• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 1988

Many hydrothermal skarn-type iron ore deposits inchiding Mulgeum, Yangseong, Maeri and Kimhae mines are distributed in the south-eastern Gyeongnam Province, Korea. The deposits are magnetite veins which occurred in propylitized andesitic rock near the contact with late Cretaceous Masanite. Symmetrical zoned skarns are commonly developed around the magnetite veins. The order of the skarn zones from the vein is garnet-quartz skarn, epidote skarn, and epidote-orthoclase skarn. The garnets include isotropic or anisotropic andradite($Ad_{100{\sim}70}$), and the epidotes are composed of pistacite($Ps_{21-31}$). Fe contents of the epidotes generally increase toward the magnetite veins. Epidotes and garnets often show compositional variations from grain to grain, that is, their Fe and Al contents vary inversely. This suggests that the variations depend mainly upon $fo_2$ during the skarnization. Oxygen and carbon isotope analyses of minerals from andesitic rock, micrographic granite, major skarn zones and post-mineralization zones were conducted to provide the information on the formation temperature, the origin and the evolution of the hydrothermal solution forming the iron ore deposits. Becoming more distant from the ore vein, temperatures of skarn zones represent the decreasing tendency, but most ${\delta}O^{18}$ and ${\delta}O^{18}_{H_2O}$ values of skarn minerals represent no variation trend, and also the values are relatively low. Judging from all the isotopic data from the ore deposits, the major source of hydrothemal solution altering the skarn zones and precipitating the ore bodies was magmatic water derived from the more deeply seated micrographic granite. This high temperature hydrothermal solution rising through the fissures of propylitized andesitic rock was mixed with some meteoric water, and the extensive isotopic exchange occurred with the propylitized andesitic rock. During this process, the temperature and ${\delta}O^{18}_{H_2O}$ value of hydrothermal solution were lowered gradually. At the stage of iron ore precipitation, because after all the alteration was already finished, the oxygen isotopic exchange with the wall rock was nearly not taken. The relatively high ${\delta}O^{18}$ and ${\delta}O^{18}_{H_2O}$, and relatively low ${\delta}C^{13}$ values of calcites of post mineralization stage, are the results of leaching of the high ${\delta}O^{18}$ chert xenolith in the andesitic rock and low ${\delta}C^{13}$ andesitic rock.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.275-286
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• 2008

The Sambo gold deposit located nearby the Cretaceous Hampyeong basin is composed of gold quartz fine vein(the Jija vein) within Cretaceous rhyolite showing $N10{\sim}20W$ trends as well as $N5{\sim}10E$ trending quartz veins(the Pungja, Gwangsan and Pungjaji veins) in Precambrian gneiss. The gold vein typically displays the intermittent and irregular fine veins within rhyolite. Electrum is disseminated in wallrock along the fine cracks as well as coexists with hematite replacing pyrite. Ore-forming fluids from the mineralized vein($H_2O/-NaCl$ system, Th; $340{\sim}200^{\circ}C$, Salinity <2.7 eq. wt.% NaCl) and NE-trending veins($H_2O-NaCl/-CO_2$ system, Th; $400{\sim}190^{\circ}C$, salinity <7.9 eq. wt.% NaCl) are featured by dissimilar physicochemical conditions but their fluid evolution trends(boiling and mixing) are similar with each other. Gold veins of the Sambo deposit filled along NNW-trending tension crack are related to pull-apart basin evolution. Selective gold mineralization of the deposit reflect to dissimilarity between two ore-forming fluid sources. Consequently, gold veining of the Sambo deposit formed at shallow-crustal level and could be categorized into epithermal-type gold deposit related to tensional fractures filling triggered by Cretaceous geodynamics.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.85-96
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• 1998

