• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.55-66
• /
• 2002

There are several abandoned coal mines around Donghae mine area in the Taebaek coal field. Two major creeks, Soro and Sanae, are contaminated with the colored precipitates formed from the coal mine drainages. Bed rocks of the study area consist of limestone, shale, and sandstone. Limestone consisted mainly of calcite and dolomite, and shale of quartz, pyropyllite and chlorite, and sandstone of quatz and illite. Coal coal spoil dumps composed mainly of pyrite and chlorite. The oxidative dissolution of sulfide minerals leads to acid mine drainage and adds the metal ions in the stream water. The ion concentrations of Fe, Ca, Mg, Al, Si, SO$_{4}$in the stream polluted by AMD are generally higher than those in the unpolluted stream water. High concentrations of Ca and Mg, Al and Si can be resulted from dissolution of carbonate minerals such as calcite, dolomite and aluminosilicates such as chlorite, pyrophyllite. Although the Fe, Al, Si, SO$_{4}$ contents are considerbly high in the acid water released from the mine adits, they become decreased downstream due to dilution of unpolluted water and precipitation of oxide/hydroxide and sulfate minerals on the bottom of stream.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.193-201
• /
• 2011

The Geopung Cu deposit consists of two subparallel quartz veins that till the NE-trending fissures in Triassic Cheongsan granite. The quartz veins occur mainly massive with partially cavity and breccia. They can be followed along strike for about 500 m and varies in thickness from 0.2 to 2.2 m. Based on the mineralogy and paragenesis of veins, mineralization of quartz veins can be divided into hypogene and supergene stages. Hypogene stage is associated with hydrothermal alteration minerals such as sericite, pyrite, quartz, chlorite, clay minerals and sulfides such as pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, marcasite, sphalerite, stannite, chalcopyrite and galena. Supergene stage is composed of geothite. Fluid inclusion data from quartz indicate that homogenization temperatures and salinity of hypogene stage range from 163 to $356^{\circ}C$ and from 0.2 to 7.2 wt.% eq. NaCl, respectively. They suggest that ore forming fluids were progressively cooled and diluted from mixing with meteoric water. Sulfur (${\delta}^{34}S$: 4.3~9.2‰) isotope composition indicates that ore sulfur was derived from mainly magmatic source although there is a partial derivation from the host rocks. The calculated oxygen (${\delta}^{18}O$: 0.9~4.0‰) and hydrogen (${\delta}D$: -86~-69‰) isotope compositions suggest that magmatic and meteoric ore fluids were equally important for the formation of the Geopung Cu deposit and then overlapped to some degree with another type of meteoric water during mineralization.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.91-99
• /
• 2005

Acid Rock Drainage(ARD) is the product formed by the atmospheric(i.e. by water, oxygen and carbon dioxide) oxidation of the relatively common iron-sulphur mineral pyrite($FeS_2$). ARD causes the acidification and heavy metal contamination of water and soil and the reduction of slope stability. In this paper the generation characteristics and the prediction of ARD of various cut slopes were studied. An attempt to classify the rocks into several groups according to their acid generation potentials was made. Acid Base Accounting(ABA) tests, commonly used as a screening tool in ARD predictions, were performed. Fourteen rock samples were classified into PAF(potentially acid forming) group and four rock samples into NAF(non-acid forming) group. The chemical analysis of water samples strongly suggested that ARD with high content of heavy metals and low pH could pollute the ground water and/or stream water.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.429-441
• /
• 2010

