• 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.15 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 1982

Many skarn type iron ore deposits are distributed in Kimhae-Mulgeum area of Gyeongnam Province. Integrated field, mineralogic, geochemical and fluid inclusion studies were undertaken to illustrate the character and origin of the ores in this area. The iron ore deposits in this area are NS or NNE trending fracture filling magnetite veins which are developed in andesitic rocks near the contact with late Cretaceous micrographic granite bodies. Symmetrically zoned skarns are commonly developed in the magnetite veins of this area. Zoning of skarn from center to margin of the vein are as follows; garnet quartz skarn-epidote skarn-epidote orthoclase skarn-altered andesitic rocks. Major ore mineral is magnetite and small amount of hematite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite are associated. Vein paragenesis reveals four depositional stages; 1) skarn stage, 2) iron sulfide and oxide stage, 3) skarn stage, 4) sulfide stage Minute halite-bearing polyphase inclusions and liquid inclusions are contained in quartz. Filling temperatures range from $257^{\circ}$ to $370^{\circ}C$.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.131-145
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• 1994

The Daehung and Pyeongan talc mines are located in the Yoogoo area, Chungcheongnam-Do. These deposits occur as the complex vein type in the ultramafic rocks which intruded Precambrian gneiss. The talc ore formed from sepentinitt: originated from ultramafic rocks but some of those from hornblende gneiss. The talcification processes were considered here on the basis of the mineral assemblages, paragenesis, and geochemistry. It appears that there are five processes in talcification ; serpentine$\rightarrow$talc, phlogopite$\rightarrow$chlorite$\rightarrow$talc, phlogopite$\rightarrow$talc, hornblende$\rightarrow$chlorite$\rightarrow$talc, and hornblende$\rightarrow$talc. Among them, the most dominant alteration path is serpentine to talc in these deposits. EPMA data suggest that there might be interstratified minerals were in between parent mineral and talc such as serpentine and talc, and phlogopite and talc. It can be found that tremolite exists in between the inner and outer most part of talcified serpentinite blocks coated with phlogopite. Some of tremolites has been altered to talc. The quartz veins and carbonate minerals were found in the talc ore zone. It indicates that the hydrothermal solution played an important role in talcification. The hydrothermal alteration occured after sepentinization. Ore zones can be divided into two zones; talc-serpentine zone preserving a pseudormorph of olivine (mesh texture) and talc-phlogopite zone showing talcification from phlogopite directly or through chlorite. It can be concluded that the formation of major talc ore body was due to talcification of serpentinite and phlogopite by hydrothermal solution. A nature of hydrothermal solution was relatively pure water at the beginning of serpentinization, and was getting richer in silica composition. There was a large amount influx of K and AI with hydrothermal solution in the later stage, and increased $P_{CO_{2}}$ also. It suggests that phlogopite formed in later stages as a secondary mineral. So, the major part of the talc ore body was formed from one parents rocks, serpentinite originated from ultramafic rocks, by hydrothermal solutions at several times.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 1977

Chongyang tungsten ore deposits, one of the most important tungsten mines in South Korea, me open space filling hydrothermal vein deposits embedded in Precambrian biotite gneiss and, Cretaceous (?) granite porphyry. Some wolframite-bearing quartz veins are closely associated with -quartz porphyries which strike about $N15^{\circ}-25^{\circ}W$ and dip $800^{\circ}SE$ to vertical. Mineralization took place in near vertical vein systems of 5 to 2000 meter long in the biotite gneiss and granite porphyry stock during early Cretaceous and Tertiary (?) period. The hydrothermal mineral paragensis has indicated that there were two major stages: vein and vug stages. The principal vein mineral is wolframite in a gangue of quartz with small amount of fluorite, pyrite, beryl and carbonate minerals. Present in minor amounts are molybdenite, bithmuthinite, native bismuth, arsenopyrite, galena, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite and scheelite. Fluid inclusion study from the minerls at Chongyang mine reveals that vein stage fluids attained a temperature range of $200^{\circ}C-355^{\circ}C$ and vug stage $160^{\circ}C-350^{\circ}C$. The filling temperatures show the higher range of $200^{\circ}-355^{\circ}C$ in quartz and $280^{\circ}C-348^{\circ}C$ in beryls, whereas the lower emperature range of $283^{\circ}C-295^{\circ}C$ in rhodochrosite and $160^{\circ}-253^{\circ}C$ in fluorites. These temperatures are in reasonably good agreement with mineral paragnesis in this ore deposits. Volfamite minerals were analysed for major components. $WO_3$, MnO and FeO by wet chemical method. Chemical analysis indicates that they contain 70.56-71.54% $WO_3$, 8.52-10.01% MnO and 10.00-11.58% FeO. MnO/FeO ratios of wolframites shows the range of 0.78-0.94 which maybe indicates a comparatively high temperature type of hydrothermal deposits.

