Greisen

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Greisen is a highly altered granitic rock or pegmatite. Greisen is formed by self-generated

alteration of a granite and is a class of endoskarn.
Greisens appear as highly altered rocks, partly coarse, crystalline granite,
partly vuggy with miarolitic cavities, disseminatedhalide minerals such as fluorite, and
occasionally metallic oxide and sulfide ore minerals, borate minerals (tourmaline) and
accessory phases such as sphene, beryl, topaz, etcetera

Petrogenesis[edit]
Greisens are formed by endoskarn alteration of granite during the cooling stages of
emplacement. Greisen fluids are formed by granites as the last highly gas- and water-rich
phases of complete crystallisation of granite melts. This fluid is forced into the interstitial
spaces of the granite and pools at the upper margins, where boiling and alteration occur.

Alteration facies[edit]

Incipient greisen (granite): muscovite chlorite, tourmaline, and fluorite.

Greisenized granite: quartz-muscovite-topaz-fluorite, tourmaline (original texture of

granites retained).

Massive greisen: quartz-muscovite-topaz fluorite tourmaline (typically no original

texture preserved). Tourmaline can be ubiquitous as disseminations, concentrated or
diffuse clots, or late fracture fillings. Greisen may form in any wallrock environment, typical
assemblages developed in aluminosilicates.

Greisen environments[edit]
Greisens appear to be restricted to intrusions which are emplaced high in the crust, generally
at a depth between 0.5 and 5 km, with upper aureoles which are sealed shut to
prevent fluids escaping. This is generally required, as the boiling to produce greisenation
cannot occur deeper than about 5 kilometres.
They are also generally associated only with potassic igneous rocks; S-type granite, not Itype granodiorite or diorite. Greisens are prospective for mineralisation because the last fluids
of granite crystallization tend to concentrate incompatible elements such
as tin, tungsten, molybdenum and fluorine, as well as metals such as gold, silver, and
occasionally copper.
Tectonically, greisen granites are generally associated with generation of S-type suites of
granites in thick arc and back-arc fold belts where subducted sedimentary and felsic rock is
melted.

Distribution[edit]
Typical greisen deposits include