• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.799-816
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• 2023

Mineralogical and geochemical studies of shales within the Lower Anambra Basin was conducted to unravel the depositional environment, provenance, maturity, paleo-weathering conditions, and tectonic settings. Mineralogical studies conducted using X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the samples were composed of kaolinite, montmorillonite, chlorite, and illite. KaolinIite is the dominant mineral, constituting approximately 41.5% of the bulk composition, whereas the non-clay minerals are quartz, ilmenite, and sillimanite. Geochemical analysis showed a predominance of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and Fe₂O₃ contents of the shale samples with mean values of 52.29%, 14.09%, and 6.15% for Imo Shale (IS); 52.31%, 16.70%, and 7.39% for Mamu Shale (MS); 43.21%, 21.33%, and 10.36% for Enugu Shale (ES); 53.35%, 15.64%, and 7.17% for Nkporo Shale (NS); and 51.24%, 17.25%, and 7.78% for Agwu Shale (AS). However, the shales were depleted in Na₂O, MgO, K₂O, MnO, TiO₂, CaO, and P₂O₅. The trace element ratios of Ni/Co and Cu/Zn of the shale suggest an oxic depositional environment. The average SiO₂ vs. Al₂O₃ ratio of the shales indicated textural maturity. Compared to the PAAS standard, the shales plot below the PAAS value of 0.85, suggesting a high degree of maturity and intensive chemical weathering, further confirmed on a CIA vs. PIA plot. On log (K₂O/Na₂O) against SiO₂ and tectonic setting discriminant function diagrams, the shales plot mostly in the field of passive continental margin tectonic setting. The discriminant function diagrams as well as Al₂O₃/TiO₂ ratio of the shales showed that they were derived from a mixed source (mafic and intermediate igneous rocks).

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1541-1554
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• 2016

To understand the characteristics of vanadium leaching from soils formed by the weathering of basalts, paleo soil at Gosan, Jeju Island, Korea, and several present-day soils from neighboring areas were collected. Leaching experiments were carried out by two approaches: 1) batch experiments under various geochemical conditions (redox potential (Eh) and pH) and 2) continuous leaching experiments under conditions similar to those of natural environments. From the batch experiments, leached vanadium concentrations were highest under alkaline (NaOH) conditions, with a maximum value of $2,870{\mu}g/L$, and were meaningful (maximum value, $114{\mu}g/L$) under oxidizing ($H_2O_2$) conditions, whereas concentrations under other conditions (acidic-HCl, $neutral-NaHCO_3$, and $reducing-Na_2S_2O_3$) were negligible. This indicated that the geochemical conditions, in which soil-water reactions occurred to form groundwater with high vanadium concentrations, were under alkaline-oxidizing conditions. From the continuous leaching experiments, the pH and leached vanadium concentrations of the solution were in the ranges of 5.45~5.58 and $6{\sim}9{\mu}g/L$, respectively, under $CO_2$ supersaturation conditions for the first 15 days, whereas values under $O_2$ aeration conditions after the next 15 days increased to 8.48~8.62 and $9.7{\sim}12.2{\mu}g/L$, respectively. Vanadium concentrations from the latter continuous leaching experiments were similar to the average concentration of groundwater in Jeju Island ($11.2{\mu}g/L$). Furthermore leached vanadium concentrations in continuous leaching experiments were highly correlated with pH and Al, Cr, Fe, Mn and Zn concentrations. The results of this study showed that 1) alkaline-oxidizing conditions of water-rock (soil) interactions were essential to form vanadium-rich groundwater and 2) volcanic soils can be a potential source of vanadium in Jeju Island groundwater.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.91-103
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• 1980

