• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.2 s.40
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• pp.83-92
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• 2005

It has recently been proposed that granites can be divided into hot and cold ones by absence and presence of inherited zircon, respectively, which is closely related to zircon saturation temperature. The Phanerozoic granites in South Korea are divided into high- and low-Zr groups in a $SiO_2-Zr$ diagram, which appears to be related to their intrusive age. Most Triassic-Jurassic granites belong to low-Zr group, whereas most Cretaceous-Early Tertiary granites belong to the high-Zr group with the exception of geographically distinct Masan and Jinhae granites that belong low-Zr group. Calculated zircon saturation temperatures using major elements and Zr contents indicate that the Cretaceous-Early Tertiary granites $(608-834^{\circ}C,\;average\; 782\pm31^{\circ}C)$ except for the Masan and Jinhae granites $(average\;759\pm16^{\circ}C)$ show higher temperature than the Triassic-Jurassic granites $(642-824^{\circ}C,\;average\;756\pm31^{\circ}C)$. U-Pb zircon isotope data of the Triassic-Jurassic granites reported so far define discordia in a concordia diagram, which indicates presence of inherited zircon and agrees with their low zircon saturation temperatures. So the Triassic-Jurassic granites appear to belong to cold granite. On the other hand, presence or absence of inherited zircon has not been known for the Cretaceous-Early Tertiary granites with relatively high zircon saturation temperature, so that their classification into hot or cold granite awaits further study. Nevertheless, the Creatceous-Early Tertiary granites may have formed at higher temperature than the Triassic-Jurassic granites, since zircon saturation temperature reflects formation temperature of magma to a certain degree.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.307-327
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• 2008

Geochemical study on the rocks and minerals of the Gyeongju low and intermediate level waste repository was carried out in order to provide geochemical data for the safety assessment and geochemical modeling. Polarized microscopy, X-ray diffraction method, chemical analysis for the major and trace elements, scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and stable isotope analysis were applied. Fracture zones are locally developed with various degrees of alteration in the study area. The study area is mainly composed of granodiorite and diorite and their relation is gradational in the field. However, they could be easily distinguished by their chemical property. The granodiorite showed higher $SiO_2$ content and lower MgO and $Fe_2O_3$ contents than the diorite. Variation trends of the major elements of the granodiorite and diorite were plotted on the same line according to the increase of $SiO_2$ content suggesting that they were differentiated from the same magma. Spatial distribution of the various elements showed that the diorite region had lower $SiO_2,\;Al_2O_3,\;Na_2O\;and\;K_2O$ contents, and higher CaO, $Fe_2O_3$ contents than the granodiorite region. Especially, because the differences in the CaO and $Na_2O$ distribution were most distinct and their trends were reciprocal, the chemical variation of the plagioclase of the granitic rocks was the main parameter of the chemical variation of the host rocks in the study area. Identified fracture-filling minerals from the drill core were montmorillonite, zeolite minerals, chlorite, illite, calcite and pyrite. Especially pyrite and laumontite, which are known as indicating minerals of hydrothermal alteration, were widely distributed in the study area indicating that the study area was affected by mineralization and/or hydrothermal alteration. Sulfur isotope analysis for the pyrite and oxygen-hydrogen stable isotope analysis for the clay minerals indicated that they were originated from the magma. Therefore, it is considered that the fracture-filling minerals from the study area were affected by the hydrothermal solution as well as the simply water-rock interaction.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.623-633
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• 1995

The Beonam deposits which is located in south-western part of Sobaeksan massif are emplaced along $N20{\sim}30^{\circ}E$ trending fissures in Precambrian Sobaeksan gneiss complex. Surrounding granites are inferred to be differentiated and formed from calc-alkaline magma which was generated from remelting or partial melting of the crustral material having igneous composition. The Sr isotope data of ore minerals showing significantly low initial Sr value relative to those of surrounding granite batholiths suggest that the ore-bearing fluid formed the Beonam Au-Ag mine are isotopically distinct from those of the wall rocks, and it indicates that there is no evidence of genetic relationship between ore-bearing fluids and surrounding granites, although further study should be needed. The results of paragenetic studies suggest three stages of hydrothermal mineralization; stage I: base-metal sulfides stage, stage II: late base-metal sulfides, electrum and silver-bearing sulfosalts stage, stage III: minor silverbearing minerals, barren quartz and carbonates stage. The temperature, salinity and pressure of the Beonam deposits estimated from mineral assemblage, chemical composition, fluid inclusion and sulfur isotope geothermometry are as follows; stage I: $200{\sim}315^{\circ}C$, 3.5~6.5 NaCl eq. wt%, 0.28~0.61 Kbar, stage II: $150{\sim}235^{\circ}C$, 4.5~7.4 NaCl eq. wt%, 0.11~0.15 Kbar. The estimated oxygen and sulfur fugacity during first stage mineralization, based on phase relation of associated minerals, range from $10^{35.1}{\sim}10^{-39.7}$ atm. and $10^{-11.0}{\sim}10^{-13.4}$ atm., respectively. All these evidences suggest that the Beonam deposits are polymetallic meso-epithermal ore deposits.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 1995

