• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.233-247
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• 2012

We have researched the distribution and characteristics of seafloor hydrothermal deposits for the development of economic mineral deposits in the Lau Basin, Tonga since 2009. In this study, we interpreted hydrothermal alteration around TA 26 seamounts of the Tofua volcanic arc using X-ray diffraction analysis for bulk sample and preferred-oriented specimen of clay fraction. We used 2 core samples and several surface samples. Plagioclase and quartz are dominant mineral in the basement rock, whereas kaolin mineral and smectite are superior in marine surface sediments. Especially sulfate and sulfide minerals such as gypsum, barite, sphalerite, and pyrite are predominant in the vent sediments. When we compare the mineral composition between basement rock and sea surface sediments, argillic alteration zone composed of kaolin mineral and smectite could be produced by hydrothermal fluids. Based on the downcore variation of mineral assemblages, most portion of MC08H-06 core could be interpreted as argillic alteration zone composed of kaolin mineral and smectite except top 2 cm area. Various sulfate or sulfide minerals and argillic alteration zone suggest a high probability of massive sulfide deposits in the seafloor of the TA 26 seamount.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.149-164
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• 1988

Electrum-sulfide mineralization of the Samgwang and Sobo mines of the Cheongyang Au-Ag area was deposited in two stages of quartz and calcite veins that fill fault zones in granite gneiss. Radiometric dating indicates that mineralization is Early Cretaceous age (127 Ma). Fluid inclusion and sulfur isotope data show that ore mineralization was deposited at temperatures between $340^{\circ}$ and $180^{\circ}C$ from fluids with salinities of 1 to 8 wt. % equiv. NaCl and a ${\delta}^{34}S_{{\sum}S}$ value of 2 to 5 per mil. Evidence of fluid boiling (and $CO_2$ effervescence) indicates a range of pressures from < 200 to $\approx$ 700 bars, corresponding to depths of ${\approx}1.5{\pm}0.3\;km$ in a hydrothermal system which alternated from lithostatic toward hydrostatic conditions. Au-Ag deposition was likely a result of boiling coupled with cooling. Meaured and calculated hydrogen and oxygen isotope values of ore-forming fluids indicate a significant meteoric water component, approaching unexchanged paleometeoric water values. Comparison of these values with those of other Korean Au-Ag deposits reveals a relationship among depth, Au/Ag ratio and degree of water-rock interaction. All investigated Korean Jurassic and Cretaceous gold-silver-bearing deposits have fluids which are dominantly evolved meteoric waters, but only deeper systems (${\geq}1.5\;km$) are exclusively gold-rich.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.233-243
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• 1992

Ore mineralization of the Hwanghak copper deposit in the Ogsan area occurred in three stages of quartz (stage I and II) and calcite (stage III) veining along fissures in Early Cretaceous sedimentary rocks. Ore minerals are pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite (dominant), sphalerite, hematite, galena, and Ag-, Pb-, and Bi-sulfosalts. These were deposited during the first stage at temperatures between $370^{\circ}C$ and < $200^{\circ}C$ from fluids with salinities between 0.5 and 7.6 equiv. wt. % NaCl. There is evidence of boiling and this suggests pressures of less than 180 bars during the first stage. Equilibrium thermodynamic interpretation accompanying with mineral paragenesis and fluid inclusion data indicates that copper precipitation in the hydrothermal system occurred due to cooling and changing in chemical conditions ($fs_2$, $fo_2$, pH). Gradual temperature decrease from $350^{\circ}$ to $250^{\circ}C$ of ore fluids by boiling and mixing with less-evolved meteoric waters mainly led to copper deposition through destabilization of copper chloride complexes. Sulfur isotope values of sulfide minerals decrease systematically with paragenetic time from calculated ${\delta}^{34}S_{H_2S}$ values of 8.2 to 4.7‰. These values, together with the observed change from sulfide-only to sulfide-hematite assemblages and fluid inclusion data, suggest progressively more oxidizing conditions, with a corresponding increase of the $sulfate/H_2S$ ratio of hydrothermal fluids. Measured and calculated hydrogen and oxygen isotope valutls of ore-forming fluids suggest meteoric water dominance, approaching unexchanged meteoric water values.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.153-163
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• 2013

