• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.13-19
• /
• 1998

Textures of claystones of the Cheonunsan Formation in the Hwasoon area have been studied using optical microscope and electron microprobe. Microscopic images were observed under the optical microscope using the transmitted polarizing light from thin sections and under the electron microprobe using the back-scattered electron beam from the polished sections. Identification of minerals were made using X-ray diffraction analysis and chemical analysis by electon microprobe. Textural analyses show that the original sedimentary claystones rich in aluminium were subjected to metamorphism by which they changed to the metamorphosed claystone consisting mainly of chloritoid, quartz, andalusite and illite. Later intensive hydrothermal kaolinization of this metamorhosed claystones resulted in the formation of high-aluminous claystones rich in kaolinite exhibiting various complicated replacement textures.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.287-308
• /
• 1990

The Ogmae alunite-kaolinite deposit occurs in acidic tuff, the Hwangsan Tuff, of upper Crataceous age in the Haenam volcanic field, SW Jeonnam. This deposit characterized by advanced argillic alteration formed $71.8{\pm}2.8{\sim}73.9{\pm}2.8$ Ma ago in very shallow depth environment with acid-sulfate solution. Wallrock alteration can be classified into four zones from the center to the margin of the deposit: alunite, kaolinite, illite, and silicified zone. The mineral assemblage in the alunite zone, ore zone, is alunite-quartz-pyritekaolinite. Consideration of stability relation of these minerals suggests that the maximum alteration temperature is estimated at about $250^{\circ}C$ with solution pH of 3 or below assuming that pressure does not exceed 0.3 Kb. Alunite occurs as two different types; replacement and vein-type deposit. The former one consists of fine grained alunite and the later one coarse grained and relatively pure alunite that formed by open space filling. Isomorphous substitution of Na for K in these two types of alunites range 0 to 40 %, indicating that Na/K ratio in the solution is spontaneously changed during the alteration process. Alunite which has higher Na substitution probably formed in an earlier stage while the solution sustain high Na/K ratio. K-Ar age of alunites indicate that the replacement alunite formed earlier($73.9{\pm}2.8Ma$) than the vein-type alunite($71.8{\pm}2.8Ma$). The ${\delta}^{34}S$ value of pyrite and alunite indicate that those minerals formed at isotopically nonequillibrium state. The ${\delta}^{16}O$ and ${\delta}D$ values, of kaolintics 5.0 to 9.0‰ and -54 to -99‰, respectively, indicate that those are formed by hydrothermal solution having magmatic origin which have been diluted by low ${\delta}D$ meteoric water.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.54 no.6
• /
• pp.767-785
• /
• 2021

World-class magnesite deposits are developed in the Dashiqiao mineralized district of the Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt in China. This belt extends to the northern side of the Korean Peninsula and hosts major magnesite deposits in the Dancheon region of North Korea. Magnesite ores from the Pailou deposits in the Dashiqiao district is classified into pure magnetite, chlorite-magnetite, chlorite-talc-magnetite, and dolomite groups depending on the constituent minerals. According to the result of petrographic study, magnesite was formed by the alteration of dolomite, and, talc, chlorite, and apatite were produced as late-stage alteration minerals that replaced the magnesite. Fluid inclusions observed in magnesite are a liquid-type inclusion, with a homogenization temperature of 121-250 ℃ and a salinity of 1.7-22.4 wt% NaCl equiv. The chlorite geothermometer, indicating the temperature of hydrothermal alteration, is 137~293 ℃, slightly higher than the homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions, and the pressure is calculated to be less than 3.2 kb. For magnesite mineralization in the study area, the initially formed-dolomite was subjected to replacement by Mg-rich fluid to form a magnesite ore body, and then it was enriched through regional metamorphism and hydrothermal alteration. It seems that altered minerals such as talc were crystallized by Si and Al-rich late-stage hydrothermal fluids. These results are similar to the genetic environments of the Daeheung deposit, a representative magnesite deposit in North Korea, and it is believed that the two deposits went through a similar geological and ore genetic process of magnesite mineralization.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 1992

The manganese oxide ores in the Taebaeg Mt. region have been formed by supergene weathering of the primary hydrothermal or sedimentary manganese ores. The supergenesis is controlled by the physical chemistry of the descending groundwater in the supergene zone. It includes the fundamental geological processes, such as dissolution, oxidation, transportation, precipitation, and crystallization and recrystallization. However, the fundamental mechanisms for the formation of various manganese oxide minerals are 1) replacement, 2) precipitation from solution, and 3) solid state crystallization and recrystallization. Various textures and structures of ores have been formed by these processes. Detailed paragenetic sequence of manganese oxide minerals in each ore deposit is summerized.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.209-221
• /
• 1988

