• Title/Summary/Keyword: Hydrothermal alteration

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Formation of Alteration Minerals in Gouges of Quaternary Faults at the Eastern Blocks of the Ulsan Fault, Southeastern Korea (울산단층 동부지역 제4기단층 비지대내 변질광물의 형성)

  • Chang, Tae-Woo;Chae, Yeon-Joon;Choo, Chang-Oh
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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    • v.18 no.3 s.45
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    • pp.205-214
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    • 2005
  • Some Quaternary faults developed in the eastern block of the Ulsan fault are Gaegok 1, Gaegok 2, Singye, Madong, Wonwonsa and Jinhyeon faults, which are characterized by thin gouge and narrow cataclasitic tones. This study was performed to emphasize the role of mineral alteration and microtexture in response to hydrothermal alteration of fault gouges during fault activity, using XRD, EPMA, BSE (backscattered electron image), and K-Ar age dating methods. Alteration minerals in fault gouges were formed in the age range of $44.3\~28.9Ma$ by hydrothermal alteration attributed to fault activity. XRD results show that fault gouges consist predominantly of clay minerals, quartz and feldspars. Clay minerals formed in the gouge zones are mainly composed of smectite with trace chlorite, illite and kaolinite. The evidence to support the hydrothermal alteration of preexisting minerals due to fault activity are easily recognized at the host rocks in contact with gouges zones. Injected gouge and calcite veins indicate that they were originated from multiple deformation by repeated fault activity. Gouge with green or greenish grey color, for example Jinhyeon fault, contains higher $Al_2O_3$ and lower MgO and CaO compared to those with reddish color. Various colors of fault gouge are intimately related to the chemical compositions of main constituent mineral as well as mineral assemblage.

Variation of Chemical Elements due to Hydrothermal Alteration of Kyungju Pyrophyllite Deposits (경주납석광상의 열수변질작용에 따른 원소함량의 변화)

  • Lee, Jae Yeong;Choi, Wook Jin;Kim, Jong Gun;Kim, Sang Wook
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.1-9
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    • 1994
  • The Kyungju pyrophyllite deposits were formed by the hydrothermal alteration of andesitic rocks, which were intruded by Cretaceous granite mass. The major minerals are pyrophyllite, kaolinite and chlorite. The deposits may be zoned outward into pyrophyllite zone, silicified pyrophyllite zone and weakly altered zone (propyrilite zone) according to mineral assemblages. Chemical compositions vary in close relation with the mineralogical assemblages: $Al_2O_3$ content is high due to pyrophyllitization at the deposits and altered zones in comparison to andesitic country rocks, while the contents of $Na_2O$, CaO and MgO are generally low due to leaching during the alteration. This variation of chemical elements may be applicable in the geochemical exploration of pyrophyllite deposits.

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Behavior of Heavy Metals Studies on the Hydrothermal Alteration Characteristics of Bentonite; Use as Medicinal Mineral (벤토나이트의 열수변질특성에 따른 중금속의 거동 특성 : 광물성 약재로의 활용)

  • Seon-ok Kim;Sookyun Wang
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.56 no.3
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    • pp.229-238
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    • 2023
  • Bentonite is a type of rock that has been used as a traditional mineral medicine. It has a variety of pharmacological activities, and is used in traditional Korean medicine to treat jaundice, diarrhea, and hemostasis. In modern medicine, it is used as a raw material and additive for medicines such as antacids, gastrointestinal protective agents, and laxatives. Bentonite produced in Korea was produced through diagenesis or hydrothermal alteration of tertiary volcanic debris distributed in the Pohang and Gyeongju areas. It is mainly used for industrial purposes such as papermaking, paint, civil engineering, casting, and animal feed. Recently, technology is being developed to use it in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In this study, the geochemical characteristics of bentonite were identified by analyzing the main components and trace elements of 40 and 21 types of bentonite produced in the Gampo Gyeongju and Yeonil Pohang area. Also it were classifed by formation envrionment of bentonite deposits in the Gampo and Yeonil. As a result of the study, bentonite from the reserch area may be cased by argillic alteraton that alkali elements are removed form basaltic rocks by hydrothermal fluids and AI-CCPI alteration indices wrere also indentified argillic alteraton. It was found that there is a correlation between the behavior characteristics of heavy metal elements (P b, Cr, As) and the hydrothermal alteration of bentonite in the reserch area.

