Mineralogy and Genesis of the Sericite Ore from the Samsung Mine Area

The Samsung mine is located in Jeongsan-myeon, Cheongyang-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, and is produces sericite ores. The purpose of this study is to investigate the geology and mineralogy of sericite one and its host-rock together with the alteration processes and age of sericitization. Geological survey, polarizing microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, electron microprobe analysis, X-ray fluorescent analysis, differential thermal analysis, and K/Ar isotope study have been employed for this study. The mine area is composed of Precambrian granite-gneiss and mica schist, and also Jurassic biotite granite. Serictization has occured within the granite-gneiss, and is interpreted to be formed by hydrothermal alteration. The sericite was formed by the breakdown of orthoclase, plagioclase, and biotite, respectively. With sericitization intensity increase, contents are decreased, while increased. The formation age of sericite has been determined to be Jurassic, which corresponds well to the intrusion age of the biotite granite nearby.