• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.265-280
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• 2003

The Mugeuk mineralized area that associated with the pull-apart type Cretaceous Eumseong basin is composed of several gold-silver vein deposits that are emplaced in late Cretaceous biotite granite. The gold-silver deposits in the area show various hydrothermal alteration zones as well as Au/Ag ratios and ore mineralogy. The Geumbong mine showing relatively high gold fineness is composed of multiple veins and show alteration pattern; vein \longrightarrow phyllic \longrightarrow subphyllic \longrightarrow propylitic \longrightarrow subpropylitic zone. In contrast, The Taegeuk mines show the low fineness values, in far southern part are characterized by increasing tendency of simple and/or stockwork veins. The deposit displays alteration pattern; vein \longrightarrow propylitic \longrightarrow subpropylitic zone. Variations of alteration zone with depth show that phyllic zone are dominant in deeper level and propylitic zone sporadically overlapped by argillic zone are dominant in shallow level. The differences of alteration pattern between the gold-silver deposits are reflect the evolution of the hydrothermal fluids; the ore-forming fluids of the Geumbong mine are at relatively high temperature and salinity and highly-evolved meteoric water, developing phyllic zone, the Taegeuk mine containing greater amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters shows relatively low temperature and salinity in ore-forming fluids, developing propylitic zone. The various physicochemical environment for gold-silver mineralization in the Mugeuk mineralized area is due to proximity from heat source area (Mugeuk mine) to marginal area (Taegeuk mine) in a geothermal field. Therefore, it is suggested that the criteria for project exploration in the area are to focus on the area proximal to heat source and phyllic zone.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.253-255
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• 2001

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.205-220
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• 2002

The gold-silver deposits in the Casado district were formed in the sheeted and stockwork quartz veins which fill the fault fractures in volcanic rocks. K-Ar dating of alteration sericite (about 70 Ma) indicates a Late Cretaceous age for ore mineralization. These veins are composed of quartz, adularia, carbonate, and minor of pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, Ag-sulfosalts (argentite, pearceite, Ag-As-Sb-S system), and electrum. These veins are characterized by chalcedonic, comb, crustiform and feathery textures. Based on the hydrothermally altered mineral assemblages, regional alteration zoning associated with mineralization in the Gasado district is defined as four zones; advanced argillic (kaolin mineral-alunite-quartz), argillic (kaolin mineral-quartz), phyllic (quartz-sericite-pyrite) and propylitic (chlorite-carbonate-quartz-feldspar-pyroxene) zone. Phyllic and propylitic zones is distributed over the study area. However, advanced argillic zone is restricted to the shallow surface of the Lighthouse vein. Compositions of electrum ranges from 14.6 to 53.7 atomic % Au, and the depositional condition for mineralization are estimated in terms of both temperature and sulfur fugacity: T=245。$~285^{\circ}C$, logf $s_2$=$10^{-10}$ ~ $10^{-12}$ Fluid inclusion and stable isotope data show that the auriferous fluids were mixed with cool and dilute (158。~253$^{\circ}C$ and 0.9~3.4 equiv. wt. % NaCl) meteoric water ($\delta^{18}$ $O_{water}$=-10.1~8.0$\textperthousand$, $\delta$D=-68~64$\textperthousand$). These results harmonize with the hot-spring type of the low-sulfidation epithermal deposit model, and strongly suggest that Au-Ag mineralization in the Gasado district was formed in low-sulfidation alteration type environment at near paleo-surface.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.41-54
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• 2023

Illite is a common mineral that forms readily from feldspar and mica via hydrothermal alteration and exhibits various characteristics depending on the degree of hydrothermal alteration. To ensure continued mining of high-quality illite ore, it is crucial to understand the illitization. Thus, this study collected ores from two illite ore deposit and their surrounding alteration zones in Yeongdong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, a significant source of illite in the Republic of Korea, to determine the constituent mineral contents and textural characteristics. Polarized light microscopy analyses revealed that the illite ore deposit were highly illitized with little remaining textural characteristics of the parent mica schist, and only some quartz was present. The ore zone contained illite, muscovite, quartz, and feldspar, with illitization primarily occurring around feldspar and quartz. X-ray diffraction analyses identified that the content of illite/muscovite was approximately 50-75 wt.%, with a maximum of 75 wt.%. Additionally, X-ray fluorescence analyses indicated a linear increase in K₂O content with increasing illite content, showing the highest correlation among the major components analyzed. It is suggested that the illite in the Yeongdong area results from feldspar and quartz alteration by hydrothermal fluids along the fault, with illitization of feldspar occurring before that of quartz. The results of this study are expected to contribute to the development of high-quality illite ore deposit in Yeongdong, Chungcheongbuk-do.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.256-258
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• 2001

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.265-277
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• 2015

Hydrothermal alteration patterns and environment are studied by mineral assemblages and chemical analyses of surface and core samples from Miryang pyrophyllite deposit. The alteration zones of this deposit can be divided into three zones on the basis of mineral assemblage; advanced argillic, phyllic, and propylitic zone. Advanced argillic zone mainly consists of pyrophyllite-dickite (-quartz) and corresponds to principal mining ore. The common mineral assemblage of phyllic zone and propylitic zone are sericite-quartz-dickite and chlorite-quartz, respectively. Horizontal and vertical alteration patterns and major element geochemistry indicate that pyrophyllite ores have been formed several times by hydrothermal alteration. And it also suggests that the huge ore bodies may be extended from the deeper part of recent quarries to the south-southeastern direction. The paragenesis of ore minerals and polytype (2M) suggest that ore deposit was formed at about $300-350^{\circ}C$.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.437-446
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• 2001