The Sunrise Dam gold deposit is located approximately 850 km ENE of Perth, in the eastern part of the Yilgam Craton, Western Australia. The mine has produced approximately 153 t of Au at an average grade of 4.2 g/t, which stands for the most significant gold discoveries during the last decade in Western Australia. The deposit occurs in the Laverton Tectonic Zone corresponding to the corridor of structural complexity in the Laverton greenstone belt, and characterized by tight folding and thrusting. The mine stratigraphy consists of a complexly deformed and altered volcaniclastic and volcanic rocks. These have been overlain by a turbidite sequence containing generally well-sorted siltstones, sandstones and magnetite-rich shales, which are consistently fining upwards. These sequences have been intruded by quartz diorite, ultramafic dikes, and rhyodacite porphyry (Archean), and lamprophyre dikes (Palaeoproterozoic). These rocks constitute the asymmetric NNE-trending Spartan anticline with north-plunging thrust duplication of the BIF unit. The deposit is located on the western limb of this structure. Transported, fluvial-lacustrine and aeolean sediments lie unconformably over the deposit showing significant variation in relief. Gold mineralization occurs intermittently along a NE-trending corridor of ca. 4.5 km length. The 20 currently defined orebodies are centered on a series of parallel, gently-dipping ($\sim30^{\circ}$) and NESW trending shear zones with a thrust-duplex architecture and high-strain characteristics. The paragenetic sequence of the Sunrise Dam deposit can be divided into five hydrothermal stages ($D_1$, $D_2$, $D_3$, $D_4a$, $D_4b$), which are supported by distinctive features of the mineralogical assemblages. Among them, the D4a stage is the dominant episode of Au deposition, followed by the $D_4b$ stage, which is characterized by more diverse ore mineralogy including base metal sulfides, sulfosalts, and telluride minerals. The $D_4a$ stage contains higher proportions of microscopic free gold (48%) than D4b stage (12%), and pyrite is the principal host for native gold (electrum) followed by tetrahedrite-group minerals in both stages.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2004.04a
• /
• pp.473-476
• /
• 2004

In this study, hydrochemical studies of thermal waters in the Bugok and Magumsan areas showing geothermal anomalies were carried, and the applicability of ion seothermometers and multiple mineral equilibrium approach was examined to estimate their potential deep reservoir temperatures. Typical thermal waters of the two areas are clearly grouped into two major types, according to water chemistry: Na-Cl type (group A) and Na-SO4 type (group D). Compared to group A, group B and C waters show some modifications in chemistry. Group E waters show the modified chemistry from group D. Geothermal waters from the two areas showed some different chemical characteristics. The thermal waters of group A and B in Magumsan area are typically neutral to alkaline (pH=6.7 to 8.1) and Cl-rich (up to 446.1 mg/L), while the waters of group D and E in Bugok area are alkaline (pH=7.6 to 10.0) and SO$_4$-rich (up to 188.0 mg/L). The group A (Na-Cl type) and group D (Na-SO$_4$ type) waters correspond to mature or partially immature water, whereas the other types are immature water. The genesis of geothermal waters are considered as follows: group A and B waters were formed by seawater infiltration into reservoir rocks along faults and fracture zones and possibly affected by fossil connate waters in lithologic units through which deep hot waters circulate; on the other hand, group D and E waters were formed by the oxidation of sulfide minerals (mainly pyrite) in surrounding sedimentary rocks and/or hydrothermal veins occurring along restricted fracture channels and were possibly affected by the input and subsequent oxidation of S-bearing gases (e.g. H2S) from deep thermal reservoir (probably, cooling pluton). The application of quartz, Na-K, K-Mg geothermometers to the chemistry of representative group A and D waters yielded a reasonable temperature estimate (99-147$^{\circ}C$ and 90-142$^{\circ}C$) for deep geothermal reservoir. Aqueous liquid-rich fluid inclusions in fracture calcites obtained from drillcores in Bugok area have an average homogenization temperature of 128$^{\circ}C$, which corresponds to the results from ion geothermometers. The multiple mineral equilibrium approach yielded a similar temperature estimate (105-135$^{\circ}C$ and 100-14$0^{\circ}C$). We consider that deep reservoir temperatures of thermal waters in the Magumsan and Bugok areas can be estimated by the chemistry of typical Na-Cl and Na-SO$_4$ type waters and possibly approach 105-135$^{\circ}C$ and 100-14$0^{\circ}C$.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.297-310
• /
• 1998

