| Abstract: | Field and laboratory studies show that there are two types of skarn deposits in NW Iran: granite-associated (type I) and gabbrodiorite-associated (type II). Granite-associated deposits are accompanied by Cu and Fe mineralisation, whereas Mn and Fe are the main ore metals in gabbrodiorite-associated skarn deposits. There are some differences in the mineralogy of these skarn deposits. Bixbyite, piemontite and Cr-bearing garnet are found only in gabbrodiorite-associated skarns, whereas idocrase occurs only in granite-associated deposits. Type II skarns show exoskarn features, whereas some type I skarns have developed endoskarn as well. Evidence of boiling of hydrothermal fluid can be seen in both types and seems to be a common mechanism of mineral deposition. Gabbrodiorite-associated skarns show higher fO2 than granite-associated deposits. Based on mineralogical and textural evidence, mineralisation in both groups has started from about 550 °C. Early formed anhydrous minerals have begun to be replaced by hydrous minerals from about 400 °C.It seems that due to low fluid content in the gabbrodioritic magma, heated meteoritic water in the surrounding volcanoclastic and tuffaceous rocks was the main source of hydrothermal solution in the gabbrodiorite-associated skarn system. |