• 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.22 no.3
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• pp.193-205
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• 1989

Regional geology of Chungil mine is composed of Cretaceous biotite granite. Chungil ore deposits are fissure filled quartz veins which developed in Cretaceous biotite granites. Mineralogic and fluid inclusion studies were undertaken to illuminate the origin of the ore deposits. Data gathered from occurrences of ore deposits and mineral paragenesis reveals that there were two major mineralization stage. The first stage is sulfides-quartz stage. The constituents of ore minerals are chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pyrrhotite with minor amount of galena, native Au, Ag, pyrite. The second stage is gangue mineral stage. Gangue minerals are quartz, fluorite and calcite. Homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions in quartz of the first and the second stage ranges from $212^{\circ}C$ to $336^{\circ}C$ and from $154^{\circ}C$ to $355^{\circ}C$ respectively. Homogenization temperature in fluorite and calcite of the second stage ranges from $127^{\circ}C$ to $252^{\circ}C$ and from $129^{\circ}C$ to $158^{\circ}C$ but these data require positive pressure corrections. Fluid inclusions in quartz of the Bongmyeong mine, Jangja the first mine and the second mine show range of homogenization temperature from $178^{\circ}C$ to $330^{\circ}C$, from $185^{\circ}C$ to $354^{\circ}C$ and from $206^{\circ}C$ to 336 respectively. The comparison of the fluid inclusion data, mineralogical component and vein attitude of the three mines with that of Chungil mine indicates that the origin of the deposits above mentioned is elucidated to be formed under similar environment. The compositions of the sphalerite in the first stage range from 16.05 mol.% FeS to 20.36 mol.% FeS.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.20-23
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• 2003

Low-sulfidation style ore deposits, the major source of Au, Ag, and Hg, are formed from neutral-pH, reduced hydrothermal solutions close to equilibrium with their host rocks. The waters are low-salinity (〈1 wt % NaCl equiv.) but relatively gas rich (1-2 wt % $CO_2$), and are largely meteoric water. However, the contribution of magmatic components to the epithermal system, its temporal importance, and its relation to the source of ore metals are largely controversial. (omitted)

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.547-555
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• 2023

Due to enhanced precision in uranium isotope measurements with MC-ICP-MS, there has been a surge in studies concerning the naturally occurring uranium isotope ratio (²³⁸U/²³⁵U) and its associated fractionation processes. Several researchers have highlighted that the ²³⁸U/²³⁵U ratio, previously assumed to be constant, can vary by several per mil depending on different natural fractionation processes. This review paper outlines the uranium isotope values (δ²³⁸U) for major terrestrial reservoirs and their variations. It discusses the range of δ238U values and uranium isotope fractionation seen in uranium ore deposits, based on deposit type and ore-forming conditions. In conclusion, this paper emphasizes the importance of studies on uranium ore deposits. Such deposits serve as natural simulation models vital for designing high-level radioactive waste repository sites.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 1991

