• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.335-346
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• 1991

It is observed that calcareous nodules of the Hwajeol Formation are locally skarnized in the Sangdong district, in which the skarn mineralization extends 5 Km westward from the Sangdong mine area to the Hwajeolchi area. After a hidden granite beneath the Sangdong mine was discovered by exploration drillings, the exploration teams of the Sangdong mine and the Korean Mining Promotion Corporation have assumed that the skarn nodule of the Hwajeol Formation was derived from emplacement of a granite in deep place and the occurrence of hidden ore bodies below the skarn, and they have discovered high grades of tungsten orebody in the same horizon of the Sangdong ore body. Mutual genetic relatioships between epidote and garnet may be explained by following chemical reactions $Ca_2FeA_{12}$ $Si_3O_{12}(OH)+CaCO_3=Ca_3(Fe,\;Al)_2$ $SiO_{12}+1/2CO_2+1/2H^+Ca_3FeSi_3O_{12}+SiO_2+CO_2=2CaFeSi_{12}O_6+CaCO_3+1/2O_3$. It is concluded that epidote and garnet are useful as target minerals indicating a potential occurrence of deep seated hidden ore body. Since the epidote may inform the emplacement of the granite, while the garnet in the skarn nodule of the Hwajeol Formation may reflect a strong hydrothermal mineralization taking place from the depth.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.593-608
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• 2024

As surface resources are continually developed and depleted, there is an increasing need to explore deeper ore bodies. Simultaneously, global demand for eco-friendly energy sources increases due to decarbonization policies, intensifying competition among nations to secure critical mineral resources. Geochemical exploration is based on the behavior of specific elements derived from mineral deposits and should be conducted with consideration of numerous geological variables. The characteristics of elemental concentration around ore bodies, which can be observed in media such as natural water, river sediments, soil, rock, vegetation, and geogas, provide clues for predicting the distribution of undiscovered ore bodies. For this reason, it is essential to identify the types of indicator elements that can be used for exploration depending on the mineralization type, and to establish a systematic geological exploration methodology based on the behavior of elements around mineralized ore bodies. Furthermore, applying Al technology to these geochemical characteristics would aid to exploration for critical mineral resources.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.202-208
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• 2014

KIGAM (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources) and MRAM (Mineral Resources Authority of Mongolia) performed joint survey on Bayan-Onjuul W-Mo mineralized area. Following the survey, we carried out magnetic survey. W-Mo occurrences are located with keeping a certain distance from the northern boundary of granite which has higher magnetic susceptibility values. Also, the 3D imaging results of magnetic inversion show that granite bodies are extended to the W-Mo occurrence areas from the deep main body with decreasing of susceptibility. The results of magnetic data analysis are well matched with the general characteristics of ore solution involved with W mineralization. The further study about the hidden ore deposits which have similar spatial relationship between granite and known WMo occurrences are necessary to improve the economic feasibility.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2011

The Taebaegsan Mineralized District is the most prospective region for the useful mineral commodities such as a coal, non-metallic, metallic mineral in South Korea. From a general point of view, Cambro- Ordovician limestone formations, Myobong slate and Pungchon (Daegi) limestone, are the most fertilizable formations in the Taebaegsan Mineralized District. The geology around Weondong mine area consists mainly of Carboniferous-Triassic formations and Cambro-Ordovician formations intruded by rhyolite/quartz porphyry. The great overthrusted fault of N40~$50^{\circ}E$ direction, so called Weondong overthrust fault, is observed in the central part of the mine area and the NS fault system cuts the overthrusted fault. By postulating from the favorable geological and structural condition around Weondong area, the possibility of deep seated hidden ore bodies is expected. In 2010, on the basis of the results of LOTEM and CSAMT survey, the cross-hole survey was performed for the investigation of the hidden polymetallic ore body in the deep parts of the Weondong mine area and the grade of the newly-discovered orebody is as follows; (1) The cut-off grade for lead-zinc 3%; an weighted average grade 5.50% (2.7 m), (2) The cutoff grade for copper 0.1%; an weighted average grade 0.91% (14.65 m), (3) The cut-off grade for iron 30%; an weighted average grade 38.18% (3.3 m), (4) $WO_3$ for each cut-off grade(0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1%); an weighted average grade 0.29 wt. % (8.8 m), 1.15 wt. % (2.1 m), 1.97 wt. % (1.2 m), (5) $MoS_2$ for each cut-off grade(0.01%, 0.1%); an weighted average grade 0.15 wt. % (6.3S m), 0.28 wt. % (3.15 m), (6) $Ta_2O_5$ for each cut-off grade (0.01%, 0.1%); an weighted average grade 0.13% (19.S m), 1.11% (1.8 m), (7) $Nb_2O_5$ for each cut-offgrade (0.01%, 0.1%); an weighted average grade 0.06% 11.5 m), 0.15% (3.0 m).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2017