The Ogcheon Au-Ag deposit consists of two quartz veins that fill the NE or NW-trending fissures in the metasedimentary rocks of unknown age. The quartz veins occur mainly in the massive type with partially breccia and cavity. They can be found along the strike for about minimum 50 m and varied in thickness from 0.1 to 0.3 m. The mineralogy of quartz veins from the Ogcheon deposit is mainly composed of hydrothermal alteration minerals such as pyrite, quartz, sericite, chlorite, clay minerals and sulfides including pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena. Fluid inclusion data from quartz indicate that homogenization temperatures and salinity of mineralization range from 184 to $362^{\circ}C$ and from 0.0 to 6.6 wt.% eq. NaCl, respectively. These suggest that ore forming fluids were progressively cooled and diluted from mixing with meteoric water. Sulfur(${\delta}^{34}S$: 0.4~8.4‰) isotope composition indicates that ore sulfur was derived from mainly magmatic source although there is a partial derivation from the host rocks. The calculated oxygen(${\delta}^{18}O$: 4.9~12.1‰) and hydrogen(${\delta}D$: -92~-74‰) isotope compositions suggest that magmatic and meteoric ore fluids were equally important for the formation of the Ogcheon deposit and then overlapped to some degree with another type of meteoric water during mineralization.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.2 s.52
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• pp.115-124
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• 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
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2011

The Geopung Cu deposit consists of two subparallel quartz veins that till the NE-trending fissures in Triassic Cheongsan granite. The quartz veins occur mainly massive with partially cavity and breccia. They can be followed along strike for about 500 m and varies in thickness from 0.2 to 2.2 m. Based on the mineralogy and paragenesis of veins, mineralization of quartz veins can be divided into hypogene and supergene stages. Hypogene stage is associated with hydrothermal alteration minerals such as sericite, pyrite, quartz, chlorite, clay minerals and sulfides such as pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, marcasite, sphalerite, stannite, chalcopyrite and galena. Supergene stage is composed of geothite. Fluid inclusion data from quartz indicate that homogenization temperatures and salinity of hypogene stage range from 163 to $356^{\circ}C$ and from 0.2 to 7.2 wt.% eq. NaCl, respectively. They suggest that ore forming fluids were progressively cooled and diluted from mixing with meteoric water. Sulfur (${\delta}^{34}S$: 4.3~9.2‰) isotope composition indicates that ore sulfur was derived from mainly magmatic source although there is a partial derivation from the host rocks. The calculated oxygen (${\delta}^{18}O$: 0.9~4.0‰) and hydrogen (${\delta}D$: -86~-69‰) isotope compositions suggest that magmatic and meteoric ore fluids were equally important for the formation of the Geopung Cu deposit and then overlapped to some degree with another type of meteoric water during mineralization.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.19-31
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• 2005

A study on the beneficiation of illite occurring in Youngdong province is performed with applying selective grinding and air classification techniques. Quartz and illite are occurred as major components, and sulfide minerals such as pyrite, chalcopyrite are associated as minor components. The result of sieving test shows that contents of Al₂O₃, K₂O and ignition loss are increased, whereas SiO₂ is decreased with particle size decrease. Fe₂O₃ content is almost same in all the particle size range but slightly lower at coarse particles. The yield of fine particles is increased with increasing rotor speed in both grinding stage and air classification stage. When the selective grinding and air classification are carried out at optimal condition, yield of the concentrate is 76.16 wt.%. The chemical compositions of the concentrate are SiO₂70.13%, Al₂O₃ 19.40%, Fe₂O₃ 1.62%, K₂O 5.20%, and ignition loss 2.77%. The beneficiation process developed in the current study is very effective method which purification and particle size control can be achieved simultaneously.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.561-573
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• 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
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-32
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• 1982