In Dongnam area, Cretaceous igneous rocks, such as diorite, porphyritic granite, and quartz porphyry intruded Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, such as Myobong slate and Pungchon limestone. The Dongnam Fe-Mo skarn deposits were imposed on the diorite(endoskarn) and the Myobong slate(exoskarn). The ore deposits consist mainly of magnetite and molybdenite with small amounts of sulfides, such as galena, sphalerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and pyrrhotite. The igneous rocks show nearly constant $^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb(18.80{\sim}19.06)$ and $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb(15.71{\sim}15.72)$ ratios. Their $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ ratios higher than the typical ratios of orogene suggest that the igeneous rocks were formed from lower crust(or mantle) - derived magma excessively contaminated by upper crustal materials such as high radiogenic Precambrian basement rocks. The lead isotopic compositions of the igneous rocks, the Pungchon limestone, and the ore minerals show a well defined linear in $^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb$ - $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ plot. The lead isotopic compositions of the igneous rocks are similar to those of magnetite and galena, which were formed at early skarn stage and significantly lower than those of altered quartz porphyry, molybdenites, and pyrite, which were formed at late epithermal alteration stage. Considering the systematic variation of the lead isotopic compositions in the ore minerals according to hydrothermal stages, the variation may be due to a relative variation in surrounding rock(Pungchon limestone) involvement in hydrothermal ore solution leaching the surrounding rock. Therefore, the variation of the lead isotopic compositions in ore minerals can be modeled in terms of the mixing of the leads derived from the igneous rocks as low radiogenic source and the surrounding rock(Pungchon limestone) as high radiogenic source.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.620-642
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• 2006

The Moho structure and its deformation in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula were estimated using gravity and topography data. Gravity signals from the upper and lower crust were separated using a filter that was computed from isostacy and elastic thickness. The result of this study shows three characteristic features of the Moho deformation. First, the Moho folding structure is parallel to SKTL (the South Korean Tectonic Line), which indicates positive association with the collision of the Yeongnam and Gyeonggi Massifs and repeated compression afterwards. In contrast, noticeable deformation of the Moho was not observed along the Imjingang Belt, which is interpreted as another continental collisional belt in the Korean Peninsula. Second, the Moho beneath the Gyeongsang Basin has remarkably risen; this seems to be the result from both the collisional compression and buoyancy caused by magmatic underplating. Third, the Moho deformation is shallowest in the east of the Taebaek Mountains and deepens toward the west, consistent with the topographic characteristic of the Korean Peninsula of "high east and low west". It can be interpreted as the results of the opening of the East Sea and Ulleung Basin. A tectonic explanation for this could be the ascent of the mantle induced by continental rifting and horizontal extension at the early stage of the opening of the East Sea. The Moho deformation model computed in this study correlates well with the earthquake distribution and crustal movement measured by GPS. We suggest that the compression along the SKTL is still exerted, consequently, the Moho deformation is active, although it may be weak.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.3 s.41
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• pp.157-168
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• 2005

Trachytic rocks among the bimodal metavolcanic rocks of the Gyemyeongsan Formation and adjacent areas are investigated. Some rocks reveal very high content of iron and most rocks show very high abundances of rare earth elements and high field strength elements. Most rocks show significant Eu negative anomaly, which can be interpreted as the result of plagioclase fractionation. Lack of noticeable Nb negative anomaly indicates not-involvement of crustal material in their generation, which excludes the arc environment or remelting of continental crust from their genetic process. Metatrachytes of the Gymyeongsan Formation are plotted within the within-plate environment of the tectonic discrimination diagram utilizing immobile high field strength element Nb and Y. They also show typical characteristics of A-type magma, such as high Ga content. Considering their affinity to Al-type of Eby (1992) and their age of 750 Ma (Lee et al., 1998), they seem to have been produced by the differentiation of mantle-derived within-plate magmatism at the rift, related with the separation of Neoproterozoic supercontinent Rodinia. Possible connection of Gyemyeongsan and Munjuri Formations of the Okcheon metamorphic belt, at least part of them, to the Cathaysia block of South China during the Neoproterozoic is strongly suggested.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.66-83
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• 1996

