Abstract:
Based on field observation and microscopic and backscattered electron (BSE) images, the authors recognized a two-stage formation process of the skarn in the Nannihu-Sandaozhuang Mo (W) deposit. At the first stage, the fluid reacted with marble to form wollastonite, andradite, grossularite, hedenbergite and diopside. As the fluid migrated outward, the dark limestone was replaced by diopside skarn or wrigglite diopside skarn. At the second stage, the fluid spread into the wall rock along fractures to form new skarn which was superimposed on the earlier skarn. According to these observations, the skarn minerals such as garnet and pyroxene could be divided into two generations. The first generation of garnet Grt
I) (Gro
3-82And
15-96) is spot-like in wollastonite marble or skarn, and the first generation of pyroxene (Px
I) (Di
18-86Hd
13-70Jo
0-13) could intergrow with Grt
I in wollastonite marble or skarn and with plagioclase (Ab
55-70An
30-44) in wrigglite diopside skarn. The second generation of garnet (Grt
II) (Gro
23-58And
37-74) and the second generation of pyroxene (Px
II) (Di
0-68Hd
28-84Jo
3-16) were superimposed on GrtI and Px
I with smaller space area. The mineralization of molybdenite and scheelite commenced at the very beginning of skarnization and covered the whole skarn formation process. The local reducing environment, induced by the reaction between the fluid with adequate concentration of Mo and W elements and the wall rocks might have triggered metal precipitation.