The sericite ore is formed by the hydrothermal alteration of rhyodacitic welded tuff. The alteration zone of the host rock can be classified into four types based on the mineral assemblages ; sericite, quartz-sericite, silicified and propylite zone. The sericite ore mainly occurs as vein types and fault clay along the fault plane in the quartz-sericite zone. Mineral components of the sericite ore are mainly sericite with minor diaspore, corundum and pyrite. The sericitic porcelaineous ore is mainly composed of quartz and sericite. Accessory minerals are muscovite, diaspore, sphene, corundum, pyrite, iron-oxides and etc. The chemical compositions of K2O, Al2O3, and ignition loss in the sericite ore increase largely than that of the host rock, while the compositions of SiO2, Na2O and Fe2O3 decrease. XRD patterns of the heat-treated sericite ores show the formation of mullite at $1,200^{\circ}C$. and the diaspore-bearing sericite ore forms mullite and corundum at $1,200^{\circ}C$. The differential thermal analysis of the sericite ores show small endothermic peak at 645~668$^{\circ}C$. and the diaspore-bearing sericite ore shows a strong endothermic peak at $517^{\circ}C$. It indicates that the decomposition of diaspore appear at lower temperature than that of sericite. The thermal expansivity of the sericite ores show the similar pattern. The sericite ores show the thermal expansivity of 3.3~4.7% at 900$^{\circ}C$ and 0.39~0.75% at 1,20$0^{\circ}C$, respectively. DTA-TG curves of the sericite ores show closely relations with the thermal expansivity.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 1992

Mineral assemblages, mineral chemistries and stable isotope compositions of altered rocks of the Ogmae, Seongsan, Haenam and Gusi mines near the Haenam volcanic field in the southwestern part of the Korea peninsula were studied. Characteristic hydrothermal alteration zones in these deposits occurring in the Cretaceous volcanics and volcanogenic sediments, acidic tuff, and rhyolite, were outlined. Genetic environment with particular reference to the spatial and temporal relationships for these deposits were considered. The alteration zones defined by a mineral assemblage in the Ogmae and Seongsan deposits can be classified as alunite, pyrophyllite, kaolinite or dickite, quartz, illite or illite/smectite. Alunite was not developed in the Gusi and Haenam deposits. Boundaries between the adjacent zones are always gradational except for vein-type alunite. Alteration zones are superimposed upon each other in some localities. These deposits formed $71.8{\pm}2.8{\sim}76.6{\pm}2.9$ Ma ago, which is the almost same age of later volcanic rocks $79.4{\pm}1.7{\sim}82.8{\pm}1.2$ Ma, the Haenam Group, corresponding to Campanian. It indicates that hydrothermal alteration of these deposits appeared to be related to felsic volcanism in the area. Consideration of the stability between kaolinite, alunite, pyrite and pyrophyllite, and the geothermometry based on the mineral chemistry of illite and chlorite suggests that the maximum formation temperature for alunite and pyrophyllite can be estimated at about $250^{\circ}C$ and $240{\sim}290^{\circ}C$, respectively. It also suggests that these deposits were formed by acidic sulfate solution with high aqueous silica and potassium activity in a shallow depth environment. Compositional variation of alunite also suggests that the physico-chemical conditions fluctulated considerably during alteration processes, indicating shallow depth environment. The Haenam deposit was formed at a relatively greater depth than the others. The sulfur isotope composition of alunite and pyrite indicates that sulfur probably had a magmatic source, and the oxygen isotope composition for kaolinite indicates that the magmatic hydrothermal solution was diluted by circulating meteoric water.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.177-191
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• 2021

The Zhenzigou Pb-Zn deposit, one of the largest Pb-Zn deposit in the northeast of China, is located at the Qingchengzi mineral field in Jiao Liao Ji belt. The geology of this deposit consists of Archean granulite, Paleoproterozoinc migmatitic granite, Paleo-Mesoproterozoic sodic granite, Paleoproterozoic Liaohe group, Mesozoic diorite and monzoritic granite. The Zhenzigou deposit which is a strata bound SEDEX or SEDEX type deposit occurs as layer ore and vein ore in Langzishan formation and Dashiqiao formation of the Paleoproterozoic Liaohe group. Based on mineral petrography and paragenesis, dolomites from this deposit are classified three type (1. dolomite (D₀) as hostrock, 2. dolomite (D₁) in layer ore associated with white mica, quartz, K-feldspar, sphalerite, galena, pyrite, arsenopyrite from greenschist facies, 3. dolomite (D₂) in vein ore associated with quartz, apatite and pyrite from quartz vein). The structural formulars of dolomites are determined to be Ca_1.00-1.03Mg_0.94-0.98Fe_0.00-0.06As_0.00-0.01(CO₃)₂(D₀), Ca_0.97-1.16Mg_0.32-0.83Fe_0.10-0.50Mn_0.01-0.12Zn_0.00-0.01Pb_0.00-0.03As_0.00-0.01(CO₃)₂(D₁), Ca_1.00-1.01Mg_0.85-0.92Fe_0.06-0.11 Mn_0.01-0.03As_0.01(CO₃)₂(D₂), respectively. It means that dolomites from the Zhenzigou deposit have higher content of trace elements compared to the theoretical composition of dolomite. Feo and MnO contents of these dolomites (D₀, D₁ and D₂) contain 0.05-2.06 wt.%, 0.00-0.08 wt.% (D₀), 3.53-17.22 wt.%, 0.49-3.71 wt.% (D₁) and 2.32-3.91 wt.%, 0.43-0.95 wt.% (D₂), respectively. The dolomite (D₁) from layer ore has higher content of these trace elements (FeO, MnO, ZnO and PbO) than dolomite (D₀) from hostrock and dolomite (D₂) from quartz vein. Dolomites correspond to Ferroan dolomite (D₀ and D₂), and ankerite and Ferroan dolomite (D₁), respectively. Therefore, 1) dolomite (D₀) from hostrock is a Ferroan dolomite formed by marine evaporative lagoon environment in Paleoproterozoic Jiao Liao Ji basin. 2) Dolomite (D₁) from layer ore is a ankerite and Ferroan dolomite formed by hydrothermal metasomatism origined metamorphism (greenschist facies) associated with Paleoproterozoic intrusion. 3) Dolomte (D₂) from quartz vein is a Ferroan dolomite formed by hydrothermal fluid origined Mesozoic intrusion.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.55-73
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• 1970

