• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.125-139
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• 2010

Behavior of heavy metals and arsenic in the tailings of Songcheon Au-Ag mine was characterized via both mineralogical and geochemical methods. Mineral composition of the tailings was investigated by X-ray diffractometry, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA) and total concentrations of heavy metals and arsenic and their chemical forms were analyzed by total digestion of aqua regia and sequential extraction method, respectively. The results of mineralogical study indicate that the tailings included mineral particles of resinous shape mainly consisting of galena, sphalerite, pyrite, quartz, and scorodite, and specifically socordite was identified in the form of matrix. EPMA quantitative analyses were performed to evaluate the weatherability of each mineral, and the results suggest that it decreased in the sequence of arsenopyrite > galena > sphalerite > pyrite. The weathering pattern of galena was observed to show distinctive zonal structure consisting of secondary minerals such as anglesite and beudantite. In addition, almost all of arsenopyrite has been altered to scorodite existing asmatrix and galena, sphalerite, and pyrite which have lower weatherability than arsenopyrite were identified within the matrix of scorodite. During the process of alteration of arsenopyrite into scorodite, it is likely that a portion of arsenic was lixiviated and caused a great deal of detrimental effects to surrounding environment. The results of EPMA quantitative analyses verify that the stability of scorodite was relatively high and this stable scorodite has restrained the weathering of other primary minerals within tailings as a result of its coating of mineral surfaces. For this reason, Songcheon tailings show the characteristics of the first weathering stage, although they have been exposed to the surface environment for a long time. Based on the overall results of mineralogical and geochemical studies undertaken in this research, if the tailings are kept to be exposed to the surface environment and the weathering process is continuous, not only hazardous heavy metals, such as lead and arsenic seem to be significantly leached out because their larger portions are being partitioned in weakly-bound (highly-mobile) fractions, but the potential of arsenic leaching is likely to be high as the stability of scorodite is gradually decreased. Consequently, it is speculated that the environmental hazard of Songcheon mine is significantly high.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 1998

We investigated the effects of a long term application of soil amendments such as lime, silicate, compost, or combinations of these materials on the contents of Cu and Zn in paddy soil and brown rice. The results obtained from a sequential extraction of Cu and Zn in paddy soils and brown rice, using $H_2O$, $KNO_3$, $Na_2$-EDTA and $HNO_3$ and showed that the most of Cu and Zn were NaOH-extractable (organically bound form) and $HNO_3$-extractable (sulfide and residual form). Cu contents of NaOH and EDTA extractable increased with the long term application of compost while the contents of Zn extracted by $KNO_3$ was decreased even though $HNO_3$ extractable-Zn was prominent chemical form in paddy soils. The percentage and contents of Zn, extracted by $KNO_3$ for each combination treatment of soil amendments, was decreased but the contents of Cu was not affected. The content of NaOH extractable-Cu was proportionally increased with increase in organic matter content irrespective of the extractants used in this experiment. The contents of Zn and exchangeable K were also increased with increase in organic matter content. However, we could not find any relationship between the extractable forms of Cu and Zn, and CEC, OM. while increase in CEC, contents of cations, and organic matter decreased the content of Cu in brown rice.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.443-453
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• 2010

The Samsung gold-silver deposit consists of quartz veins that fill along the fault zone within Cretaceous shale and sandstone. Mineralization is occurred within fault-breccia zones and can be divided into two stages. Stage I is main ore mineralization and stage II is barren. Stage I is associated with wall-rock alteration minerals(sericite, pyrite, chlorite, quartz), rutile, base-metal sulfides(pyrrhotite, pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena), and electrum. Stage II occur quartz, calcite and pyrite. Fluid inclusion data indicate that homogenization temperatures and salinities of stage I range from 145 to $309^{\circ}C$ and from 0.4 to 12.4 wt.% NaCl, respectively. It suggests that hydrothermal fluids were cooled and diluted with the mixing of meteoric water. The main deposition of base-metal sulfides and electrum occurred as a result of cooling and dilution at temperature between $200^{\circ}C$ and $300^{\circ}C$. Sulfur(9.3~10.8‰) isotope composition indicates that ore sulfur was mainly derived from a magmatic source as well as the host rocks. The calculated oxygen[-2.3~0.9‰(quartz: 0.3‰, 0.9‰, calcite: -2.3‰)] and hydrogen[-86~-76‰(quartz: -86‰, -82‰, calcite: -76‰)] isotope compositions indicate that hydrothermal fluids may be meteoric origin with some degree of mixing of another meteoric water for paragenetic time.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.3 s.41
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• pp.141-148
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• 2005

