• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 1997

The shales from the Euiseong area are interbedded along the bedding in Cretaceous Gyeongsang Supergroup, which are composed mainly of quartz, plagioclase, K-feldspar and associated with trace amount of biotite, muscovite, chlorite, pyrite, hematite, carbonate and clay minerals. The ratio of $Al_2O_3/Na_2O$ and $K_2O/Na_2O$ in shales from the Shindong Group are ranged from 9.16 to 24.32 and from 1.70 to 5.97, and the Hayang Group ranged from 2.76 to 8.89 and from 0.42 to 2.74, which are negative correlated between $K_2O/Na_2O$ and $Al_2O_3/Na_2O$ against $SiO_2/Al_2O_3$ respectively. Those are suggested that controlled of mineral compositions in shales due to substitution and migration of elements by sedimentation and diagenesis. These shale formation were deposited in basin of terrestrial environments originated from the igneous rocks, and the REE of these rocks are not influenced with diagenesis and hydrothermal alterations on the basis of $Al_2O_3$ versus La, La against Ce, Zr versus Yb, the ratios of La/Ce (0.43 to 0.62) and Th/U (1.11 to 10.71). The narrow range in trace and REE element characteristics as Co/Th (0.63 to 1.92), La/Sc (1.98 to 5.90), Sc/Th (0.58 to 1.30), V/Ni (0.90 to 3.25), Cr/V (0.45 to 1.78), Ni/Co (1.88 to 6.67) and Zr/Hf (30.04~60.87) of these shales argues for inefficient mixing of the simple source lithologies during sedimentation. These rocks also show much variation in $La_N/Yb_N$ (6.90 to 17.02), Th/Yb (4.17 to 13.68) and La/Th (1.98 to 5.90), and their origin is explained by derivation from a mixture of intermediate to acidic igneous rocks.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 1982

Many skarn type iron ore deposits are distributed in Kimhae-Mulgeum area of Gyeongnam Province. Integrated field, mineralogic, geochemical and fluid inclusion studies were undertaken to illustrate the character and origin of the ores in this area. The iron ore deposits in this area are NS or NNE trending fracture filling magnetite veins which are developed in andesitic rocks near the contact with late Cretaceous micrographic granite bodies. Symmetrically zoned skarns are commonly developed in the magnetite veins of this area. Zoning of skarn from center to margin of the vein are as follows; garnet quartz skarn-epidote skarn-epidote orthoclase skarn-altered andesitic rocks. Major ore mineral is magnetite and small amount of hematite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite are associated. Vein paragenesis reveals four depositional stages; 1) skarn stage, 2) iron sulfide and oxide stage, 3) skarn stage, 4) sulfide stage Minute halite-bearing polyphase inclusions and liquid inclusions are contained in quartz. Filling temperatures range from $257^{\circ}$ to $370^{\circ}C$.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.501-512
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• 2018

The acid leachate derived from the sulfide mineral such as pyrite can cause problems such as aging of infrastructure and environment contamination around the civil construction site. The purpose of this study is to assess the environmental effect of an acid leachate derived from pyrite in the Miryang area under road construction. In this study, 13 samples of situ core were used for the net acid generation (NAG) experiment. The chemical composition including pH, oxidation and reduction potential (ORP) and electrical conductance of water samples produced from the NAG test was analyzed. In additional, five polished thin sections of rock cores were made for electro microprobe analyses. In the results of the NAG tests, 7 samples showed lower values than pH 3.5. It strongly indicated that these areas are under the environmental and infrastructure damage by the acid leachate. The chemical type of the 7 samples was classified as the $Fe(Ca)-SO_4$ type, which is totally a different type compared to general groundwater. The concentration of total sulfur ranges from 0.004% to 12.5%. 6 rock samples are plotted on a potentially acid forming zone in the relation diagram between the total sulfide and NAG-pH. In conclusion, it is suggested that a protection method against an environmental demage and an infrastructure corrosions by the acid leachate should be prepared in all of areas under a road construction.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.765-779
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• 2023