The district investigated covers the central and southern portions of the Uiryong Quadrangle amounting to $40km^2$ in area and is bounded approximately by geographical coordinates of $128^{\circ}$ 28' $40^{{\prime}{\prime}}{\sim}128^{\circ}$ 24' 25"E in longitude and $35^{\circ}10{\prime}{\sim}35^{\circ}14^{\prime}06^{{\prime}{\prime}}N$ in latitude. The purpose of this investigation was to provide basic information in drawing up a comprehensive development plan of the copper ore deposits known to exist in the HamanKumbuk district with special emphasis given to the ascertainment of geological and paragenetic characteristics. The area consists chiefly of shale, sandy shale and chert, all belong to Kyongsang System of Cretaceous age. Intruded into these rocks are andesite, granodiorite, basic dikes, and acidic dikes. The mineralization which took place in the area, consists of mostly fissure-filling vein deposits, numbering several tens, with varying magnitudes. The fissures and shear zones created in rocks, such as chert and granodiorite, hosted the deposition of mineralizing vapors and/or hydrothermal solutions along their openings. The strike lengths of these veins vary from 50 to 600 meters in extension and 0.1 to 3 meters in width. Although the degree of fluctuation in width is great, it averages 0.3m. The stuctural patterns, which apparently affected the deposition of veins, are fissure patterns, trend NS to $N30^{\circ}W$, and steep-pitching tension fractures as well as normal fault pattern. Ore minerals associated with vein matters are primarily chalcopyrite and small amounts of scheelite, cobaltiferous arsenopyrite, and gold and silver intimately associated with sulphide minerals. Associated with these ore mineral are pyrite, pyrrhotite, magnetite, specularite and arsenopyrite. Gangue minerals noted are quartz, calcite, chlorite, tourmaline and hornblende. In terms of the compositions of associated minerals, the vein deposits in the district could be grouped under the following four categories: 1. Pyrrhoitite, Arsenopyrite, Gold and Silver Bearing Copper Vein (Type I) 2. Calcite-Scheelite-Copper Vein (Type II) 3. Magnetite-Pyrite-Copper Vein (Type III) 4. Tourmaline Copper Vein (Type IV) Of the four types, the first and the fourth are presently yielding relatively higher grades: of copper ores and concentrates. The estimated ore reserves total some 222,000 metric tons with the following breakdown in terms of metal contents: Name of Mines Au(g/t) Ag(g/t) Cu(%) Reserves(M/T) Kunbuk 15.92 78.69 6,074 60.498 Cheil Kunbuk - - 1.040 60,847 Haman - - 2.688 101,204 222,549 As rehabilitation of old workings and/or exploration of veins at depth proceed, additional estimation of ore reserves may become apparent and necessary. With regard to the problem of beneficiation and upgrading of low-grade ores in the district, it would be advisable to make decisions on location, treating capacity and mill flowsheet after sufficient amount of exploration is completed as suggested in the report.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.289-301
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• 1997

