• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.548-557
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• 2001

Ultramafic rocks in the Yesan talc ore deposits area are unknown age plutonic rocks which intruded PreCambrian Yoogoo gneiss, and were intruded by Jurassic biotite granite, and Cretaceous acidic and mafic dykes. The ultramafic rocks consist mainly of serpentinite with some amphibolite and talc ore body. The serpentinites are divided 5 rock types (S1${\sim}$S5) on the basis of the developed degree of serpentine phenocrysts and layerings. It seems that the original rocks of the serpentinites were co-magmatic peridotites (dunite and pyroxene peridotite). Main serpentinization from the original rocks was occurred during amphibolite facies regional metamorphism in Choongnam area which Yoogoo gneiss was affected. Main steatitization from the serpentinites was hydrothermal alteration by ascended hydrothermal fluid through crush zones.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.60-73
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• 1997

The talc of the Daeheung, Pyeongan, and Cheongdang (Shinyang) talc deposits in the Yesan-Gongju-Cheongyang area is a hydrothermal alteration product of serpentinite originated from ultramafic rocks. The mineral assemblages in alteration zones are: serpentine, serpentine-talc, talc, talc-chlorite, talc-phlogopite-chlorite, and talc-tremolite-chlorite. Chemical distributions in both the Al2O3-FeO-MgO system and the immobile elements suggest that the serpentine-talc and talc rocks are the reaction product of ultramafic rocks and silicic hydrothermal solution without addition of other granitic components, whereas chlorite-, phlogopite-, and tremolite-bearing rocks are the metasomatic alteration product of serpentinite by hydrothermal solution affected by granitic gneiss. Discontinuities in the immobile element ratios of mineral assemblages are due to changes in their mineralogy. The relative contents of Al2O3, TiO2, Zr in the talc-phlogopite-chlorite and talc-tremolite-chlorite rocks increase irregularly with increasing phlogopite, tremolite, and/or chlorite contents in contrast to other ore types. But the relative contents of Cr, Ni, and Co are uniform in all the mineral assemblages. Chemistry of each mineral assemblage formed by steatitization of serpentinite suggests that Cr, Co, Ni, MgO, and Fe2O3 are relatively immobile during the alteration, whereas SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, and K2O are highly increased. The contents of chlorite, phlogopite, and tremolite in each mineral assemblage might be controlled by addition of Al2O3, K2O, and CaO, respectively. The high contents of other elements than immobile elements in the altered rocks as compared with unaltered rocks indicate that a large amount of elements were introduced from hydrothermal solution up to about 8∼41% in total mass showing maximum value in the talc-phlogopite-chlorite rock.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2023

While numerous previous studies investigated the provenance and tectonic history of the Gyeongsang Supergroup, less are known about other Cretaceous strata in South Korea. This study presents preliminary results from petrographic analysis of the Cretaceous Icheonri Formation distributed in Gijang-gun, Busan. Based on the immature texture and composition of the Icheonri sediments, we interpret that they were derived from weakly denudated Cretaceous arc volcanoes developed along the eastern margin of the Asian continent, with limited weathering and transport. Additionally, the presence of chrome spinel grains in the sediments suggests the existence of ultramafic bodies exposed in their provenance. Further studies will advance our understanding of the tectonic developments in the southeastern Gyeongsang Basin, and facilitate a comprehensive correlation between the Icheonri Formation and the Gyeongsang Supergroup.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1993

The Andong serpentinite body is distributed along the Andong fault, and shows an elliptical shape. The serpentinite is composed of serpentine minerals and other various minerals such as forsterite, pyroxene, talc, tremolite, chlorite, prehnite, calcite and dolomite. The serpentine minerals consist primarily of lizardite with minor chrysotile. Antigorite rarely occurs in some veins. The serpentinite is largely divided into two alteration zones by the occurrence and mineral assemblages. One of the alteration zones is composed of a large amount of serpentine minerals. The other is characterized by tremolite and chlorite. The alteration zone composed of tremolite and chlorite seems to have been formed by hydrothermal alteration after the formation of serpentinite. It is considered that the serpentinite have been formed by alteration of the ultramafic rock such as peridotite.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.1230-1232
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• 2003

