• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.397-411
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• 2020

The Cretaceous Yucheon Group is volcano-sedimentary successions that are formed by volcanic activities of the Gyeongsang Volcanic Arc. Lack of the detailed field researches on the Yucheon Group results in poor understanding of the formation time and the tempo-spatial development of the volcanic arc. Also, this causes difficulties to reconstruct the depositional history from the Sindong and Hayang groups to the Yucheon Group. In this study, we conducted field research targeting to the interface between topmost part of the Hayang Group and the lowermost part of the Yucheon Group from Hyeonpoong to Bugok areas. We also identified depositional timing of the lowermost part of the Yucheon Group using SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age dating. This Yucheon Group is composed of tuff and lapilli tuff, conformably overlying the Jindong Formation. The results of SHRIMP U-Pb zircon age are 97 to 96 Ma, indicating cessation of deposition of the Hayang Group at 97 to 96 Ma by input of pyroclastic materials into the Jinju Subbasin during the explosive volcanic eruptions from the Gyeongsang Volcanic Arc. In comparison with field researches and results of LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb age dating (88-85 Ma) of the lowermost part of the Yucheon Group in Gyeongju areas, the volcanic activities that formed Yucheon Group and their influence ranges varied tempo-spatially. This is probably due to distance difference from the volcanic arc or establishment of the paleo-drainage system from the Gyeongsang Volcanic Arc to nearby lowlands.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.115-131
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• 1992

Late Cretaceous (90.5 Ma), epithermal gold-silver vein mineralization of the Weolseong and Samchang mines in the Sulcheon area, 60 km southeast of Taejeon, can be separated into two distinct stages (I and II) during which fault-related fissures in Precambrian gneiss and Cretaceous (102 Ma) porphyritic granite were filled. Fluid inclusion and mineralogical data suggest that quartz-sulfide-electrum-argentite-forming stage I evolved from initial high temperatures $({\approx}340^{\circ}C})$ to later lower temperatures $({\approx}140^{\circ}C})$ at shallow depths of about 400 to 700 m. Ore fluid salinities were in the range between 0.2 and 6.6 wt. % eq. NaCl. A simple statistic model for fluid-fluid mixing indicates that the mixing ratio (the volumetric ratio between deep hydrothermal fluids and meteoric water) systematically decreased with time. Gold-silver deposition occurred at temperatures of $230{\pm}40^{\circ}C$ mainly as a result of progressive cooling of ore-forming fluids through mixing with less-evolved meteoric waters. Measured and calculated hydrogen and oxygen isotope values of hydrothermal fluids indicate meteoric water dominance, approaching unexchanged meteoric water values. The geologic, mineralogic, and geochemical data from the Weolseong and Samchang mines are similar to those from other Korean epithermal gold-silver vein deposits.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.587-597
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• 1995

Two distinct precious-metal mineralizations actively occur at central and southeastern Korea which display consistent relationships among geologic, geochemical and genetic environments. A large number of preciousmetal vein deposits in the central Korea occur in or near Mesozoic granite batholiths elongated in a NE-SW direction. Whereas, gold and/or silver deposits in the southeastern Korea occur within Cretaceous volcanic and sedimentary rocks. However, most of the precious-metal deposits in the southeastern Korea show characteristics of the silver-rich deposits than the gold-rich deposits in the central Korea. Two epochs of main igneous activities are recognized: a) Jurassic Daebo igneous activity between 121 and 183 Ma, and b) Cretaceous Bulgugsa igneous activity between 60 and 110 Ma. Precious-metal mineralization took place between 158 and 71 Ma, coinciding with portions of the two magmatic activities. Contrasts in the style of mineralization, together with radiometric age data and differences in geologic settings reflect the genetically variable natures of hydrothermal activities from middle Jurassic to late Cretaceous time. The compilation and re-evaluation of these data suggest that the genetic types of hydrothermal precious-metal vein deposits in the central and southeastern Korea varied with time. The Jurassic and early Cretaceous mineralizations are characterized by the Au-dominant type, but tend to change to the Au-Ag and/or Ag-dominant types at late Cretaceous. The Jurassic Au-dominant deposits commonly show several characteristics; prominent associations with pegmatites, simple massive vein morphologies, high fmeness values in ore-concentrating parts, and a distinctively simple ore mineralogy such as Fe-rich sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, Au-rich electrum, pyrrhotite and/or pyrite. The Cretaceous precious-metal deposits are generally characterized by some- features such as complex vein morphologies, low to medium fmeness values in the ore concentrates, and abundance of ore minerals including Ag sulfosalts, Ag sulfides, Ag tellurides and native silver. Mineralogical and fluid inclusion studies indicate that the Jurassic Au-dominant deposits in the central area were formed at the high temperature (about $300^{\circ}$ to $500^{\circ}C$) and pressure (about 4 to 5 kbars), whereas mineralizations of the Cretaceous Au-Ag and Ag-dominant deposits were occurred at the low temperature (about $200^{\circ}$ to $350^{\circ}C$) and pressure (<0.5 kbars) from the ore fluids containing more amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.153-167
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• 1995

