• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• 제21권2호
• /
• pp.149-164
• /
• 1988

Electrum-sulfide mineralization of the Samgwang and Sobo mines of the Cheongyang Au-Ag area was deposited in two stages of quartz and calcite veins that fill fault zones in granite gneiss. Radiometric dating indicates that mineralization is Early Cretaceous age (127 Ma). Fluid inclusion and sulfur isotope data show that ore mineralization was deposited at temperatures between $340^{\circ}$ and $180^{\circ}C$ from fluids with salinities of 1 to 8 wt. % equiv. NaCl and a ${\delta}^{34}S_{{\sum}S}$ value of 2 to 5 per mil. Evidence of fluid boiling (and $CO_2$ effervescence) indicates a range of pressures from < 200 to $\approx$ 700 bars, corresponding to depths of ${\approx}1.5{\pm}0.3\;km$ in a hydrothermal system which alternated from lithostatic toward hydrostatic conditions. Au-Ag deposition was likely a result of boiling coupled with cooling. Meaured and calculated hydrogen and oxygen isotope values of ore-forming fluids indicate a significant meteoric water component, approaching unexchanged paleometeoric water values. Comparison of these values with those of other Korean Au-Ag deposits reveals a relationship among depth, Au/Ag ratio and degree of water-rock interaction. All investigated Korean Jurassic and Cretaceous gold-silver-bearing deposits have fluids which are dominantly evolved meteoric waters, but only deeper systems (${\geq}1.5\;km$) are exclusively gold-rich.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• 제28권2호
• /
• pp.93-108
• /
• 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.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• 제23권1호
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2010

The Yugeum deposit in Youngduk in Gyungsangbuk-do is emplaced in the Cretaceous granitoids located in the Northeastem Gyeongsang Basin. Gold-bearing quartz veins filling the fracture with a direction of $N19^{\circ}{\sim}38^{\circ}W$ are most abundantly distributed within the Younghae granodiorite body. The formation of quartz veins can be classified into three main stages: barren quartz stage, auriferous quartz vein stage, and finally the extensive sulfide mineralization stage. Various sulfide minerals such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite, and arsenopyrite were precipitated during the hydrothermal gold mineralization process. Gold commonly occurs as fine-grained electrum in sulfides with high Au concentration (up to 93 wt%) compared to Ag. During the early gold mineralization stage, the temperature and pressure of the fluids are in the range of $220{\sim}250^{\circ}C$ and 730~1800 bar, and the oxygen fugacity is between $10^{-27}$ and $10^{-31.7}$ atm. On the other hand, the fluids of the late stage mineralization are characterized by temperature of $290{\sim}350^{\circ}C$ and pressure of 206~472 bar, and the oxygen fugacity is in the range of $10^{-26.3}{\sim}10^{-28.6}$ atm. The sulfur isotope compositions of sulfide minerals are in the range of $0.2{\sim}4.2^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$, while the ${\delta}^{34}SH_2S$ values range from 1.0 to $3.7^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$. The Ag/Au atomic ratios of electrum ranges from 0.15 to 1.10, and Au content is higher than Ag in most electrum. During the main gold mineralization stage at the relatively high temperature condition and with pH from 4.5 to 5.5, the stability of ${AuCl_2}^-$ increased while the stability of ${Au(HS)_2}^-$ decreased. Considering the pressure estimated in this deposit, the temperature of the ore fluid reached higher than $350^{\circ}C$ and ${AuCl_2}^-$ became an important species for the gold transportation. As mineralization proceeded with decreasing temperature and increasing pH and $f_{o2}$, the precipitation of sulfide minerals and accompanying electrum occurred.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• 제48권1호
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2015

The geology of the Seungryung Zn deposit, located in the Muzu basin, consists of Precambrian leucocratic granitic gneiss, Cretaceous clastic rocks, pyroclastic rocks, and intrusive rocks. The deposit shows a weakly skarnized hydrothermal replacement ore developed along limestone bed in the gneiss. The mineralization can be divided into three stages: the early skarnization producing garnet and pyroxene, the main mineralization in the middle stage precipitating most metallic minerals such as magnetite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, Pb-Ag-Bi-S system minerals, and the late stage for altered or low temperature minerals such as chlorite and marcasite. Pb-Ag-Bi-S system minerals include heyrovskite-eskimoite solid solution, lillianite-gustavite solid solution, and vikingite. Chalcopyrite diseases are quite common in sphalerite showing bead chains and dusting textures. The ${\delta}^{34}S$ values of sulfides minerals are concentrated within the narrow range of 3.4~4.1‰ for pyrite, 3.3~4.3‰ for sphalerite, 4.0~4.3‰ for chalcopyrite, and 2.8‰ for galena, suggesting that most sulfur is of igneous origin. Sulfur isotope geothermometry is calculated to be $346{\sim}431^{\circ}C$, implying that the mineralization occurred at relatively high temperature. FeS contents of sphalerite are relatively high in the range of 6.58~20.16 mole% (avg. 16.58 mole%) with the enrichment of Mn compared to Cd, similarly to representative skarn Pb-Zn deposits in South Korea. On the contrary, sphalerite from Au-Ag deposits in the Seolcheon mineralized zone around the Seungryung deposit is enriched in Cd, showing similar feature like representative epithermal Au-Ag deposits. This suggests that around the related igneous rocks, magnetite and sphalerite were produced at high temperature in the Seungryung deposit, and with decreasing temperature and compositional change of mineralizing fluids, Au-Ag mineralization proceeded in the Seolcheon mineralized zone.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
• /
• 제6권4호
• /
• pp.171-179
• /
• 1999

