Tourmaline rocks associated with Stratabound Scheelite Mineralization in the Austroalpine Crystalline Complex, Austria

Abstract

This contribution demonstrates, for the first time, the close genetic relationship of concordant tourmaline rocks (tourmalinites) to stratabound tungsten mineralization and their wide regional distribution within the polymetamorphic Austroalpine Crystalline Complex of the Eastern Alps. The occurrences investigated are located in parts of the Austroalpine Crystalline Complex consisting of metavolcanoclastic and metacalcareous sequences of probable Lower Paleozoic age. Tourmalinites composed of tourmaline, quartz, plagioclase, ± almandine-rich garnet, ± muscovite, ± biotite, and minor ilmenite, rutile, graphite,- ± pyrite and, rarely, scheelite are of pre- to synmetamorphic origin. Tourmalines from the tourmalinites have been identified as intermediate members of the dravite-schorl solid solution series with minor amounts of other tourmaline end members. They can be compared to tourmalines from massive sulphide and stratabound tungsten deposits. Tourmalines from pegmatoids, on the contrary, plot close to the schorl end member. Tourmalinites are interpreted as metamorphosed products of elastic sedimentary material which has reacted with boronrich solutions of probable exhalative-hydrothermal origin. These exhalative processes are genetically connected to the transport of B and W and to the formation of syngenetic/syndiagenetic tungsten mineralization. Metamorphic mobilization of these primary concentrations led, during the Variscan and the Alpine metamorphic events, to the formation of scheelite-bearing quartz-tourmaline-, quartz-plagioclase-tourmaline mobilizates and pegmatoids.