Skarn Deposits

Larry Meinert
Department of Geology
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063 USA
Email: Lmeinert@smith.edu
Skarns and Skarn Deposits
1)  General processes of skarn formation

2)  Mineralogy, petrology, & tectonic setting

3) Examples of major skarn deposits:

Antamina - Peru
Ertsberg District - Irian Jaya
 Depth of Formation - W Skarns
•  Tonnage and grade 63 Mt of 0.95 WO3

•  Igneous Composition calc-alkaline granodiorite to granite

•  Igneous geometry c.g. batholith with pegmatite, megacrysts

•  Igneous alteration Fresh, minor myrmekite, Ca endoskarn

•  Metamorphism Extensive metamorphic aureole (km)

with high T mineral assemblages and
reaction skarns (bimetasomatism)
 Marble
Pine Creek, CA
W skarn

Skarn

Granodiorite
 Sub-calcic garnet

Calcic garnet & pyroxene

 Sub-calcic garnet veins

Scheelite
 Depth of Formation - Cu Skarns
•  Tonnage and grade 500 Mt of 0.8% Cu

•  Igneous Composition calc-alkaline diorite to quartz monzonite

•  Igneous geometry m.g. to porphyritic stocks and dikes

•  Igneous alteration K-silicate, sericitic, epidote endoskarn

•  Metamorphism Variable metamorphic aureole (cm to

km) lacks high T mineral assemblages
 Distal Features - Zn Skarns
•  Tonnage and grade 50 Mt of 10% Zn, 5% Pb, 150 g/t Ag

•  Igneous Composition granodiorite to granite to unknown

•  Igneous geometry batholith to stocks to dikes to unknown

•  Igneous alteration Extensive epidote±garnet endoskarn

•  Metamorphism Bleaching and recrystallization,

no high T metamorphic aureole

Skarns and Skarn Deposits
1)  General processes of skarn formation

2)  Mineralogy, petrology, & tectonic setting

3) Examples of major skarn deposits:

Antamina - Peru
Ertsberg District - Irian Jaya
Skarns and Skarn Deposits
1)  General processes of skarn formation

2)  Mineralogy, petrology, & tectonic setting

3) Examples of major skarn deposits:

Antamina - Peru
Ertsberg District - Irian Jaya
Skarn deposits
of Peru
 Antamina Cu-Zn skarn, Peru
1)  > 1 billion tons of Cu-Zn resource

2)  ~ Barren porphyry intrusive center

3) Abundant endoskarn

4) Classic skarn zonation

Quartz monzonite porphyry
Endoskarn

Porphyry
Green garnet skarn
 Pyroxene

Garnet
 Wollastonite

Garnet
 Garnet skarn

Marble
Fluid escape structures

Marble
Ertsberg Cu-Au district, Irian Jaya

1)  > 2 billion tons of Cu-Au reserves,

largest Cu-Au resource on Earth

2)  ~ Mineralized porphyry intrusive centers

3) No endoskarn

4) Classic skarn zonation

 Tembagapura
mine camp housing
for ~ 7,000 workers
Tram car carries
50-100 workers
at a time up
to mine site
Mine site at 4,000 m
Usually is in clouds
 Tram station at
mine site, looking
down to mill site
in valley
 Tram
station

Original
Ertsberg
ore body
 Tram
station
 Tram
station
 Puncak Jaya
5000 m

Yellow Valley
syncline
Grasberg pit
 Diorite

Endoskarn

Marble
Mt-cp-bn
Mg skarn with olivine, monticellite, vesuvianite
Mg skarn with retrograde serpentine veins
Garnet vein Pyroxene envelope/vein

Biotite hornfels
Red-brown garnet Anhydrite

Cp

Cp

Cp

Cp

Cp
Red-brown garnet Pyroxene
Pyroxene-chalcopyrite skarn
Anhydrite Late Fe-rich pyroxene Distal diopsidic pyroxene
Fluid escape structures in marble
 Fluid escape
structures

Gar P>G Pyx Marble