• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.53-66
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• 1977

Epithermal Mn-Au-Ag deposits of subvolcanic type in the Yeongil area discovered by one (Soo Jin Kim) of the present authors was studied with emphasis on their mineralogy, genesis and future potential. Mineralization is genetically related to volcanic activities of the Tertiary Period, which have produced porphyritic rhyolite, granite porphyry, felsitic rhyolite and agglomerate. Ore deposits are closely associated with felsitic rhyolite. They occur as breccia-filling, veins, or networks. Mineralization is characterized by rhodochrosite-sulfide ores of breccia-type in the central zone, and sulfide ores of disseminated type in the outer zone. Sulfides consist mainly of pyrite and marcasite, with minor chalcopyrite, sphalerite, argentian tetrahedrite, galena and gold in the central zone, and of pyrite, marcasite and argentian tetrahedrite in the outer zone. Sulfides are generally not easily identified with naked eye because of their very fine-grained nature. Wall rock alteration zones are also developed around ore deposits over the large area. Occurrence of ore deposits and the nature of mineralization indicate that the uppermost portion of ore deposits are now exposed on the surface, and therefore, the main mineralized zones are expected in depth.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.395-405
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• 1996

The Donjin deposits which is located in the Chinan Basin, are emplaced along $N10{\sim}40^{\circ}E$ trending fissure sets. So it is a sort of fissure-filling ore deposits. The results of paragenetic studies suggest two stages of hydrothermal mineralization; stage I: base-metal sulfides stage, stage II: late base-metal sulfides, electrum and silver-bearing sulfosalts stage. Au: Ag ratios of the electrums show that Ag atomic% are higher than that of Au. The temperature and salinity of the Donjin deposits estimated from fluid inclusion and sulfur isotope geothermometry are as follows; stage I: $240{\sim}315^{\circ}C$, 2.4~7.1 NaCl eq. wt.%, stage II: $190{\sim}268^{\circ}C$, 4.6~8.4 NaCl eq. wt.%. The estimated oxygen and sulfur fugacity during first stage mineralization, based on phase relation of associated minerals, range from $10^{-35}{\sim}10^{-39.7}$ atm. and$10^{-11}{\sim}10^{-13.4}$ atm., respectively. All these evidences suggest that the Dongjin deposits are polymetallic meso-epithermal ore deposits.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.389-400
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• 1988

Minor elements such as Ag, As, Au, Bi, Cd, Cu, Co, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sr and Te were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and induced coupled plasma spectrophotometry in order to investigate pathfinders for gold in quartz porphyry, granite porphyry and vein materials in Jeonjuil gold - silver mine, and in altered biotite granites and vein materials in Dukum gold - silver mine. In Dukum gold - silver mine, it is observed that Au contents have positive relation with As, Co, and Rb contents, but negative relation with Bi contents in altered biotite granites. Au contents have positive relation with Ag, As, Co and Te contents in vein materials. In Jeonjuil gold - silver mine, it is observed that Cd, Rb, Sr and Te are enriched near ore vein in quartz porphyry and granite porphyry. Au contents have positive relation with As, Cd, Cu, $Fe_2O_3$ and $K_2O$ in vein materials.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 1997

Gold mineralization of the Ogkye gold mine was deposited mainly in quartz veins up to 150 cm wide which occupy fissures in Cambrian Pungchon limestone. Ore minerals are relatively simple as follows: pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite, electrum and galena. On the basis of the Ag/Au ratio on ore grades, mode of occurrence and assoicated mineral assemblages, the Ogkye gold deposit can be classified as pyrite-type gold deposit (Group IIB). Fluid inclusion data indicate that ore minerals were deposited between $400^{\circ}$and $230^{\circ}C$ from relatively dilute fluids (0.2 to 7.3 wt.% eq. NaCl) containing $CO_2$. The ore mineralization resulted from a complex history of $CO_2$ effervescence and local concomitant boiling coupled with cooling and dilution of ore fluids. Gold deposition was likely a result of decrease of sulfur activity caused by sulfide deposition and/or $H_2S$ loss accompanying fluid unmixing. Sulfur isotope compositions of sulfide minerals (${\delta}^{34}S=3.5{\sim}5.9$‰) are consistent with ${\delta}^{34}S_{H_2S}$ value of 4.8 to 6.1‰, suggesting mainly an igneous source of sulfur partially mixed with wall-rock sulfur.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.299-316
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• 2002