This study aims to extract maximum geological information using the ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection radiometer) images of a part of south India. The area chosen for this study is characterized by rock types such as Migmatite, Magnetite Quartzite, Charnockite, Granite, dykes, Granitoid gneiss and Ultramafic rocks, and minerals such as Bauxite, Magnesite, Iron ores, Calcite etc. Advantage was taken of the characteristic reflectance and absorption phenomenon in the VNIR, SWIR and TIR bands for these rocks and minerals, and they were mapped in detail. Image processing methods such as contrast stretching, PC analysis, band ratios and fusion were used in this study. The results of the processing matched with the field details and showed additional details, thus demonstrating the usefulness of ASTER (especially the SWIR bands) data for better geological mapping.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.467-477
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• 2014

Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) occurs in rocks and soils as a result of natural weathering and human activities. The asbestos have been associated with ultramafic and mafic rocks, and carbonate rock. The previous studies on NOA were mainly limited to ultramafic and mafic rock-hosted asbestos in Korea. But, studies on carbonatehosted asbestos are relatively rare. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to investigate mineralogical characteristics of carbonate-hosted and metapelite-hosted NOA and to examine genesis of NOA occurred in the both rocks. The study area was Daerori, Seosan, Chungnam Province, Korea. The major rock formation consisted of limestone and schist which have been known to contain asbestos. Sampling was performed at outcrop which contained carbonate rock showing acicular asbestos crystals as well as pegmatitic intrusion that contacted with carbonate rock. PLM, XRD, EPMA, and EDS analyses were used to characterize mineral assemblages, mineralogical characteristics, and crystal habits of amphiboles and other minerals. BSEM images were also used to examine the genesis of asbestos minerals. The amphibole group was observed in all of the carbonate rocks, and actinolite and tremolite were identified in all rocks. These mineral habits were mainly micro-acicular crystals or secondary asbestiform minerals on the surface of non-asbestiform minerals appearing split end of columnar crystals produced by weathering. BSEM images showed residual textures of samples. The residual textures of carbonate rocks showed dolomite-tremolite-diopside mineral assemblages that formed during prograde metasomatism stage. Some carbonate rock also showed diopside-tremolite-talc mineral assemblages which were formed during retrograde metasomatism stage, as the residual textures. In result the presence of asbestos actinolite-tremolite in the carbonate rocks were confirmed in the areas where actinolite-tremolite asbestos was influenced by low temperature hydrothermal solution during metasomatism stage. These asbestos minerals showed the acicular asbestiform minerals, but even non-asbestiform minerals, a bundle or columnar shape, could transform to asbestiform minerals as potential NOA by weathering because the end of columnar shape of non-asbestiform minerals appeared as multiple acicular shaped fibers.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.249-267
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• 2016

The Hongseong area of the central-western Korean Peninsula is considered to be a part of collision zone that is tectonically correlated to the Qinling-Dabie-Sulu belt of China. The area includes the elliptical-shaped serpentinized ultramafic bodies, together with mafic rocks. The studied bodies are in contact with the surrounded Neoproterozoic alkali granites at the Baekdong and Wonnojeon bodies and the Paleoproterozoic Yugu gneiss at the Bibong body. The Baekdong body contains the blocks of the Neoproterozoic alkali granites and the Late Paleozoic metabasites. The Bibong body also includes the Neoproterozoic alkali granite blocks. The Mesozoic intrusive rocks are also recognized at the Baekdong, Wonnojeon and Bibong bodies. On the other hand, the Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks are occurred at the Bibong body. The detrital zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages of the serpentinites at three bodies range variously from Neoarchean to Middle Paleozoic at the Baekdong body, and from Neoarchean to Early Cretaceous at the Wonnojeon and Bibong bodies. Although serpentinization does not generally produce minerals suitable for direct isotopic dating, the youngest Middle Paleozoic age at the Baekdong body and the Early Cretaceous age at the Wonnojeon and Bibong bodies indicate the possible upper age limit for the (re)serpentinization. Especially, the Early Cretaceous serpentinization ages may be related to the widespread Early Cretaceous igneous activity in the central-southern Korean Peninsula. Age results for the serpentinite bodies and the included blocks of the studied serpentinized ultramafic bodies in the Hongseong area, therefore, provide several possible interpretations for the serpentinization ages of the ultramafic rocks as well as the geotectonic implications of serpentinization, requiring more detailed study including other serpentinized ultramafic bodies in the Hongseong area.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.313-331
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• 2022

