Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multistage Skarn-Related Tourmalines from the Galinge Deposit: A Significant Indicator for Varying Fluid Composition

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Metallogenic Mechanism of the Galinge Polymetallic Iron Skarn Deposit, Qiman Tagh Mountains, Qinghai Province

Part of the book series: Springer Theses ((Springer Theses))

  • 264 Accesses

Abstract

The Galinge skarn deposit, the largest iron polymetallic skarn deposit in the Qiman Tagh metallogenic belt (western China), was formed via multi-stage fluid-rock interactions. It is divided into six ore domains from east to the west. Skarn-related tourmaline is ubiquitous in the V ore domain of the Galinge deposit, occurring both in the altered basaltic andesite (Tour-I) and in the sandstone (Tour-II). The tourmaline composition in both rock types is within the dravite–uvite solid solution. Some Tour-I crystals show compositional growth zoning in which the early stage uvite cores (Gen-1) are overgrown by second-stage dravite rims (Gen-2). Some Tour-I crystals also show overgrowth rims and fracture-infilled textures (Gen-3). Some other Tour-1 tourmalines without clear growth zoning (Others) show an intermediate composition between Gen-2 and Gen-3.The varying composition of the zoned tourmalines records important information about the evolving hydrothermal fluids and host rocks. Gen-1 and Gen-2, displaying a narrow and high range of Fe2+/(Fe2+ + Mg) ratios, are much more equilibrated with mafic host rocks. The alkaline (K + Na) content of tourmalines is associated with the salinities of the ore-forming fluids. The lowest Na t K content of Gen-3 indicates that it may have been equilibrated with a low-salinity fluid environment in which the concentration of metal-chlorite complexes decreased. The Gen-3 stage is considered to be the main ore-forming event. Tour-II have similar Ca/(K + Na + Ca) ratios with Gen-1 and Gen-2 ratios, which indicates that they are contemporarily formed by the same fluid as Tour-I. Through compositional comparison of the tourmalines with those from other hydrothermal deposit types, the Galinge skarn-related tourmalines are overwhelmingly controlled by the MgFe-1 substitution mechanism. This is different from the compositions of tourmalines in porphyry, VMS, and vein-greisen type deposits, which are, respectively, controlled by the Fe3+Al-1, (Ca Mg)(Na Al)–1 and (Na Mg)(□Al)-1, and (Fe2+Fe3+)(MgAl)-1 substitution mechanisms. Different tourmaline compositions and substitution mechanisms could be used as guides for mineral exploration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Bačík P, Uher P, Sýkora M, Lipka J (2008) Low-Al tourmalines of the schorl–dravite–povondraite series in redeposited tourmalinites from the Western Carpathians. Slovakia. Can Mineral 46(5):1117–1129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Baksheev IA, Tikhomirov PL, Yapaskurt VO, Vigasina MF, Prokof Ev VY, Ustinov VI (2009) Tourmaline of the Mramorny Tin Cluster, Chukotka Peninsula. Russia. Can Mineral 47(5):1177–1194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Baksheev IA, Chitalin AF, Yapaskurt VO, Vigasina MF, Bryzgalov IA, Ustinov VI (2010) Tourmaline in the Vetka porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit of the Chukchi Peninsula of Russia. Mosc Univ Geol Bull 65(1):27–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Baksheev IA, Prokof Ev VY, Yapaskurt VO, Vigasina MF, Zorina LD, Solov Ev VN (2011) Ferric-iron-rich tourmaline from the Darasun gold deposit, Transbaikalia. Russia. Can Mineral 49(1):263–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Baksheev IA, Prokof’Ev VY, Zaraisky GP et al (2012) Tourmaline as a prospecting guide for the porphyry-style deposits. Eur J Mineral 24(6):957–979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bandyopadhyay BK, Slack JF, Palmer MR et al (1993) Tourmalinites associated with stratabound massive sulphide deposits in the Proterozoic Sakoli Group, Nagpur district, central India. In: Proceedings of Eight Quad IAGOD Symposium, E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, pp 867–885