Lead isotopic compositions are analyzed from the sulfide minerals of the Yeonhwa, Janggun and Uljin deposits and from host limestone, intrusives, and basement rocks to reveal the source of Pb in these deposits. In the $^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb$ vs $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ plot, Galenas from the Yeonhwa mine display relatively well defined positive linear array, similar to the Precambrian basement rocks of the Korean peninsula. A galena sample from the Uljin mine, Janggun limestone and the basement rocks also follow the variation of Yeonhwa mine. However, ore minerals from the Janggun mine, having relatively low $^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb$ values, reveal offset from such trend toward lower $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ values. Considering the fact that Mesozoic igneous rocks and ores within the Gyeongsang basin display considerably lower $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ values than basement rocks of the Korean peninsula, the deviation of Janggun ore minerals can be interpreted as to reflect mixing between leads from old continental crustal materials and from Mesozoic igneous rocks with more mantle signature. The lead of the Yeonhwa and Uljin mine, following trend of Precambrian basement rather well, seems to have been originated mostly from such basement. However, regarding that they occupy low $^{207}Pb/^{204}Pb$ side of the variation trend of the basement, the possibility of having some leads derived from the Mesozoic igneous rocks cannot be excluded.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.445-454
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• 1999

The Sanjeon Au-Ag deposit consists of three subparallel hydrothermal quartz-calcite veins which filled fault-related fractures (generally $N20^{\circ}$ to 35"W-trending and $70^{\circ}$ to $80^{\circ}$ SW-dipping) within quartz porphyry. The vein mineralization shows an apparent variation of mineral assemblages with paragenetic time: (1) early, white quartz + pyrite + arsenopyrite + brown sphalerite, (2) middle, white (vein) to clear quartz (vug) + base-metal sulfides + electrum + argentite, (3) late, calcite + pyrite + native silver. Mineralogic and fluid inclusion data indicate that gold-silver minerals were deposited at temperatures from 2l $0^{\circ}$ to $250^{\circ}$ with salinities of 4 to 5 wt. % equiv. NaCl and log fS2 values from -14.0 to -12.2 atm. The linear relationship between homogenization temperature and salinity data indicates that gold-silver deposition was a result of meteoric water mixing. Ore mineralization occurred at pressure conditions of about 70 bars, which corresponds to the mineralization depths of about 260 m to 700 m. There is a remarkable decrease of the calculated 1)180 values of water from 1.3 to -9.7%0 in hydrothermal fluid with increasing paragenetic time. This indicates a progressive increase of meteoric water influx in the hydrothermal system at the Sanjeon deposit. Oxygen-hydrogen, sulfur, and carbon isotope values of hydrothermal fluids indicate that the ore mineralization was formed largely from meteoric waters with the contribution of sulfur and carbon from a deep igneous source.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.5 s.180
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• pp.583-595
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• 2006

Quartz veins from the Hwawon area are an epithermal quartz vein that is filling the fault zone within Precambrian metasedimentary rocks and Jurassic granite. Mineralization can be divided into hypogene and supergene stages. Hypogene stage is associated with hydrothermal alteration minerals(propylitic and argillic zones) such as epidote, chlorite, illite, sericite and sulfides such as pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, bornite, cubanite, argentian tetrahedrite, Pb-Ag-S system and Pb-Te-S system. Supergene stage is composed of Fe-Mn oxide, Zn-Fe oxide and Pb oxide. Fluid inclusion data indicate that homogenization temperatures and salinity of hypogene stage range from $291.2^{\circ}C$ to $397.3^{\circ}C$ and from 0.0 to 9.3 wt.% eq. NaCl, respectively. It suggests that ore forming fluids were cooled and diluted with the mixing of meteoric water. Oxygen($-0.7{\sim}3.5%_{\circ}$(white quartz: $-0.7{\sim}3.5%_{\circ}$, transparent quartz: $2.4%_{\circ}$)) and hydrogen($-70{\sim}55%_{\circ}$(white quartz: $-70{\sim}55%_{\circ}$, transparent quartz: $-62%_{\circ}$)) isotopic composition indicates that hydrothermal fluids were derived from magmatic and evolved by mixing with meteoric water during mineralization.

• 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.

• 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.55 no.5
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• pp.465-475
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• 2022

The seafloor massive sulfide deposits are important mineral resources for base and precious metals, and their ore genesis and metal contents are mainly controlled by wall-rock leaching process and/or magmatic volatile input from the underlying magma chamber. However, the contribution of two different metal sources to the seafloor hydrothermal mineralization significantly varies in diverse geological settings and thus still remains controversial. In this review, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of SMS deposits from mid-ocean ridges (MORs) and volcanic arcs were investigated to understand the contribution from different metal sources and to suggest future challenges that need to be addressed. As a result, the genetic occurrences of enargite and cubanite, galena and barite indicate the effects of magmatic input and water-rock interaction, respectively. Also, the distributional behaviors of Co, As, and Hg in pyrite and FeS content of sphalerite could be useful empirical indicators to discriminate the significant roles of different metal sources between MOR and Arc settings. To date, as most studies have focused on sulfide samples recovered from the seabed, further studies on magmatic sulfides and sulfate minerals are required to fully understand the genetic history of SMS deposits.