Geochemical characteristics of environmental toxic elements at the Narim mine area were investigated on the basis of major, minor, rare earth element geochemistry and mineralogy. Ratios of $Al_2O_3/Na_2O$ and $K_2O/Na_2O$ in soils and sediments range from 11.57 to 22.21 and from 1.86 to 3.93, and are partly negative and positive correlation against $SiO_2/Al_2O_3$ (3.41 to 4.78), respectively. These suggested that sediment source of host granitic gneiss could be due to rocks of high grade metamorphism originated by sedimentary rocks. Characteristics of some trace and rare earth elements of V/Ni (0.33 to 1.95), Ni/Co (2.00 to 6.50), Zr/Hf (11.27 to 53.10), La/Ce (0.44 to 0.55), Th/Yb (4.07 to 7.14), La/Th (2.35 to 3.93), $La_N/Yb_N$ (6.58 to 13.67), Co/Th (0.63 to 2.68), La/Sc (3.29 to 5.94) and Sc/Th (0.49 to 1.00) are revealed a narrow range and homogeneous compositions may be explained by simple source lithology. Major elements in all samples are enriched $Al_2O_3$, MgO, $TiO_2$ and LOI, especially $Fe_2O_3$ (mean=7.36 wt.%) in sediments than the composition of host granitic gneiss. The average enrichment indices of major and rare earth elements from the mining drainage are 2.05 and 2.91 of the sediments and are 2.02 and 2.60 of the soils, normalizing by composition of host granitic gneiss, respectively. Average composition (ppm) of minor and/or environmental toxic elements in sediments and soils are Ag=14 and 1, As=199 and 14, Cd=22 and 1, Cu=215 and 42, Pb=1770 and 65, Sb=18 and 3, Zn=3333 and 170, respectively, and extremely high concentrations are found in the subsurface sediments near the ore dump. Environmental toxic elements were strongly enriched in all samples, especially As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn. The level of enrichment was very severe in mining drainage sediments, while it was not so great in the soils. Based on the EPA value, enrichment index of toxic elements is 8.63 of mining drainage sediments and 0.54 of soils on the mining drainage. Mineral composition of soils and sediments near the mining area were partly variable being composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, amphibole, chlorite and clay minerals. From the gravity separated mineralogy, soils and sediments are composed of some pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, goethite and various hydroxide minerals.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.113-126
• /
• 2017

In order to investigate the geological storage potential of $CO_2$, X-ray diffraction analysis were conducted for drilling core samples collected from the two drilling sites located in Yonil group of the Miocene Pohang Basin. As a result, various minerals were identified such as quartz, plagioclase, orthoclase opal-CT, smectite, mica, illite, kaolin mineral, chlorite, calcite, gypsum, pyrite, dolomite, and siderite. Smectite was detected in almost all of core samples, and relatively large amounts of smectite were observed in the cores from deeper strata. Opal-CT, mainly occurred in the upper interval of cores, was formed by diagenesis of amorphous diatoms. It shows a tendency that d101 value of cristobalite decreases with depth from $4.10{\AA}$ to $4.05{\AA}$. The almost identical variations in mineral composition with depth are observed at the two sites. This fact indicates that rocks distributed at the two sites were probably deposited in the similar depositional environments. It is determined that the strata in the study area can play roles of cap-rock for $CO_2$ storage, because the considerable amounts of smectite were contained in the rocks through the cores.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.167-175
• /
• 2009

The geology of Sepola district in Mali is consisted of Birrimian group with metasedimentary rocks of lower Proterozoic and volcanoclastics, and later intrusive igneous rocks. Ore diposit in this district has the characteristics of vein- and disseminated-type gold deposit which was formed by infilling the secondary fracture zones related to the large-scale fault zone of NW direction within Birrimian group. It is confirmed as promising that Barani district has the gold grade of 0.53${\sim}$9.21 g/t with the extension of 1.3 km and width of 1 to 20.1 m. The ore mineralogy is simple with electrum, pyrite and galena. Fineness of gold grain ranges from 848 to 915(average 891) indicating mesothermal to hypothermal environment. Fluid inclusions are classified as liquid-rich type I. gas-rich type II and liquid-$CO_2$ bearing type III. Primary and pseudosecondary inclusions homogenize from 236 to 393$^{\circ}C$ with salinity of 0.0 to 8.6 wt% NaCl. Secondary inclusions homogenize from 103 to 184$^{\circ}C$ with salinity of 0.7 to 8.6 wt.%. From the relationship between homogeniztion temperature and salinity, it may be thought that auriferous fluid experienced dilution and cooling through inflow of meteoric water after fluid unmixing derived from pressure decrease in the temperature range of 400 to 250$^{\circ}C$. From the massive occurrence of quartz vein, simple mineralogy with paucity of sulfide, and presence of liquid-$CO_2$ bearing with high homogenization temperature, it is thought that gold mineralization in Sepola district correspods to the mesothermal to hypothermal ore deposit.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.279-289
• /
• 1997

