Chonnam and Kyongsang clay alteration areas are distributed in volcanic fields of the Yuchon Group in late Cretaceous period. The host rock of the Chonnam alteration area is generally acidic and that of the Kyongsang alteration area is acidic to domin...
Chonnam and Kyongsang clay alteration areas are distributed in volcanic fields of the Yuchon Group in late Cretaceous period. The host rock of the Chonnam alteration area is generally acidic and that of the Kyongsang alteration area is acidic to dominantly intermediate volcanics. The important difference of two alteration areas is source of fluid; the Chonnam alteration area is characterized by dominantly meteoric water and the Kyongsang alteration area is characterized by dominantly magmatic water. Accordingly, the high temperature minerals such as pyrophyllite and andalusite, and boron bearing minerals such as dumortierite and tourmaline are common in the Kyongsang alteration area. In contrast to this, the lower temperature minerals such as kaolin and alunite are common in the Chonnam alteration area. The mineralogical difference of two alteration areas were depended on the difference of the formation temperature of clay deposits. The other important geochemical difference is the chemistry of hydrothermal solution such as pH. The alteration of "acid-sulfate type" with alteration mineral assemblage of alunite-kaolin-quartz is dominant in the Chonnam alteration area, which was caused by the attack of strong acid and acid solution. In contrast to this, the that of "quartz-sericite type" with the mineral assemblage of sericite-quartz is dominant in the Kyongsang alteration area, which was caused by the attack of neutral or weak acid solution. Also, the Kyongsang and Chonnam alteration areas show the difference in structural setting; the Chonnam alteration area is commonly associated with silicic domes and the Kyongsang alteration area is commonly associated with calderas.