Mineralogical Characteristics of Hydrothermal Laumontite and Adularia in the Breccia Zone of a Fault, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju and Implications for Fault Activity (경주시 양북면 단층각력대에서 산출하는 로몬타이트와 아듈라리아의 광물학적 특징과 후기 단층활동)

  • Choo, Chang-Oh;Jang, Yun-Deuk;Chang, Chun-Joong
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.23-36
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    • 2012
  • Morphological and mineralogical characteristics of laumontite and adularia in the breccia zone in a fault, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju, Korea suggest that they formed by reaction with hydrothermal alteration related to fault activity. Laumontite commonly occurring in the breccia zone is related to the presence of hydrothermal fluids bearing alkaline elements in the zone. Laumonite is characterized by elongated columnar form with aspect ratio varying 5~10. Laumontite and adularia whose characteristic euhedral forms are indicative of the latest product formed as rapid precipitation from fluids or replacements of Ca-plagioclase. Hydrothermal fluids reacted with intensively fractured granite, typical with high permeability, leached alkaline elements such as Ca, K, allowing laumontite and adularia to be precipitated under neutral to weak alkaline conditions. It is noteworthy that the formation process and genesis of low temperature minerals such as laumontite and adularia are very similar to those formed by wallrock alteration or hydrothermal alteration that occurred in epithermal deposits. Taking into account its characteristic morphology and chemistry, authigenic K-feldspar that commonly forms at low temperature in many fault zones must be adularia.

Element Dispersion and Wallrock Alteration of TA26 Seamount, Tonga Arc (통가열도 TA26 해저산의 모암변질과 원소분산)

  • Yoo, Bong-Chul;Choi, Hun-Soo;Koh, Sang-Mo
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.44 no.5
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    • pp.359-372
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    • 2011
  • TA26 seamount, which is located at south part of Tonga arc, occurs widely hydrothermal plume and is area that sampled hostrock, hydrothermal ore and hydrothermal alteration rock for this study. Hostrocks are basalt and basaltic andesite. Altered rocks by hydrothermal solution consists of plagioclase, pyroxene, pyrite, ilmenite, amorphous silica, barite, smectite, iron sulfates, Fe-Si sulfates and Fe silicates. Gains and losses of major, trace and rare earth elements during wallrock alteration suggest that $K_2O$(+0.04~+0.45 g), $SiO_2$(-6.52~+10.56 g), $H_2O$(-0.03~+6.04 g), $SO_4$(-0.46~+17.54 g), S(-0.46~+13.45 g), total S(-0.51~+16.93 g), Ba(-7.60~+185078.62 g), Sr(-36.18~+3033.08 g), Ag(+54.83 g), Au(+1467.49 g), As(-5.80~+1030.80 g), Cd(+249.78 g), Cu(-100.57~+1357.85 g), Pb(+4.91~+532.65 g), Sb(-0.32~+66.59 g), V(-113.58~+102.94 g) and Zn(-49.56~+14989.92 g) elements are enriched from hydrothermal solution. Therefore, gained(enriched) elements(($K_2O$, $H_2O$, $SO_4$, S, total S, Ba, Sr, Ag, Au, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, V, Zn) represent a potentially tools for exploration of sea-floor hydrothermal deposits from the Tonga arc.