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bone Y (1988) The geological setting of tourmalinite at Rum Jungle, NT, Australia—genetic and economic implications. Min Depos 23(1):34–41

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cavarretta G, Puxeddu M (1990) Schorl-dravite-ferridravite tourmalines deposited by hydrothermal magmatic fluids during early evolution of the Larderello geothermal field, Italy. Econ Geol 85(6):1236–1251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Clarke DB, Readon NC, Chatterjee AK, Gregoire DC (1989) Tourmaline composition as a guide tomineral exploration; a reconnaissance study from NovaScotia using discriminant function analysis. Econ Geol 84:1921–1935

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Cleland JM, Morey GB, McSwiggen PL (1996) Significance of tourmaline-rich rocks in the North Range Group of the Cuyuna Iron Range, east-central Minnesota. Econ Geol 91(7):1282–1291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Deb M, Tiwary A, Palmer MR (1997) Tourmaline in Proterozoic massive sulfide deposits from Rajasthan. India. Min Depos 32(1):94–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Dobson DC (1982) Geology and alteration of the Lost River tin-tungsten-fluorine deposit, Alaska. Econ Geol 77(4):1033–1052

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Dube B, Guha J (1993) Factors controlling the occurrence of ferro-axinite within Archean gold-copper-rich quartz veins; Cooke Mine, Chibougamau area, Abitibi greenstone belt. Can Mineral 31(4):905–916

    Google Scholar 

  14. Dutrow BL, Henry DJ (2011) Tourmaline: a geologic DVD. Elements 7:301–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ethier VG, Campbell FA (1977) Tourmaline concentrations in Proterozoic sediments of the southern Cordillera of Canada and their economic significance. Can J Earth Sci 14(10):2348–2363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Garba I (1996) Tourmalinization related to Late Proterozoic-Early Palaeozoic lode gold mineralization in the Bin Yauri area, Nigeria. Miner Depos 31(3):201–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Grew ES (1996) Borosilicates (exclusive of tourmaline) and boron in rock-forming minerals in metamorphic environments. Rev Mineral Geochem 33(1):387–502

    Google Scholar 

  18. Grew ES, Anovitz LM (1996) Boron: mineralogy, petrology and geochemistry. Mineral Soc Am, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hawthorne FC, Henry DJ (1999) Classification of the minerals of the tourmaline group. Eur J Mineral 11(2):201–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Hellingwerf RH, Gatedal K, Gallagher V, Baker JH (1994) Tourmaline in the central Swedish ore district. Min Depos 29(2):189–205

    Google Scholar 

  21. Henry DJ, Dutrow BL (1990) Ca substitution in Li poor aluminous tourmaline. Can Mineral 28:111–124

    Google Scholar 

  22. Henry DJ, Dutrow BL (1992) Tourmaline in a low grade clastic metasedimentary rock: an example of the petrogenetic potential of tourmaline. Contrib Mineral Petrol 112(2–3):203–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Henry DJ, Dutrow BL (1996) Metamorphic tourmaline and its petrologic applications. Rev Mineral Geochem 33(1):503–557

    Google Scholar 

  24. Henry DJ, Guidotti CV (1985) Tourmaline as a petrogenetic indicator mineral- An example from the staurolite-grade metapelites of NW Maine. Am Mineral 70(1–2):1–15

    Google Scholar 

  25. Henry DJ, Novák M, Hawthorne FC et al (2011) Nomenclature of the tourmaline-supergroup minerals. Am Mineral 96(5–6):895–913

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Ito O, Plimer IR (1987) The significance of tourmaline in the stratiform Dome Rock deposit. Australia. Min Geol 37(206):403–418

    Google Scholar 

  27. Jiang SY, Palmer MR, Li YH et al (1995) Chemical compositions of tourmaline in the Yindongzi-Tongmugou Pb-Zn deposits, Qinling, China: implications for hydrothermal ore-forming processes. Miner Depos 30(3–4):225–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Jiang SY, Palmer MR, Slack JF et al (1998) Paragenesis and chemistry of multistage tourmaline formation in the Sullivan Pb-Zn-Ag deposit, British Columbia. Econ Geol 93(1):47–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Jiang SY, Palmer MR, Yeats CJ (2002) Chemical and boron isotopic compositions of tourmaline from the Archean Big Bell and Mount Gibson gold deposits, Murchison Province, Yilgarn Craton. Western Australia. Chem Geol 188(3):229–247

