• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.231-240
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• 2002

Microbial metal reduction influences the biogeochemical cycles of carbon and metals as well as plays an important role in the bioremediation of metals, radionuclides, and organic contaminants. The use of bacteria to facilitate the production of magnetite nanoparticles and the formation of carbonate minerals may provide new biotechnological processes for material synthesis and carbon sequestration. Metal-reducing bacteria were isolated from a variety of extreme environments, such as deep terrestrial subsurface, deep marine sediments, water near Hydrothemal vents, and alkaline ponds. Metal-reducing bacteria isolated from diverse extreme environments were able to reduce Fe(III), Mn(IV), Cr(VI), Co(III), and U(VI) using short chain fatty acids and/or hydrogen as the electron donors. These bacteria exhibited diverse mineral precipitation capabilities including the formation of magnetite ($Fe_3$$O_4$), siderite ($FeCO_3$), calcite ($CaCO_3$), rhodochrosite ($MnCO_3$), vivianite [$Fe_3$($PO_4$)$_2$ .$8H_2$O], and uraninite ($UO_2$). Geochemical and environmental factors such as atmospheres, chemical milieu, and species of bacteria affected the extent of Fe(III)-reduction as well as the mineralogy and morphology of the crystalline iron mineral phases. Thermophilic bacteria use amorphous Fe(III)-oxyhydroxide plus metals (Co, Cr, Ni) as an electron acceptor and organic carbon as an electron donor to synthesize metal-substituted magnetite. Metal reducing bacteria were capable of $CO_2$conversion Into sparingly soluble carbonate minerals, such as siderite and calcite using amorphous Fe(III)-oxyhydroxide or metal-rich fly ash. These results indicate that microbial Fe(III)-reduction may not only play important roles in iron and carbon biogeochemistry in natural environments, but also be potentially useful f3r the synthesis of submicron-sized ferromagnetic materials.

• 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.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2012

Six serpentine mines are found in South Korea. We investigated occurrence, characteristics and origin of constituent minerals of Bibong serpentine mine in Chungcheongnam-do. We also analyzed the properties of serpentine minerals using XRD, XRF, SEM/EDS, FT-IR, EPMA and polarized microscope. The serpentinite of Bibong mine occurs as intruded body within the Precambrian metasedimentary rocks. Various minerals such as serpentine, forsterite, pyroxene, tremolite, magnetite, chlorite, mica, talc and dolomite are occurre. Five distinctive mineral assemblage types are observed in the serpentinite: (A) serpentine-forsterite, (B) serpentine, (C) serpentine-chlorite (vermiculite), (D) serpentine-tremolite, (E) tremolite-chlorite. Lizardite and antigorite are mainly occurred as serpentine minerals and chrysotile is partly included. From the study of mineral compositions and occurrence of serpentinite body, serpentine formed by hydrothermal alteration of ultramafic rock consisting mainly of forsterite, and altered minerals such as chlorite and tremolite subsequently formed by secondary hydrothermal alteration.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.70-83
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to identify the petrographic and geochemical characteristics of four granitic masses and clanfy for the origin and relationship among the masses. These granitic rocks are distributed in the eastern part of Yangsan fault in the Kyongsang basin, southeastern part of Korea. Based on the mineralogy and texture, the granitic rocks are divided into three facies; granodiorite, porphyritic fine-grained granite, and equigranular granite. According to the result of modal analysis, northern part and most of the southern part of Daebon granitic rocks are plotted in granodiorite field and the rest part of the xocks are plotted in granite field. These granitic rocks belong to the sub-alkaline series, and are subdivided into calc-alkaline series. The rare earth elements normalized bv chondrite show LREE is more enriched than HREE and the lowest values in O-w m- i t e and Daebon equigranular granite. The crystallization pressures and temperatures of minimum melt compositions of granitic rocks estimated from the study area are about 0.5-1 kbar and $700~820^{\circ}C$, respectively. Referring to the petrographic characteristics, geochemical data and radiogenic age data, Oyu granite was emplaced in the Paleocene, but Daebon granodiorite, Sanseo porphyritic granite, and Hoam equigranular granite are co-magmatic differentiation products, were emplaced in the Eocene.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.79-92
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• 1992