Genesis of Talc Ore Deposits in the Yesan Area of Chungnam, Korea (충남(忠南) 예산지구(禮山地區) 활석광상(滑石鑛床)의 성인(成因)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Woo, Young-Kyun;Choi, Suck-Won;Park, Ki-Hwa
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.363-378
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    • 1991
  • Field and microscopic evidence, XRD,EPMA and chemical data suggest that parent rock of talc ore deposits of Yesan district was originated from ultramafic igneous rock. Parent rock can be divided into serpentinized dunite, serpentinized peridotite, metagabbro, amphibolite and hornblende schist. The ore deposits are highly sheared, and show many evidences of hydrothermal alteration and metamorphism at the greenschist and albite-epidote amphibolite facies. The process of steatitization is variable depending upon the composition, and the degree of alteration and metamorphism of the parent rocks. Steatitization can be divided into two processes with or without serpentinization. The parent rocks with serpentinization are serpentinized dunite, serpentinized peridotite and metagabbro, showing the following alteration process; olivine ${\rightarrow}$ serpentine${\rightarrow}$ talc. The rocks without serpentinization are amphibolite and hornblende schist showing the following sequence; hornblende${\rightarrow}$ chlorite${\rightarrow}$ talc. Formation of talc deposits is summarized as following six stages; I) Intrusion of ultramafic rocks, 2) autometamorphism, 3) metamorphism at greenschist and albite-epidote-amphibolite facies, 4) brittle deformation, 5) hydrothermal alteration, 6) purification of low-grade talc by late dyke intrusion.

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Mineralogy and Genesis of the Pyoungan and Daeheung Talc Deposits in Ultramafic Rocks, the Yoogoo Area (초염기성암 기원의 평안 및 대흥활석광상의 성인과 광물화학)

  • Yun, Sang Pil;Moon, Hi-Soo;Song, Yungoo
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.131-145
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    • 1994
  • The Daehung and Pyeongan talc mines are located in the Yoogoo area, Chungcheongnam-Do. These deposits occur as the complex vein type in the ultramafic rocks which intruded Precambrian gneiss. The talc ore formed from sepentinitt: originated from ultramafic rocks but some of those from hornblende gneiss. The talcification processes were considered here on the basis of the mineral assemblages, paragenesis, and geochemistry. It appears that there are five processes in talcification ; serpentine$\rightarrow$talc, phlogopite$\rightarrow$chlorite$\rightarrow$talc, phlogopite$\rightarrow$talc, hornblende$\rightarrow$chlorite$\rightarrow$talc, and hornblende$\rightarrow$talc. Among them, the most dominant alteration path is serpentine to talc in these deposits. EPMA data suggest that there might be interstratified minerals were in between parent mineral and talc such as serpentine and talc, and phlogopite and talc. It can be found that tremolite exists in between the inner and outer most part of talcified serpentinite blocks coated with phlogopite. Some of tremolites has been altered to talc. The quartz veins and carbonate minerals were found in the talc ore zone. It indicates that the hydrothermal solution played an important role in talcification. The hydrothermal alteration occured after sepentinization. Ore zones can be divided into two zones; talc-serpentine zone preserving a pseudormorph of olivine (mesh texture) and talc-phlogopite zone showing talcification from phlogopite directly or through chlorite. It can be concluded that the formation of major talc ore body was due to talcification of serpentinite and phlogopite by hydrothermal solution. A nature of hydrothermal solution was relatively pure water at the beginning of serpentinization, and was getting richer in silica composition. There was a large amount influx of K and AI with hydrothermal solution in the later stage, and increased $P_{CO_{2}}$ also. It suggests that phlogopite formed in later stages as a secondary mineral. So, the major part of the talc ore body was formed from one parents rocks, serpentinite originated from ultramafic rocks, by hydrothermal solutions at several times.

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Mineralogy and Genesis of Fe-Cu and Au-Bi-Cu Deposits in the Geodo Mine, Korea (거도광산(巨道鑛山) Fe-Cu 및 Au-Bi-Cu 광상(鑛床)에 대(對)한 광물학적(鑛物學的) 및 성인적(成因的) 연구(硏究))