In spite of the fact that the Okcheon system has been rather intensively studied by many geologists since 1945, it still remains as a controversal problem as to its stratigraphy and geologic age. Present study has mainly focused on the upper members of the Okcheon system, namely the Hwanggangri and the Kunjasan formations so as to clarify the lithology, the depositional environment and the tectonic evolution of the formations. The Kunjasan formation lying unconformably over the Hwanggangri formation which is supposed to be a meta-tillite is interpreted as a metamorphosed calcareous argillaceous and/or arenaceous sediments on contract to the idea postulated by some geologists that it was a derivative of silicified Hwanggangri formation. Lithology of the Kunjasan and the Hwanggangri formation is quite different in that the former is white in color, contains few pebbles, and mostly composed of diopside and detrital quartz, whereas the latter is black to dark in color, contains abundant and variable kinds of pebbles, and composed of more argillacous matrix that has been metamorphosed to hornfels. The Hwanggangri and the Kunjasan formations were deposited in the rather deep sea which has transgressed toward northeast from southwest in the late Precambrian time, and the writer (1970) had formerly designated it as Okcheon Paleogeosyncline. With the beginning of Paleozoic era, Okcheon neogeogyncline was formed to the northeast of the old paleogeogyncline area. The transgression of the sea had proceeded toward southwest in which Cambrian strata were accumulated. During this period the area occupied formerly by the paleogeosyncline was uplifted, so that most of the Hwanggangri and the Kunjasan formations were eroded away except in the area close to the neogeosyncline sea coast. This is the reason why the Hwanggangri and the Kunjasan formations are cropped out presently in the area of the vicinity of contact zone of the paleo- and neogeosyncline zones. The age of the Okcheon system has been reconfirmed to be Precambrian from the view of the facts that 1) the Hanggangri formation, the upper member of the Okcheon system is meta-tillite and correlated to the Precambrian tillite in the Yantze basin in China, 2) the Okcheon system has been moderately metamorphosed while other formations of the same age, if it is Paleozoic or later, have not been metamorphosed, and 3) tectonic history and limited areal distribution of the Hwanggangri and the Kunjasan formations is suggestive of Precambian age.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.205-220
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• 2002

The gold-silver deposits in the Casado district were formed in the sheeted and stockwork quartz veins which fill the fault fractures in volcanic rocks. K-Ar dating of alteration sericite (about 70 Ma) indicates a Late Cretaceous age for ore mineralization. These veins are composed of quartz, adularia, carbonate, and minor of pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, Ag-sulfosalts (argentite, pearceite, Ag-As-Sb-S system), and electrum. These veins are characterized by chalcedonic, comb, crustiform and feathery textures. Based on the hydrothermally altered mineral assemblages, regional alteration zoning associated with mineralization in the Gasado district is defined as four zones; advanced argillic (kaolin mineral-alunite-quartz), argillic (kaolin mineral-quartz), phyllic (quartz-sericite-pyrite) and propylitic (chlorite-carbonate-quartz-feldspar-pyroxene) zone. Phyllic and propylitic zones is distributed over the study area. However, advanced argillic zone is restricted to the shallow surface of the Lighthouse vein. Compositions of electrum ranges from 14.6 to 53.7 atomic % Au, and the depositional condition for mineralization are estimated in terms of both temperature and sulfur fugacity: T=245。$~285^{\circ}C$, logf $s_2$=$10^{-10}$ ~ $10^{-12}$ Fluid inclusion and stable isotope data show that the auriferous fluids were mixed with cool and dilute (158。~253$^{\circ}C$ and 0.9~3.4 equiv. wt. % NaCl) meteoric water ($\delta^{18}$ $O_{water}$=-10.1~8.0$\textperthousand$, $\delta$D=-68~64$\textperthousand$). These results harmonize with the hot-spring type of the low-sulfidation epithermal deposit model, and strongly suggest that Au-Ag mineralization in the Gasado district was formed in low-sulfidation alteration type environment at near paleo-surface.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.303-312
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• 2011

Analysis of high-resolution seismic profiles from the southeastern continental shelf of Korea reveals that the Holocene transgressive deposits consist of five sedimentary units characterized by retrograding or backstepping depositional arrangements. Unit I, forming a linear sediment body along the shelf margin, is an ancient beach/shoreface deposit formed during the early stage of transgression. During the transgression, the paleo-channels were backfilled with fluvial or coastal-plain sediments, forming Unit II as an incised-channel fill deposit. The near-surface sediment was reworked and eroded by shoreface erosion, forming a thin lag of sands (Unit III) on the midshelf. During the middle stage of the transgression, the shoreline may have stabilized at around 70 - 80 m below the present sea level for some period of time to allow the formation of sand ridge systems (Unit IV). Unit V in the inner shelf was deposited in an estuarine environment during the middle to late stage of transgression. Such transgressive stratigraphic architecture is controlled by a function of lateral changes in the balance among rates of relative sea-level rise, sediment input and marine processes at any given time.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.301-314
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• 2009

