• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.407-413
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• 2003

The geology of the Apdong Nb-Ta deposit, is hosted by alkali metasomatites, consist of Upper Proterozoic sedimentary rocks, alkali syenites(Hoamsan intrusive) of Phyonggang Complex(late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic), Jurassic granite and Quaternary basalt. Alkali syenites are distinguished as alkali amphibole-pyroxene syenite, alkali amphibole-biotite syenite, biotite-nepheline syenite, biotite syenite, and quartz-alkali amphibole-pyroxene syenite. Alkali metasomatites are the products of intense post-magnatic metasomatism, and form the Nb-Ta ore bodies as the belt, irregular vein and lenticular types in the southern part of Hoamsan intrusive. The ore mineralization is characterized by the occurrence of pyrochlore, zircon, and small amounts of columbite, fergusonite. magnetite, fluorite, molybdenite, ilmenite, titanite, apatite, and monazite. Pyrochlore is one of the niobium/tantalum oxides and contains substantial amounts of rare earths and radioactive elements. The compositional varieties of pyrochlore can be defined: (1) enriched in tantalum, uranium and cerium, (2) substantially tantalum- and fluorine-poor, and (3) enriched in thorium or barium. The geochemical characteristics, ore textures and mineral occurrences indicate that alkali metasomatism of the mineralizing fluid was the dominant ore-forming process.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.599-612
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• 1995

Some REE ore deposits are located in the middle part the of Korean peninsula. Geotectonically, the REE ore deposits situated on the Kyemyeongsan Formation of northern margin of the Okcheon geosynclinal belt and in the transitional zone between Kyeonggi massif and the Okcheon belt, with a deep-seated fracture separating the two tectonic units. The Kyemyeongsan Formation are different in lithology and metamorphic grade from the Gyeonggi massif and the Okcheon super group. The sequence of Kyemyeongsan Formation is dominantly composed of acidic metavolcanic and volcaniclastic rocks associated with alkaline igneous rocks which are related to volcano-plutonism. The REE ore deposits contain mainly Ce-La, Ta-Nb, Y, Y-Nd and Nd-Th group minerals. More than 15 RE and REE minerals have been found in the deposits, such as allanite, fergusonite, thorite bestnaesite, euxenite, polyclase, monazite, columbite, (Nb)-rutile, okanoganite, sphene, zircon, illmenite and some other unknown minerals. According to the characteristics of the mineral association, the REE ore deposits may be divided into 4 ore types; Zircon-REE, allanite-REE, feldspar-REE and fluorite-REE type. The Sm-Nd isochron age of the REE ore is 330 Ma, and the Sm-Nd model age is 1.11 Ga with ${\varepsilon}_{Nd(t)}$ being - 2.9. This data suggest that the REE ore deposit was formed in the early Carboniferous, and the ore-forming material came from the mantle. The REE ores show distinct light REE enrichment with strong negative Eu anomaly. The REE patterns of schistose rocks from Kyemyeongsan Formation are similar to felsic volcanics from rifts or back arc basins in or near continental crust. The genesis of the REE ore deposit is quite complicated. Different geologic processes are displayed in the studied area; sedimentation, volcanic activity, metamorphism and hydrothermal replacement. Alkali granite has suffered extensive post-magmatic metasomatism of a high temperature to produce alkali metasomatites. Geochemical charateristics show that metasomatism of alkaline fluid was probably the dominant ore-forming process in Chungju district.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2005

Modal and chemical compositions of clinopyroxnes in spinel peridotites from the Baegryeong Island and the Boeun, enclosed in Miocene alkali basalt, are important for understanding the pre-eruptive temperature condition and chemical processes such as mantle depletion and enrichment. All spinel peridotites show transitional texture between protogranular and porphyroclastic textures. Temperature ranges of spinel peridotites from the Baegryeong Island and the Boeun at 15 kb are 773∼1188℃ and 705∼1106℃, respectively. The spinel peridotites from the Baegryeong Island and the Boeun have undergone the 1∼10% and 1∼4% fractional melting, which were determined by using primitive mantle-normalized Y and Yb of clinopyroxenes. LREE enrichment patterns of clinopyroxene indicate that these rocks from both areas have undergone cryptic mantle metasomatism without new minerals.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.395-406
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• 1997

