Prograde skarn stage

Fluid exsolution from cooling magma

Reaction of the magmatic fluid, usually Si- and Fe-rich, with
carbonates
CaO(s) + FeO(aq) + 2SiO2(aq) --> CaFeSi2O6
hedenbergite
3CaO(s) + Fe2O3(aq) + 3SiO2(aq) --> Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3
andradite
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 with
magmatic fluid

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 ore
minerals

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)

May merge with the exoskarn

Prograde stage mineral

zoning
Cu skarns

proximal

distal

brown

GARNET

green-yellow

light color
(high-Mg)

PYROXENE

dark color
(high-Fe)

Retrograde skarn
stage
Cooling, involvement of meteoric fluids, oxidizing, CO2-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
andradite
hematite

Retrograde Alteration

Continental Mine (New Mexico, USA). Intense retrograde

envelopes on veins cutting through prograde garnet (red-brown
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
Bio hfels

Oxidized environment
Ca-sil (gar)

Px hfels

Calcareous
siltstone

px
limestone

dolomite

px

ol

gar

ol

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

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

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

Skarn geotectonic setting