The Daum Vent Field (DVF) was newly discovered in the Central Indian Ridge during the hydrothermal expedition by the Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST) in 2021. In this paper, we describe the detailed mineralogy and geochemistry of hydrothermal chimney and mound to understand the nature of hydrothermal mineralization in the DVF. The mineral assemblages (pyrite±sphalerite±chalcopyrite) of dominant sulfides, FeS contents (mostly <20 mole %) of sphalerite, and (Cu+Zn)/Fe values (0.001-0.22) of bulk compositions indicate that the DVF has an strong affinity with basaltic-hosted seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposit along the oceanic ridge. Combined with the predominance of colloform and/or dendritic-textured pyrite and relatively Fe-poor sphalerite in chimneys, the fluid-temperature dependency of trace element systematics (Co, Mn, and Tl) between chimney and mound indicates that the formation of mound was controlled by relatively reducing and high-temperature fluids compared to chimney. The δ³⁴S values (+8.31 to +10.52‰) of pyrite reflect that sulfur and metals were mainly leached from the associated basement rocks (50.6-61.3%) with a contribution from reduced seawater sulfur (38.7-49.4%). This suggests that the fluid-rock interaction, with little effect of magmatic volatile influx, is an important metal source for the sulfide mineralization in the DVF.

• 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.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.689-698
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• 1996

The coal-bearing metapelites from the Hoenam area are interbedded within the Ogcheon Supergroup, which are composed mainly of graphite, quartz, muscovite and associated with trace amount of biotite, chlorite, pyrite, rutile and barite. Although the formation was mined for coal, and the contents of V, U and Mo are a higher grade in coal formations than the host metapelites. The ratios of Al/Na and K/Na in coal formation are very heterogeneous and wide range from 10.28 to 90.91 and from 3.73 to 36.60, respectively. The V content increase with increasing Al and Ba contents, but the U and Mo are not related with other elements. Those are suggested that controlled of mineral compositions in coaly metapelites due to substitution, migration and reequilibrium of elements by regional metamorphism. These coal formation were deposited in basin of marine environments and the REE of these rocks are not influenced with metamorphism and hydrothermal alterations on the basis of Al content versus La, La against Ce, the ratios of La/Ce (0.23 to 0.73) and Th/U (0.03 to 16.6). These rocks also show much variation in $La_N/Yb_N$ (0.53 to 14.19), Th/Yb (0.51 to 6.00) and La/Th (0.15 to 18.92), and their origin is explained by derivation from a mixture of sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks. The wide range in trace and REE element characteristics as Co/Th (0.07 to 3.00), La/Sc (0.04 to 23.48), Sc/Th (0.06 to 7.57), V/Ni (2 to 3319), Cr/V (0.03 to 1.06) and Ni/Co (1.00 to 79.85) of these coaly metapelites argues for inefficient mixing of the various source lithologies during sedimentation.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 1999

The northeastern part of the Gyeongsang Basin is widely covered by the Cretaceous Hayang Group (Aptian to Albian). The Hayang Group consists of the IIjig. Hupyeongdong, Jeomgog, and Sagog formations. Heavy mineral analysis was carried out to define the possible source rocks of the Haynag Group snadstones. Heavy minerals separated from IIjig, Hupyeongdong, and Jeomgog sandstones are hematite, ilmenite, leucoxene, magnetite, pyrite, actinolite, andalusite, apatite, biotite, chlorite, epidote, garnet, hornblende, kyanite, monazite, muscovite, rutile, sphene, spinel, staurolite, tourmaline, and zircon. Based on their close association and sensitiveness, the heavy mineral assemblages can be classified into 6 syutes: 1)apatite-green tourmaline-sphene-colorless/yellowish zircon; 2) colorless garnet-epidote-rutile-brown tourmaline; 3) rounded purple zircon-rounded tourmaline-rounded rutile; 4) augite-hornblende-color- less zircon; 5) epidote-garnet-sphene; and 6) blue tourmaline. The possible source rocks corresponding to each assemblage are 1) granitic rocks; 2) metamorphic rocks (schist and gneiss) ; 3) older sedimentary rocks; 4) andesitic rocks; 5) metamorphosed impure limestone; and 6) pegmatite, respectively. Previous paleocurrent data suggest that the sediments of the study area were mainly derived from the northeastern to southeastern directions. Thus, the most possible source areas would be the east extension part of the sobaegsan metamorphic complex to the northeast and the Cheongsong Ridge to the southeast.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.47-57
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• 1969