Some RE (Zr, Nb, REE) ore deposits are located in the middle part of the Korean peninsula. Geotectonically, the RE ore deposits situated on the Kyemyeongsan Formation of northern margin of the Okcheon geosynclinal belt and in the transitional zone between Kyeonggi massif and Okcheon belt. The rare metal deposits distributed in Kyemyeongsan Formation which consists of schist and alkaline granite. The alkali granite has suffered extensive post-magmatic metasomatism and hydrothermal processes. The ore contains mainly Ce-La, Ta-Nb, Y, Y-Nb, Ti-Nb-(U), Nd-Th group minerals. Fergusonite, one of Nb-Y rich REE minerals belonging to the A-B oxides, is most common mineral in the rare metal deposits. The fergusonite bearing rocks may be devided into four types by occurrence features and mineral association, that is, zircon type, allanite vein, feldspar type, and fluorite type. Fergusonites show wide variations in optical properties, due to part of differences in their chemical composition (depending on the types), but also the degree of crystalinity of the individual specimens. Fergusonite metamicts enclosed in biotite are generally surrounded by well developed pleochroic haloes. Usually, fergusonite is accompanied with zircon and other REE-bearing minerals. Petrographical and chemical data are presented for fergusonites which collected different types. $Nb_2O_3$ and $Y_2O_3$ contents range from 48.51 to 53.01 wt.% and 29.18 to 42.02 wt.% respectively. Also, $ThO_2$, (1.83~6.93), $UO_2$, (0.17~2.84), ${\sum}RE_2O_3$ (except to Y) (1.11~8.73), and $TiO_2$, (0.19~1.19 wt.%) contents show variational compositions according to fergusonite types. The ${\sum}RE_2O_3$ of fergusonites are positive relation with $Y_2O_3$ and negative relaton with $ThO_2$ and $({\sum}{RE_2O_3}-{Y_2O_3})$. The $Nb_2O_3$ is sightly negative relation with $Ta_2O_3$. Back-scattered electron microscope images (BEI) of fergusonite show the mineral composition and textural feature is very complicated. The variation of Nb, Th and REE content of fergusonite and the modes of occurrence of mineral, suggests that REE may have been mobilized during the circulation of hydrothermal fluids related to contact metamorphism (metasomatism). The chemical variation of the fergusonites with occurrences and mineral association can be related to metasomatism of alkaline fluid was probably the dominant ore-forming process in Chungju district.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.239-246
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• 2008

Yeongweol sericite deposit of Gangwon Province is regarded as one of the sericite deposits derived from granitic rocks due to post-magmatic alkali metasomatism, and the other sericite deposit of the same origin is the Daehyun mine of Gyungbug Province. Sericite ores were originated from leucocratic granitic stocks of Cambrian-Triassic age which intruded the pegmatitic migmatite of the unknown age and granite of the Pre-cambrian age, respectivcly. Jangsan quartzite of the lowermost formations of the Paleozoic era, which played as the capping rock protected from the leakage of the hydrothermal solution. It is well known that those sericite deposits arc formed during formation of the geosyncline, and they are also situated in the margins of the Hambaeg Syncline. Leucocratic granites commonly contain pegmatites with tourmaline crystals, and are rich in potassium feldspars, and sodium plagioclase as well. Sericitized ores are mainly found as we go up to the higher elevations or to the margins of the stocks. And some of the Highest grade sericite ores show the monominerallic character composed of nearly pure sericite probably doc to the ultra greisenization. Chemical analysis shows higher $Na_{2}O$ and $K_{2}O$ contents $(2.00\sim7.03wt%)$ as the sericitizations arc preceded and they represent obvious greisenization. But low CaO contents $(0.05\sim4.51wt%)$ indicate that albitizations are so weak. Pyrophyllite of the Youngweol area is often accompanied by the sericite, indicating rather stronger thermal effect than the Daehyun mine. It is known that there are several Sn deposits originated from greisenization in the Taebaegsan region. And greisens are inclined to contain W, Mo and several REE's such as Be, Nb and Li, and so Taebaegsan region interbedded with lots of carbonate formations are still worthwhile to survey for those metallic deposits.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.13-30
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• 2012