The Taebaeksan mineralized province, which is the most important one in South Korea, is rich in zinc-lead-tungsten-iron-copper-molybdenum-silver-gold mineral resources and has a diversity of deposit styles. These deposits principally coexist in time and space with porphyry-related epigenetic deposit such as skarn, hydrothermal replacement, mesothermal vein, and Carlin-like deposits. The magmatic-hydrothermal systems in the Taebaek fold belt is genetically characterized by the Bulguksa subvolcanic rocks(ca. $110{\sim}50\;Ma$) related to northwestward subduction of the paleo-Pacific Plate. The most important zinc-lead deposits in the area are the Uljin, Yeonhwa II and Shinyemi skarn, the Janggun hydrothermal replacement, and the Yeonhwa I intermediate-mixed (skarn/hydrothermal replacement) ones. In the present study, we present a compilation of metal production and mineral assemblage of the zinc-lead deposits. The metal difference of deposit styles in the area indicates a cooling path from intermediate-sulfidation to low-sulfidation state in the polymetallic hydrothermal system, reflecting spatial proximity to a magmatic source.

• Geosciences Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2019

We present data from the Mesozoic Keumkang, Palbong, and Baekhwa granites in Garorim Bay, in the southwestern part of the Gyeonggi massif, South Korea. Using major and trace element concentrations, Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions, and sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) zircon U-Pb ages, we aim to constrain the petrogenesis of the granites and explain their origin within a broader regional geological context. SHRIMP U-Pb zircon ages of $232.8{\pm}3.2$, $175.9{\pm}1.2$, and $176.8{\pm}9.8$ Ma were obtained from the Keumkang, Palbong and Baekhwa granites, respectively. The Late Triassic Keumkang granites belong to the shoshonite series and show an overall enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILE), a depletion in high field strength elements (HFSE) relative to primitive mantle, compared with neighboring elements in the primitive mantle-normalized incompatible trace element diagram with notable high Ba and Sr contents, and negligible Eu anomalies. The Keumkang granites are typified by highly radiogenic Sr and unradiogenic Nd and Pb isotopic compositions: $(^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr)_i=0.70931-0.70959$, $(^{143}Nd/^{144}Nd)_i=0.511472-0.511484$ [$({\varepsilon}_{Nd})_i=-17.0$ to -16.7], and $(^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb)=17.26-17.27$. The Middle Jurassic Palbong and Baekhwa granites belong to the medium- to high-K calc-alkaline series, and show LILE enrichment and HFSE depletion similar to the Keumkang granites, but exhibit significant negative anomalies in Ba, Sr, and Eu. Furthermore, they have elevated Y and Yb contents at any given $SiO_2$ content compared with other Jurassic granitoids from the Gyeonggi massif. The Palbong and Baekhwa granites have slightly less radiogenic Sr and more radiogenic Nd and Pb isotopic compositions [$(^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr)_i=0.70396-0.70908$, $(^{143}Nd/^{144}Nd)_i=0.511622-0.511660$, $({\varepsilon}_{Nd})_i=-15.4$ to -14.7, $(^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb)=17.56-17.76$] relative to the Keumkang granites. The Keumkang granites are considered to have formed in a post-collisional environment following the Permo-Triassic Songrim orogeny that records continent-continent collision between the North and South China blocks, and may have formed by fractional crystallization of metasomatized lithospheric mantle-derived mafic melts. The Palbong and Baekhwa granites may have been produced from a gabbroic assemblage at pressures of less than ~15 kbar, associated with subduction of the paleo-Pacific (Izanagi) plate at the Eurasian continental margin. Elevated ${\varepsilon}_{Nd}(t)$ values in the granitoids from the southwestern part of the Gyeonggi massif relative to those of the central and northern parts, together with the comparatively shallow depth of origin, imply the presence of an exotic block in the Korean lithosphere.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.367-379
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• 2019

