Abstract

This study examines the mineralogy of sepiolites occurred within the carbonaceous rocks of Songak schist and Pyeongtaek migmatitic gneiss of Precambrian Seosan group, in the western part of Chungnam. Host rocks of the sepiolite were dolomitic rocks and have experienced hydrothermal alteration and metamorphism. Mesozoic granite is assumed as a main source of hydrothermal alteration for the dolomitic rocks. Some of the tremolite asbestos coexist with the sepiolites. Representative sepiolite and tremolite samples were collected from the layers, cracks or fractures of the dolomitic rocks and/or examined with microscope, XRD, SEM and TEM. Sepiolites are mainly recognized along the cracks assumed as a pathway of hydrothermal solution. Tremolites are mainly found at layers or cracks of the dolomitic rocks and occur as asbestos as well as non-asbestos forms. It was confirmed that some of the tremolite asbestos coexisted with the sepiolites. Overall results suggest that the occurrences of sepiolites within the dolomitic rocks mainly result in the hydrothermal alteration by the fluid from the acidic rocks, possibly granites. It also suggests that coexisting tremolite asbestos were formed by similar geological environment.

Keywords sepiolite, tremolite asbestos, dolomitic rocks, hydrothermal alteration