• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.265-280
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• 2003

The Mugeuk mineralized area that associated with the pull-apart type Cretaceous Eumseong basin is composed of several gold-silver vein deposits that are emplaced in late Cretaceous biotite granite. The gold-silver deposits in the area show various hydrothermal alteration zones as well as Au/Ag ratios and ore mineralogy. The Geumbong mine showing relatively high gold fineness is composed of multiple veins and show alteration pattern; vein \longrightarrow phyllic \longrightarrow subphyllic \longrightarrow propylitic \longrightarrow subpropylitic zone. In contrast, The Taegeuk mines show the low fineness values, in far southern part are characterized by increasing tendency of simple and/or stockwork veins. The deposit displays alteration pattern; vein \longrightarrow propylitic \longrightarrow subpropylitic zone. Variations of alteration zone with depth show that phyllic zone are dominant in deeper level and propylitic zone sporadically overlapped by argillic zone are dominant in shallow level. The differences of alteration pattern between the gold-silver deposits are reflect the evolution of the hydrothermal fluids; the ore-forming fluids of the Geumbong mine are at relatively high temperature and salinity and highly-evolved meteoric water, developing phyllic zone, the Taegeuk mine containing greater amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters shows relatively low temperature and salinity in ore-forming fluids, developing propylitic zone. The various physicochemical environment for gold-silver mineralization in the Mugeuk mineralized area is due to proximity from heat source area (Mugeuk mine) to marginal area (Taegeuk mine) in a geothermal field. Therefore, it is suggested that the criteria for project exploration in the area are to focus on the area proximal to heat source and phyllic zone.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.517-535
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• 2007

Two distinctive Mesozoic hydrothermal systems occurred in South Korea: the Jurassic/Early Cretaceous(ca. $200{\sim}130$ Ma) deep-level ones during the Daebo orogeny and the Late Cretaceous/Tertiary(ca. $110{\sim}45$ Ma) shallow hydrothermal ones during the Bulgugsa event. The Mesozoic hydrothermal system and the metallic mineralization in the Korean Peninsula document a close spatial and temporal relationship with syn- to post-tectonic magmatism. The calculated ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ values of the ore-forming fluids from the Mesozoic metallic mineral deposits show limited range for the Jurassic ones but variable range for the Late Cretaceous ones. The orogenic mineral deposits were formed at relatively high temperatures and deep-crustal levels. The mineralizing fluids that were responsible for the formation of theses deposits are characterized by the reasonably homogeneous and similar ranges of ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ values. This implies that the ore-forming fluids were principally derived from spatially associated Jurassic granitoids and related pegmatite. On the contrary, the Late Cretaceous ferroalloy, base-metal and precious-metal deposits in the Taebaeksan, Okcheon and Gyeongsang basins occurred as vein, replacement, breccia-pipe, porphyry-style and skarn deposits. Diverse mineralization styles represent a spatial and temporal distinction between the proximal environment of subvolcanic activity and the distal to transitional condition derived from volcanic environments. The Cu(-Au) or Fe-Mo-W deposits are proximal to a magmatic source, whereas the polymetallic or the precious-metal deposits are more distal to transitional. On the basis of the overall ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ values of various ore deposits in these areas, it can be briefed that the ore fluids show very extensive oxygen isotope exchange with country rocks, though the ${\delta}D_{H2O}$ values are relatively homogeneous and similarly restricted.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.57-65
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• 2009

