Abstract
Widespread, large-scale polymetallic W–Sn mineralization occurs throughout the Nanling Range (South China) dated 160–150 Ma, and related to widely developed coeval granitic magmatism. Although intense research has been carried out on these deposits, the relative contribution of ore-forming elements either from granites or from surrounding strata is still debated. In addition, the factors controlling the primary metallogenic element in any given skarn deposit (e.g., W-dominated or Sn-dominated) are still unclear. Here, we select three of the most significant skarn-deposits (i.e., Huangshaping W–Mo–Sn, Shizhuyuan W–Sn–Mo–Bi and Xianghualing Sn), and compare their whole-rock geochemistry with the composition of associated granites and strata. The contents of Si, Al and most trace elements in skarns are controlled by the parent granite, whereas their Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, Ti, Sr and REE patterns are strongly influenced by the wall rock. Samples from the Huangshaping skarn vary substantially in elemental composition, probably indicating their varied protoliths. Strata at the Shizhuyuan deposit exerted a strong control during metasomatism, whereas this occurred to a lesser degree at Huangshaping and Xianghualing. This correlates with increasing magma differentiation and increasing reduction state of granitic magmas, which along with the degree of stratigraphic fluid circulation, exert the primary control on dominant metallogenic species. We propose that wall rock sediments played an important role in the formation of W–Sn polymetallic mineralization in South China.
Highlights
Most skarn deposits are formed by the interaction between shallow magmatic systems and carbonate rocks [1,2,3,4]
(1) Concentrations of Si, Al and most trace elements (e.g., Ba, Rb, Cs, Cr, V, Ga, Nb, Zr, U and Th) in ore-related skarns controlled by related granites but FeO, CaO, MgO, MnO, TiO2, Sr and rare earth elements (REE)
The composition of strata plays a crucial role in the enrichment of polymetallic elements, scale metallogenic ore species of the W–single element with (Sn) skarn mineralization in South China
Summary
Most skarn deposits are formed by the interaction between shallow magmatic systems and carbonate rocks [1,2,3,4]. Since the 1990s, the trace element (and rare earth element; REE). Major and accessory mineral phases in skarns (such as garnet and scheelite) inherit their REE patterns from magmatic fluids and they control the REE signatures of the host skarn [11]. Giuliani et al [12] propose that strong REE variations in skarns, characterized by a pronounced negative Eu anomaly and low Minerals 2018, 8, 265; doi:10.3390/min8070265 www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals. La/Yb ratios, result from the interaction between scheelite and the surrounding metamorphic rocks. Alirezaei et al [8] note that skarns vary in texture from massive to banded and that textural contrast is reflected in their whole rock composition: Fe, Si and
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