The Yeonhwa Lead and Zinc Mine is located in northern part of Kyeongsang-Buk-Do, Korea, and is economically most important mine because it produces most part of the output of lead and zinc minerals in the country. Ore deposits of the mine are localized in the Pungchon Formation and several limestone seams of upper Myobong Formation in Cambrian Age. Ore solution ascended along the fractures of N-S, NE-SW or NW-SE trends and along slate and limestone boundary, and then replaced selectively limestone to make ore bodies. Skarn minerals are consisted of hedenbergite, diopside, and main sulfide mineral orebodies are composed of galena, zincblende, pyrrhotite, pyrite and a minor amounts of arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite. Metal ratio, ${\rho}_{Pb}={\frac{Pb(%)}{Pb(%)+Zn(%)}}{\times}100$, illustrates the zona I arrangements of some ore bodies. It will be inferred the flow trending of ore solution and the process reaction with adjacent country rocks. The sub-divided formations of the Pungchon limestone and Myobong slate are very useful as a criteria for detecting probable ore location. Rhodochrosite veins are good evidence for searching of ore location, especially on Pb-rich ore bodies.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.223-234
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• 1988

A large number of gold and/or silver-bearing quartz veins occur in or near Mesozoic granite batholith elongated in a NE-SW direction within the Chungcheong Province. Precambrian schists and gneisses, and Jurassic and Cretaceous granitic rocks serve as hosts for gold and/or silver deposits. On the basis of Ag/Au total production and ore grade ratio, 15 mines may be divided into three major groups: gold-dominant deposits, gold-silver deposits, and silver-dominant deposits. The chemical composition of electrum from skarn deposit (Geodo mine), alaskite-type deposit (Geumjeong mine) and 15 vein deposits was summarized. It was found that the Au content of electrum for vein deposits ranging from 5.2 to 86.5 is lower than that for skarn and alaskite deposits. Among 15 vein deposits, the composition of electrum associated with pyrrhotite is relatively high and has a narrow range of 40.8 to 86.5 atomic % Au, but the Au content of electrum with pyrite is in range of 5.2 to 82.8 atomic %, and is clearly lower than that with pyrrhotite. The grouping of ages for these mines indicates that gold and/or silver mineralizations occurred during two periods in the Mesozoic. Daebo igneous activities are restricted to gold mineralization in the range of 158 to 133 Ma, whereas Bulgugsa igneous activities are related to gold and/or silver mineralization ranging from 108 to 71 Ma. Generally speaking, Jurassic gold-dominant veins have many common characteristics; notably prominent association with pegmatites, simply massive vein morphology, high fineness in the ore concentrates, rarity of silver minerals, and a distinctively simple mineralogy, including sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and/or pyrite. Although individual deposits exhibit widely differing diversity, Cretaceous gold-silver and silver-dominant veins are characterized by features such as complex vein, low to medium fineness in the ore concentrates and abundance of silver minerals including Ag sulfosalts, Ag sulfides, Ag tellurides and native silver.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.307-327
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• 2008

Geochemical study on the rocks and minerals of the Gyeongju low and intermediate level waste repository was carried out in order to provide geochemical data for the safety assessment and geochemical modeling. Polarized microscopy, X-ray diffraction method, chemical analysis for the major and trace elements, scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and stable isotope analysis were applied. Fracture zones are locally developed with various degrees of alteration in the study area. The study area is mainly composed of granodiorite and diorite and their relation is gradational in the field. However, they could be easily distinguished by their chemical property. The granodiorite showed higher $SiO_2$ content and lower MgO and $Fe_2O_3$ contents than the diorite. Variation trends of the major elements of the granodiorite and diorite were plotted on the same line according to the increase of $SiO_2$ content suggesting that they were differentiated from the same magma. Spatial distribution of the various elements showed that the diorite region had lower $SiO_2,\;Al_2O_3,\;Na_2O\;and\;K_2O$ contents, and higher CaO, $Fe_2O_3$ contents than the granodiorite region. Especially, because the differences in the CaO and $Na_2O$ distribution were most distinct and their trends were reciprocal, the chemical variation of the plagioclase of the granitic rocks was the main parameter of the chemical variation of the host rocks in the study area. Identified fracture-filling minerals from the drill core were montmorillonite, zeolite minerals, chlorite, illite, calcite and pyrite. Especially pyrite and laumontite, which are known as indicating minerals of hydrothermal alteration, were widely distributed in the study area indicating that the study area was affected by mineralization and/or hydrothermal alteration. Sulfur isotope analysis for the pyrite and oxygen-hydrogen stable isotope analysis for the clay minerals indicated that they were originated from the magma. Therefore, it is considered that the fracture-filling minerals from the study area were affected by the hydrothermal solution as well as the simply water-rock interaction.