Econ. Environ. Geol. 2012; 45(1): 31-40

Published online February 28, 2012

© THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY

Geological Structures and Geochemical Uranium Anormal Zone around the Shinbo Mine, Korea

Ji-Hoon Kang*  and Deok-Seon Lee

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Andong National University, Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do 760-749, Korea

Correspondence to :

Ji-Hoon Kang

jhkang@andong.ac.kr

Received: January 11, 2012; Accepted: February 20, 2012

Abstract

This paper examined the characteristics of ductile and brittle structural elements with detailed mapping by lithofacies classification to clarify the relationship between the geological structure and the geochemical high-grade uranium anormal zone and to provide the basic information on the flow of groundwater in the eastern area of Shinbo mine, Jinan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea. It indicates that this area is mainly composed of Precambrian quartzite, metapelite, metapsammite, which show a zonal distribution of mainly ENE-WSW trend, and age unknown pegmatite and Cretaceous porphyry which intrude them. But the Cretaceous Jinan Group which unconformably covers them, contrary to assumption, could not be observed. The main ductile deformation structures of Precambrian metasedimentary rocks were formed at least through three phases of deformation [ENE striking regional foliation (D1) → ENE or EW striking crenulation foliation (D2) → WNW or EW trending open, tight, kink folds (D3)]. The predominant orientation of S1 regional foliation strikes ENE and dips south, being similar to the zonal distribution of Precambrian metasedimentary rocks. Most predominant orientation of high-angled brittle fracture (dip angle≥ 45o) [ENE (frequency: 24.3%) > NS (23.9%) > (N)NW (18.8%) > WNW (16.9%) > NE (16.1%) fracture sets in descending frequency order], which is closely related to the flow of groundwater, strikes ENE and dips south. It also agrees with the zonal distribution of metasedimentary rocks and the predominant orientation of S1 regional foliation. The next one strikes NS and dips east or west. Considering the controlling factor of the geochemical uranium anormal zone in the Shinbo mine and its eastern areas from the above structural data. the uranium source rock in these areas might be pegmatite and the geochemical uranium anormal zone in the Sinbo mine area could be formed by an secondary enrichment through the flow of pegmatite aquifer's groundwater into the Sinbo mine area like the previous research’s result.

Keywords Shinbo mine, geochemical high-grade uranium anormal zone, geological structure, fracture system, pegmatite

Article

Econ. Environ. Geol. 2012; 45(1): 31-40

Published online February 28, 2012

Copyright © THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY.

Geological Structures and Geochemical Uranium Anormal Zone around the Shinbo Mine, Korea

Ji-Hoon Kang*  and Deok-Seon Lee

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Andong National University, Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do 760-749, Korea

Correspondence to:

Ji-Hoon Kang

jhkang@andong.ac.kr

Received: January 11, 2012; Accepted: February 20, 2012

Abstract

This paper examined the characteristics of ductile and brittle structural elements with detailed mapping by lithofacies classification to clarify the relationship between the geological structure and the geochemical high-grade uranium anormal zone and to provide the basic information on the flow of groundwater in the eastern area of Shinbo mine, Jinan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea. It indicates that this area is mainly composed of Precambrian quartzite, metapelite, metapsammite, which show a zonal distribution of mainly ENE-WSW trend, and age unknown pegmatite and Cretaceous porphyry which intrude them. But the Cretaceous Jinan Group which unconformably covers them, contrary to assumption, could not be observed. The main ductile deformation structures of Precambrian metasedimentary rocks were formed at least through three phases of deformation [ENE striking regional foliation (D1) → ENE or EW striking crenulation foliation (D2) → WNW or EW trending open, tight, kink folds (D3)]. The predominant orientation of S1 regional foliation strikes ENE and dips south, being similar to the zonal distribution of Precambrian metasedimentary rocks. Most predominant orientation of high-angled brittle fracture (dip angle≥ 45o) [ENE (frequency: 24.3%) > NS (23.9%) > (N)NW (18.8%) > WNW (16.9%) > NE (16.1%) fracture sets in descending frequency order], which is closely related to the flow of groundwater, strikes ENE and dips south. It also agrees with the zonal distribution of metasedimentary rocks and the predominant orientation of S1 regional foliation. The next one strikes NS and dips east or west. Considering the controlling factor of the geochemical uranium anormal zone in the Shinbo mine and its eastern areas from the above structural data. the uranium source rock in these areas might be pegmatite and the geochemical uranium anormal zone in the Sinbo mine area could be formed by an secondary enrichment through the flow of pegmatite aquifer's groundwater into the Sinbo mine area like the previous research’s result.

Keywords Shinbo mine, geochemical high-grade uranium anormal zone, geological structure, fracture system, pegmatite

    KSEEG
    Oct 29, 2024 Vol.57 No.5, pp. 473~664

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