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Which valuable metals can occur in skarn deposits?
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mineral deposit
The relationship between hot springs and epithermal veins.
Skarn deposits are significant sources of various valuable metals. These deposits form when high-temperature hydrothermal solutions, typically associated with igneous intrusions, react with carbonate rocks like limestone or marble.12
The valuable metals and ore minerals commonly found in skarn deposits include:
- Iron: Often extracted in the form of magnetite.2
- Copper: Found in numerous locations, such as Copper Canyon in Nevada and Mines Gaspé in Quebec.12
- Tungsten: A major source of the world's tungsten supply, with notable deposits in Korea, Australia, and the United States.2
- Zinc: Frequently associated with the hydrothermal processes that create these deposits.2
- Molybdenum: Another metal often deposited by the hydrothermal solutions involved in skarn formation.2
These deposits are characterized by the introduction of silica and iron into the parent rock, resulting in a complex mineralogy that includes various calc-silicates alongside these economically important ore minerals.12