The Wolak tungsten-molybdenum deposits are tungsten-molybdenum bearing quartz veins which filled the fractures in Pre-Cambrian pebble-bearing calcareous hornfels, hornfels and Cretaceous granite. There are two vein groups in this mine, Dongsan vein group in the west and Kwangcheon vein group in the east. The ore minerals are wolframite, scheelite, molybdenite, native bismuth, bismuthinite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, cubanite, stannite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite, galena, marcasite, Pb-Bi sulfosalt and ilmenite. Quartz, calcite, beryl, fluorite, muscovite, rhodochrosite and siderite are gangue minerals. Fluid inclusion studies were carried out for the quartz, beryl, scheelite, early and late fluorite. Fluid inclusion studies reveal that liquid-gas inclusions are most common and occur in all of the minerals examined. Filling degree of the inclusions in the late fluorite is much higher than that of the inclusions in quartz and early fluorite. Liquid $CO_2$ bearing liquid-gas inclusions occur in quartz and early fluorite. Liquid, gas and solid phase inclusions occur in quartz, beryl and scheelite. Salinities of inclusions in quartz and beryl from Dongsan vein group range from 3.9 to 8.0, from 5.3 to 7.7 wt.% NaCl equivalent respectively. Salinities in the late fluorite range from 1.5 to 3.2 wt.% NaCl equivalent. In Kwangcheon vein group salinities range from 3.9 to 9.6 wt.% NaCl equivalent in quartz, from 2.8 to 7.3 wt.% NaCl equivalent in early fluorite, from 1.3 to 1.5 wt.% NaCl equivalent in late fluorite. Homogenization temperatures of inclusions range from $239^{\circ}$ to higher than $360^{\circ}C$ in quartz, over $360^{\circ}C$ in scheelite, from $288^{\circ}C$ to higher than $360^{\circ}C$ in beryl, and from $159^{\circ}$ to $202^{\circ}C$ in late fluorite of the Dongsan vein group. In Kwangcheon vein group, homo genization temperatures of inclusions range from $240^{\circ}C$ to higher than $360^{\circ}C$ in quartz and from $240^{\circ}$ to $328^{\circ}C$ in early fluorite. As a whole, in Dongsan and Kwangcheon vein groups it seems that there are no distinct differences in mineralogy, salinities and homogenization temperatures. No distinct variations in homogenization temperatures are revealed through about 300 m vertically in both district. The faint trend of increase in salinities in the lower level can be detected. The salinity, $CO_2$ content and the temperature of ore fluid were much higher in the early vein stage and then dropped off in the late stage of mineralization as represented by the quartz and fluorite inclusion data.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.177-191
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• 2021

The Zhenzigou Pb-Zn deposit, one of the largest Pb-Zn deposit in the northeast of China, is located at the Qingchengzi mineral field in Jiao Liao Ji belt. The geology of this deposit consists of Archean granulite, Paleoproterozoinc migmatitic granite, Paleo-Mesoproterozoic sodic granite, Paleoproterozoic Liaohe group, Mesozoic diorite and monzoritic granite. The Zhenzigou deposit which is a strata bound SEDEX or SEDEX type deposit occurs as layer ore and vein ore in Langzishan formation and Dashiqiao formation of the Paleoproterozoic Liaohe group. Based on mineral petrography and paragenesis, dolomites from this deposit are classified three type (1. dolomite (D₀) as hostrock, 2. dolomite (D₁) in layer ore associated with white mica, quartz, K-feldspar, sphalerite, galena, pyrite, arsenopyrite from greenschist facies, 3. dolomite (D₂) in vein ore associated with quartz, apatite and pyrite from quartz vein). The structural formulars of dolomites are determined to be Ca_1.00-1.03Mg_0.94-0.98Fe_0.00-0.06As_0.00-0.01(CO₃)₂(D₀), Ca_0.97-1.16Mg_0.32-0.83Fe_0.10-0.50Mn_0.01-0.12Zn_0.00-0.01Pb_0.00-0.03As_0.00-0.01(CO₃)₂(D₁), Ca_1.00-1.01Mg_0.85-0.92Fe_0.06-0.11 Mn_0.01-0.03As_0.01(CO₃)₂(D₂), respectively. It means that dolomites from the Zhenzigou deposit have higher content of trace elements compared to the theoretical composition of dolomite. Feo and MnO contents of these dolomites (D₀, D₁ and D₂) contain 0.05-2.06 wt.%, 0.00-0.08 wt.% (D₀), 3.53-17.22 wt.%, 0.49-3.71 wt.% (D₁) and 2.32-3.91 wt.%, 0.43-0.95 wt.% (D₂), respectively. The dolomite (D₁) from layer ore has higher content of these trace elements (FeO, MnO, ZnO and PbO) than dolomite (D₀) from hostrock and dolomite (D₂) from quartz vein. Dolomites correspond to Ferroan dolomite (D₀ and D₂), and ankerite and Ferroan dolomite (D₁), respectively. Therefore, 1) dolomite (D₀) from hostrock is a Ferroan dolomite formed by marine evaporative lagoon environment in Paleoproterozoic Jiao Liao Ji basin. 2) Dolomite (D₁) from layer ore is a ankerite and Ferroan dolomite formed by hydrothermal metasomatism origined metamorphism (greenschist facies) associated with Paleoproterozoic intrusion. 3) Dolomte (D₂) from quartz vein is a Ferroan dolomite formed by hydrothermal fluid origined Mesozoic intrusion.