The Sarisan clay deposits of hydrothermal origin are found in the intensely weathered wto-mica granite in Yeoju area. The major clay minerals of the Sarisan mine are illite and montmorillonite with minor disordered kaolinite, vermiculite, and some interstratified mineral. Clay minerals were studied using various methods including X-ray diffraction, infrared absorption spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and thermal and chemical analyses. Illites occur as discrete illite or highly illitic interstratified mineral. They are of 1M and $2M_1$ polytypes and characterized by a low lattice charge (1.768-0.926 per unit formula), low $K^+$ content (0.741-0.902 per unit formula), and high Si/Al ratio (1.154-1.293) as compared with muscovite. Montmorillonites are highly negative charged and occasionally random-interstratified as I/S with 80-98% smectite. Hydrothermal alteration is more important than later weathering alteration for the formation of illite and montmorillonite clay minerals. The hydrothermal alteration took place through two stages; the formation of illite in the early stage and the formation of montmorillonite in the late stage. Disordered kaolinite and vermiculite are the weathering products of plagioclase and biotite, respectively.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.14-24
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• 1994

The Sungsan clay deposits have been formed by the hydrothermal alteration of volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks of the Hwangsan Formation of Cretaceous age. Claystones are mainly composed of dickite, alunite, illitic minerals and tosudite. The mineralogical properties of clay minerals have been studied using X-ray diffraction analysis, electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis, and infrared absorption analysis. The physicochemical condition for the clay deposits also have been studied by the activity diagrams and mineral assemblages. Dickite, the dominant mineral in clay deposits, occurs generally as massive aggregates. It shows book-structure of well-defined hexagonal plates. Chemistry of dickite agrees with its ideal formula. Peak depth ratios in infrared absorption spectra were used for discrimination between pure and mixture of kaolin minerals. Five hydrothermal alteration zones are divided according to the mineral assemblages. From center to margin, alunite, dickite, illite and albite zones are discernible. Quartz zone occurs as small lenticular form in dickite zone. The formation of dickite and illite zones are promoted by decreasing $a_{k^+}$. An increase in $a_{H_{2}SO_{4}}$ or $a_{K_{2}SO_{4}}$ is required for the formation of alunite zone. Estimated temperature of formation ranges 110-270 $^{\circ}C$

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.83-109
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• 1983

The Cretaceous Palgongsan granite is a typical, calc-alkaline, subsolvus monzogranite and shows characteristics of "I-type" granite by mineralogy and chemical composition. Many of the major and trace element characteristics of the Palgongsan granite are consistent with a relationship by fractional crystallisation to form a chemically zoned pattern. The granite show light REE enrichment with (Ce/Yb)N ratios of 5.78-9.50. All the REE patterns show Eu negative anomalies which become larger from the margin ($Eu/Eu^*=0.75$) to the core ($Eu/Eu^*=0.24$) of the pluton, mainly due to feldspar fractionation. Mineral geochemistry (alkali-feldspar, plagioclase & biotite) studies also show the zonal structure of the Palgongsan granite. The two-feldspar geothermometer shows that the temperature difference between the margin and the core part of the pluton is about $200^{\circ}C$ at various assumed pressures.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.303-316
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• 2014

This study was carried out to raise research productivity through the analysis on the research projects and to find trends of mineral resources survey and mineral deposits of the KIGAM for 38 years since the fiscal year of 1976 to 2013. The KIGAM in the projects for mineral resources survey and mineral deposits expended 67.41 billion won for last 38 years, which is 107.07 billion won calculated using the present value in 2013 at discount rate of 5%. R&D expenditure in mineral resources survey and mineral deposits of KIGAM increased approximately 59.4 times from 108 million won in 1976 to 6,420 million won in 2013, and about 9.8 times from 657 million won in 1976, as calculated using the present value in 2013. The percentage of research projects in mineral resources survey by research sub-areas was as follows: survey, 32%(90 projects); origin of ore deposits and basic research, 19%(54 projects); exploration for ore deposits, 17%(48 projects); database and information, 13%(37 projects); mineralogy and ore analysis, 9%(25 projects); and etc., 10%(27 projects). Based on analysis of research trends over the last 38 years, to raise research productivity, the existing survey research techniques with repeated use and related technology development should be enhanced.