Phlogopite and kaersutite, showing distinctively different textural characteristics compared to the common phenocrysts, are observed in alkali basalt from Jeju Island. They occur as large crystals (2-10 mm) in host basalts, whereas fine-grained phlogopite and kaersutite occur in ultramafic mantle xenoliths and mafic gabbroic xenoliths, respectively, as an interstitial and microvein phases, or in corona textures (<1 mm). This textural characteristics of fine-grained grains clearly indicates secondary in origin. Phlogopite contains high $TiO_2$(4.1-6.9 wt%) and F(2.8-4.6 wt%) and relatively high mg#[=100Mg/(Mg+$Fe^t$) in mols, where $Fe^t$ is total iron](88-80), whereas kaersutite has high $TiO_2$(5.6-6.11 wt%) and much lower mg#s(68-64). Our textural observations and the geochemical character of these hydrous minerals suggest that they were unrelated to each other and mica formation happened early in the upper mantle before the mantle xenoliths had been trapped. In contrast, kaersutite formation has happened later, probably during the late stage of crystallization as intracrustal processes. The presence of phlogopite and kaersutitic amphibole is a direct evidence for K-, Ti-, F- and $H_2O$-bearing fluid/melt percolation in the lithosphere beneath Jeju Island, indicating that they are product of interaction between host rock/peridotite/fluid-melt. Thus, the upper mantle/lower crust beneath Jeju Island are metasomatized to various extents, characterized by a change in major metasomatic hydrous minerals from phlogopite to amphibole with decreasing depth.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.61-75
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• 2011

Mantle-derived xenoliths, corresponding to spinel harzburgite and lherzolite in alkali basalts from Jeju Island, are metasomatized to various extents. They contain distinctive secondary orthopyroxene, forming corona or poikilitic textures. It clearly indicate that this secondary orthopyroxene has been produced at the expense of olivine along the grain boundaries and margins, suggesting silica-enriched metasomatic melt infiltrated through grain boundaries. Based on the geotectonic characteristics of Jeju Island and textural characteristics and major elements composition of mantle xenoliths, it is suggested that the silica-enriched melt/fluid could have derived from the ancient subducted slab, possibly in the mantle wedge, implying that the high $SiO_2$ activity in the lithospheric upper mantle beneath Jeju Island at that time.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.163-221
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• 1983

Main aspects of this study are to clarify geochronology and petrogenetic processes of the so-called Hongjesa granite, which is a member of various intrusive rocks exposed in the northeastern part of the Ryongnam Massif, one of the Precambrian basements of South Korea. In this study, the Hongjesa grainte is divided into four rock units based on the geologic age, mineralogical and chemical constituents, and texture: the Precambrian Hongjesa granite gneiss (Hongjesa granite Proper) and leucogranite gneiss, the Paleozoic gnessic two mica granite, and the Jurassic muscovite granite. The Hongjesa granite gneiss is identified by its grayish color, slight foliation, and porphyroblastic texture. The leucogranite gneiss is distinct by its light gray color, sand medium to coarse grained texture. The gneissic two mica granite is distinguished from others by its strong foliation, containing gray-colored feldspar phenocrysts with biotite and muscovite in varying amounts. The muscovite granite occurs as a small stock containing feldspar phenocrysts along margin of the stock. These granitic rocks vary widely in composition, reflecting the facts that they partly include highly metamorphosed xenolith and schlierens as relics of magmatic and anatectic processes. In particular, grayish porphyroblasts of microcline perthite is characteristic of the Hongjesa granite gneiss, whereas epidote and garnet occur in both the Hongjesa granite gneiss and leucogranite gneiss. These minerals are considered to be formed by potassic metasomatism and contamination of highly metamorphosed rocks deeply buried under the level of the Hongjesa granite emplacement. The individual synchronous granitic rocks plotted on Harker diagram show mostly similar trends to the Daly's values. The plots of the Hongjesa granite gneiss and gneissic two mica granite concentrate near the end part of the calc-alkalic rock series on the AMF diagrams, whereas those of the leucogranite gneiss and muscovite granite indicate the trend of the Skaergaard pluton. These granitic rocks plotted on a Q-Ab-Or diagram (petrogeny's residua system) fall well outside the trough of the system. This can be attributed to the potassic matasomatism of these rocks. On the ACF diagram, these rocks appear to be dominantly I-type prevailing over S-type. The K-Ar ages, obtained from a total of 7 samples of the leucogranite gneiss, gneissic two mica granite, muscovite granite, porphyritic alkali granite, and rhyolitic rock, in addition to the Rb/Sr ages of the Hongjesa granite gneiss by previous workers, permit the rock units to be arranged in the following chronological order: The middle Proterozoic Hongjesa granite gneiss (1714-1825 m.y.), the upper proterozoic leucogranite gneiss (875-880 m. y.), the middle Paleozoic gneissic two mica granite (384 m. y.) the upper Jurassic muscovite granite (147 m. y.), the Eocene alkali granite (52 m. y.), and the Eocene rhyolitic rock (45 m. y.). From the facts and data mentioned above, it is concluded that the so-called Hongjesa granite is not a single granitic mass but is further subdivided into the four rock units. The Hongjesa granite gneis, leucogranite gneiss, and gneissic two mica granite are postulated to be either magmatic or parautochtonous, intrusive, and the later muscovite granite is to be magmatic in origion.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.261-281
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• 2016

