• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.433-444
• /
• 1993

Electrum (32~73 atom. % Ag)-sulfide mineralization of the Bodeok mine in the Boseong area was deposited in two stages of mineralogically simple, massive quartz veins that fill the fractures along fault shear zones in Precambrian gneiss. Radiometric dating indicates that mineralization is Late Jurassic age ($155.9{\pm}2.3$ Ma). Fluid inclusion data show that ore mineralization was formed from $H_2O-CO_2$ fluids with variable $CO_2$ contents ($X_{CO_2}=0.0$ to 0.7) and low salinities (0.0 to 7.4 wt. % eq. NaCl) at temperatures between $200^{\circ}$ and $370^{\circ}C$. Evidence of fluid unmixing ($CO_2$ effervescence) indicates pressures up to 1 kbar. Gold-silver deposition occurred later than base-metal sulfide deposition, at temperatures near $250^{\circ}C$ and was probably a result of cooling and decreasing sulfur activity caused by sulfide precipitation and/or $H_2S$ loss (through fluid unmixing). Calculated sulfur isotope compositions of ore fluids (${\delta}^{34}S_{{\Sigma}S}=1.7$ to 3.3‰) indicate an igneous source of sulfur in hydrothermal fluids. Measured and calculated O and H isotope compositions of ore fluids (${\delta}^{18}O_{water}=4.8$ to 7.2‰, ${\delta}D_{water}=-73$ to -76‰) indicate that mesothermal auriferous fluids at Bodeok were likely mixtures of $H_2O-rich$, isotopically evolved meteoric waters and magmatic $H_2O-CO_2$ fluids.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.20 no.2 s.52
• /
• pp.115-124
• /
• 2007

Electrum-sulfide mineralization of the Youngbogari mine area occurred in two stages of massive quartz veins that fill the fractures along the fault/shear zones in the Precambrian gneiss. Ore mineralogy is simple, consisting of arsenopyrite $(31.4{\sim}33.4atom.%As)$, pyrite, sphalerite $(4.1{\sim}17.6mole%FeS)$, galena, chalcopyrite, argentite, and electrum. Electrum $(60.3{\sim}87.6atom.%Ag)$ is associated with galena, chalcopyrite and late sphalerite infilling the fractures in quartz and sulfides. Fluid inclusion data show that ore mineralization was formed from $H_2O-CO_2-CH_4-NaCl$ fluids $(X_{CO2+CH4}=0.0\;to\;0.2)$ with low salinities (0 to 10wt.% eq. NaCl) at temperatures between $200^{\circ}\;and\;370^{\circ}C$. Gold-silver mineralization occurred later than the base-metal sulfide deposition, at temperatures near $250^{\circ}C$ and was probably a result of cooling and decreasing sulfur fugacity caused by sulfide precipitation and/or $H_2S$ loss through fluid unmixing.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.73-84
• /
• 2010

Gold and silver deposits within the Eunjeok and Sangeun mines are located in Yeongam district, Cheollanamdo-province. They are composed of vein ore bodies infilling the fractures of Cretaceous rhyolitic tuff. The Eunjeok mine have three gold and silver bearing hydrothermal veins which is infilling the fracture of rhyolitic tuff. Major ore minerals within the Eunjeok and Sangeun mines are arsenopyrite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena and minor ores are electrum, native silver and argentite. Sericitization is dominant in alteration zone and chloritization and dickitization is minor. Quartz veins in the Eunjeok and Sangeun mine have the similar paragenesis and vein textures such like breccia, crustiform, comb and vuggy morphology indicating the formation of typical epithermal environment. In order to carry out the preliminary feasibility study of mine according to the commodity and elucidate the occurrence features of mineral resources from Eunjeok and Sangeun mine, common commodity (Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mo, W, Au and U), and industrial commodity (In, Re, Ga, Ge, Se, Te, Y, Eu and Sm) for 17 ore specimen were analyzed. It is tentatively thought that there is no exploitable mine for iron, lead, zinc, copper, tungsten and uranium based on the preliminary result. If the reserves are secured through the detailed prospecting in case of molybdenum and silver, it is tentatively thought that there will be exploitable deposits depending on international metal price. If we assume the vein width from 0.25 m to 2 m including alteration zone with the gold grade of 80g/t, it is inferred that the resources amount of the Eunjeok-Sangeun mines range from 6.5 to 65ton. However, as the vein structure of the Eunjeok and Sangeun mines is developed together with alteration zone, it should be estimated to include potential alteration zone in order to yield the average grade. It is needed to carry out more exploration in the near future because the reserves can be flexibly estimated according to the change of average grade considering the alteration zone.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.561-573
• /
• 1999