Emplacement ages for the granite plutons of the Jurassic and the Cretaceous times in the central Ogcheom Fold Belt were determined by Rb-Sr whole rock and mineral isocheon methods. In addition mineral ages for the plutons were determined by K-Ar and fission track methods. In turn, thermal histories and uplifting rates of the granitic bodies are elucidated from the isotopic ages. The Jecheon(~203 Ma) and Mungyeong(at lest~200 Ma) granites of the Jurassic and the Muamsa, Wolagsan and Daeyasan granites(~110 Ma) of the Cretaceous show high strontium initial ratios [$(^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr)_1$0.7100],suggesting that the granitic magmas have been generated by partial melting of crustal materials (S-type), or by mixing of mantle and crustal materials. Only mineral ages of the Sogrisan and Hyeongjebong granites (~90 Ma) were determined by K-Ar method, and petrogenesis of them were not defined yet. The two Jurassic granite plutons were cooled rapidly down to $300^{\circ}C$, right after the plutons were slowly cooled down since then, due to their deep emplacment. During the Middle Cretaceous period, the Jurassic Mungyeong granitic pluton was intruded and thermally affected much by the surrounding Wolagsan and Daeyasan granites. Accordingly the Rb-Sr mineral age, K-Ar hornblende and biotite ages of the Mungyeong granite appear to be reduced or reset due to the thermal effects above their blocking temperatures. All the cretaceous granites have been cooled much ore simply and rapidly down than the Jurassic ones below $300^{\circ}C$, owing to their shallow emplacement.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.5 s.180
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• pp.567-581
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• 2006

The Au-Ag lode deposits in South Korea are closely associated with the Mesozoic granitoids. Namely, the Jurassic deposits formed in mesozonal environments related to deep-seated granitoids, whereas the Cretaceous ones were developed in porphyry-related environments related to subvolcanic granitoids. The time-space relationships of the Au-Ag lode deposits in South Korea are closely related to the changing plate motions during the Mesozoic. Most of the Jurassic auriferous deposits (about $165{\sim}145$ Ma) show fluid characteristics typical of an orogenic-type gold deposits, and were probably generated in a compressional to transpressional regime caused by an orthogonal to oblique convergence of the Izanagi Plate into the East Asian continental margin. On the other hand, strike-slip faults and caldera-related fractures together with subvolcanic activity are associated with major strike-slip faults reactivated by a northward (oblique) to northwestward (orthogonal) convergence, and probably have played an important role in the formation of the Cretaceous Au-Ag lode deposits (about $110{\sim}45$ Ma) under a continental arc setting. The temporal and spatial distinctions between the two typical Mesozoic deposit styles in South Korea probably reflect a different thermal episodes (i.e., late orogenic and post-orogenic) and ore-forming fluids related to different depths of emplacement of magma due to regional changes in tectonic environment.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.517-535
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• 2007

Two distinctive Mesozoic hydrothermal systems occurred in South Korea: the Jurassic/Early Cretaceous(ca. $200{\sim}130$ Ma) deep-level ones during the Daebo orogeny and the Late Cretaceous/Tertiary(ca. $110{\sim}45$ Ma) shallow hydrothermal ones during the Bulgugsa event. The Mesozoic hydrothermal system and the metallic mineralization in the Korean Peninsula document a close spatial and temporal relationship with syn- to post-tectonic magmatism. The calculated ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ values of the ore-forming fluids from the Mesozoic metallic mineral deposits show limited range for the Jurassic ones but variable range for the Late Cretaceous ones. The orogenic mineral deposits were formed at relatively high temperatures and deep-crustal levels. The mineralizing fluids that were responsible for the formation of theses deposits are characterized by the reasonably homogeneous and similar ranges of ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ values. This implies that the ore-forming fluids were principally derived from spatially associated Jurassic granitoids and related pegmatite. On the contrary, the Late Cretaceous ferroalloy, base-metal and precious-metal deposits in the Taebaeksan, Okcheon and Gyeongsang basins occurred as vein, replacement, breccia-pipe, porphyry-style and skarn deposits. Diverse mineralization styles represent a spatial and temporal distinction between the proximal environment of subvolcanic activity and the distal to transitional condition derived from volcanic environments. The Cu(-Au) or Fe-Mo-W deposits are proximal to a magmatic source, whereas the polymetallic or the precious-metal deposits are more distal to transitional. On the basis of the overall ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ values of various ore deposits in these areas, it can be briefed that the ore fluids show very extensive oxygen isotope exchange with country rocks, though the ${\delta}D_{H2O}$ values are relatively homogeneous and similarly restricted.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.575-586
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• 2002

