Chomuyeontan" refers to a type of coal that is not classified globally and is unique to North Korea. It is a low-grade coal exclusively used in North Korea and is not found or used in any other country worldwide. This article compares North Korea's coal classification and the international coal classification of coal and provides insights into the geological characteristics, reserves, utilization, and research trends of North Korean coal resources. This study could serve as a guide for preparing scientific and industrial agendas related to coal collaboration between North Korea and South Korea.