The Samkwang gold-silver deposits consist of gold-silver-bearing hydrothermal massive quartz veins which filled the fractures along fault shear (NE, NW) zones within Precambrian banded or granitic gneiss of Gyeonggi massif. Ore mineralization of this deposits occurred within a single stage of quartz vein which was formed by multiple episodes of fracturing and healing. Based on vein mineralogy and paragenesis, massive quartz veins are divided into two main paragenetic stages which are separated by a major faulting event. Main ore mineralization occurred at stage I. Wall-rock alteration from this deposits occur as mainly sericitization, chloritization, silicification and minor amounts of pyritization, carbonitization, propylitization and argillitization. Ore minerals are composed mainly of arsenopyrite (29.21-32.24 As atomic %), pyrite, sphalerite (6.45-13.82 FeS mole %), chalcopyrite, galena with minor amounts of pyrrhotite, marcasite, electmm (39.98-66.82 Au atomic %) and argentite. Systematic studies of fluid inclusions in early quartz veins and microcracks indicate two contrasting physical-chemical conditions: 1). temperature (215-345$^{\circ}$C) and pressure (1296-2022 bar) event with $H_{2}O-CO_{2}-CH_{4}-NaCl$fluids (0.8-6.3 wt. %) related to the early sulfide deposition, 2). temperature (203-441$^{\circ}$C) and pressure (320 bar) event with $H2_{O}$-NaCI $\pm$ $CO_{2}$ fluids (5.7-8.8 wt. %) related to the late sulfide and electrum assemblage. The H20-NaCI $\pm$ $CO_{2}$ fluids represent fluids evolved through fluid unmixing of an $H_{2}O-CO_{2}-CH_{4}-NaCl$fluids due to decreases in fluid pressure and influenced of deepcirculated meteoric waters possibly related to uplift and unloading of the mineralizing suites. Calculated sulfur isotope compositions (${\delta}^{34}S_{fluid}$) of hydrothermal fluids (1.8-4.9$\textperthousand$) indicate that ore sulfur was derived from an igneous source. Measured and calculated oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions (${\delta}^{18}O_{I120}$, ${\delta}D$) of ore fluids (-5.9~10.9$\textperthousand$, -102~-87$\textperthousand$) indicate that mesothermal auriferous fluids at Samkwang gold-silver deposits were likely mixtures of $H_{2}O$-rich, isotopically less evolved meteoric water and magmatic fluids.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 1993

Limited geochemical components have been detected in fluid inclusions from ore deposits in south Korea by non-destructive and destructive analytical methods. Review of fluid inclusion studies display that the homogenization temperatures and salinities are in direct proportion. W and Cu ore deposits tend to show higher homogenization temperatures and salinities than Au ore deposits. Abundant halite-bearing fluid inclusions from the Eonyang Granite producing precious amethyst crystals may indicate that the initial fluid originated from magma is highly saline as shown by the quartz from the granite. Raman Laser microprobe detected $CO_2$, $N_2$ and $CH_4$ in a gold deposit, while these components are hardly detected from other deposits, even though destrucive analysis has dectected $CO_2$, $N_2$, $CH_4$, $H_2S$, and $SO_2$ from most of ore deposits. Individual fluid inclusion shows quite different components. These results suggest that large numbers of fluid inclusions should be analysed by Raman Laser microprobe to gain reliable data. Halite-bearing inclusion is hardly found in fluid inclusions from epithermal gold deposits in south Korea. Geochemistry, homogeinzation temperature and salinity of fluid inclusions may be useful to apply for exploration to find a concealed orebody.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 1990