Pyeongan Supergroup (PS) in the Taebaeksan basin preserves key geological evidences to understand the tectonometamorphic evolution of the Songrim orogeny that affected the formation of the Korean Peninsula during the late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic. The aims of this paper therefore are to investigate the characteristics of the Songrim orogeny based on the previous results of metamorphism and deformations of the PS, and then to review geological significance and research necessity of the PS. Age distributions and Th/U ratio of detrital zircon in the PS indicate that sedimentary environment of the Taebaeksan basin during the late Paleozoic was arc-related foreland basin and retro-arc foreland basin at the active continental margin. In addition, the main magmatic activities occurred in the early Pennsylvanian and Middle Permian, thus sedimentation and magmatic activities occurred simultaneously. The PS was affected by lower temperature-medium pressure (M1) and medium temperature and pressure (M2) regional metamorphism during the Songrim orogeny. During M1, slate and phyllite containing chloritoid, andalusite, kyanite porphyroblasts intensively deformed by E-W bulk crustal shortening combined with folding and shearing. And garnet and staurolite porphyroblasts were formed during the N-S bulk crustal shortening accompained by M2. Such regional metamorphism of the PS is interpreted to occur in an area where high strain zone is localized during ca. 220-270 Ma. In order to elucidate the evolution of the Taebaeksan basin and tectonic features of the Songrim orogeny, it is expected that the study will be carried out such as the regional distribution of metamorphic zones developed in the PS, characteristics and timing of deformations, and late Paleozoic paleo-geography of the Taebaeksan basin.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.11-24
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• 2008

Stratified slope was formed on the SSE-facing slope in the southwest region of Haenam, South Korea. Field and laboratory investigations into the geomorphology and sedimentology of stratified slope deposit that is inactive. Outcrops of this deposit show an alteration of coarse debris-supported matrix and tiny debris-supported matrix layers. Sedimentological analysis(particle-size analysis) indicates that this deposit is not fluvial process or only gravitation like rock-fall. Many clasts and fine materials on the slope is supposed to be product by congelifraction under Pleistocene periglacial climatic environment. Also The processes responsible for the genesis of this deposit probably are to move downward by gelifluction and to remove fine materials by slope wash in thawing cycle and in situ debris congelifraction on gelifluction slope. Now It is impossible to account for the time range of genesis(diurnal, seasonal). In conclusion, this stratified slope formed in cold and humid periglacial environmental in pleistocene, therefore, this slope is a periglacial relic landform, indicates that in south korea there was a cold and humid paleo-climate such as periglacial environmen.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.454-465
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• 2008

Benthic foraminiferal assemblage and AMS radiocarbon dating of core sediments from the northern shelf of the East China Sea were analyzed in order to understand the paleoenvironment and sedimentary environmental changes around the Korean marginal seas since the last glacial maximum (LGM). The core sediments, containing continuous records of the last 16,000 years, reveal a series of well-defined vertical changes in number of species (S), P/T ratio and species diversity (H) as well as foraminiferal assemblage. Such down-core variations display a sharp change at a core depth of approximately 240 cm, which corresponds to ca. 10,000 year B.P. The sediments of the lower part of the core (240${\sim}$560 cm, Zone I), including the well-developed tide-influenced sedimentary structures, are characterized by high abundances of Ammonia beccarii and Elphidium clavatum (s.l.) and low values in number of species, P/T ratio and diversity. These tide-influenced signatures and foraminiferal assemblage characters suggest that the sediments of Zone I were deposited in a coastal environment (water depths of 20${\sim}$30 m) such as tidal estuary with an influence of the paleo-rivers (e.g., old-Huanghe and Yangtze rivers) during the early phase of the sea-level rise (ca. 16,000 to 10,000 years) since the LGM. In contrast, the upper core sediments (0${\sim}$240 cm, Zone II) are characterized by abundant Eilohedra nipponica and Bolivina robusta with a minor contribution of A. ketienziensis angulata and B. marginata. and high values in number of species, P/T ratio and diversity. Based on relative abundance of these assemblage, Zone II can be divided into two subzones (IIa and IIb). Zone IIa is interpreted to be deposited under the inner-to-middle shelf environment during the marine transgression in the early Holocene (after ca. 9,000 yr B.P.) when sea level rapidly increased. The sediments of zone IIb most likely deposited after 6,000 yr B.P. under the outer shelf environment (80${\sim}$100 m water depth), which is similar to modem depositional environments. The muddy sediments of zone IIb were probably transported from the old-Huanghe and Yangtze Rivers during the late Holocene. We suggest that the present-day oceanographic conditions over the Yellow and the East China Seas have been established after ca. 7,000${\sim}$6,000 yr B.P. when the Kuroshio Current began to influence this area.