Premium
Regional variations of sulfur isotope compositions for metallic deposits in South Korea
Author(s) -
Jo Jaeguk,
Jeong Youngah,
Shin Dongbok
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
resource geology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1751-3928
pISSN - 1344-1698
DOI - 10.1111/rge.12259
Subject(s) - geology , geochemistry , sedimentary rock , massif , precambrian , metamorphic rock , volcanic rock , sulfur , igneous rock , volcano , chemistry , organic chemistry
Southern Korean peninsula comprises five major geotectonic provinces, throughout which various metallic deposits are distributed. We reviewed sulfur isotope data ( n = 1,574) of sulfide minerals collected from previous works for 177 metallic deposits in the provinces to interpret the sulfur isotope characteristics of each province, comprising different wall rocks and geologic settings. The averaged δ 34 S values of each metallic deposit associated with Precambrian metamorphic rocks and Jurassic granitoids in the Gyeonggi massif and Yeongnam massif range from −7.1 to +10.3‰ (av. +4.5‰) and from −3.6 to +7.8‰ (av. +3.5‰), respectively. The Taebaeksan basin produced the highest δ 34 S value among the five, −0.4 to +13.2‰ (av. +6.1‰). This was influenced by sulfate sulfur derived from marine carbonate host rock. The Okcheon metamorphic belt, comprising metasedimentary and metavolcanics rocks, shows an isotope range from +1.9 to +8.3‰ (av. +5.7‰). The sulfur isotope distribution of the Gyeongsang basin with a range from −1.2 to +11.7‰ (av. +5.2‰) can be divided into two zones: higher δ 34 S values from the inner zone related to the volcanic rocks and magnetite‐series Cretaceous granitoids, and lower δ 34 S values from the outer zone related to the organic‐rich sedimentary rocks. Sulfur isotope variations of metallic deposits in each geotectonic province were mainly influenced by igneous sulfur and inherent wall rock sulfur sources, 32 S‐enriched sedimentary sulfur (e.g., Precambrian metasedimentary rocks and biogenic sulfur‐rich sedimentary rocks), and 34 S‐enriched seawater sulfur (e.g., carbonates and acid to intermediate volcanic rocks). These wall rocks also contributed to the changes in δ 34 S values for granitoid rocks and metallic deposits by time, ore genetic type, and ore species in South Korea.