Skarn Deposits

Skarn definition
Granular rock consisting of Ca-silicates (e.g.,
garnet, pyroxene, amphibole); does not imply
presence or absence of mineralization

If mineralization --> skarn deposit

Introduccin
Trmino usado originalmente por los mineros en
Suecia para referirse a la ganga de grano
grueso, muy dura, compuesta por calcosilicatos
asociados a la mena de Fe (Geijer & Magnusson,
1952). Incluye una amplia variedad de rocas con
minerales calcosilicatados ricos en Ca, Mg, Fe, Al
y Mn, al margen de si estn asociados a
minerales de inters econmico o no.

Skarn general features

Formed during contact or regional
metamorphism by metasomatic processes
involving magmatic, metamorphic, meteoric
and/or marine fluids
Found close to intrusions, along faults and
shear-zones, in shallow geothermal systems,
at the bottom of the oceans, and deep in the
continental crust
All these skarns are linked by their
mineralogy, which is characterized by the
presence of a variety of Ca-silicates, especially
garnets and pyroxenes

Skarn general features

Found in all continents and in rocks of all
ages
Found mostly in sequences containing
limestone
Can form also where limestones are absent,
virtually in any kind of rock: sandstone,
siltstone, granite, basalt, komatiite

Ambiente geolgico
Actividad magmtico-hidrotermal en
cinturones orognicos (cerca a
intrusiones, metamorfismo regional,
zonas de cizalla y fallas, sistemas
epitermales y geotrmicos, fondos
marinos)
Continuum con prfidos, greisens y vetas

Metals recovered
from skarns
Fe, W, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mo, Ag, Au, Sn U,
REE, F, B
Until 1900 one of the most important
sources of Cu and Fe
Still the most important source of W
(50% of the world-production)
Recently exploited mostly for Au

Ways to form skarns

Metamorphic recrystallization (isochemical
with loss of CO2, H2O, SO2, etc) --> calc-silicate
hornfels
Element diffusion in a stagnating fluid
(concentration gradient driven) --> reaction
skarn (mm to few m wide) with typical mineral
zonation
Fluid infiltration by a fluid carrying exotic
species (e.g., Si, Fe) with respect to the
infiltrated lithology (e.g., limestone) -->
infiltration skarn (several tens of meters wide)

Types of skarn
formation

A) Isochemical metamorphism involves recrystallization and changes

in mineral stability without significant mass transfer. B) Reaction
skarn results from metamorphism of interlayered lithologies, such as
shale and limestone, with mass transfer between layers on a small
scale (bimetasomatism).

Skarnoid results from

metamorphism of impure
lithologies with some mass
transfer by small scale fluid
movement.

Fluid-controlled metasomatic skarn

typically is coarse grained and does
not closely reflect the composition or
texture of the protolith. Zonation of
most skarns reflects the geometry of
the pluton contact and fluid flow.

Skarnoid
Skarnoid results from metamorphism of
impure lithologies with some mass
transfer by small scale fluid movement.
The fluid-controlled metasomatic skarn
typically is coarser grained and does not
as closely reflect the composition or
texture of the immediately surrounding
rocks

Infiltration skarns
Proximal (<300 m from intrusion)
Intrusion-related --> contact skarns
Distal (>300 m from intrusion)

Metamorphic --> regional skarns (mostly W-Auskarns: e.g., Bindal, Norway; Blacklite Prospect,
New Mexico; Navachab, Namibia)

Contact skarn
formation & evolution
Dynamic process in time and space!!!
Skarn fluid chemistry and mineralogy

change
in space and, at a fixed point, also in time

Bound to magmatic evolution of the intrusion

in time and to intrusion-host rock interaction
in time and space

Magma
evolution
T decrease
Fluid phase exsolution during
crystallization

Magma-host rock
interaction
Heating of host rocks and their fluids --> T
gradient around intrusion
Volatilization of host rock components (mostly
CO2, also H2O, S, etc.)
Interaction and reaction of exsolved magmatic
fluids with host rocks and their fluids as well
as with meteoric fluids infiltrated from above

Skarn formation
stages
Metamorphic
Prograde
Retrograde

Metamorphic skarn
stage
Volatiliztion: CaCO

--> CaO + CO2 (g)

Volume change, porosity

Facilitates fluid infiltration

Prograde skarn stage

Fluid exsolution from cooling magma
Reaction of the magmatic fluid, usually Si- and Fe-rich,
with carbonates
CaO + FeO + 2SiO --> CaFeSi O
hedenbergite

3CaO + Fe O + 3SiO --> Ca Fe (SiO )

andradite

(s)

(s)

(aq)

3(aq)

2(aq)

2(aq)

4 3

Formation of anhydrous Ca-silicates (mostly garnet,

pyroxene) at T ~750-400C. Magnetite forms in

magnesian skarns
Mineralogical zoning
Fluid salinities >30% eq. NaCl in garnet and pyroxene
Oxygen isotopes of garnet and pyroxene compatible