Selection of good mineralized area is a combination of the integration of all the available geo-scientific (i.e., geological, geochemical, and geophysical) information, extrapolation of likely features from known mineralized terrenes and the ability to be predictive. The time-space relationships of the hydrothermal deposits in the East Asia are closely related to the changing plate motions. Also, two distinctive hydrothermal systems during Mesozoic occurred in Korea: the Jurassic/Early Cretaceous deep-level ones during the Daebo orogeny and the Late Cretaceous/Tertiary shallow geothermal ones during the Bulguksa event. Both the Mesozoic geothermal system and the mineralization document a close spatial and temporal relationship with syn- to post-tectonic magmatism. The Jurassic mineral deposits were formed at the relatively high temperature and deep-crustal level from the mineralizing fluids characterized by the relatively homogeneous and similar ranges of ${\delta}^{18}O$ values, suggesting that ore-forming fluids were principally derived from spatially associated Jurassic granitoid and related pegmatite. Most of the Jurassic auriferous deposits (ca. 165-145 Ma) show fluid characteristics typical of an orogenic-type gold deposits, and were probably generated in a compressional to transpressional regime caused by an orthogonal to oblique convergence of the Izanagi Plate into the East Asian continental margin. On the other hand, Late Cretaceous ferroalloy, base-metal and precious-metal deposits in the Taebaeksan, Okcheon and Gyeongsang basins occurred as vein, replacement, breccia-pipe, porphyry-style and skarn deposits. Diverse mineralization styles represent a spatial and temporal distinction between the proximal environment of sub-volcanic activity and the distal to transitional condition derived from volcanic environments. However, Cu (-Au) or Fe-Mo-W deposits are proximal to a magmatic source, whereas polymetallic or precious-metal deposits are more distal to transitional. Strike-slip faults and caldera-related fractures together with sub-volcanic activity are associated with major faults reactivated by a northward (oblique) to northwestward (orthogonal) convergence, and have played an important role in the formation of the Cretaceous Au-Ag lode deposits (ca. 110-45 Ma) under a continental arc setting. The temporal and spatial distinctions between the two typical Mesozoic deposit styles in Korea reflect a different thermal episodes (i.e., late orogenic and post-orogenic) and ore-forming fluids related to different depths of emplacement of magma (i.e., plutonic and sub-volcanic) due to regional changes in tectonic settings.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.577-586
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• 2008

The formation of acid mine drainage is closely related to water chemistry and ochreous sprecipitates formed at the bottom of creeks because it is initially derived from the possible water-rock interaction in abandoned waste metals at the mine. According to analyses on water, precipitates, and alteration characters of ore metals in Dalseone mine, whitish precipitates formed at pHs above 5 while schwertmannite formed at pH $3{\sim}4$. Water chemistry vary with seasons. The water chemistry of the treatment site measured ir Octoter 2002 is characterized by lower pH, and higher Al, Zn, Cu contents relative to those in March, 2003. In the latter case, As and Cl contents are very high. $^{27}Al$ MAS NMR data show the presence of predominant octahedral Al in whitish precipitates. Metal ore minerals dissolve at margins, cleavage, or comer of crystals where reactive sites are potential. Pyrite dissolves, forming etch pits or smooth faces on the edge.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.93-108
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• 1995

The Bobae sericite deposit occurs in rhyodacite of the Cretaceous volcanogenic sedimentary rocks, Upper Yucheon Group, in the western part of Pusan. The alteration zones are divided into the phyllie and prophylitic zone based on the mineral assemblages. The phyllic zone is subdivided into three subzones; Andalusite-Pyrophyllite, Sericite and Albite subzones. Oxides vs. $Al_2O_3$ contents show variations corresponding to mineral assemblage in each alteration zone. On the basis of bulk chemical compositions, it was found that $SiO_2$ increases in the Andalusite-Pyrophyllite subzone and $K_2O$ in the Sericite subzone. The oxygen, hydrogen and sulfur isotope analysis indicates that the fluids were originally derived from the residual magmatic solution. It has been mixed with abundant meteoric water later. The ore-forming temperatures obtained from sericite (illite) geothermometer are about $250{\sim}350^{\circ}C$. Considering the phase stability relation, PoT conditions of the andalusite-pyrophyllite subzone were estimated to be less than 0.5 kb and almost $400^{\circ}C$, respectively. The K-Ar ages of sericites indicate that the clay deposit is genetically related to the Cretaceous-Paleogene Masan Hornblende-Biotite Granite.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.423-435
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• 2001