    Google Scholar 

  30. King RW, Kerrich R (1989) Chromian dravite associated with ultramafic-rock-hosted Archean lode gold deposits, Timmins-Porcupine District, Ontario. Can Mineral 27:419–426

    Google Scholar 

  31. Koval PV, Zorina LD, Kitajev NA, Spiridonov AM, Ariunbileg S (1991) The use of tourmaline in geochemical prospecting for gold and copper mineralization. J Geochem Explor 40:349–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Kwak TA (2012) W-Sn skarn deposits: and related metamorphic skarns and granitoids. Elsevier, Netherland, pp 1–449

    Google Scholar 

  33. Layne GD, Spooner E (1991) The JC tin skarn deposit, southern Yukon Territory; I, Geology, paragenesis, and fluid inclusion microthermometry. Econ Geol 86(1):29–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. London D (2011) Experimental synthesis and stability of tourmaline: a historical overview. Can Mineral 49(1):117–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Lynch G, Ortega J (1997) Hydrothermal alteration and tourmaline-albite equilibria at the Coxheath porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposit. Nova Scotia. Can Mineral 35(1):79–94

    Google Scholar 

  36. Mao J (1995) Tourmalinite from northern Guangxi, China. Miner Deposita 30(3–4):235–245

    Google Scholar 

  37. Mao JW, Wang PA, Wang DH, Bi CS (1993) The trace of tourmaline for rock-forming and metallogenic environments and its applied conditions. Geol Rev 39(6):497–507

    Google Scholar 

  38. Morgan GB, London D (1989) Experimental reactions of amphibolite with boron-bearing aqueous fluids at 200 MPa: implications for tourmaline stability and partial melting in mafic rocks. Contrib Miner Petr 102(3):281–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Nie FJ, Zhang HT, Sun H, Fun JT (1990) Discovery of tourmalinites in the Bieluwuto copper metallogenic district, Nei Mongol, and their geological significance. Geol Rev 36(5):467–472

    Google Scholar 

  40. Ozaki M (1972) Chemical composition and occurrence of axinite. Kumamoto J Sci Geol 9(2):1–34

    Google Scholar 

  41. Pal DC, Trumbull RB, Wiedenbeck M (2010) Chemical and boron isotope compositions of tourmaline from the Jaduguda U (–Cu–Fe) deposit, Singhbhum shear zone, India: Implications for the sources and evolution of mineralizing fluids. Chem Geol 277(3):245–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Pertsev NN (1971) Parageneses of boron minerals in magnesian skarns. Nauka, Moscow

    Google Scholar 

  43. Pirajno F (2008) Hydrothermal processes and mineralsystems. Springer, Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  44. Pirajno F, Smithies RH (1992) The FeO/(FeOt+MgO) ratio of tourmaline: a useful indicator of spatial variations in granite-related hydrothermal mineral deposits. J Geochem Explor 42:371–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Plimer IR (1986) Tourmalinites from the Golden Dyke dome, northern Australia. Min Depos 21(4):263–270

    Google Scholar 

  46. Robinson GD (1989) Stream sediment tourmaline geochemistry in massive sulfide exploration: an example from Virginia. USA. J Geochem Explor 34(2):173–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Rozendaal A, Bruwer L (1995) Tourmaline nodules: indicators of hydrothermal alteration and Sn-Zn-(W) mineralization in the Cape Granite Suite. South Africa. J Afr Earth Sci 21(1):141–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Sanyal A, Nugent M, Reeder RJ et al (2000) Seawater pH control on the boron isotopic composition of calcite: evidence from inorganic calcite precipitation experiments. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 64(9):1551–1555

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Shibue Y (1984) Chemical compositions of tourmaline in the vein-type tungsten deposits of the Kaneuchi mine. Japan. Min Depos 19(4):298–303