The $CO_2$-rich waters in the Chojeong area are characterized by low pH (5.0~5.8), high $CO_2$pressure (about 1 atm) and high amounts of total dissolved iou (up to 989 mg/L) and chemically belong to Ca-HC $O_3$type. The oxygen. deuterium and tritium isotope data indicate that the mixing process occurred between $CO_2$-rich water and surface water and/or shallow groundwaters and also suggest that the $CO_2$-rich water has been derived from meteoric waters. According to $\delta$$^{13}$ C values (-8.6~-5.3$\textperthousand$). the $CO_2$ in the water is attributed from deep seated $CO_2$gas. The high dissolved carbon (-14.4~-6.8$\textperthousand$. $\delta$$^{13}$ C) in groundwater of the granitic terrain might be affected by $CO_2$-rich water, whereas the dissolved carbon (-17.9~-15.2$\textperthousand$. $\delta$$^{13}$ C) in groundwater of the metamorphic terrain is likely controlled by soil $CO_2$ and from the reaction with calcite in phyllite. Sulfur isotope data (＋3.5~＋11.3$\textperthousand$,$\delta$$^{34}$ $S_{SO4}$) also support the mixing process between $CO_2$-rich water and shallow groundwater. Strontium isotopic ratio ($^{87}$ Sr/$^{86}$ Sr) indicates that the $CO_2$-rich water (0.7138~0.7156) is not related to vein calcite (0.7184) of Buak mine or calcite (0.7281~0.7346) in phyllite. By nitrogen isotope ($\delta$$^{15}$ $N_{NO3}$) the sources of nitrogen (up to 55.0 mg/L, N $O_3$) in the $CO_2$-rich water are identified as fertilizer and animal manure. It also indicates the possibility of denitrification during the circulation of nitrogen in the Chojeong area. The possible evolution model of the $CO_2$-rich water based on the hydrochemical and environmental isotopic data was proposed in this study. The $CO_2$-rich waters from the Chojeong area were primarily derived from the reaction with granite by supply of deep seated $CO_2$. and then the $CO_2$-rich water was mixed and diluted with the local groundwater.ter.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• 제25권3호
• /
• pp.233-243
• /
• 1992

Ore mineralization of the Hwanghak copper deposit in the Ogsan area occurred in three stages of quartz (stage I and II) and calcite (stage III) veining along fissures in Early Cretaceous sedimentary rocks. Ore minerals are pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite (dominant), sphalerite, hematite, galena, and Ag-, Pb-, and Bi-sulfosalts. These were deposited during the first stage at temperatures between $370^{\circ}C$ and < $200^{\circ}C$ from fluids with salinities between 0.5 and 7.6 equiv. wt. % NaCl. There is evidence of boiling and this suggests pressures of less than 180 bars during the first stage. Equilibrium thermodynamic interpretation accompanying with mineral paragenesis and fluid inclusion data indicates that copper precipitation in the hydrothermal system occurred due to cooling and changing in chemical conditions ($fs_2$, $fo_2$, pH). Gradual temperature decrease from $350^{\circ}$ to $250^{\circ}C$ of ore fluids by boiling and mixing with less-evolved meteoric waters mainly led to copper deposition through destabilization of copper chloride complexes. Sulfur isotope values of sulfide minerals decrease systematically with paragenetic time from calculated ${\delta}^{34}S_{H_2S}$ values of 8.2 to 4.7‰. These values, together with the observed change from sulfide-only to sulfide-hematite assemblages and fluid inclusion data, suggest progressively more oxidizing conditions, with a corresponding increase of the $sulfate/H_2S$ ratio of hydrothermal fluids. Measured and calculated hydrogen and oxygen isotope valutls of ore-forming fluids suggest meteoric water dominance, approaching unexchanged meteoric water values.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• 제32권5호
• /
• pp.445-454
• /
• 1999

The Sanjeon Au-Ag deposit consists of three subparallel hydrothermal quartz-calcite veins which filled fault-related fractures (generally $N20^{\circ}$ to 35"W-trending and $70^{\circ}$ to $80^{\circ}$ SW-dipping) within quartz porphyry. The vein mineralization shows an apparent variation of mineral assemblages with paragenetic time: (1) early, white quartz + pyrite + arsenopyrite + brown sphalerite, (2) middle, white (vein) to clear quartz (vug) + base-metal sulfides + electrum + argentite, (3) late, calcite + pyrite + native silver. Mineralogic and fluid inclusion data indicate that gold-silver minerals were deposited at temperatures from 2l $0^{\circ}$ to $250^{\circ}$ with salinities of 4 to 5 wt. % equiv. NaCl and log fS2 values from -14.0 to -12.2 atm. The linear relationship between homogenization temperature and salinity data indicates that gold-silver deposition was a result of meteoric water mixing. Ore mineralization occurred at pressure conditions of about 70 bars, which corresponds to the mineralization depths of about 260 m to 700 m. There is a remarkable decrease of the calculated 1)180 values of water from 1.3 to -9.7%0 in hydrothermal fluid with increasing paragenetic time. This indicates a progressive increase of meteoric water influx in the hydrothermal system at the Sanjeon deposit. Oxygen-hydrogen, sulfur, and carbon isotope values of hydrothermal fluids indicate that the ore mineralization was formed largely from meteoric waters with the contribution of sulfur and carbon from a deep igneous source.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• 제31권1호
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 1998