Our knowledge of the lithosphere beneath the Korean Peninsula has been improved through petrologic and geochemical studies of upper mantle xenoliths hosted by Quaternary intraplate alkali basalts from Jeju Island. The xenoliths are mostly spinel lherzolites, accompanied by subordinate harzburgite and pyroxenites. The mantle xenoliths represent residual mantle material showing textural and geochemical evidence for at least a three-stage evolution, fractional partial melting, recrystallization, and metasomatism. Their composition primarily controlled by early fractional melt extraction and porphyroclastic and mylonitic fabrics formed in a shear-dominated environment, which was subsequently modified by residual slab-derived fluids (or melts). Modal metasomatic products occur as both anhydrous phase(orthopyroxene) and hydrous phase (phlogopite). Late-stage orthopyroxene is more common than phlogopite. However, chemical equilibrium is evident between the primary and secondary orthopyroxene, implying that the duration of post-metasomatic high temperatures enabled complete resetting/reequilibration of the mineral compositions. The metasomatic enrichment pre-dates the host Jeju Quaternary magmatism, and a genetic relationship with the host magmas is considered unlikely. Following enrichment in the peridotite protolith in the mantle wedge, the upper mantle beneath proto-Jeju Island was transformed from a subarc environment to an intraplate environment. The Jeju peridotites, representing old subarc fragments, were subsequently transported to the surface, incorporated into ascending Quaternary intraplate alkali basalt. The result of this study implies that long term material transfer in the transformation of geotectonic setting from a subarc to intraplate may have played a significant role in the evolution of lithospheric mantle, resulting in the enriched mantle domains, such as EM I or EM II in the lithospheric mantle beneath East Asia.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.545-559
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• 1996

Rare metal (Nb-Zr-REE) ore deposits are located in the Chungju area. Geotectonically, the rare metal ore deposits are situated in the transitional zone between Kyeonggi massif and Okcheon belt. The rare metal deposits are distributed in Kyemyeongsan Formation which consist of schist and alkaline igneous rocks. Alkali granite has suffered extensive post-magmatic metasomatism and hydrothermal processes. The ore contains mainly Ce-La, Ta-Nb, Y, Y-Nd, Nd-Th group minerals. More than 15 RE and REE minerals are found in the ore deposits. Allanite, one of the Ce-La rich REE minerals belonging to the epidote group, is the most common mineral in the studied area. The allanite- bearing rocks may be devided into seven types by features of occurrence and mineral associations; zircon type (ZT), allanite-vein type (AT), feldspar type (KT), fluorite type (FT), quartz-mica type (QT), iron-oxide type (MT), and amphibole type (HT). The allanite veins (AT) and zircon rich rocks (ZT) contain the highest total REE contents. Differences in REE abundance can be interpreted in terms of varying portions of magmatic hydrothermal fluid. Petrographical and chemical data are presented for allanites which were collected from different types. The allanites show wide variations in optical properties, due in part to differences in their chemical composition (depending on the types) and to the degree of crystallinity of the individual specimens. Allanite metamicts in biotite are generally surrounded by well developed pleochroic haloes. Usually, allanite is accompanied by zircon and other REE-bearing minerals. CaO and total REE contents $({\sum}RE_2O_3)$ range from 9.29 to 18.79% and 11.66 to 26.31%, respectively. Also, SiO, (28.87~32.61%), $Al_2O_3$ (8.30~16.88%), and $Fc_2O_3$ (16.74~24.38%) contents show varying contents from type to type. The ${\sum}RE_2O_3$ of allanite has positive relationships with $Fe_2O_3$ and negative relaton with CaO, $SiO_2$, and $Al_2O_3$ Backscattered electron microscope images (BEl) of allanite shows that the its mineral composition and texture is very complex. The allanite-bearing hosts show distinct light REE enrichment with strong negative Eu anomaly except for HI. The HT has an almost flat REE distribution pattern with a small negative Eu anomaly. The chemical variation of the allanites with occurrences and mineral association can be related to condition of temperature and oxidation states in precipitation environment.