  • Ko, Jai Dong;Kim, Soo Jin
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.189-204
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    • 1982
  • The Geodo mine is located in the southern limb of the Hambaeg syncline. Geology of the area consists of Paleozoic-Mesozoic sedimentary Rocks and Cretaceous igneous rocks. The important igneous rocks presumably related to skarnization and ore mineralization in the area, are the early granodiorite and the late porphyritic granodiorite. Two mineralogical types of ore deposits are recognized in the area. They are the Fe-Cu deposits in the Myobong formation and the Au-Bi-Cu deposits in the Hwajeol formation. Contact metamorphism due to granodiorite intrusion includes hornfelsization, exoskarnization and endoskarnization. Wall-rock alterations related to the Fe mineralization are grouped into the hydrothermal replacement skarnization and the hydrothermal filling skarnization. Another hydrothermal alteration is associated with the Cu mineralization. Various mineralogical analyses have been applied for the identification of minerals. They include optical microscopy, chemical analysis, etching test, X-ray diffraction, and infrared absorption spectroscopic analyses. The ore minerals in these ore deposits are classified into two groups;hypogene and supergene minerals. Hypogene minerals consist of magnetite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and chalcocite. Supergene minerals consist of chalcocite, bornite, and geothite. Ore minerals show various kinds of ore texture: open-space filling, exsolution, replacement, and cementation texture. The gangue minerals consist of quartz, diopside, epidote, garnet and plagioclase in the hornfelsic zone, garnet, diopside, scapolite, actinolite, sericite, chlorite, quartz, and calcite in the skarn zone, and, epidote, chlorite, sericite, quartz, and calcite in the late hydrothermal alteration zone. This study shows that the Fe-Cu deposits are of metasomatic pipe type with the later hydrothermal fillings, and the Au-Bi-Cu deposits are of hydrothermal fissure-filling type. The mineralization is probably related to the intrusion of porphyritic granite.

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Occurrences of Sepiolites within a Seosan Group, Western Part of Chungnam (충남 서부 서산층군 내 해포석의 산출)

  • Song, Suckhwan;Lim, Koju;Lee, Wooseok
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.46 no.2
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    • pp.141-151
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    • 2013
  • This study examines the mineralogy of sepiolites occurred within the carbonaceous rocks of Songak schist and Pyeongtaek migmatitic gneiss of Precambrian Seosan group, in the western part of Chungnam. Host rocks of the sepiolite were dolomitic rocks and have experienced hydrothermal alteration and metamorphism. Mesozoic granite is assumed as a main source of hydrothermal alteration for the dolomitic rocks. Some of the tremolite asbestos coexist with the sepiolites. Representative sepiolite and tremolite samples were collected from the layers cracks or fractures of the dolomitic rocks and/or examined with microscope with microscope, XRD, SEM and TEM. Sepiolites are mainly recognized along the cracks assumed as pathways of hydrothermal solution. Tremolites are mainly found at layers or cracks of the dolomitic rocks and occur as asbestos as well as non-asbestos forms. It was confirmed that some of the tremolite asbestos were coexisted with the sepiolites. Overall results suggest that the occurrences of sepiolites within the dolomitic rocks mainly result in the hydrothermal alteration and the fluid from the acidic rocks, possibly granites. It also suggests that coexisting tremolite asbestos were formed by similar geological environment.

Genesis and Mineralogy of the Serpentinite Deposits in the Andong Area, Korea (안동지역 사문암광상의 구성광물 및 성인에 관한 연구)

  • Hwang, Jin Yeon;Kim, Jeong Jin;Ock, Soo Seok
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.26 no.1
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    • pp.1-10
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    • 1993
  • The Andong serpentinite body is distributed along the Andong fault, and shows an elliptical shape. The serpentinite is composed of serpentine minerals and other various minerals such as forsterite, pyroxene, talc, tremolite, chlorite, prehnite, calcite and dolomite. The serpentine minerals consist primarily of lizardite with minor chrysotile. Antigorite rarely occurs in some veins. The serpentinite is largely divided into two alteration zones by the occurrence and mineral assemblages. One of the alteration zones is composed of a large amount of serpentine minerals. The other is characterized by tremolite and chlorite. The alteration zone composed of tremolite and chlorite seems to have been formed by hydrothermal alteration after the formation of serpentinite. It is considered that the serpentinite have been formed by alteration of the ultramafic rock such as peridotite.

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