• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.233-247
• /
• 2012

We have researched the distribution and characteristics of seafloor hydrothermal deposits for the development of economic mineral deposits in the Lau Basin, Tonga since 2009. In this study, we interpreted hydrothermal alteration around TA 26 seamounts of the Tofua volcanic arc using X-ray diffraction analysis for bulk sample and preferred-oriented specimen of clay fraction. We used 2 core samples and several surface samples. Plagioclase and quartz are dominant mineral in the basement rock, whereas kaolin mineral and smectite are superior in marine surface sediments. Especially sulfate and sulfide minerals such as gypsum, barite, sphalerite, and pyrite are predominant in the vent sediments. When we compare the mineral composition between basement rock and sea surface sediments, argillic alteration zone composed of kaolin mineral and smectite could be produced by hydrothermal fluids. Based on the downcore variation of mineral assemblages, most portion of MC08H-06 core could be interpreted as argillic alteration zone composed of kaolin mineral and smectite except top 2 cm area. Various sulfate or sulfide minerals and argillic alteration zone suggest a high probability of massive sulfide deposits in the seafloor of the TA 26 seamount.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.359-372
• /
• 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.