The ore deposit of the Ohtani mine is one of repesentatives of plutonic tungsten-tin veins related genetically to acidic magmatism of Late Cretaceous in the Inner zone of Southwest Japan. Based on macrostructures of vein filling on the order of ore body, three major mineralization stages, called stage I, stage II, and stage ill from earliest to latest, are distinguished by major tectonic breaks. The alteration zories are characterized by specific mineral associations in pseudomorphs after biotite. The alteration zones can be divided into two parts, i. e. a chlorite zone and a muscovite zone, each repesenting mineralogical and chemical changes produced by the hydrothermal alteration. The chloritic alteration took place at the beginning of mineralization, and muscovite alteration in additions to chloritic alteration took place at stage II and ill. The alteration zones are considered to be formed by either of two alteration mechanism. 1) The zones are formed by reaction of the rock with successive flows of solution of different composition and different stage. 2) The zones are formed contemporaneously as the solution move outward. Reaction between the solution and the wall-rock results in a continuous change in solution chemistry. The migration of the successive replacement of the fresh zone$\rightarrow$the chlorite zone$\rightarrow$the muscovite zone may have transgressed slowly veinward, leaving metasomatic borders between the different zones.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.34-43
• /
• 2018

Silicon has become of increasing importance as the basic element of many high-technology products. Its synthesis is very difficult requiring high temperature solid-state reactions (> $1000^{\circ}C$) or lower temperature methods ($100-200^{\circ}C$) involving hydrothermal and solvothermal reactions under extreme pH conditions. In nature, on the other hand, a wide range of living organisms have collectively evolved the means of biosilicification at the astounding rate of gigatons/year. This is impressive because biosilicification in these organisms occurs under mild physiological conditions. Marine sponges possess the ability to sequester soluble silicon sources from their environments and assemble them into intricate 3D architecture. The advent of molecular biology has recently made it possible to glean molecular information about biosilicification from these systems and it turned out that enzyme silicatein is the core of biosilicification. In this review, biosilicification regulated by silicatein and its mechanism are described. Also, production of silicatein through recombinant technology and several applications of recombinant silicatein are described including immobilization of silicatein, formation of Au or Ag nanoparticles on nanowires, nanolithography approaches, core-shell materials, encapsulation, bone replacement materials, and microstructured optical fibers.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.117-128
• /
• 2017

Occurrence characteristics and existing forms of U-Th containing minerals in KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) granite are investigated to understand long-term behavior of radionuclides in granite considered as a candidate rock for the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. KURT granite primarily consists of quartz, feldspar and mica. zircon, REE(Rare Earth Element)-containing monazite and bastnaesite are also identified. Besides, secondary minerals such as sericite, microcline and chlorite including quartz vein and calcite vein are observed. These minerals are presumed to be accompanied by a post-hydrothermal process. U-Th containing minerals are mainly observed at the boundaries of quartz, feldspar and mica, mostly less than $30{\mu}m$ in size. Quantitative analysis results using EPMA (Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer) show that 74.2 ~ 96.5% of the U-Th containing minerals consist of $UO_2$ (3.39 ~ 33.19 wt.%), $ThO_2$ (41.61 ~ 50.24 wt.%) and $SiO_2$ (15.43 ~ 18.60 wt.%). Chemical structure of the minerals calculated using EPMA quantitative analysis shows that the U-Th minerals are silicate minerals determined as thorite and uranothorite. The U-Th containing silicate minerals are formed by a magmatic and hydrothermal process. Therefore, KURT granite formed by a magmatic differentiation is accompanied by an alteration and replacement owing to a hydrothermal process. U-Th containing silicate minerals in KURT granite are estimated to be recrystallized by geochemical factors and parameters such as temperature, pressure and pH owing to the hydrothermal process. By repeated dissolution/precipitation during the recrystallization process, U-Th containing silicate minerals such as thorite and uranothorite are formed according to the variation in the concentrated amount of U and Th.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.73-83
• /
• 2017

The surveyed mines are located in a polymetallic vein, replacement, and skarn mineral district in the central Andes of Peru. Iscaycruz, which includes underground and open pit mines that produce zinc and lead concentrates, was the largest mineral deposit of an important group of base metal deposits in the Andes of central Peru. The deposits are sub-vertical seams of polymetallic ores(Zn, Cu, and Pb). These seams are hosted by Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary rock formation. The intrusion of igneous rocks in these formations originated metallic deposits of metasomatic and skarn types. The Raura mine is composed of polymetallic deposit of veins and replacement orebodies. The main sedimentary unit in the area is Cretaceous Machay Limestone. The Raura depression contains several orebodies each with different mineralization: predominantly Pb-Zn bearing Catuvo orebody; Ag-rich galena-bearing Lake Ninacocha orebody; Cu-Ag bearing Esperanza and Restauradora orebody. Huaron is a hydrothermal polymetallic deposit of silver, lead, zinc, and copper mineralization hosted within structures likely related to the intrusion of monzonite dikes, principally located within the Huaron anticline. Mineralization is encountered in veins parallel to the main fault systems, in replacement bodies known as "mantos" associated with the calcareous sections of the conglomerates and other favourable stratigraphic horizons, and as dissemination in the monzonitic intrusions at vein intersections.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.235-248
• /
• 2010

To construct the standard methods for evaluation of physicochemical characteristics of tailings in Korea, specific gravity, paste pH, grain size, mineral compositions and heavy metal concentrations of total 26 tailings from 21 metallic mines were analyzed. Specific gravity of tailings ranged from 2.61 to 4.31 (avg. 3.04), and sand and silt grain were dominant in the tailings. Ranges of paste pH were 2.1-9.5 in tailings (7.1-9.2 at magmatic, skarn and hydrothermal replacement deposits and 2.1-9.5 at hydrothermal vein deposits). Additionally, hydrothermal vein deposits could be reclassified into three categories: (1) paste pH>7.0, (2) 4.0

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.25-56
• /
• 1975

Most fluorite deposits of South Korea are distributed in three metallogenic zones namly as: Hwacheon, Hwangangni and Geumsan metallogenic zones. Fluorite deposits of each zone show The characteristic features owing to the geological setting, the structural patterns and their forming processes. deposits of the Hwacheon metallogenic zone are wholly fissure filling hydrothermal veins emThe bedded in shear fractures of the granite gneiss or schists of Precambrian age or in the cooling fractures of the granite and acidic hypabyssal rocks which are assumed to be a differentiated sister rock of the granite. Localization of most fluorite veins of the region is structurally controlled by NW and EW fracture systems and genetically related to the granite intrusion which ascertained as motivating rock of the fluorite mineralization. Fluorites are in most cases accompanied by quartz, chalcedony mainly and rarely agate, calcite, barite and sulphide base metals in some localities. The deposits of the Hwangangni metallogenic zone were formed at the last stage of hydrothermal polymineralization of W, Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn. The majority of the fluorite ore bodies were originated from replacement in limestone beds of Great Limestone Series or in calcareous interbeds of metasediments, whereas some cavity-filling ore bodies were embedded in phyllites and schists of the Ockcheon system and along the fissures in the replaced beds which were originated by volume decrease. The localization of fluorite deposits in this region is genetically related to the Moongyong granite which has been dated as middle Cretaceous, and controlled structurally by the $N20^{\circ}{\sim}50^{\circ}W$ extension fracture system or axial planes of folds, and by faults of NE direction that acted as paths of ore solution. The deposits of the Geumsan metallogenic zone are seemed to be formed through the similar process as that of Hwangangni metallogenic zone, but characteristic distinctions are in that they are more prevailing fracture filling veins and large number of the deposits are localized in roof-pendants or xenolithes of limestone in granites and porphyries. Igneous rocks that presumably motivated the mineraltzation are middle Cretaceous Geumsan granite and porphyries. Metallogenic epoch of the fluorite mineralization of South Korea are puesumably limited in early-middle Cretaceous. Studies of the fluid inclusions in fluorites of the region reveal that the homogenization temperature of the fluorite deposits are as follows: Hwacheon metallogenic zone : $95^{\circ}C{\sim}165^{\circ}C$; Hwangangni metallogenic zone : $97^{\circ}C{\sim}235^{\circ}C$; Geumsan metallogenic zone : $93^{\circ}C{\sim}236^{\circ}C$. Judging from the above results, the deposits of the Hwancheon region were formed at the epithermal stage, and those in the Hwangangni and Geumsan regions, were deposited at epithermal stage preceded by mesothermal mineralization of small scale in which some sulphide minerals were deposited. The analytical data of minor elements in the fluorites reveal that ore solutions of Hwangangni metallogenic zone seemed to be emanated in more acidic stage of magma differentiation than Hwacheon metallogenic zone did.