Abstract
Three types of stratiform scheelite deposits are recognised. They all commonly have a close spatial association with tourmalinite. Regional prograde calc-silicate rocks in Precambrian rift settings commonly contain >100 ppm WO3 with enrichment to 0.5–1% WO3 in retrograde metamorphic assemblages at fold hinges, joints, faults, shears and granite and pegmatite dyke contacts. The calc-silicate progenitor was probably a impure dolomitic carbonate sediment. Amphibolite-hosted scheelite deposits occur in metamorphosed altered mafic volcanics formed in a narrow rift graben. Scheelite occurs both as stratiform and stratabound footwall stringer ore which has undergone minor remobilization during tectonism. Tourmalinites are rarely the host for stratabound quartz-scheelite±wolframite veins remobilized from the host tourmalinite and associated metavolcanics during tectonism.
Tourmaline associated with stratiform scheelite deposits comprise zoned schorl-dravite and are no different from other tourmalines associated with submarine exhalative ores. Tourmalinites are characterized by high SiO2, Al2O3, B2O3 and Fe2O3 and, although they are commonly stratigraphically equivalent to submarine exhalative base metal deposits, they are depleted in P2O5, BaO and MnO.
It is suggested that soft base-soft acid ligand complexes transported W from the mantle or leached crust for surficial submarine hot spring deposition. Enrichment during tectonism, especially in calc-silicate hosted deposits, took place at the sites of fluid focussing where \(P_{O_2 } \), \(P_{H_2 O} \) and pH were high. This enrichment by up to 102 derives from dissolution of scheelite by chloride solutions resulting in redeposition of scheelite in retrograde metamorphic assemblages.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Appel, P.W.U.: Stratabound tourmaline in the Archean Malene supracrustals, West Greenland. Can. Jour. Earth Sci. 22:1485–1491 (1985)
Appel, P.W.U.: Gahnite in an Archean iron-formation, West Greenland. Miner. Mag. 50:175–177 (1986a)
Appel, P.W.U.: Stratabound scheelite in the Archean Malene supracrustal belt, West Greenland. Mineral. Deposita 21:207–215 (1986b)
Arribas-Rosado, A.: The significance of tourmaline in stratabound tungsten deposits in Spain. Abstr. Gisements du Tungstene, Toulouse: 33 (1986)
von Backstrom, J.W.: Notes on a tungsten-tin deposit near Upington, Gordonia District. Trans. Geol. Soc. South Africa 53:35–52 (1950)
Barnes, R.G.: Stratiform and stratabound tungsten mineralization in the Broken Hill Block, N.S.W. Jour. Geol. Soc. Aust. 30:225–239 (1982)
Barnes, R.G.: Mineralization of the Broken Hill Block. Proc. Aust. Inst. Min. Metall. Conf., Broken Hill: 71–79 (1983)
Beurlen, H., Busch, K.: Protominerio de tungstenio ortoanfibolitico na provincia scheelitifera do Serido, Rio Grande do Norto, Nordeste do Brasil. Quinto Congreso Latinoamericano de Geologia, Argentina II:69–81 (1982)
Charoy, B.: Definition et importance des phenomènes deuteriques et des fluides associés dans les granites. Consequences metallogeniques. Sciences de la Terre Memoire 37:305–314 (1979)
Cuningham, W.B., Höll, R., Taupitz, K.C.: Two new tungsten bearing horizons in the older Precambrian of Rhodesia. Mineral. Deposita 8:200–203 (1973)
Edwards, A.B.: Amphibolites from the Broken Hill district. Jour. Geol. Soc. Aust. 5:1–32 (1958)
Foster, R.P.: Solubility of scheelite in hydrothermal chloride solutions. Chem. Geol. 20:27–43 (1977)
Henley, R.W. and Roberts, P.: Epithermal environments in New Zealand Field Conference. N.Z. Mineral Exploration Association C:1–6 (1983)
Henley, R.W., Truesdell, A.H., Barton, P.B., Whitney, J.A.: Fluid mineral equilibria in hydrothermal systems. Reviews Econ. Geol. 1:1–258 (1984)
Hoffmann, C.: Granites and migmatites of the Damara Belt, South West Africa. Petrography and melting experiments. Geol. Rundsch. 65:939–966 (1976)