The Boguk cobalt mine is located within the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Sedimentary Basin. Major ore minerals including cobalt-bearing minerals (loellingite, cobaltite, and glaucodot) and Co-bearing arsenopyrite occur together with base-metal sulfides (pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, etc.) and minor amounts of oxides (magnetite and hematite) within fracture-filling $quartz{\pm}actinolite{\pm}carbonate$ veins. These veins are developed within an epicrustal micrographic granite stock which intrudes the Konchonri Formation (mainly of shale). Radiometric date of the granite (85.98 Ma) indicates a Late Cretaceous age for granite emplacement and associated cobalt mineralization. The vein mineralogy is relatively complex and changes with time: cobalt-bearing minerals with actinolite, carbonates, and quartz gangues (stages I and II) ${\rightarrow}$ base-metal sulfides, gold, and Fe oxides with quartz gangues (stage III) ${\rightarrow}$ barren carbonates (stages IV and V). The common occurrence of high-temperature minerals (cobalt-bearing minerals, molybdenite and actinolite) with low-temperature minerals (base-metal sulfides, gold and carbonates) in veins indicates a xenothermal condition of the hydrothermal mineralization. High enrichment of Co in the granite (avg. 50.90 ppm) indicates the magmatic hydrothermal derivation of cobalt from this cooling granite stock, whereas higher amounts of Cu and Zn in the Konchonri Formation shale suggest their derivations largely from shale. The decrease in temperature of hydrothermal fluids with a concomitant increase in fugacity of oxygen with time (for cobalt deposition in stages I and II, $T=560^{\circ}C-390^{\circ}C$ and log $fO_2=$ >-32.7 to -30.7 atm at $350^{\circ}C$; for base-metal sulfide deposition in stage III, $T=380^{\circ}-345^{\circ}C$ and log $fO_2={\geq}-30.7$ atm at $350^{\circ}C$) indicates a transition of the hydrothermal system from a magmatic-water domination toward a less-evolved meteoric-water domination. Sulfur isotope data of stage II sulfide minerals evidence that early, Co-bearing hydrothermal fluids derived originally from an igneous source with a ${\delta}^{34}S_{{\Sigma}S}$ value near 3 to 5‰. The remarkable increase in ${\delta}^{34}S_{H2S}$ values of hydrothermal fluids with time from cobalt deposition in stage II (3-5‰) to base-metal sulfide deposition in stage III (up to about 20‰) also indicates the change of the hydrothermal system toward the meteoric water domination, which resulted in the leaching-out and concentration of isotopically heavier sulfur (sedimentary sulfates), base metals (Cu, Zn, etc.) and gold from surrounding sedimentary rocks during the huge, meteoric water circulation. We suggest that without the formation of the later, meteoric water circulation extensively through surrounding sedimentary rocks the Boguk cobalt deposits would be simple veins only with actinolite + quartz + cobalt-bearing minerals. Furthermore, the formation of the meteoric water circulation after the culmination of a magmatic hydrothermal system resulted in the common occurrence of high-temperature minerals with later, lower-temperature minerals, resulting in a xenothermal feature of the mineralization.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

The Haman mineralized area is located within the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin along the southeastern part of the Korean peninsula. Almost all occurrences in the Haman area are representative of copper-bearing polymetallic hydrothermal vein-type mineralization. Within the area are a number of fissure-filling hydrothermal veins which contain tourmaline, quartz and carbonates with Fe-oxide, base-metal sulfide and sulfosalt minerals. The Gunbuk, Jeilgunbuk and Haman mines are each located on such veins. The ore and gangue mineral paragenesis can be divided into three distinct stages: Stage I, tourmaline + quartz + Fe-Cu ore mineralization; Stage II, quartz + sulfides + sulfosalts + carbonates; Stage III, barren calcite. Equilibrium thermodynamic data combined with mineral paragenesis indicate that copper minerals precipitated mainly within a temperature range of $350^{\circ}C$ to $250^{\circ}C$. During early mineralization at $350^{\circ}C$, significant amounts of copper ($10^3$ to $10^2\;ppm$) could be dissolved in weakly acid NaCl solutions. For late mineralization at $250^{\circ}C$, about $10^0$ to $10^{-1}\;ppm$ copper could be dissolved. Equilibrium thermodynamic interpretation indicates that the copper in the Haman-Gunbuk systems could have been transported as a chloride complex and the copper precipitation occurred as a result of cooling accompanied by changes in the geochemical environments ($fs_2$, $fo_2$, pH, etc.) resulting in decrease of solubility of copper chloride complexes.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.125-140
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• 2022