• Proceedings of the Mineralogical Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.119-136
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• 2002

Contrasts in the style of the gold-silver mineralization in geologic and tectonic settings in Korea, together with radiometric age data, reflect the genetically different nature of hydrothermal activities, coinciding with the emplacement age and depth of Mesozoic magmatic activities. It represents a clear distinction between the plutonic settings of the Jurassic Daebo orogeny and the subvolcanic environments of the Cretaceous Bulgugsa igneous activities. During the Daebo igneous activities (c.a. 200-150 (?) Ma) coincident with orogenic time, gold mineralization took place between c.a. 195 and 135 (127 ?) Ma. The Jurassic Au deposits commonly show several characteristics; prominent association with pegmatites, low Ag/hu ratios in the ore-concentrating parts, massive vein morphology and a distinctively simple mineralogy including Fe-rich sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, Au-rich electrum, pyrrhotite and/or pyrite. During the Bulgugsa igneous activities $(110\~50Ma)$, the precious-metal deposits are generally characterized by such features as complex vein morphology, medium to high AE/AU ratios in the ore concentrates, and diversity of ore minerals including base-metal sulfides, pyrite, arsenopyrite, Ag-rich electrum and native silver nth Ag sulfides, Ag-Sb-As sulfosalts and Ag tellurides. Vein morphology, mineralogical, fluid inclusion and stable isotope results indicate the diverse genetic natures of hydrothermal systems in Korea. The Jurassic Au-dominant deposits (orogenic type) were formed at the relatively high temperature $(about\;300^{\circ}\;to\;450^{\circ}C)$ and deep-crustal level $(4.0{\pm}1.5\;kb)$ from the hydrothermal fluids containing more amounts of magmatic waters $(\delta\;^{18}O_{H2O}\;5\~10\%_{\circ})$. It can. It can be explained by the dominant ore-depositing mechanisms as $CO_2$ boiling and sulfidation, suggestive of hypo- to mesothermal environments. In contrast, the Cretaceous Au-dominant $(l13\~68\;Ma),\;Au-Ag \;(108\~47\;Ma)$ and Ag-dominant $(103\~45\;Ma)$ deposits, which correspond to volcanic-plutonic-related type, occurred at relatively low temperature $(about\;200^{\circ}\;to\;350^{\circ}C)$ and shallow-crustal level $(1.0\{pm}0.5\;kb)$ from the ore-forming fluids containing more amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters$(\delta\;^{18}O_{H2O}\;-10\~5\%_{\circ})$. These characteristics of the Cretaceous precious-metal deposits can be attributed to the complexities in the ore-precipitating mechanisms (mixing, boiling, cooling), suggestive of epi- to mesothermal environments. Therefore, the differences of the emplacement depth between the Daebo and the Bulgugsa igneous activities directly influence the unique temporal and spatial association of the deposit styles.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2011

Mineralogical study was carried out for heavy minerals in the sea sand near Ongjingun bay, Kyonggi-do separated using the gravity and magnetic separators. Ilmenite, zircon and minor monazite and garnet were valuable minerals with gangue minerals of quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase, muscovite, hornblende, epidote and chlorite. Quantitative analysis with SIROQUANT program showed that the contents of ilmenite separated with the gravity separation (the shaking table separation), the 1st step magnetic separation (rare earth magnetic separation) and the 2nd step magnetic separation (the Eddy current magnetic separation) were increased into 0.8, 18.3, and 48.7%, respectively. The content of ilmenite, monazite and zircon were recalculated based on the chemical composition of the representative and heavy fraction products of raw sand, the 1 step and 2 step gravity separations, and the 1 step and 2 step magnetic separations. The content increased to 0.23, 0.55, 5.22, 16.17, and 44.99% in ilmenite, 0.11, 0.02, 0.16, 0.51, and 1.19% in monazite. Although the zircon content did not differ over the processes (0.13, 0.12, 0.11, 0.15, and 0.10%), the improved recovery of zircon is expected by applying sieving process because of its high content (27%) in the fine grain size fraction (< 140#) of the 2 step gravity separation.