Relation between fluid inclusions and mineralization has been studied for 30 granitoid specimens from 19 localities in South Korea. Polyphase inclusions are found in granitoid specimens of 9 localities. In the vicinities of 6 localities among them occurs any of W, Cu or Fe deposits of the vein-, stockwork-, skarn-or pegmatite-type. On the contrary, no ore deposit is reported near the granitoids characterized by no polyphase inclusion except only one locality. This fact implies that the occurrence of polyphase inclusions is a good indicator for such kinds of mineralization. Ores and country rocks of some of the deposits contain polyphase inclusions in their quartz crystals. The fact that many polyphase inclusions occur in granitoids and ore constituents suggests that highly saline hydrothermal solution played an important role for the formation of such kinds of deposits. On the contrary, the granite and the ore of the Mugug gold deposit have many fluid inclusions, but are free from the polyphase type.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.587-597
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• 1995

Two distinct precious-metal mineralizations actively occur at central and southeastern Korea which display consistent relationships among geologic, geochemical and genetic environments. A large number of preciousmetal vein deposits in the central Korea occur in or near Mesozoic granite batholiths elongated in a NE-SW direction. Whereas, gold and/or silver deposits in the southeastern Korea occur within Cretaceous volcanic and sedimentary rocks. However, most of the precious-metal deposits in the southeastern Korea show characteristics of the silver-rich deposits than the gold-rich deposits in the central Korea. Two epochs of main igneous activities are recognized: a) Jurassic Daebo igneous activity between 121 and 183 Ma, and b) Cretaceous Bulgugsa igneous activity between 60 and 110 Ma. Precious-metal mineralization took place between 158 and 71 Ma, coinciding with portions of the two magmatic activities. Contrasts in the style of mineralization, together with radiometric age data and differences in geologic settings reflect the genetically variable natures of hydrothermal activities from middle Jurassic to late Cretaceous time. The compilation and re-evaluation of these data suggest that the genetic types of hydrothermal precious-metal vein deposits in the central and southeastern Korea varied with time. The Jurassic and early Cretaceous mineralizations are characterized by the Au-dominant type, but tend to change to the Au-Ag and/or Ag-dominant types at late Cretaceous. The Jurassic Au-dominant deposits commonly show several characteristics; prominent associations with pegmatites, simple massive vein morphologies, high fmeness values in ore-concentrating parts, and a distinctively simple ore mineralogy such as Fe-rich sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, Au-rich electrum, pyrrhotite and/or pyrite. The Cretaceous precious-metal deposits are generally characterized by some- features such as complex vein morphologies, low to medium fmeness values in the ore concentrates, and abundance of ore minerals including Ag sulfosalts, Ag sulfides, Ag tellurides and native silver. Mineralogical and fluid inclusion studies indicate that the Jurassic Au-dominant deposits in the central area were formed at the high temperature (about $300^{\circ}$ to $500^{\circ}C$) and pressure (about 4 to 5 kbars), whereas mineralizations of the Cretaceous Au-Ag and Ag-dominant deposits were occurred at the low temperature (about $200^{\circ}$ to $350^{\circ}C$) and pressure (<0.5 kbars) from the ore fluids containing more amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.82-85
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• 2005

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.103-115
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• 1989

The Tongyoung deposits are epithermal gold and silver bearing quartz-rhodochrosite vein type deposits of late Cretaceous. They occurs in the andesite and tuff breccia member called Gyeongsang basin. Four mineralizations can be distinguished at the mine based on macrostructures. From earlist stage to lastest stage they are: stage I, base-metal quartz vein; stage II, rhodochrosite vein (IIA) and Pb-Zn vein (IIB); stage III, barren quartz vein; stage IV, calcite-ankeritic rhodochrosite veins. Gold and silver mineralizations occur predominantly in the stage I and IIB. Electrum is closely associated with galena, sphalerite and pyrite, and has chemical compositions of 50.98-64.05 atom % Ag. Sphalerite contains 2.09-5.05 mol % FeS and 0.34-2.01 mol % MnS in the stage I, and 2.01-3.41 mol % FeS and 0.21-2.80 mol % MnS in the stage IIB. The FeS and MnS contents are in general correlated, and shows a characteristic zonal arrangement of electrum. It reveals rhat FeS contents of sphalerite which precipitated before electrum, gradually decreases in a grain during its deposition ranging from about 3.3 to 2 mol %. It may be considered from the above data that an increase of $fs_2$ caused by the oxidation of ore forming fluid is more important that the decrease of temperature.