    Google Scholar 

  50. Skewes MA, Holmgren C, Stern CR (2003) The Donoso copper-rich, tourmaline-bearing breccia pipe in central Chile: petrologic, fluid inclusion and stable isotope evidence for an origin from magmatic fluids. Min Depos 38(1):2–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Słaby E, Kozłowski A (2005) Composition of tourmalines from tin-tungsten-bearing country rock of the Variscan Karkonosze granitoid-a record of the wall rock and hydrothermal fluid interaction. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie-Abhandlungen. J Mineral Geochem 181(3):245–263

    Google Scholar 

  52. Slack JF (1982) Tourmaline in Appalachian-Caledonian massive sulphide deposits and its exploration significance. Trans Inst Min Metall, Sect B: Appl Earth Sci 91(May):81–89

    Google Scholar 

  53. Slack JF (1996) Tourmaline associations with hydrothermal ore deposits. Rev Mineral Geochem 33(1):559–643

    Google Scholar 

  54. Slack JF, Coad PR (1989) Multiple hydrothermal and metamorphic events in the Kidd Creek volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit, Timmins, Ontario: evidence from tourmalines and chlorites. Can J Earth Sci 26(4):694–715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Slack JF, Palmer MR, Stevens BP et al (1993) Origin and significance of tourmaline-rich rocks in the Broken Hill district, Australia. Econ Geol 88(3):505–541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Slack JF, Shaw DR, Leitch C et al (2000) Tourmalinites and coticules from the Sullivan Pb-Zn-Ag deposit and vicinity, British Columbia: Geology, geochemistry, and genesis. Geol Environ Sullivan Depos Br C: Geol Assoc Can Miner Depos Div Spec Publ 1:736–767

    Google Scholar 

  57. Slack JF, Trumbull RB (2011) Tourmaline as a recorder of ore-forming processes. Elements 7:321–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Sun HT, Ge CH (1989) Discovery of Banded Tourmalinite and Mineralized Tourmaline-Rich Chemical Sedimentary-Rocks from Stratabound and Stratiform Copper-Deposits in Zhongtiaoshan District. Shanxi Province. Chin Sci Bull 34(10):846–851

    Google Scholar 

  59. Taylor BE, Slack JF (1984) Tourmalines from Appalachian-Caledonian massive sulfide deposits; textural, chemical, and isotopic relationships. Econ Geol 79(7):1703–1726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. van Hinsberg VJ, Henry DJ, Marschall HR (2011) Tourmaline: an ideal indicator of its host environment. Can Mineral 49:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Yauvz F, Ali I, Jiang SY (1999) Tourmaline compositions from the Salikvan porphyry Cu-Mo deposit and vicinity, northeastern Turkey. Can Mineral 37:1007–1023

    Google Scholar 

  62. Yu JM, Jiang SY (2003) Chemical composition of tourmaline from the Yunlong tin deposit, Yunnan, China: implications for ore genesis and mineral exploration. Min Pet 77(1–2):67–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Zheng Z, Chen YJ, Deng XH, Yue SW, Chen HJ (2016) Muscovite 40Ar/39Ar dating of the Baiganhu W-Sn orefield, Qimantag, East Kunlun Mountains, and its geological implications. Geol China 43(4):1341–1352

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Metallogenic Prediction of Nonferrous Metals and Geological Environment Monitoring, Ministry of Education, School of Geosciences and Info-Physics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

    Dr. Miao Yu

  2. MLR Key Laboratory of Metallogeny and Mineral Assessment, Institute of Mineral Resources, CAGS, Beijing, China

    Dr. Miao Yu

  3. China School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China

    Dr. Miao Yu

Authors
  1. Dr. Miao Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Yu, M. (2019). Multistage Skarn-Related Tourmalines from the Galinge Deposit: A Significant Indicator for Varying Fluid Composition. In: Metallogenic Mechanism of the Galinge Polymetallic Iron Skarn Deposit, Qiman Tagh Mountains, Qinghai Province. Springer Theses. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7907-8_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation