• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.277-290
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• 1998

The purpose of this research is to investigate the dispersion pattern of gold during skarnization and genesis of gold mineralization in the Sangdong skarn deposits. The Sangdong scheelite orebodies are embedded in the Cambrian Pungchon Limestone and limestone interbedded in the Myobong Slate of the Cambrian age. The tungsten deposits are classified as the Hangingwall Orebody, the Main Orebody and the Footwall Orebody as their stratigraphic locations. Recently, the Sangdong granite of the Cretaceous age (85 Ma) were found by underground exploratory drillings below the orebodies. In geochemisty, the W, Mo, Bi and F concentrations in the granite are significantly higher than those in the Cretaceous granitoids in southern Korea. Highest gold contents are associated with quartz-hornblende skarn in the Main Orebody and pyroxene-hornblende skarn in the Hangingwall Orebody. Also Au contents are closely related to Bi contents. This could be inferred that Au skarns formed from solutions under reduced environment at a temperature of $270^{\circ}C$. According to the multiple regression analysis, the variation of Au contents in the Main Orebody can be explained (87.5%) by Ag, As, Bi, Sb, Pb, Cu. Judging from the mineralogical, chemical and isotope studies, the genetic model of the deposits can be suggested as follows. The primitive Sangdong magma was enriched in W, Mo, Au, Bi and volatiles (metal-carriers such as $H_2O$, $CO_2$ and F). During the upward movement of hydrothermal ore solution, the temperature was decreased, and W deposits were formed at limestone (in the Myobong Slate and Pungchon Limestone). In addition, meteoric water influx gave rise to the retrogressive alterations and maximum solubility of gold, and consequently higher grade of Au mineralization was deposited.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.181-195
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• 1979

The Nambu orebodies of the Okbang tungsten mine are hosted in the Precambrian amphibolite and Weonnam formation. These orebodies can be classified into two types; The scheelite-bearing ore vein occurring in the amphibolite (the Nambu 1, 2 adits) and tungsten-bearing quartz vein along the contact between the amphibolite and the Weonnam formation (the Young-ho, -1, -2, -3 levels). The scheelite-bearing ore vein in the amphilbolite is discontinuous, narrow, and highly irregular in geometry, occurring only within the amphibolite with which of the vein is graduational. Based on these feature of the mode of occurrence, the origin of this ore type might be attributed to a potential segregation of tungsten ore fluid in situ from hornblenditic basic magma of the host rock. Tungsten-bearing quartz vein, however, is considered to have deposited along the N30-60E trending fractures as a later hypothermal vein after the hornblendite was emplaced. The principal ore mineral is scheelite with minor amount of wolframite, and the gangue minerals are quartz, and small amounts of fluorite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and calcite. Fluid inclusion study of minerals from the Nambu orebody reveals that the fluids in fluorite of the scheelite-bearning ore vein attained a temperature range of $208{\sim}256^{\circ}C$ and those in quartz from the tungsten-bearing quartz vein a temperature range of $220{\sim}357^{\circ}C$. The real formation temperatures can be somewhat higher than filling temperatures, if pressure correction is made. Chemical analysis of 8 amphibolitc samples on major and some trace elements indicate that the amphibolite is igneous origin. On a Niggli diagram (al-alk)versus c, the analytical values are plotted on an igneous field, and on a Niggli diagram mg versus c they follow a karroo igneous trend line. According to the Ba, Cr, and Ni versus Niggli mg plots suggested by Leake (1964), Okbang amphibolite fall outside a pelitic field and compare favorably with his plots form ortho-amphibolites. Analitical values of $MoO_3$ of 8 samples of scheelite minerals from the Nambu orebody indicate that the tungsten-bearing quartz vein (type n) of Nambu orebody shows a range from 1. 69% to 4.38% which is higher than 0.94%~3.25% $MoO_3$ for the scheelite-bearing ore vein (type I). This fact indicates that the type II was deposited in a lower $fO_2/higher$ $fO_2$ environment and under lower temperature than the type I. Analysis of major components $WO_3$, MnO, and FeO of 6 samples of wolframite from the type II veins revealed that they contain 73.35~76.2% $WO_3$, 7.94~11.63% MnO, and 10.53~14.82% FeO. MnO/FeO ratios of wolframite shows the range of 0.85~1.17 which suggests a slightly higher temperature type of deposits than other major tungsten deposits in the country.

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

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.345-361
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• 1994

Lens shaped titanomagnetite ore bodies in the Soyeonpyeong iron mine are embedded in amphibolites, which were intruded into Precambrian metasediments such as garnet-mica schist, marble, mica schist, and quartz schist. Mineral chemistry, K-Ar dating and hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopic analysis for the amphibolites and titanomagnetite ores were conducted to interpret petrogenesis of amphibolite and ore genesis of titanomagnetite iron ore deposits. Amphibolites of igneous origin have unusually high content of $TiO_2$, ranging from 0.94 to 6.39 wt.% with an average value of 4.05 wt.%. REE patterns of the different lithology of the amphibolite show the similar trend with an enrichment of LREE. Amphiboles of amphibolites are consist mainly of calcic amphiboles such as ferro-hornblende, tschermakite, ferroan pargasite, and ferroan pargasitic hornblende. K-Ar ages of hornblende from amphibolite and gneissic amphibolite were determined as $440.04{\pm}6.39Ma$ and $351.03{\pm}5.21Ma$, respectively. This indicates two metamorphic events of Paleozoic age in the Korean peninsula which are correlated with Altin orogeny in China. The titanomagnetite mineralization seems to have occurred before Cambrian age based on occurrence of orebodies and ages of host amphibolites. The Soyeonpyeong iron ores are composed mainly of titanomagnetite, ilmenite, and secondary minerals such as ilmenite and hercynite exsolved in titanomagnetite. The temperature and the oxygen fugacity estimated by the titanomagnetite-ilmenite geothermometer are $500{\sim}600^{\circ}C$ (ave. $550^{\circ}C$) and about $2{\pm}10^{-23}bar$, respectively. Hornblendes from ores and amphibolites which responsible for magnetite ore mineralization, have a relatively homogeneous isotopic composition ranging from +0.8 to +3.9 ‰ in ${\delta}^{18}O$ and from -87.8 to -113.3 ‰ in ${\delta}D$. The calculated oxygen and hydrogen isotopic compositions of the fluids which were in equilibrium with hornblende at $550^{\circ}C$, range from 2.8 to 5.9‰ in ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ and from -60.41 to -81.31 ‰ in ${\delta}D_{H2O}$. The ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ value of magnetite ore fluids are in between +6.4 to + 7.9 ‰. All of these values fall in the range of primary magmatic water. A slight oxygen shift means that $^{18}O$-depleted meteoric water be acted with basic fluids during immiscible processes between silicate and titaniferous oxide melt. Mineral chemistry, isotopic compositions, and occurences of amphibolites and orebodies, suggest that the titanomagnetite melt be separated immisciblely from the titaniferous basic magma.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.465-475
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• 2022

The seafloor massive sulfide deposits are important mineral resources for base and precious metals, and their ore genesis and metal contents are mainly controlled by wall-rock leaching process and/or magmatic volatile input from the underlying magma chamber. However, the contribution of two different metal sources to the seafloor hydrothermal mineralization significantly varies in diverse geological settings and thus still remains controversial. In this review, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of SMS deposits from mid-ocean ridges (MORs) and volcanic arcs were investigated to understand the contribution from different metal sources and to suggest future challenges that need to be addressed. As a result, the genetic occurrences of enargite and cubanite, galena and barite indicate the effects of magmatic input and water-rock interaction, respectively. Also, the distributional behaviors of Co, As, and Hg in pyrite and FeS content of sphalerite could be useful empirical indicators to discriminate the significant roles of different metal sources between MOR and Arc settings. To date, as most studies have focused on sulfide samples recovered from the seabed, further studies on magmatic sulfides and sulfate minerals are required to fully understand the genetic history of SMS deposits.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.249-262
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• 1997

The Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of two foliated granitic plutons located in the Chonju and Sunchang area were determined in order to reconfirm the intrusion ages of granitoids and to study the sources of granitic magmas. The best defined Rb-Sr isochron for the whole rock samples of the Chonju foliated granite (CFGR) give an age of $284{\pm}12Ma$, suggesting early Permian intrusion age. In contrast, the whole rock Rb-Sr data of the Sunchang foliated granite (SFGR) scatter widely on the isochron diagram with very little variation in the $^{87}Rb/^{86}Sr$ ratios and, therefore, yield no reliable age information. Futhermore they show the concordance of mineral and whole rock Rb-Sr isochron and divide into two linear groups with roughly the same slopes and significantly different $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr$ ratios, indicating some kind of Rb-Sr distortion in whole rock scale and a difference in source material and/or magmatic evolution between two subsets. The reconstructed isochrons of 243 Ma, which was defined from the proposed data by the omission of one sample point with significantly higher $^{87}Rb/^{86}Sr$ ratio than the others, and 252 Ma, from the combined data of it and some of this study, strongly suggest the possibility that the SFGR was intruded appreciably earlier than had previously been proposed, although the reliability of these ages still questionable owing to high scatter of data points and, therefore, further study is necessary. All mineral isochrons for the investigated granites show the Jurassic to early Cretaceous thermal episode ranging from 160 Ma to 120 Ma Their corresponding initial $^{87}Sr/^{86}Sr$ ratios correlate well with their whole rock data, indicating that the mineral Rb-Sr system of the investigated granites was redistributed by the postmagmatic thermal event during Jurassic to early Cretaceous. The initial ${\varepsilon}Sr$ values for the CFGR (64.27 to 94.81) tend to be significantly lower than those for the SFGR (125.43 to 167.09). Thus it is likely that there is a marked difference in the magma source characteristics between the CFGR and the SFGR, although the possibility of an isotopic resetting event giving rise to a high apparent initial ${\varepsilon}Sr$ in the SFGR can not be ruled out. In contrast to ${\varepsilon}Sr$, both batholiths show a highly resticted and negative values of initial ${\varepsilon}Nd$, which is -14.73 to -19.53 with an average $-16.13{\pm}1.47$ in the CFGR and -14.78 to -18.59 with an average $-17.17{\pm}1.01$ in the SFGR. The highly negative initial ${\varepsilon}Nd$ values in the investigated granitoids strongly suggest that large amounts of recycled old continental components have taken part in their evolution. Furthermore, this highly resticted variation in ${\varepsilon}Nd$ is significant because it requires that the old crustal source material, from which the granitoid-producing melts were generated, should have a reasonably uniform Nd isotopic composition and also quit similar age. Calculated T2DM model ages give an average of $1.83{\pm}0.25Ga$ for CFGR and $1.96{\pm}0.19Ga$ for SFGR, suggesting the importance of a mid-Proterozoic episode for the genesis of two foliated granites. Although it is not possible to determine precisely the source rock compositions for the investigated foliatic granites, the Sr-Nd isotopic evidences indicate that midcrustal or less probably, a lower crustal granulitic source could be the most likely candidate.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.431-449
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• 2015

The study area is located in the western part of the Precambrian stock type of Sancheong anorthosite complex, the Jirisan province of the Yeongnam massif, in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. We perform a detailed field geological investigation on the Sancheong anorthosite complex, and report the characteristics of lithofacies, occurrences, foliations, and research formation process and its mechanism of the Sancheong anorthosite complex. The Sancheong anorthosite complex is classified into massive and foliation types of Sancheong anorthosite (SA), Fe-Ti ore body (FTO), and mafic granulite (MG). Foliations are developed in the Sancheong anorthosite complex except the massif type of SA. The foliation type of SA, FTO, MG foliations are magmatic foliations which were formed in a not fully congealed state of SA from a result of the flow of FTO and MG melts and the kinematic interaction of SA blocks, and were continuously produced in the comagmatic differentiation. The Sancheong anorthosite complex is formed as the following sequence: the massive type of SA (a primary fractional crystallization of parental magmas under high pressure)${\rightarrow}$ the foliation type of SA [a secondary fractional crystallization of the plagioclase-rich crystal mushes (anorthositic magmas) primarily differentiated from parental magmas under low pressure]${\rightarrow}$the FTO (an injection by filter pressing of the residual mafic magmas in the last differentiation stage of anorthositic magmas into the not fully congealed SA)${\rightarrow}$the MG (a solidification of the finally residual mafic magmas). It indicates that the massive and foliation types of SA, the FTO, and the MG were not formed from the intrusion and differentiation of magmas which were different from each other in genesis and age but from the multiple fractionation and polybaric crystallization of the coeval and cogenetic magma.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.571-588
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• 2014

It consists of the Precambrian Jirisan metamorphic complex and Sancheong anorthosite complex and the Mesozoic granitoids which intrude them in the Sancheong area, the Jirisan province of Yeongnam massif, Korea. The study area is located in the western part of the stock-type Sancheong anorthosite complex. We performed a detailed fieldwork on the Sancheong anorthosite (SA) and Fe-Ti ore body (FTO) which constitute the Sancheong anorthosite complex, and reinterpreted the origin of FTO foliation and the genetic relationship between them from the foliations, shear zones, occurrences of the SA and FTO. The new structural characteristics between them are as follows: the multilayer structures of FTO, the derived veins of straight, anastomosing uneven types and block structures related to the size reduction of SA, the gradual or irregular boundaries of SA blocks and FTO showing bulbous lobate margins and comb structures, the FTO foliation and linear arrangements of flow occurrence which is not ductile shear deformation, the discontinuous shear zone of SA, the orientation of FTO foliations parallel to the boundaries of SA blocks, the predominance of FTO foliations toward the boundaries of SA blocks and being proportional to the aspect ratio of plagioclase xenocrysts and SA xenoblocks, and the flow folding structures of FTO foliation. Such field evidences indicate that the SA is not fully congealed when the FTO is melt and the fracturing of partly congealed SA causes the derived veins of FTO and the size reduction of SA. Also the gradual or irregular boundaries of SA blocks and FTO result from the mutual reaction between the not fully congealed SA blocks and the FTO melt, and the FTO foliation is a magmatic foliation which was formed by the interaction between the FTO melt and the partly congealed SA blocks. Therefore, these suggest that the SA and FTO are not formed from the intrusion of different magmas in genesis and age but from a coeval and cogenetic magma through multiple fractionation. We predict that the FTO will show an very irregular occurrence injected along irregular fractures, not the regular occurrence like as the intrusive vein and dike. It can be applied to the designing of Fe-Ti mineral resource exploration in this area.