The gold-silver vein deposits in the Mugeug mineralized area are emplaced in late Cretaceous biotite granite associated with the pull-apart type Cretaceous Eumseong basin. Mugeug mine in northern part is composed of multiple veins showing relatively high gold fineness and is characterized by sericitization, chloritization and epidotization. The ore-forming fluids were evolved by dilution and cooling mechanisms at relatively high temperature and salinity (=30$0^{\circ}C$,1~9 equiv. wt. % NaCl) and highly-evolved meteoric water ($\delta$$^{18}$ O;-1.2~3.7$\textperthousand$) and gold mineralization associated with sulfides tormed at temperatures between 260 and 22$0^{\circ}C$ and within sulfur fugacity range of 10$^{-11.5}$ ~ 10$^{-13.5}$ atm. In contrast, Geumwang, Geumbong and Taegueg mines show the low fineness values, in southern part are characterized by increasing tendency of simple and/or stockwork veins and by kaolinitization, silicificatitan, carbonatization and smectitization. These droposits formed at relatively low temperature and salinity (<23$0^{\circ}C$, <3 equiv. wt. % NaCl) from ore-forming fluids containing greater amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters ($\delta$$^{18}$ O;-5.5~4.0$\textperthousand$), and silver mineralization representing various gold-and/or silver-bearing minerals formed at temperatures between 200 and 15$0^{\circ}C$ and from sulfur fugacity range of 10$^{-15}$ ~10$^{-18}$ atm These results imply that mineralization in the Mugueg area formed at shallow-crustal level and categorize these deposits as low-sulfidation epithermal type. The genetic differences between the northern and southern parts reflect the evolution of the hydrothermal system due to a different physicochemical environment from heat source area (Mugeug mine) to marginal area (Taegeum mine) in a geothermal field.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 1986

A group of 16 $Zn+Pb{\pm}Ag$ deposits distributed in the Pyeongchang-Jucheon area, Kangwon-do, South Korea, were semi-regionally investigated. These deposits are contact metasomatic and/or hydrothermal replacement types hosted in the carbonate-dominated Cambrian Machari Formation and Ordovician Ibtanri Formation, and also in the carbonate interbeds of the Precambrian argillic metasediments. Comparing some key aspects of the individual deposits, it is found that the ore deposits hosted in the Machari and Ibtanri Formations are mostly of steeply-dipping chimneys with or without skarn minerals and are rich in Ag and Pb>Zn in metal grade whereas those occuring in the carbonate interbeds of the Precambrian argillic metasediments are gently-dipping conformable lenticular orebodies mostly with skarn minerals and are generally poor in Ag and Zn>Pb. The skarn mineralization in the area appears to have occurred during the lower Cretaceous (118.7Ma) to mid-Cretaceous (107.8Ma) time assumed from the K-Ar dates of the Dowon and Pyeongchang granites which are closely associated with the skarn ore deposits. The Rb/Ba/Sr ratios of these granites indicate that they are of strongly differentiated anomalous granites, and the Nb vs. Y and Rb vs. Y+Nb plots fall on the field of volcanic arc setting. The contact aureoles are zoned, giving the sequence in order of increasing distance from igneous contact: garnet-wollastonite, granet-wollastonite-clinopyroxene and garnet-clinopyroxene in such as the Pyeongchang and Yeonwol 114 areas. Electron microprobe analyses reveal that garnets and clinopyroxenes are generally low in Fe and Mn. Garnets are grossular to intermediate grandite except for those from the Ogryong exoskarn which are richer in andradite, pyrope and spessartine fractions. This indicates that the oxidation state of skarn-forming environment at Ogryong was higher than at the other deposits. Clinopyroxenes are mostly salitic except for those from the Ogryong exoskarn which involve considerable amounts of hedenbergite and johansenite fractions. The ${\delta}^{18}O$ value of Jurassic biotite granite at Ogryong is higher (+10.21‰) than that of Cretaceous one at Chodun (+8.41‰). The ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of carbonate rocks range from -0.89‰ to 0.68‰ and the ${\delta}^{18}O$ values range from +11.91‰ to + 19.34‰ indicating that these carbonate rocks are of marine origin. However, the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of skarn calcite and vein calcite are -4.80‰ and -12.92‰, and the ${\delta}^{18}O$ values are +5.56‰ and +10.32‰, respectively, indicating that these calcites are of hydrothermal origin. The ${\delta}^{34}S$ values of sulfide minerals range from +4.4‰ to +8.7‰ suggesting that the sulfurs are of magmatic origin.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.257-268
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• 2003

