Genesis of Carbonate Breccia Containing Invisible Gold in Taebaeksan Basin, South Korea
The Yemi breccia developed and is distributed within the Paleozoic carbonate rock (Maggol Formation) in the central part of the Taebaeksan Basin, South Korea. Explanation for the genesis of the Yemi breccia has been controversial. We investigated the petrological and mineralogical properties of the...
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/10/12/1087 |
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| author | Sang-Gun No Maeng-Eon Park Bong-Chul Yoo Seung-Han Lee |
| author_facet | Sang-Gun No Maeng-Eon Park Bong-Chul Yoo Seung-Han Lee |
| author_sort | Sang-Gun No |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Yemi breccia developed and is distributed within the Paleozoic carbonate rock (Maggol Formation) in the central part of the Taebaeksan Basin, South Korea. Explanation for the genesis of the Yemi breccia has been controversial. We investigated the petrological and mineralogical properties of the breccia and the matrix materials at 60 outcrops. The Yemi breccia is divided into crackle, mosaic, and chaotic breccias based on morphology. In addition, these are divided into blackish, reddish, grayish, and white to pinkish matrix breccias according to the materials of the matrix. Quartz, calcite, pyrite, hematite (after pyrite), and minor epidote, chlorite, and opaque materials mainly comprise the matrix materials. The pyrite grains from the Yemi breccia can be divided into two types based on the mineral texture: diagenetic and hydrothermal. We analyzed the chemistry of pyrite and hematite (after pyrite) from the Yemi breccia with an electron probe X-ray microanalyzer (EPMA). Invisible gold was detected within the pyrite grains by EPMA and disseminated micron-sized isolated gold particles were discovered by backscattered electron (BSE) images. The texture of Au-bearing pyrite and gold particles in the Yemi breccia is especially well matched with pyrite and gold from the Shuiyindong Carlin-type hydrothermal gold deposits, China. Therefore, we suggest an important role of hydrothermal fluid in karstification within the Paleozoic carbonate rock. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:20:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1bf47b04fca744329a837a5943a35feb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:20:08Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-1bf47b04fca744329a837a5943a35feb2023-11-20T23:24:14ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2020-12-011012108710.3390/min10121087Genesis of Carbonate Breccia Containing Invisible Gold in Taebaeksan Basin, South KoreaSang-Gun No0Maeng-Eon Park1Bong-Chul Yoo2Seung-Han Lee3Mineral Resources Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Daejeon 34132, KoreaDepartment of Earth and Environmental Science, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, KoreaConvergence Research Center for Development of Mineral Resources, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Daejeon 34132, KoreaMineral Resources Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Daejeon 34132, KoreaThe Yemi breccia developed and is distributed within the Paleozoic carbonate rock (Maggol Formation) in the central part of the Taebaeksan Basin, South Korea. Explanation for the genesis of the Yemi breccia has been controversial. We investigated the petrological and mineralogical properties of the breccia and the matrix materials at 60 outcrops. The Yemi breccia is divided into crackle, mosaic, and chaotic breccias based on morphology. In addition, these are divided into blackish, reddish, grayish, and white to pinkish matrix breccias according to the materials of the matrix. Quartz, calcite, pyrite, hematite (after pyrite), and minor epidote, chlorite, and opaque materials mainly comprise the matrix materials. The pyrite grains from the Yemi breccia can be divided into two types based on the mineral texture: diagenetic and hydrothermal. We analyzed the chemistry of pyrite and hematite (after pyrite) from the Yemi breccia with an electron probe X-ray microanalyzer (EPMA). Invisible gold was detected within the pyrite grains by EPMA and disseminated micron-sized isolated gold particles were discovered by backscattered electron (BSE) images. The texture of Au-bearing pyrite and gold particles in the Yemi breccia is especially well matched with pyrite and gold from the Shuiyindong Carlin-type hydrothermal gold deposits, China. Therefore, we suggest an important role of hydrothermal fluid in karstification within the Paleozoic carbonate rock.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/10/12/1087Yemi brecciamatrix materialspyriteinvisible goldisolated gold particleshydrothermal fluid |
| spellingShingle | Sang-Gun No Maeng-Eon Park Bong-Chul Yoo Seung-Han Lee Genesis of Carbonate Breccia Containing Invisible Gold in Taebaeksan Basin, South Korea Minerals Yemi breccia matrix materials pyrite invisible gold isolated gold particles hydrothermal fluid |
| title | Genesis of Carbonate Breccia Containing Invisible Gold in Taebaeksan Basin, South Korea |
| title_full | Genesis of Carbonate Breccia Containing Invisible Gold in Taebaeksan Basin, South Korea |
| title_fullStr | Genesis of Carbonate Breccia Containing Invisible Gold in Taebaeksan Basin, South Korea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genesis of Carbonate Breccia Containing Invisible Gold in Taebaeksan Basin, South Korea |
| title_short | Genesis of Carbonate Breccia Containing Invisible Gold in Taebaeksan Basin, South Korea |
| title_sort | genesis of carbonate breccia containing invisible gold in taebaeksan basin south korea |
| topic | Yemi breccia matrix materials pyrite invisible gold isolated gold particles hydrothermal fluid |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/10/12/1087 |
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