Zoned epidotes formed by the propylitic alteration of the Bobae sericite deposit in western Pusan show complex compositional zoning patterns, such as multiple growth zoning, oscillatory zoning, patchy zoning and irregular zoning. The complex zoned epidote, in general, shows AI-rich cores and Fe-rich rims. Pistacite component (Ps) in the epidote ranges from 18.5 to 74.3 mot.%. Remnant textures in multiple growth zoning indicate that the earlier zone was partially resorbed prior to growth of later one. Multiple growth zoning and oscillatory zoning suggest that hydrothermal system underwent rapid changes and fluctuations in fluid chemistry, redox condition, or temperature.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.397-416
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• 1992

In the present study, three clay deposits, named the Seongsan, Ogmaesan and Haenam deposits, were investigated. The altered zones are recognized in the hydrothermally altered rocks of the clay deposits from the center of the alteration to the margin: Kaolin, Kaolin-Quartz, Quartz, Sericite and Chlorite zones in the Seongsan deposits; Quartz zone, Alunite zone, Kaolin zone, Sericite zone and Chlorite zone in the Ogmaesan deposits; Quartz zone, Pyrophyllite zone, Sericite zone and Chlorite zone in the Haenam deposits. These zones can be grouped into two types of alteration: Acidic alteration such as Pyrophyllite zone, Alunite zone, Quartz zone, Kaolin zone, Kaolin-Quartz zone and a part of Sericite zone; Propylitic alteration such as Chlorite zone and a part of Sericite zone. All clay deposits belong to high-sulfidation (acid-sulfate) system. The rocks of the acidic alterations are composed of pyrophyllite, alunite, kaolin minerals, sericite, quartz and pyrite. On the basis of bulk chemical compositions, it was found that some components such as $SiO_2$, $TiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3$, FeO, MgO, CaO, $K_2O$ and $Na_2O$ were mobilized considerably from the original rocks. The mobility of these major elements is related to, and controls, mineral assemblages in each altered zone. Polytypes of sericite are determined as $2M_1$ and 1M by X-ray diffraction method. The amount of $2M_1$ is nearly equal to that of 1M in the Seongsan deposits whereas $2M_1$ is less and higher than that of 1M in the Ogmaesan and the Haenam deposits. These facts indicate that formation temperature of sericite is relatively high in the Haenam deposits, moderate in the Seongsan deposits, and low in the Ogmaesan deposits. The ratios of Na/(K+Na) for alunite in the Ogmaesan deposits determined by electron microprobe analyzer (EPMA) are higher than those in the Seongsan deposits. Thus, the alunite of the Ogmaesan deposits must have been formed from the solutions with relatively high aqueous Na/(K+Na) ratios and low pH at a high temperature rather than that of the Seongsan deposits. From all data, it is clarified that alunite is hypogene in origin, and has been formed by oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in the steam-heated environment, and that alunite has been produced by the spectacular solfataric alteration observed at the surface of some present-day hydrothermal systems.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.122-144
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• 1993

The Kimhae napseok clay deposit was studied to characterize its mineralogy and genesis. Geology of the deposit is composed of Tertiary volcanic rocks and granodiorite. Tertiary volcanic rocks consist of andesitic tuff with minor interstratified tuffaceous shale, and rhyodacitic tuff. The main ore body of 2.4 to 4 m in thickness developed parallel to the bedding of andesitic tuff bed. Its strike and dip are $N70^{\circ}E-N85^{\circ}E$ and $16^{\circ}NW-32^{\circ}NW$, respectively. Two alteration zones; the propylitic zone of albite-epidote-chlorite-quartz assemblage and advanced argillic zone of pyrophyllite-dickite-alunite-diaspore assemblage are developed. Correlation of $SiO_2$ to $Al_2O_3$ shows no relation in propylitic zone, while a negative linear relation in advanced argillic zone. Chemical variation shows that $SiO_2$, $Al_2O_3$, MgO, CaO, $Na_2O$ and $K_2O$ were leached out during hydrothermal alteration. Pyrophyllite, the most abundant mineral in advanced argillic zone, occurs as low temperature 2M polytype. It is closely associated with dickite, diaspore and alunite. The Hinckley index of dickite is 0.83 showing moderate crystallinity. Na content is increasing in the M site with the increasing content of cations in the R-site. the mole percent of Na replacing K in alunite ranges from 53.2 to 71.6. It is also found that pyrophyllite grows in the dissolution site of diaspore. Plagioclase was albitized. Lowering of pH caused mainly by sulfide and sulfate decomposition resulted in preferential leaching of Si. It is inferred that aluminum released from plagioclase in the volcanic rocks as well as from the tuffaceous shale intercalated in andesitic tuff were the main sources of aluminum required for the formation of clay deposit. pH in hydrothermal fluid decreased from propylitic zone to advanced argillic zone with increasing degree of alteration. Based on experimental data reported in the literature and mineral assemblages, the formation temperature of the deposit ranges 270 to $320^{\circ}C$.

• Magazine of korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.31-46
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• 2010