Skarn
Evolution

Exoskarn
Skarn alteration of the country rock, generally
carbonate

May be classified according to the dominant

mineralogy

Most of the worlds major skarn deposits are

in calcic exoskarns

Usually show a zoning of both silicate and

Endoskarn
Skarn alteration of intrusive rock
In classic carbonate intrusive contact, this would be the
intrusive rock altered to calc-silicate

May show zoning from potassic minerals (primary?) to

calcic at contact

Biotite -> amphibole -> pyroxene -> garnet (towards

marble)

Skarn Zonation

Abkrzungen: Ac = Actinolith; And = Andradit; Bio = sekundrer Biotit; Ca = Kalzit; Di

= Diopsid; K-fs = sekundrer Kalifeldspat; Non = Nontronit (Schichtsilikat); Sap =
Saponit (Schichtsilikat); Sid = Siderit; Tc = Talk; Tr = Tremolit; Wo = Wollastonit.

Prograde stage
mineral zoning
Cu skarns
proximal

distal

brown

GARNET

green-yellow

light color
(high-Mg)

PYROXENE

dark color
(high-Fe)

Dark red-brown garnet skarn

from the West Cananea
Deposit (Meinert, 1982). The
dark red-brown color of this
garnet is typical of proximal
skarn close to the igneous
contact.
Coarse-grained, bladed,
blue-green pyroxene with
interstitial chalcopyrite from
the Big Gossan deposit, Irian
Jaya. Such pyroxene-rich
skarn is typical of distal
regions of copper skarns,
fairly close to the marble
front.

Prograde stage
mineral zoning
Host rock composition
Fluid composition
Source composition
P-T

P-T-X

Retrograde skarn stage

Cooling, involvement of meteoric fluids, oxidizing, CO 2-rich
prograde anhydrous minerals substituted by hydrous
silicates (e.g., chlorite, epidote, amphibole), iron oxides
(magnetite, hematite), calcite, quartz
5 CaFeSi2O6 + H2O + 3CO2 --> Ca2Fe5Si8O22(OH)2 + 3CaCO3 +
2SiO2
hedenbergite
actinolite
3CaFeSi2O6 + 1/2O2 + 3CO2 --> Fe3O4 + 3CaCO3 + 6SiO2
hedenbergite
magnetite
Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3 + 3CO2 --> Fe2O3 + 3CaCO3 + 3SiO2

Retrograde Alteration

Continental Mine (New Mexico, USA). Intense retrograde

envelopes on veins cutting through prograde garnet (redbrown color) and pyroxene (light tan color) skarn. In more
widespread retrograde alteration, the vein envelopes
would coalesce and completely obliterate the prograde
garnet and pyroxene.

Retrograde skarn stage

T<400C
Salinities <25% eq. NaCl
Oxygen and hydrogen isotopes of retrograde
minerals indicate participation of meteoric
fluids
Irregular geometry, often larger volume than
prograde skarn

Skarn types
Calcic skarns: Ca- and Ca-Fe(-Mg)-silicates
(wollastonite, vesuvianite, andradite, hedenbergite)
Magnesian skarns: Mg- and Ca-Mg(-Fe)-silicates
and oxides/hydroxides (forsterite, diopside, talc,
brucite, periclase, magnetite)

Skarn types
Reduced skarns
Fe2+-bearing silicates (hedenbergite>>andradite)
FeO(aq) + 2SiO2(aq) + CaCO3 --> CaFeSi2O6 + CO2

diopside

Oxidized skarns
Fe3+-bearing silicates (andradite>> hedenbergite)
2FeO(aq) + 3SiO2(aq) + 3CaCO3 + 1/2O2 --> Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3 + 3CO2

andradite

Reduced vs. oxidized

skarns
Organic matter
CaO(s) + C(s) + FeO(aq) + 2SiO2(aq) + O2 --> CaFeSi2O6(s) + CO2(g)
hedenbergite
3CaO(s) + 2FeO(aq) + 3SiO2(aq) + 1/2O2 --> Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3(s)
andradite

Magma chemistry

Magma fO2
Hematite

fO2

Titanite
Magnetite
Ilmenite

Most porphyryCu plutons

ZONATION AND HOST ROCKS

Reduced environment
Biohfels

Oxidized environment
Casil(gar)