We report petrography, mineral chemistry, and major and trace element chemistry for rare tholeiites in Cheju island where alkalic rocks predominate. Available age data indicate that the tholeiitic magmatism was younger than 0.49Ma, possibly younger than 0.17 Ma. The tholeiites are generally fine-grained, porphyritic rock and show intergranular texture with lath-shaped plagioclase ($An_{61-46}$), orthopyroxene (bronzite) and olivine ($Fo_{78-67}$). Characteristically, two kinds of clinopyroxene (pigeonite and augite) occur only in groundmass. The tholeiites have normative quartz and show limited compositional variations ($SiO_2$=51.0-52.5 wt%; Mg＃=54-60). Major and transitional metal element variations of tholeiites are distinct from those of alkaline rocks in MgO diagram, suggestingthat the two rock types cannot be simply related to differentiation process from the same magma. The ratios among $K_2O$, Rb, Ba, Nb and La are similar for both tholeiites and alkali basalts, however the ratios between the elements (P, Y and Yb) having an affinity with garnet and the above elements are higher for tholeiites than for alkali basalts. These trace element ratios suggest that the tholeiites and alkali basalts were produced by different degrees of partial melting from a similar sources material (garnet lherzolite mantle).

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.267-281
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• 2009

Cretaceous intrusive and extrusive rocks are widely distributed in the southern part of the Korean peninsula, possibly the result of intensive magmatism which occurred in response to subduction of the Pacific plate beneath the northeastern part of the Eurasian plate. Geochemical and petrological study on the Cretaceous granitic rocks of the Yeosu area were carried out in order to constrain the petrogenesis of the granitic rocks and to establish the paleotectonic environment of the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula. Igneous rocks of the Yeosu area consist of diorite, hornblende biotite pite and micrographic granite. Chondrite normalized REE patterns show generally enriched in LREE ($(La/Lu)^{cN}$=4.2-13.3). Diorites show flat to slight negative Eu anomalies while micrographic granites have strong negative Eu anomalies. The ${\Sigma}REE$ of the granites are 76.2-235 ppm, which corresponds to the range of the continental margin granite. Whole rock chemical data of the granitic rocks from the Yeosu area indicate that the rocks have characteristics of calc-alkaline series in the subalkaline field. On the A/NK vs. A/CNK and tectonic discrimination diagrams, parental magma type of the granites corresponds to I-type and volcanic arc granite (VAG). Interpretations of the chemical characteristics of the granitic rocks favor their emplacement in a compressional tectonic regime at continental margin during the subduction of Pacific plate.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.20-30
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• 1995

We report major element chemistry of the Chuncheon amphibolite in the Precambrian Kyonggi massif and discuss its origin. On the basis of areal distribution and chemical difference, the Chuncheon amphibolite can be divided into the Gubongsan arnphibolite in the Gubongsan Group east of Chuncheon city and the Sangguli amphibolite in the Yongduri gneiss complex occurring to the southeast of the Gubongsan Group. Overall major element characteristics of the Chuncheon amphibolite indicate an igneous precursor, although it shows concordant relationship with metasedimentary rocks in many cases. The parental rock of the amphibolite has tholeiitic composition with 45-53wt% $SiO_2$. The Sangguli amphibolite has lower MgO than the Gubongsan one. The difference in $TiO_2$/P_2O_5 ratio between the two amphibolites suggests that they are not genetically related. In MgO variation diagrams, $Na_2O$, $Fe_2O_3$ and $Al_2O_3$ show scattered pattern, while MgO has positive correlation with CaO and negative one with $SiO_2$, $TiO_2$, $P-2O_5$ and $K_2O$. These variations can be interpreted as the result of differentiation of basaltic magma with fractionation of olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase. Tectonic discrimination using major elements generally suggest withinplate environment for the Chuncheon amphibolite which is similar to that of the amphibolite in the Ogcheon belt.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.489-498
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• 1993

The Okbang amphibolites occurring as sill-shaped bodies within the Precambrian Wonnam Group have been studied in terms of geochemical characteristics for their tectonomagmatic environments. The amphibolites fall in the ortho-amphibolite fields in Ni and Cr versus Cu diagrams. They belong to subalkaline and tholeiitic series in total alkali versus silica and ternary AFM diagrams, respectively. They show the compositional variation corresponding to the differentiation trend of tholeiitic suites. In discrimination diagrams using high-field-strength elements such as Ti, Zr, Nb and Y, the amphibolites show geochemical affinities to both of volcanic-arc tholeiites and normal (depleted) mid-oceanic ridge tholeiites. The REE patterns of the amphibolites are nearly flat and extremely similar to those of back-arc tholeiites. $(La/Yb)_{CN}$ ratios vary from 0.89 to 2.02 with an average value of 1.23. Such low light-REE abundances in the amphibolites suggest that they were derived from the upper mantle source depleted in these elements. In view of geochemical characteristics showing strong enrichments of incompatible elements such as K and Rb, distinctive negative Nb anomalies, depletions of light-REE observed also in normal (depleted) mid-oceanic ridge tholeiites, and unfractionated immobile elements such as Y and Yb, the tholeiitic magmas, from which the parent rocks of the amphibolites were formed, would be generated from a depleted upper mantle source and contaminated by continental crustal materials en route to surface. Tectonomagmatic environment for the amphibolites can be assumed to be continental back-arc basin.