• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2001

A small of carbonate rocks and spatially-associated ultramafic rocks uniquely occur in the ulsan iron-serpentine mine of the sourtheastern Kyungsang basin. The study of field geology, core drilling data and stable isotope analysis suggest that the carbonate rocks are carbonatite formed from the melt reflecting intrusive natures. Based on this study, the geology of the Ulsan iron-serpentinite mining area consists of Cretaceous sedimentary, volcanic, granitic ultramafic and carbonate rocks in ascending order. The carbonate and ultramafic rocks show concentric and ellipsoidal shapes at the outcrop and a funnel shape in the cross sectional view. Carbon and oxygen stable isotope analysis show a bimodal pattern rather than a typical mantle pattern, which may indicate that the melt was a secondary melt generated within the crus not in the mantle directly. The uprising of ultramafic melts would have melted lime-contained rocks forming a secondary carbonate melt in the upper crus. Then, the intrusion of the ultramafic melts would have melted lime-contained rocks forming a secondary carbonate melt in the upper crust. Then, the intrusion of the ultramafic melt was followed by the intrusion of the carbonate melt along deep-seated fractures. Well-developed major fractures in this area, fluid inclusion characteristics of the carbonate rocks, the spatial relation between the ultramafic and carbonate rocks and stable isotope data support interpreting the Ulsan carbonate rocks as carbonatite.