Höll, R.: Die Scheelitlagerstatte Felbertal und der Vergleich mit anderen Scheelitvorkommen in den Ostalpen. Bayr. Akad. Wiss., Math.-Naturw. Kl., Abh. 157 A u. B, 1–114, Anlangen (1975)
Höll, R.: Early Palaeozoic ore deposits of the Sb-W-Hg formation in the eastern Alps and their genetic interpretation. Klemm, D.D., Schneider, H.-J. (eds.) Time- and strata-bound ore deposits. pp. 169–198. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1977
Höll, R.: Nature and origin of the tungsten deposit Felbertal, Austria. Abstr. Gisements du Tungstene, Toulouse: 7 (1986)
Joubert, P., Moore, J.M.: Mineralogical anomalies in the Namaqualand Metamorphic Complex. South African National Geoscience Programme, Final Report, 14 (1986)
Neinaive, H., Pfeffer, W., Thalmann, F.: Ergebnisse der geochemischen Prospektion auf Stahlveredler im Bundesgebiet. Berg. Huttenm. Mh. 130:111–116 (1985)
Newberry, R.J., Swansson, S.E.: Scheelite skarn granitoids: an evaluation of the roles of magmatic source and process. Ore Geology Reviews 1:57–81 (1986)
Pearson, R.G.: Hard and soft acids and bases. Dowden, Hutchinson, Ross Stoudsburg, Penn. (1973)
Plimer, I.R.: Sulphide rock zonation and hydrothermal alteration at Broken Hill, Australia. Trans. Instn. Min. Metall. 88:B161-B176 (1979)
Plimer, I.R.: Exhalative Sn and W deposits associated with mafic volcanism as precursors to Sn and W deposits associated with granites. Mineral. Deposita 15:275–289 (1980)
Plimer, I.R.: The association of tourmaline-bearing rocks with mineralization at Broken Hill, N.S.W. Proc. Aust. Inst. Min. Metall. Conf., Broken Hill: 157–176 (1983)
Plimer, I.R.: Broken Hill Pb-Zn-Ag deposit — a product of mantle metasomatism. Mineral. Deposita 20:147–153 (1985)
Raith, J.: Die Scheelitvererzung auf der Klamm-Alm, Navis, Tirol und ihr geologischer Rahmen. Thesis Univ. Wien: 1–69 (1983)
Raith, J.: Scheelite occurrences in the crystalline area east of the Hohe Tauern, eastern Alps, Austria. Abstr. Gisements du Tungstene, Toulouse:32 (1986)
Reid, J.: Stratabound tungsten deposits in metamorphic terrains: stratabound scheelite deposits of northeast Brazil. Soc. Min. Eng. of AIME, Preprint 83–128:1–43 (1983)
Slack, J.F.: Tourmaline in Appalachian-Caledonian massive sulphide deposits and its exploration significance. Trans. Instn. Min. Metall. 91:B81-B89 (1982)
Slack, J.F., Herriman, N., Barnes, R.G., Plimer, I.R.: Stratiform tourmalinites in metamorphic terranes and their geologic significance. Geology 12:713–716 (1984)
Smith, G.I.: Subsurface stratigraphy and geochemistry of Late Quaternary evaporites, Searles Lake, California. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 1043:1–130 (1979)
Tankard, A.J., Jackson, M.P.A., Eriksson, K.A., Hobday, D.K., Hunter, D.R., Minter, W.G.L.: Crustal evolution of southern Africa: 3.8 billion years of Earth history. pp. 523. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer (1982)
Taylor, B.E., Slack, J.F.: Tourmalines from Appalachian — Caledonian massive sulfide deposits: textural, chemical and isotopic relationships. Econ. Geol. 79:1703–1726 (1984)
Tweto, O.: Scheelite in the Precambrian gneisses of Colorado. Econ. Geol. 55:1406–1428 (1960)
Wesoloski, D., Drummond, S.E., Mesmer, R.E., Ohmoto, H.: Hydrolysis equilibria of tungsten (VI) in aqueous chloride solution to 300°C. Inorg. Chemistry 23:1120–1132 (1984)
Wall, V.J., Etheridge, M.A., Hobbs, B.E.: Pre-metamorphic features of the Broken Hill lode/host rocks and their bearing on the origin of mineralization. Abstr. 25th I.G.C. 1:197–198 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Plimer, I.R. The association of tourmalinite with stratiform scheelite deposits. Mineral. Deposita 22, 282–291 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204521
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204521