• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.67-83
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• 2008

The sericite ore deposits formed in the Precambrian granitic rock at the Bonghwa area, Kyungsangbuk-do, South Korea. The geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of sericite occurred in Daehyun and Seonghwang mine were analyzed using petrographic microscope, XRD, EPMA, XRF and ICP. An alteration mechanism was also studied. Sericitization occurred within the granitic rock by hydrothermal alteration. From the careful study on the occurrence and mineral assemblage, four alteration zone were clearly identified. These zones reflect progressive hydrothermal alteration process. All sericites belong to $2M_1$ polytype and their mineralogical and geochemical properties are close to illite. The sericite ores show various colors, but the characteristics of major element compositions and crystal structures are not different. The trace element analysis, however, indicates that the difference in color attribute to the abundance of Cr and Ti: bluish green colored sericite are enriched in Cr and blackish green colored sericite enriched in Ti. The formation of sericite ore deposit in the granitic rocks are closely relate to fracture system such as fault and joint. It is considered that the sericite ore deposits in this area were formed by very simple hydrothermal alteration occurred along the fracture zones in granitic rocks with absence of other hydrothermally altered minerals such as kaolin and pyrophyllite.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.397-416
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• 1992

In the present study, three clay deposits, named the Seongsan, Ogmaesan and Haenam deposits, were investigated. The altered zones are recognized in the hydrothermally altered rocks of the clay deposits from the center of the alteration to the margin: Kaolin, Kaolin-Quartz, Quartz, Sericite and Chlorite zones in the Seongsan deposits; Quartz zone, Alunite zone, Kaolin zone, Sericite zone and Chlorite zone in the Ogmaesan deposits; Quartz zone, Pyrophyllite zone, Sericite zone and Chlorite zone in the Haenam deposits. These zones can be grouped into two types of alteration: Acidic alteration such as Pyrophyllite zone, Alunite zone, Quartz zone, Kaolin zone, Kaolin-Quartz zone and a part of Sericite zone; Propylitic alteration such as Chlorite zone and a part of Sericite zone. All clay deposits belong to high-sulfidation (acid-sulfate) system. The rocks of the acidic alterations are composed of pyrophyllite, alunite, kaolin minerals, sericite, quartz and pyrite. On the basis of bulk chemical compositions, it was found that some components such as $SiO_2$, $TiO_2$, $Fe_2O_3$, FeO, MgO, CaO, $K_2O$ and $Na_2O$ were mobilized considerably from the original rocks. The mobility of these major elements is related to, and controls, mineral assemblages in each altered zone. Polytypes of sericite are determined as $2M_1$ and 1M by X-ray diffraction method. The amount of $2M_1$ is nearly equal to that of 1M in the Seongsan deposits whereas $2M_1$ is less and higher than that of 1M in the Ogmaesan and the Haenam deposits. These facts indicate that formation temperature of sericite is relatively high in the Haenam deposits, moderate in the Seongsan deposits, and low in the Ogmaesan deposits. The ratios of Na/(K+Na) for alunite in the Ogmaesan deposits determined by electron microprobe analyzer (EPMA) are higher than those in the Seongsan deposits. Thus, the alunite of the Ogmaesan deposits must have been formed from the solutions with relatively high aqueous Na/(K+Na) ratios and low pH at a high temperature rather than that of the Seongsan deposits. From all data, it is clarified that alunite is hypogene in origin, and has been formed by oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in the steam-heated environment, and that alunite has been produced by the spectacular solfataric alteration observed at the surface of some present-day hydrothermal systems.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.163-176
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• 2009

The pyrophyllite deposits located in Jinhae area have been studied through field observations and laboratory works including the X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) and Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP). The pyrophyllite deposits consist of mainly illite, dickite, pyrophyllite, diaspore, chlorite, pyrite and copiapite. According to the mineral assemblages, geological occurrences and alteration modes, the altered rocks can be classified into four types: Type A; quartz with silicifictaion, Type B; quartz + illite with illitization, Type C; quartz + dickite + illite with kaolin alteration, Type D; pyrophyllite + illite + dickite + diaspore with pyrophyllite alteraion. Rocks in Type A, which is generated by silicifictaion, have high $SiO_2$ contents more than 90 wt% and distinctive equigranular textures with microcrtstalline quartz. The pyrophyllites from the study area belong to 2M polytype. The host rocks of the pyrophyllite ore in this mine are rhyolitic rock, andecitic tuff and volcanic breccia. The alteration products seem to be controlled by the different lithology of the host rocks. The hydrothermal solution formed the deposits would be inferred to the acidic and have relatively high ionic activity of hydrogen and silica judging from alteration mineral assemblage. Pyrophyllite alteraion zone is generated by highest temperature condition of all alteration zone.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1993

The Andong serpentinite body is distributed along the Andong fault, and shows an elliptical shape. The serpentinite is composed of serpentine minerals and other various minerals such as forsterite, pyroxene, talc, tremolite, chlorite, prehnite, calcite and dolomite. The serpentine minerals consist primarily of lizardite with minor chrysotile. Antigorite rarely occurs in some veins. The serpentinite is largely divided into two alteration zones by the occurrence and mineral assemblages. One of the alteration zones is composed of a large amount of serpentine minerals. The other is characterized by tremolite and chlorite. The alteration zone composed of tremolite and chlorite seems to have been formed by hydrothermal alteration after the formation of serpentinite. It is considered that the serpentinite have been formed by alteration of the ultramafic rock such as peridotite.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.377-386
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• 2022