Oxygen and sulfur isotope composition of pyrophyllite and pyrite from six pyrophyllite deposits in the Yangsan-Milyang areas (the Cheonbulsan, Dumyong, Dongrae, Youkwang, Sungjin and Milyang mines), and five deposits in the Whasoon-Dado-Haenam areas (the Byuksong, Songseok, Dado, Bugock and Nowha mines) were measured. Pyrophyllite ores both from the Yangsan-Milyang areas and the Dado-Haenam areas are composed mainly of high alumina minerals such as pyrophyllite, sericite and kaolinite. Most of altered rocks show diagnostic chacteristics of bleaching effect. Major minerals of the Songseok ore deposit in the Whasoon area are pyrophyllite, and diaspore with minor amounts of kaolinite and quartz. The Byuksong ores from the Whasoon area were composed mainly of andalusite, kaolinite, pyrophyllite and mica with small amounts of chloritoid, quartz and carbonaceous matter. The Byuksong and Songseok ores show metamorphic textures such as porphyroblastic, and pressure solution textures, and have low whiteness values, The ${\delta}^{18}O$ values of pyrophyllite from the Cheonbulsan and Dumyong mines in the Yangsan area, and the Dado and Nowha mines in the Dado-Haenam areas were in the range of 0.23~5.36%,. The relatively low 8 180 values provide conclusive evidence for hydrothermal activity in these deposits. The ${\delta}^{18}O$ values of pvrophvllite from the Songseok mine in the Whasoon area were measured as 6.70-8.13%, and these higher ${\delta}^{18}O$ values suggest that the Songseok ore deposit have been probably subjected to metamorphism. ${\delta}^{34}$S(pyrito) values from the Cheonbulsan, Dumyong, Youkwang, Dongrae, Sungjin and Milyang deposits in the Yangsan-Milyang areas, and the Dado pyrophyllite deposits in the Dado area range from -5.8 to 2.7%, which means that the pyrite sulfur could be of igneous origin. ${\delta}^{34}$S(pyrito) from the Nohwa mine in the Haenam area is, however, measured as -12.4%" implying the contamination of sulfur derived from the sedimentary country rocks. All of the studied high alumina deposits in the Yangsan-Milyang areas and the Dado-Haenam areas were hydrothermal in origin, whereas the Byuksong and Songseok ore deposits in the Whasoon area were probably of metamorphic origin.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 1995

The Kamkye Cu-Pb-Zn-Au-Ag deposits occur as quartz veins that filled fault-related fractures of NW system developed in the Cretaceous Gyeongsang basin. Three major stages of mineral deposition are recognized: (1) the stage I associated with wall rock alteration, such as sericite, chlorite, epidote and pyrite, (2) the early stage II of base-metal mineralization such as pyrite, hematite, and small amounts of sphalerite and chalcopyrite. and the middle to late stage II of Cu-As-Sb-Au-Ag-S mineralization, such as sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena with tetrahedrite, tennantite, pearceite, Pb-Bi-Cu-S system, argentite and electrum. (3) the stage III of supergene mineralization, such as covellite, chalcocite and malachite. K-Ar dating of alteration sericite is a late Cretaceous ($74.0{\pm}1.6Ma$) and it may be associated with granitic activity of nearby biotite granite and quartz porphyry. Fluid inclusion data suggest a complex history of boiling, cooling and dilution of ore fluids. Stage II mineralization occurred at temperatures between 370 to $220^{\circ}C$ from fluids with salinities of 8.4 to 0.9 wt.% NaCl. Early stage II($320^{\circ}C$, 2.0 wt.% NaCl) may be boiled due to repeated fracturing which opened up the hydrothermal system to the land surface, and which resulted in a base-metal sulfide. Whilst the fractures were opened to the surface, mixing of middle-late stage II ore fluids with meteoric waters resulted in deposition of Cu-As-Sb-Au-Ag minerals from low temperature fluids(${\leq}290^{\circ}C$). Boiling of ore fluids may be occured at a pressure of 112 bar and a depth of 412 m. Equilibrium thermodynamic interpretation of sphalerite-tetraherite assemblages in middle stage II indicates that the ore-forming fluid had log fugacities of $S_2$ of -6.6~-9.4 atm.