Skarn alteration and Fe-Zn-Pb mineralization at the Wondong deposit in the Taebaeksan Basin, South Korea

Abstract

Skarn and Fe-Zn-Pb mineralization at the Wondong deposit located in the Taebaeksan Basin of the central-eastern region of Korean Peninsula occurs along the contact between the Upper Cretaceous quartz-feldspar porphyry (QFP) and carbonate rocks of the Ordovician Makgol Formation. The QFP is relatively fresh and has a sharp contact with the garnet skarn. Skarn is dominant in the carbonate rocks but is rare in the QFP. It consists almost of grandite throughout the skarn but has mineralogical zonation of proximal garnet, intermediate pyroxene, and distal wollastonite with increasing distance from the contact between the QFP and garnet skarn. Garnet becomes Fe-rich, and pyroxene tends to be enriched in Fe and Mn toward the marble front. Massive Fe mineralization, replacing garnet skarn, is restricted proximal to the QFP. In contrast, although the Zn-Pb mineralization is found in all areas it mostly occurs in the carbonate rocks beyond the skarn. Zinc-Pb mineralization occurred as stockwork and vein in the QFP and the garnet skarn consists of sphalerite, galena, Al-rich garnet, and calcite with a minor quantity of arsenopyrite. In contrast, the carbonate replacement of the Zn-Pb mineralization beyond skarn consists of sphalerite, pyrrhotite, galena, diopsidic pyroxene, and calcite with minor minerals such as arsenopyrite, löellingite, and chalcopyrite. Sphalerite, principal ore mineral, becomes darker and Fe- (up to 34.4 mol% FeS) and Mn-rich (up to 1.5 mol% MnS) with increasing distance from the QFP. Arsenopyrite is closely associated with sphalerite tends to be decreased in As away from the QFP. All sulfide minerals from Zn-Pb mineralization in the Wondong deposit have δ³⁴S values ranging from 2.9 to 5.9‰, which are attributed to the magmatic source. In addition, the narrow range and subtle variation of the δ³⁴S values for all sulfides throughout the Wondong deposits are not interpreted to be involved in the mixing of multiple sulfur sources. Geological, petrographic, mineralogical, and isotopic geochemical investigations show that the early skarn was formed in an environment of high fluid: rock ratios at the contact between the QFP and Makgol Formation and it was dominated by grandite, indicating the oxidizing nature of the skarn-forming fluids. The ore deposition began after the formation of the main garnet dominated skarn. The ore-forming fluids responsible for Zn-Pb mineralization are characterized by a less oxidizing nature, as defined by comparatively Al-enriched garnet in vein type mineralization in and around the QFP. Farther, the fluids producing the carbonate replacement of the Zn-Pb mineralization are unlikely to be engaged in external effects such as mixing with multiple sulfur sources even though it travels over long distance.