Dark to pale green-colored, Cr-bearing sericites from hydrothermal alteration zone of the Narim gold deposit were investigated mineralogically and geochemically. The alteration zone is composed mineralogically of quartz, carbonate minerals and green sericite with minor amounts of chlorite, barite and sulfide minerals (pyrite, sphalerite, galena). The zone is enriched in As (967 to 1520 ppm), Cu (31 to 289 ppm), Ni (1027 to 1205 ppm), Pb (0.20 to 1.24 wt.%) and Zn (1.03 to 1.07 wt. %) compared with fresh rocks such as granitic gneiss, porphyritic biotite granite and basic dyke. The Cr, probably the chromophore element, is highly enriched in the alteration zone (1140 to 1500 ppm), host granitic gneiss (1200 ppm) and porphyritic biotite granite (1200 ppm). Occurrence and grain size of sericite are diverse, but most of the Cr-bearing sericites (150 to $200{\mu}m$ long and 20 to $30{\mu}m$ wide) occur along the boundaries between ore veins and host rocks (especially basic dyke and granitic gneiss). X-ray diffraction data of the sericite show its monoclinic form with unit-cell parameters of $a=5.202{\AA}$, $b=8.994{\AA}$, $c=20.103{\AA}$, ${\beta}=95.746^{\circ}$ and $V=935.83{\AA}^3$, which are similar with the normal 2M1-type muscovite. Representative chemical formula of the sericite is ($K_{1.54}Ca_{0.03}Na_{0.01}$)($Al_{3.42}Mg_{0.38}Cr_{0.14}Fe_{0.06}V_{0.02}$)($Si_{6.69}Al_{1.31}$)$O_{20}(OH)_4$. The Cr content increases with decrease of the octahedral Al content, and ranges from 0.36 to 2.58 wt.%. DTA and TG curves of the sericite show endothermic peaks at $342^{\circ}$ to $510^{\circ}$, $716^{\circ}$ to $853^{\circ}$ and $1021^{\circ}C$, which are due to the expulsion of hydroxyl group. The total weight loss by heating is measured to be about 8.8 wt. %, especially at $730^{\circ}C$. Infrared absorption experiments of the sericite show broad absorption band due to the O-H bond stretching vibration near the $3625cm^{-1}$, coupled with the 825 and $750cm^{-1}$ doublet. The vibration bands related with the H-O-Al and Si-O-Al bonds occur at $1030cm^{-1}$ and 500 to $700cm^{-1}$, respectively. Based on paragonite content of the sericite, the formation temperature of the Narim gold deposit is calculated to be $220{\pm}10^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.331-342
• /
• 2009

Groundwater samples were collected from the bedrock aquifers related with Okcheon metasedimentary rocks. Arsenic (As) concentrations in the samples varied between 0.0051 and 0.887 mg/L, with an average of 0.0248. Cations and anions of groundwaters had no relationship with As contents as well as with spatial distribution of geology in the area. Pyrite, chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite in the core samples of the monitoring wells were identified in thin section, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron probe microscope analysis (EPMA). It was suggested that these minerals are responsible for the As in groundwater. The groundwater showed saturations with respect to calcite $(CaCO_3)$, dolomite (CaMg$(CO_3)_2$) and Magnesite $(MgCO_3)$. $HAsO_4{^{2-}}$ activities in the groundwater samples were close to $Ca_3(AsO_4)_2(c)$ and $Mn_3(AsO_4)_2(c)$ solubility isotherms, indicating that the maximum As contents in groundwater are secondly controlled by the precipitation and dissolution of carbonate minerals due to alkaline and oxic nature of the groundwater (pe+pH>10).