In addition to anthropogenic origins, fluorine (F) is naturally enriched in rocks due to geological events, such as magma dissemination, hydrothermal alteration, mineralization, and fault activities. Generally, it has been well known that F is chiefly enriched in the region of igneous and metamorphic rocks, and biotite granite was mostly distributed in the study area. The F enrichment mechanism was not sufficiently elucidated in the previous studies, and the study on a fault zone was conducted to reveal it more precisely. The mineral composition of the fault zone was identical to that of the Eulwangsan biotite granite (EBG), but they were quantitatively different between the two areas. Compared with the EBG, the fault zone showed relatively higher contents of quartz and F-bearing minerals (fluorite, sericite) but lower contents of plagioclase and alkali feldspar. This difference was likely due to hydrothermal mineral alterations. The results of microscopic observations supported this, and the generation of F-bearing minerals by hydrothermal alterations was recognized in most samples. Accordingly, it might be interpreted that the mineralogical and petrological differences observed in the same-age biotite granite widely distributed in the Yongyudo was caused by the hydrothermal alterations due to small-scale geological events.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.439-446
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• 1996

Clay minerals are locally abundant in two hydrothermal areas at Tongnae-Yangsan and Miryang, Gyong-sang-namdo, Korea. This study is done to access the clay forming processes, particularly hydrothermal alteration. Pyrophyllite-kaolin in the Zone is accompanied by sericite, diaspore mixed-layer mica/smectite, alunite, dumortierite and silica minerals. Small nodular diaspore and disseminated fine radiac dumortierite are present in the pyrophyllite-kaoline deposits, the northemly trending belt of rhyolite flows and pyroclastic rock near the intruded by granite rock of Bulkusa Series. Hydrothermal action has formed many clay deposits with a zone containing over 80~90% pyrophyllite, kaolinite, muscovite with a little amount of dumortierite, boehmite, andalusite. Most of the clay deposits occur as irregular, lenticular, massive and assosiated dumortierite was found to coexist with clay deposits. Dumortierite data are as follows: lattice constant a=11.783, b=20.209, c=4,7001, axial ratio a:b:c=0.5835 : 1 : 0.2327, XRD $d{\AA}$ 2.549, 5.89, 5.09.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.623-641
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• 2012

The Janggun lead-zinc-silver deposit is hydrothermal-metasomatic deposit. We have sampled wallrock, hydrother-maly-altered rock and lead-zinc-silver ore vein to study the element dispersion during wallrock alteration. The hydrothermal alteration that is remarkably recognized at this deposit consists of rhodochrositization and dolomitization. Wallrock is dolomite and limestone that consisit of calcite, dolomite, quartz, phlogopite and biotite. Rhodochrosite zone occurs near lead-zinc-silver ore vein and include mainly rhodochrosite with amounts of calcite, dolomite, kutnahorite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena and stannite. Dolomite zone occurs far from lead-zinc-silver ore vein and is composed of mainly dolomite and minor calcite, rhodochrosite, pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena and stannite. The correlation coefficients among major, trace and rare earth elements during wallrock alteration show high positive correlations(dolomite and limestone = $Fe_2O_3(T)$/MnO, Ga/MnO and Rb/MnO), high negative correlations(dolomite = MgO/MnO, CaO/MnO, $CO_2$/MnO, Sr/MnO; limestone = CaO/MnO, Sr/MnO). Remarkable gain elements during wallrock alteration are $Fe_2O_3(T)$, MnO, As, Au, Cd, Cu, Ga, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sn and Zn. Remarkable loss elements are CaO, $CO_2$, MgO and Sr. Therefore, elements(CaO, $CO_2$, $Fe_2O_3(T)$, MgO, MnO, Ga, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sn, Sr and Zn) represent a potential tools for exploration in hydrothermal-metasomatic lead-zinc-silver deposits.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.279-289
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• 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 $220{\pm}10^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.41-54
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• 2023

Illite is a common mineral that forms readily from feldspar and mica via hydrothermal alteration and exhibits various characteristics depending on the degree of hydrothermal alteration. To ensure continued mining of high-quality illite ore, it is crucial to understand the illitization. Thus, this study collected ores from two illite ore deposit and their surrounding alteration zones in Yeongdong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, a significant source of illite in the Republic of Korea, to determine the constituent mineral contents and textural characteristics. Polarized light microscopy analyses revealed that the illite ore deposit were highly illitized with little remaining textural characteristics of the parent mica schist, and only some quartz was present. The ore zone contained illite, muscovite, quartz, and feldspar, with illitization primarily occurring around feldspar and quartz. X-ray diffraction analyses identified that the content of illite/muscovite was approximately 50-75 wt.%, with a maximum of 75 wt.%. Additionally, X-ray fluorescence analyses indicated a linear increase in K₂O content with increasing illite content, showing the highest correlation among the major components analyzed. It is suggested that the illite in the Yeongdong area results from feldspar and quartz alteration by hydrothermal fluids along the fault, with illitization of feldspar occurring before that of quartz. The results of this study are expected to contribute to the development of high-quality illite ore deposit in Yeongdong, Chungcheongbuk-do.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2016

The black fault gouge having 5-10 cm width occurs at the center of the fault fracture zone developed at the early Miocene basaltic rocks that is located at the Geumkwang-ri area in Donghae-myeon, Pohang city. The fault gouge was analyzed with XRD, FTIR, DTA/TGA, SEM, TEM, XRF, EPMA. Analyses reveal that the fault gouge is Fe-rich sepiolite having high iron content. Alteration minerals observed in the fault fracture zone are mainly smectite. The significant amount of smectite also observed in the basaltic parent rocks. The occurrence of constituent minerals indicates that the Fe-rich sepiolite was crystallized by faulting and hydrothermal alteration after the consolidation of basaltic rock at the deep place.