Mesothermal gold deposits of the Heungdeok, Daewon and Ilsaeng mines in the Youngdong area occur in fault shear zones in Precambrian metamorphic rocks of central Sobaegsan Massif, Korea, and formed in single stage of massive quartz veins (0.3 to 3 m thick). Ore mineralogy is simple, consisting dominantly of pyrrhotite, sphalerite and galena with subordinate pyrite, chalcopyrite, electrum, tetrahedrite and native bismuth. Fluid inclusion data indicate that hydrothermal mineralization occurred at high temperatures (>240$^{\circ}$ to 400$^{\circ}$C) from $H_{2}O-CO_{2}(-CH_{4})$-NaCI fluids with salinities less than 12 wt. % equiv. NaC!. Fluid inclusions in vein quartz comprise two main types. These are, in decreasing order of abundance, type I (aqueous liquid-rich) and type II (carbonic). Volumetric proportion of the carbonic phase in type II inclusions varies widely in a single quartz grain. Estimated $CH_4$ contents in the carbonic phase of type II inclusions are 2 to 20 mole %. Relationship between homogenization temperature and salinity of fluid inclusions suggests a complex history of fluid evolution, comprising the early fluid's unmixing accompanying $CO_2$ effervescence and later cooling. Estimated pressures of vein filling are at least 2 kbars. The ore mineralization formed from a magmatic fluid with the ${\delta}^{34}S_{{\Sigma}S}$, ${\delta}^{18}O_{water}$ and ${\delta}D_{water}$ values of -2.1 to 2.2$\textperthousand$, 4.7 to 9.3$\textperthousand$ and -63 to -79$\textperthousand$, respectively. This study validates the application of a magmatic model for the genesis of mesothermal gold deposits in Youngdong area.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.299-316
• /
• 2002

The Samkwang gold-silver deposits consist of gold-silver-bearing hydrothermal massive quartz veins which filled the fractures along fault shear (NE, NW) zones within Precambrian banded or granitic gneiss of Gyeonggi massif. Ore mineralization of this deposits occurred within a single stage of quartz vein which was formed by multiple episodes of fracturing and healing. Based on vein mineralogy and paragenesis, massive quartz veins are divided into two main paragenetic stages which are separated by a major faulting event. Main ore mineralization occurred at stage I. Wall-rock alteration from this deposits occur as mainly sericitization, chloritization, silicification and minor amounts of pyritization, carbonitization, propylitization and argillitization. Ore minerals are composed mainly of arsenopyrite (29.21-32.24 As atomic %), pyrite, sphalerite (6.45-13.82 FeS mole %), chalcopyrite, galena with minor amounts of pyrrhotite, marcasite, electmm (39.98-66.82 Au atomic %) and argentite. Systematic studies of fluid inclusions in early quartz veins and microcracks indicate two contrasting physical-chemical conditions: 1). temperature (215-345$^{\circ}$C) and pressure (1296-2022 bar) event with $H_{2}O-CO_{2}-CH_{4}-NaCl$fluids (0.8-6.3 wt. %) related to the early sulfide deposition, 2). temperature (203-441$^{\circ}$C) and pressure (320 bar) event with $H2_{O}$-NaCI $\pm$ $CO_{2}$ fluids (5.7-8.8 wt. %) related to the late sulfide and electrum assemblage. The H20-NaCI $\pm$ $CO_{2}$ fluids represent fluids evolved through fluid unmixing of an $H_{2}O-CO_{2}-CH_{4}-NaCl$fluids due to decreases in fluid pressure and influenced of deepcirculated meteoric waters possibly related to uplift and unloading of the mineralizing suites. Calculated sulfur isotope compositions (${\delta}^{34}S_{fluid}$) of hydrothermal fluids (1.8-4.9$\textperthousand$) indicate that ore sulfur was derived from an igneous source. Measured and calculated oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions (${\delta}^{18}O_{I120}$, ${\delta}D$) of ore fluids (-5.9~10.9$\textperthousand$, -102~-87$\textperthousand$) indicate that mesothermal auriferous fluids at Samkwang gold-silver deposits were likely mixtures of $H_{2}O$-rich, isotopically less evolved meteoric water and magmatic fluids.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.411-429
• /
• 2018

Daeyoung mine (also called "Daema mine") produced gold and silver from mainly gold- and silver-bearing quartz veins. The mine tailings are a waste hazard, but most of the tailings were swept away or dispersed throughout the area around the mine long before the tailing dump areas were transformed into agricultural land. Soil liner and protection facilities, such as retaining walls, were constructed in the mine area to prevent the loss of tailings. The content of the tailings is 3,424.41~3,803.61 mg/kg, which exceeds the safety standard by a factor of 45. In addition, contamination was detected near agricultural areas and in the sediments in downstream drainage channels. A high level of As contamination was concentrated near the waste tailings yard; comparaable levels were detected in agricultural areas close to streams that ran through the waste dump yard, whereas the levels were much lower in areas far from the streams. The contamination in stream sediments showed a gradual decrease with distance from the mine waste yard. Based on these contamination patterns, we concluded that there are two main paths that affect the spread of contaminants: (1) loss of mine waste, and (2) the introduction of mine waste into agricultural areas by floods after transportation by streams. The agricultural areas contaminated by mass inflow of mine waste can act as contamination sources themselves, affecting other agricultural areas through the diffusion of contaminants. At present, although the measured effect in minimal, sediments in streams are contaminated by exposed mine waste and surface liners. It is possible for contaminants to diffuse or spread into nearby areas if heavy elements trapped in soil grains in contaminated agricultural areas leach out as soil solution or contaminant particles during diffusion into the water supply.