The Cretaceous magmatism in the Gyeongsang Basin, Korea, led to the formation of two contrasting metallogenic provinces: the Haman-Gunbug-Goseong(-Changwon) (HGGC) and the Euiseong (EU). The mineralization in the HGGC metallogenic province represents copper, gold and iron of porphyry-related deposits that display close relationships in time and space with subvolcanic granitoids. Much of copper-gold-forming events in this province are consistently constrained to the period between ca. 89 and 81 Ma. The hydrothermal systems of copper-gold vein deposits in the HGGC province are associated with ore-forming fluids of high to intermediate temperature (300∼50$0^{\circ}C$) with high salinity (20∼55 equiv. wt. % NaCl). The ore-forming fluids become progressively more diluted by the incorporation of decreased quantities of magmatic water further from the nearby intrusion, suggesting significant input and fluid mixing of a meteoric water component to the magmatic fluids during the late stage of geothermal systems. In contrast, the EU metallogenic province is characterized by polymetallic vein deposits that are consistently constrained to a period of 78∼60 Ma. The geothermal systems of polymetallic vein deposits in the EU province are derived from a narrow range of intermediate temperature (200∼40$0^{\circ}C$) with relatively low salinity(1∼7 equiv. wt.% NaCl). It may represent a mixed fluid of magmatic and meteoric waters. The base-metal mineralization in the Gyeongsang Basin shows a close spatial and temporal distinction between the proximal environment derived from shallow-level granitoids in the southwestern HGGC province and the distal condition derived from volcanic environments in the northwestern EU province.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.126-138
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• 1997

Serpentinite of the Yesan-Gongju-Cheongyang area has been formed by serpentinization of ultramafic rocks. The ultramafic rock might be composed mainly of oilvine with minor pyroxene and amphibole. Olivine has a considerably restricted chemical compositional ranging from Fo90 to Fo93. Fresh serpentinite containing large amount of oilvine is usually massive in occurrence and dark green to black in color. Serpentine minerals occur not only as major mineral of serpentinite, but also as remnants in the talc ore which was formed from serpentinite. XRD study indicates that antigorie is the most abundant serpentine mineral of the serpentinite. Serpentinite consisting of antigorite usually shows non-pseudomorphic texture, whereas that consisting of lizardite shows pseudomorphic texture. Antigorite is found along the margins or fractures of olivine grains resulting in the formation of network of magnetite which was formed at the time of serpentinization. Lizardite, subordinate constituent mineral of serpentinite, frequently shows pseudomorphic mesh-texture after olivine. The chemical differences between antigorite and lizardite/chrysotile are small, so both minerals are not easily discernible with the electron microprobe. Antigorite occuers as elongate blades, flakes, or plates forming interpenetrating texture to obliterate previous textures. SEM study also shows that most serpentine minerals occur in platy or tabular form rather than in asbestiform. Fractures formed after main serpentinization are observed within the pseudomorphic central olivine grain. Careful observation of the serpentine pseudomorphs gives a great deal of data on the pre-serpentinization nature of the serpentine pseudomorphs gives a great deal of data on the pre-serpentinization nature of the ultramafic rocks. It is inferred that the serpentinization took place after the emplacement of ultramafic body into the relatively wet environment ceased and the cooling intrusive body crossed into the stability field of serpentine. It is inferred that the final pervasive serpentinization took place over a long time, by hydrothermal water supplied through the fracture system produced during emplacement of ultramafic rock.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.5 s.180
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• pp.567-581
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• 2006

The Au-Ag lode deposits in South Korea are closely associated with the Mesozoic granitoids. Namely, the Jurassic deposits formed in mesozonal environments related to deep-seated granitoids, whereas the Cretaceous ones were developed in porphyry-related environments related to subvolcanic granitoids. The time-space relationships of the Au-Ag lode deposits in South Korea are closely related to the changing plate motions during the Mesozoic. Most of the Jurassic auriferous deposits (about $165{\sim}145$ Ma) show fluid characteristics typical of an orogenic-type gold deposits, and were probably generated in a compressional to transpressional regime caused by an orthogonal to oblique convergence of the Izanagi Plate into the East Asian continental margin. On the other hand, strike-slip faults and caldera-related fractures together with subvolcanic activity are associated with major strike-slip faults reactivated by a northward (oblique) to northwestward (orthogonal) convergence, and probably have played an important role in the formation of the Cretaceous Au-Ag lode deposits (about $110{\sim}45$ Ma) under a continental arc setting. The temporal and spatial distinctions between the two typical Mesozoic deposit styles in South Korea probably reflect a different thermal episodes (i.e., late orogenic and post-orogenic) and ore-forming fluids related to different depths of emplacement of magma due to regional changes in tectonic environment.