Natural or native abiotic molecular hydrogen (H₂) is a major component in natural gas, however yet its importance in the global energy sector's usage as clean and renewable energy is underestimated. Here we review the occurrence and geological settings of native hydrogen to demonstrate the much widesprease H₂ occurrence in nature by comparison with previous estimations. Three main types of source rocks have been identified: (1) ultramafic rocks; (2) cratons comprising iron (Fe²⁺)-rich rocks; and (3) uranium-rich rocks. The rocks are closely associated with Precambrian crystalline basement and serpentinized ultramafic rocks from ophiolite and peridotite either at mid-ocean ridges or within continental margin(Zgonnik, 2020). Inorganic geological processes producing H₂ in the source rocks include (a) the reduction of water during the oxidation of Fe²⁺ in minerals (e.g., olivine), (b) water splitting due to radioactive decay, (c) degassing of magma at low pressure, and (d) the reaction of water with surface radicals during mechanical breaking (e.g., fault) of silicate rocks. Native hydrogen are found as a free gas (51%), fluid inclusions in various rock types (29%), and dissolved gas in underground water (20%) (Zgonnik, 2020). Although research on H₂ has not yet been carried out in Korea, the potential H₂ reservoirs in the Gyeongsang Basin are highly probable based on geological and geochemical characteristics including occurrence of ultramafic rocks, inter-bedded basaltic layers and iron-copper deposits within thick sedimentary basin and igneous activities at an active continental margin during the Permian-Paleogene. The native hydrogen is expected to be clean and renewable energy source in the near future. Therefore it is clear that the origin and exploration of the native hydrogen, not yet been revealed by an integrated studies of rock-fluid interaction studies, are a field of special interest, regardless of the presence of economic native hydrogen reservoirs in Korea.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2012

Six serpentine mines are found in South Korea. We investigated occurrence, characteristics and origin of constituent minerals of Bibong serpentine mine in Chungcheongnam-do. We also analyzed the properties of serpentine minerals using XRD, XRF, SEM/EDS, FT-IR, EPMA and polarized microscope. The serpentinite of Bibong mine occurs as intruded body within the Precambrian metasedimentary rocks. Various minerals such as serpentine, forsterite, pyroxene, tremolite, magnetite, chlorite, mica, talc and dolomite are occurre. Five distinctive mineral assemblage types are observed in the serpentinite: (A) serpentine-forsterite, (B) serpentine, (C) serpentine-chlorite (vermiculite), (D) serpentine-tremolite, (E) tremolite-chlorite. Lizardite and antigorite are mainly occurred as serpentine minerals and chrysotile is partly included. From the study of mineral compositions and occurrence of serpentinite body, serpentine formed by hydrothermal alteration of ultramafic rock consisting mainly of forsterite, and altered minerals such as chlorite and tremolite subsequently formed by secondary hydrothermal alteration.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 1994

Several ultramafic bodies and ultramafic origin talc deposits are distributed in Chungnam province near the contact zone with Ogchun fold belt They occur as discontinued belt form with northeast trending, and most of them are more or less sepentinized. Major, trace, and rare earth elements analyses were made of the ultramafics from the study area to constrain their origin and genetic relationships. Compared to the primitive mantle estimates of privious workers, the correlations defined by the studied rock samples indicate similar Ni but very lower $Al_{2}O_{3}$, CaO and $TiO_{2}$ contents. It is inferred that source material of the studied rocks might be residual mantle which had undergone a large degree of partial melting event. The REE patterns show relatively flat to enriched in LREE (chondrite normalized La/Yb and Sm/Yb ratios are 1.1-5.2 and 1.2-1.6). Several alternative explaination are possible for LREE enrichment patterns in the studied ultramafic rocks such as 1) enrichment due to late stage alteration, 2) enriched pre-melting composition, and 3) mixing of two components. Based on the result, the LREE enrichment characteristic of the studied rocks might be result from the mixture of two geochemically distinct components; one is depleted residual mantle and the other component which determine the abundances of incompatible elements and responsible for the LREE enrichment.