Authigenic minerals found in sandstones and mudrocks of the Lower Hayang Group (Cretaceous) in the central part of the Kyungsang Basin are carbonate minerals (calcite, dolomite), clay minerals (illite, chlorite, C/S, I/S and kaolinite), albite, quartz and hematite. Characteristic diagenetic mineral assemblages are as follows: albite-chlorite (including C/S)-hematite in the Chilgog Formation, albite-illite-calcite in the Silla Conglomerate, illite-chlorite-hematite in the Haman Formation and albite-chlorite-dolomite in the Panyawol Formation, respectively. Among clay minerals reflecting the physical and chemical change of the diagenetic process, illite, the dominant clay mineral, occurs in every formation in the study area. Chlorite occurs mainly in green or gray sandstones and mudrocks, or in sandstones and mudrocks of the Chilogok Formation which contains a high content of volcanic materials. Based on the mineral assemblage, diagenetic minerals are strongly related with source rocks. Judging from the illite crystallinity, diagenesis of sandstones and mudrocks in the study area reached the late diagenetic stage or low grade metamorphisim. The diagenetic process was much influenced by intrusion of the Bulguksa granite, content of organic materials, grain size, and depositional environment rather than burial depth.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.32-52
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• 2003

The Mt. Baegyang in Busan, composed of sedimentary basement rocks (Icheonri Formation), andesite (lava), andesitic pyroclastic rocks, fallout tuff and tuffaceous sedimentary rocks, rhyolitic pyroclastic rocks, intrusive rocks (granite-porphyry, felsite, and biotite-granite) of Cretaceous age in ascending order. The volcanic rocks show a section of composite volcano which comprised alternation of andesitic lava and pyroclasitc rocks, rhyolitic pyrocalstic rocks (tuff breccia, lapilli tuff, fine tuff) from the lower to the upper strata. From the major element chemical analysis, the volcanic and intrusive rocks belong to calc-alkaline rock series. The trace element composition and REE patterns of volcanic and plutonic rocks, which are characterized by a high LILE/HFSE ratio and enrichments in LREE, suggest that they are typical of continental margin arc calc-alkaline rocks produced in the subduction environment. Primary basaltic magma might have been derived from partial melting of mantle wedge in the upper mantle under destructive plate margin. Crystallization differentiation of the basaltic magma would have produced the calc-alkaline andesitic magma. And the felsic rhyolitic magma seems to have been evolved from andesitic magma with crystallization differentiation of plagioclase, pyroxene, and hornblende.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.335-365
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• 2012

Fission-track (FT) thermochronological records from SE Korean Cretaceous-Paleogene granitic plutons in different fault-bounded blocks reveal contrasting cooling and later thermal histories. Overall cooling patterns are represented by a monotonous (J-shaped) curve in most plutons except some Cretaceous granites retaining a complicated (N-shaped) path due to post-reset re-cooling. Discriminative cooling rates over different temperature ranges can be explained for individual plutons with respect to relative pluton sizes, differences in initial heat loss depending on country rocks, and the presence and proximity of later igneous activity. Even within a single batholith, cooling times for different isotherms were roughly contemporaneous with respect to positions. Insignificant deviations in cooling ages from two different plutons in succession across the Yangsan fault may suggest their contemporaneity before major horizontal fault movement. The extent of later thermal rise recorded locally along the Yangsan and Dongnae fault zones were reached the Apatite Partial Stability Zone ($70-125^{\circ}C$), but did not exceed $200^{\circ}C$. Thermal alteration from fractured zones in the Yangsan-Ulsan fault junction may suggest a thermal reset above $290^{\circ}C$ resulting a complete reset in FT sphene age (31 Ma), caused by a tectonic subsidence in Early Oligocene. A consistency in FT zircon/apatite ages (24 Ma) may imply a sudden rapid cooling over $200-105^{\circ}C$, plausibly related to the abrupt tectonic uplift of the Pohang-Gampo Block including the fault junction in Late Oligocene. A remarkable trend of lower cooling ages for $300-200-100^{\circ}C$ isotherms (i.e., 19% for FT sphene and K-Ar biotite; 20% for FT zircon; 27% for FT apatite) from the east of the Ulsan fault (Pohang-Gampo Block) comparing to the west of the fault may be attributed to retarded cooling times from the Paleogene granites and also reflected by their partially-reduced apatite ages due to later thermal effects.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.437-457
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• 2004

The geology of the Kualakulun in the Middle Kalimantan, Indonesia comprises Permian to Carboniferous Pinoh Metamorphic Rocks and Cretaceous Sepauk Plutonics of the Sunda Shield, late Eocene Tanjung Formation, Oligocene Malasan Volcanics, Oligocene to early Miocene Sintang Intrusives and Quaternary alluvium. Tanjung Formation was deposited in low-and high-sinuosity channel networks developed on the proximal to distal delta plain and delta front forming southward paleoflow system, which, in turn, gradually change into shallow marine environment. Four main deformational phases are recognized: D1, folding of metamorphic rocks accompanied by development of S1 schistosity under regional metamorphic condition; D2, ductile shearing in Cretaceous granitoids; D3, folding of metamorphic rocks accompanied by S2 crenulation cleavage; D4, faulting under N-S compressional regime during Tertiary times, producing NE-trending sinistral and NW-trending dextral strike-slip faults and N-S to NNE-trending normal faults.