The Xiquegou Pb-Zn deposit is located at the Qingchengzi orefield which is one of the largest Pb-Zn mineralized zone in the northeast of China. The geology of this deposit consists of Archean granulite, Paleoproterozoinc migmatitic granite, Paleo-Mesoproterozoic sodic granite, Paleoproterozoic Liaohe group, Mesozoic diorite and Mesozoic monzoritic granite. The Xiquegou deposit which is a Triassic magma-hydrothermal type deposit occurs as vein ore filled fractures along fault zone in unit 3 (dolomitic marble and schist) of Dashiqiao formation of the Paleoproterozoic Liaohe group. Xiquegou Pb-Zn deposit consists of quartz, apatite, calcite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, marcasite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, stannite, galena, tetrahedrite, electrum, argentite, native silver and pyrargyrite. Wallrock alteration of this deposit contains silicification, pyritization, dolomitization, chloritization and sericitization. Based on mineral petrography and paragenesis, dolomites from this deposit are classified two type (1. dolomite (D₀) as wallrock, 2. dolomite (D₁) as wallrock alteration in Pb-Zn mineralization quartz vein ore). The structural formulars of dolomites are determined to be Ca_1.03-1.01Mg_0.95-0.83Fe_0.12-0.02Mn_0.02-0.00(CO₃)₂(D₀) and Ca_1.16-1.00Mg_0.79-0.44Fe_0.53-0.13Mn_0.03-0.00As_0.01-0.00(CO₃)₂(D₁), respectively. It means that dolomites from the Xiquegou deposit have higher content of trace elements compared to the theoretical composition of dolomite. The dolomite (D₁) from quartz vein ore has higher content of these trace elements (FeO, PbO, Sb₂O₅ and As₂O₅) than dolomite (D₀) from wallrock. Dolomites correspond to Ferroan dolomite (D₀), and ankerite and Ferroan dolomite (D₁), respectively. The structural formular of chlorite from quartz vein ore is (Mg_1.65-1.08Fe_2.94-2.50Mn_0.01-0.00Zn_0.01-0.00Ni_0.01-0.00Cr_0.02-0.00V_0.01-0.00Hf_0.01-0.00Pb_0.01-0.00Cu_0.01-0.00As_0.03-0.00Ca_0.02-0.01Al_1.68-1.61)_5.77-5.73(Si_2.84-2.76Al_1.24-1.16)_4.00O₁₀(OH)₈. It indicated that chlorite of quartz vein ore is similar with theoretical chlorite and corresponds to Fe-rich chlorite. Compositional variations in chlorite from quartz vein ore are caused by mainly octahedral Fe²⁺ <-> Mg²⁺ (Mn²⁺) substitution and partly phengitic or Tschermark substitution (Al^3+,VI+Al^3+,IV <-> (Fe²⁺ 또는 Mg²⁺)^VI+(Si⁴⁺)^IV).

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.205-220
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• 2002

The gold-silver deposits in the Casado district were formed in the sheeted and stockwork quartz veins which fill the fault fractures in volcanic rocks. K-Ar dating of alteration sericite (about 70 Ma) indicates a Late Cretaceous age for ore mineralization. These veins are composed of quartz, adularia, carbonate, and minor of pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, Ag-sulfosalts (argentite, pearceite, Ag-As-Sb-S system), and electrum. These veins are characterized by chalcedonic, comb, crustiform and feathery textures. Based on the hydrothermally altered mineral assemblages, regional alteration zoning associated with mineralization in the Gasado district is defined as four zones; advanced argillic (kaolin mineral-alunite-quartz), argillic (kaolin mineral-quartz), phyllic (quartz-sericite-pyrite) and propylitic (chlorite-carbonate-quartz-feldspar-pyroxene) zone. Phyllic and propylitic zones is distributed over the study area. However, advanced argillic zone is restricted to the shallow surface of the Lighthouse vein. Compositions of electrum ranges from 14.6 to 53.7 atomic % Au, and the depositional condition for mineralization are estimated in terms of both temperature and sulfur fugacity: T=245。$~285^{\circ}C$, logf $s_2$=$10^{-10}$ ~ $10^{-12}$ Fluid inclusion and stable isotope data show that the auriferous fluids were mixed with cool and dilute (158。~253$^{\circ}C$ and 0.9~3.4 equiv. wt. % NaCl) meteoric water ($\delta^{18}$ $O_{water}$=-10.1~8.0$\textperthousand$, $\delta$D=-68~64$\textperthousand$). These results harmonize with the hot-spring type of the low-sulfidation epithermal deposit model, and strongly suggest that Au-Ag mineralization in the Gasado district was formed in low-sulfidation alteration type environment at near paleo-surface.