Advanced argillic, argillic, and phyllic zones are the most important alteration patterns to predict the hidden ore body during exploration of hydrothermal deposits. We examined the quantitative relationship between the spectral absorption characteristics and the mineral content of the synthetic mixtures such as alunite-kaolinite and illite-kaolinite using short wavelength infrared (SWIR) spectroscopy. In the alunite-kaolinite mixtures, the spectral absorption characteristics of the alunite was highly correlated with the Hull quotient reflectance(0.99) and the kaolinite had the highest correlation with the Gaussian peak(0.92). Illite-kaolinite mixtures are essential for Gaussian deconvolution because of the overlap of absorption region. Illite and kaolinite mixtures indicate the high correlation of 0.93 and 0.98, respectively. The error ranges in the alunite-kaolinite(8%) and illite-kaolinite mixtures(5%) derived from SWIR were smaller than the ones(29% and 26%) obtained from X-ray diffraction(Rietveld) analysis. These results show that SWIR spectroscopic analysis is more reliable than XRD Rietveld analysis in terms of quantification of allowed minerals.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.163-176
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• 2019

The Potosinian geological basement in central Mexico is comprised of the Upper Paleozoic metamorphic rocks, which crop out on the Sierra de Catorce nucleus located in the northeastern part of the state. The sedimentary sequence that covers unconformably the Paelozoic basement is represented by an Upper Triassic marine sedimentary sequence, correlating to the Zacatecas Formation and the Upper Triassic continental Huizachal Formation red beds, which in turn are covered either by La Joja Formation Jurassic red beds or by Upper Jurassic marine sediments. This sequence is overlain by the conformable Cretaceous calcareous marine sedimentary rocks in all the state of San Luis Potosi. The Cenozoic sequence unconformably covers some of the aforementioned rocks and is represented by undifferentiated volcanic rocks as well as by marine clastic rocks. The existing intrusive igneous rocks are felsic to intermediate composition, and they intrude the metamorphic basement and sedimentary rocks. Conglomerates with evaporitic sediments were deposited during the Pleistocene. The Quaternary sequence includes basalt flows, piedmont deposits, alluvium, and occasionally evaporites and caliche layers. In the state of San Luis Potosi, a great diversity of mineral deposit types is known as both metallic and nonmetallic. The host rocks of these deposits vary from one another including formations that represent from Paleozoic up to Tertiary. The mineralization age corresponds approximately to Tertiary (75%), and is mainly epigenetic. Conclusively, the data on geology and mineralization in San Luis Potosi, Mexico are helpful to predict a hidden ore body and select promising mineralized zone(s) when the domestic company makes inroads in the mining sector of Mexico.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.499-508
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• 2019

Based on the preliminary surveys for the occurrences of the Muwellut chrome-nickel mineralized zone ($800km^2$) in northwestern Myanmar, Bophivum area was selected as the detailed exploration area after considering data source, geological potential, metallogenic province, necessity of resource development on target mineral, exploration activity, grade, ore deposit type, nearby operating mine, infrastructure and exploration prediction effect. From 2013 to 2016, KIGAM and DGSE carried out geological and geochemical survey with 1:1,000 scale, magnetic survey(areal extent, $1.672km^2$), trench survey(19 trench, total length 392 m), pitting survey(18 pit, total depth 42.6m), exploration drilling(6holes 600m, 2015; 13holes 617.4m). We analyzed Cr and Ni contents of 77 drill cores with specific gravity in Yangon DGSE analytical center. Considering surface geological survey, geochemical exploration, magnetic survey, trench survey and drilling data, we divided Bophivum area into 8 blocks. Resource estimation are divided into measured and indicated resources. Measured resource is about 9,790t and indicated resource is about 12,080t with the average grade of Cr 11.8% and Ni 0.34%. In case of Bophivum area, if we develop by tying up Webula chrome mineralized zone in the south, it will be possible to upgrade the medium-scale mine. Geologically, the ophiolite belt are distributed in the western and eastern part in Myanmar. So, the exploration technology obtained from exploation in Bophivum area will be helpful to discover the hidden chromitite ore body in Myanmar ophiolite belt in the future.