Pxhfels

gar

ol

gar

wo

px

px

ol

serp

dolomite

serp

limestone

amph

Pxh
fels

Calcareous
siltstone

Space-Time zonation
Mineralogy

Gar/px ratio
Gar color +

composition
Px color + composition
Distal pyroxenoidvesuvianite

Metal ratios

Proximal: CuMoW
Distal: Mn-Pb-Zn-AgAu

Skarn Mineralogy
Present in almost all skarns

Other Common

More Local

Garnet

Olivine

Scapolite

Pyroxene

Wollastonite

Zeolite

Amphibole

Epidote

plagioclase

Quartz

Actinolite

Skarns and depth of formation

Zn

Cu

Skarn types and factors

gar>px
Fe3+ gar
Mg-rich px
Au
W

Mo

px>gar

Pluton oxidation state

depth

Host rock
oxidation state

Cu

Skarn deposits
Skarn deposits are only formed in association with
diffusion and infiltration processes not with
isochemical processes

Majority of skarn deposits is associated with

infiltration skarns

Temperature 600650C but lower in Pb-Zn skarns

Pressure one to several kilometers

Economic Classification of Skarns

Modern trend is to adopt descriptive classifications
based on the dominant economic metal.
Seven major skarn types:
Au,
Cu,
Fe,
Mo,
Sn,
W,
Zn-Pb
Others include: F, C, BA, Pt, U, REE

Ore stages in skarn

Prograde stage: scheelite, magnetite
(magnesian skarns), sulfides (after
scheelite)
CaCO3 + H2WO4 --> CaWO4 + H2O +CO2

Retrograde stage: most sulfides, gold

and 2nd generation scheelite

Iron Skarns
Largest economic skarns (most common)
Some exceed 500 Mt with more than 300 Mt of contained
Fe
Magnetite skarn important source of iron
Consists dominantly of magnetite with minor silicate
gangue
Calcic-iron skarns Oceanic Islands
Usually associated with gabbro through diorite to syenite
Magnetite with garnet and pyroxene
Magnesian-iron skarns
Usually associated with granites or granodiorites
Magnetite

Magnetite in
magnesian skarns
Magnesian skarns: Economic magnetite in
prograde stage

3FeO(aq) + 2SiO2(aq) + CaMg(CO3)2 + 1/2O2 --> Fe3O4 + CaMgSi2O6 +

2CO2

dolomite

magnetite

diopside

Magnetite in calcic
skarns
Does not form:
FeO(aq) + 2SiO2(aq) + CaCO3 --> CaFeSi2O6 + CO2
calcite
hedenbergite

Forms when magma is Fe-rich (-->more basic):

4FeO(aq) + 2SiO2(aq) + CaCO3 + 1/2 O2 --> CaFeSi2O6 + Fe3O4 + CO2
calcite
hedenbergite magnetite

Copper Skarns
Many (associated with porphyry copper deposits)
Calc-alkaline
Granodiorite to monzogranite stocks
Continental margins
Mesozoic and tertiary western Americas
Carboniferous arcs in western Russia
Island arcs
Quartz diorite to monzogranite

Cu skarn zonation

Gold Skarns: reduced

5-15 g/t Au (Au Bi Te As geochemical association)
Usually in clastic-rich protoliths
Skarn alteration of dikes, sills, and volcanoclastic units
Relatively fine-grained skarn
Dominated by iron-rich pyroxene (>Hd50)
Proximal zones contain garnet
Early / Distal zones have biotite K-feldspar hornfels
K-feldspar, scapolite, vesuvianite, apatite, amphibole

Reduced Gold Skarn Fortitude, NV

Cu-skarn to gold skarn
77 t Au from 10.9 Mt ore (7.1 g/t Au)
Proximal skarn garnet-rich with minor pyxroxene
Au Bi Te As association
Copper Canyon granodiorite
Fe O /FeO+Fe O
2

< 0.5

Distal skarn is pyroxene-rich and highest in Au

Gold skarn zonation (Fortitude)

Henley Au Reduced Skarn

1904 1995 13.4 Mt @ 5.3 g/t
Skarn in clastic rocks spacially associated with Hedley
diorite

Fe O /FeO+Fe O
2

~ 0.15

Distal fine-grain biotite hornfels

Grades to more massive biotite with K-spar which
surrounds

Massive garnet-pyroxene skarn

Hedley Au skarn

Oxidized gold skarns

High garnet:pyroxene ratios, relatively Fe-poor garnet and pyroxene

Low total sulfides: pyrite>pyrrhotite

Minor but ubiquitous chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and galena

Highest gold grades not in prograde garnet-pyroxene, but with later retrograde
alteration including abundant K-feldspar (adularia) and quartz

Some are transitional to other types of gold mineralization such as epithermal

deposits in which phase separation (boiling) can be an important precipitation
mechanism

Examples: McCoy (Nevada), Nambija (Ecuador)

Skarn examples

http://pangea.stanford.edu/ODEX/kurtsimages/micrographs/skarnhand.jpg

Skarn examples

Palaeozoic magnetite skarn at Tallawang, NSW, Australia

Hedenbergite (hd), grossular

garnet (gt), magnetite (mt), quartz (qz) skarn assemblage
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/discipline/geology/research/talawang/slideA1.htm

Salite

Skarn geotectonic setting