Copper mineralization of the Donghwa and Hwanghagsan mines was deposited in hydrothermal quartz veins which filled fissures in Cretacous sedimentary rocks. Ore minerals are pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, bornite, galena, wittichenite and unidentified Cu-Bi-Pb-Sb-S mineral. On the basis of salinities and homogenization temperatures for fluid inclusions, the Donghwa deposit was deposited from $300^{\circ}C$ to $220^{\circ}C$ with 2.5 to 0.2 wt.% eq. NaCl, and the Hwanghagsan deposits was deposited from $300^{\circ}C$ to $160^{\circ}C$ with 4.0 to 0.0 wt.% eq. NaCl. Evidence of boiling suggests pressure of 170 to 60 bar, these pressures correspond to 1700 m to 600 m. The ${\delta}^{34}S_{H_2S}$ values of the Donghwa deposit (4.8~7.4%) are higher than those of the Hwanghagsan deposit (3.5~4.5%), sulfur isotope compositions indicate that ore fluids partially reacted with meteoric water and wall-rock. Equilibrium thermodynamic interpretation indicates that the temperature versus $fs_2$ of the Donghwa deposit (> $420^{\circ}C$, $10^{-3.2}atm$) is higher condition than that of the Hwanghagsan deposit (> $290^{\circ}C$, $10^{-7.0}atm$). K-Ar ages for biotite granite and quartz porphyry in the study area are 64.7 Ma, and 60.9 Ma, reapectively. Mineralization age using sericite in the Donghwa deposits is 59.8 Ma. Therfore, Copper mineralization in the study area was associated with acidic igneous activity such as biotite granite or quartz porphyry.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• 제21권3호
• /
• pp.287-307
• /
• 1988

The Cheongju gold-silver mine is located at approximately $36^{\circ}28^{\prime}$north latitude and $127^{\circ}31^{\prime}$ east longitude in the Cheongju City of the Chung cheong bug Do, South Korea. Gold-Silver bearing hydrothermal quartz veins, occur in Cheongju Granit of Jurassic age. K-Ar isotope data for sericite in quartz vein indicate that the Au-Ag mineralization took place in early Cretaceous ($97.5{\pm}2.18$ MA. Park, et ai, 1986). Three stage of mineralization recognized anre, from early to later, (I) Sulide stage: pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite (Hpo), sphalerite, chalcopyrite, electrum and quartz (II) Electrum stage: pyrite, sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, electrum and quartz. (III) Silver mineral stage: pyrite, marcasite, pyrrhotite (Mpo), sphalerite, galena, electrum, native silver argentite, fluorite, calcite and quartz. In this paper, mode of occurrences and chemical compositions of electum and native silver have been investigated by means of microscope and EPMA. Electron probe microanalysis shows that an individual grain of electrum is almost homogeneous in composition. Silver content of electrum ranges from 44.7-67.1 atom.%. Gold content of native silver ranges below 0.2 atom. %. Vicker's hardness number (VHN) of electrum and native silver ranges $78.2-81.8kg/mm^{2}$ respectively. The filling temperature of fluid inclusions in quartz ranges from $130-280^{\circ}C$. On the basis of arsenpyrite geothemometer, the equilibrium temperature and sulfur fugacity of the pyrite-arsenopyrite-pyrrhotite(Hpo) assemblage is assumed to be in ange from $300-310^{\circ}C$ and $10^{-10}$ to $10^{-11}$ atm. The estimated ore reserviors on Cheongju mine area are calculated to 8000 T/M, averaing 8.6g/t Au, 27.8 g/t Ag, 1.25% Pb, l.65% Zn.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• 제43권5호
• /
• pp.569-578
• /
• 2022

Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2) represents a period of mid-Cretaceous when black shale was deposited worldwide. This short period of perturbations in the global biogeochemical cycles spans the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary, marking the peak of the Cretaceous greenhouse, which is characterized by elevated atmospheric pCO₂, sealevel highstand, and expansion of oxygen minimum zone. Since the pioneering work in the 1970s, numerous studies have investigated the cause and consequences of the event based on geochemical and isotope proxies, and it is now widely accepted that the enhanced primary production and volcanism during the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary interval were the key environmental factors that triggered OAE2. This study briefly reviews previous OAE2 studies of the carbon, sulfur, and trace metal cycles for mechanistic understanding of the biogeochemical processes during the event.