MINERAL DEPOSIT

JOB IN CHARGE

SKARN
Mining Engineering

Professor: ING. JOSE SALAS MEDINA

SEMESTER: VI

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INDEX
1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 3

2. DEFINITION ............................................................................................................................ 4

3. ORIGIN ................................................................................................................................... 4

4. FORM SKARN DEPOSIT .......................................................................................................... 5

5. STAGES OF FORMATION SKARN ............................................................................................ 5

5.1. METAMORPHISM ISOCHEMICAL ................................................................................... 6

5.2. METASOMATIC AND REPLACING .................................................................................. 6
5.3. ALTERATION RETROGRADE ........................................................................................... 6
6. SKARN DEPOSITS IN PERU ..................................................................................................... 8

6.1. IN THE COASTAL MOUNTAIN RANGE ............................................................................ 8

6.2. IN THE MESOZOIC SEDIMENTARY STRIP OF THE WESTERN CORDILLERA ..................... 8
7. CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................................................... 11

8. BIBLIOGRAPHY..................................................................................................................... 11

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1. INTRODUCTION

The term skarn was introduced by Swedish metamorphic petrologists to designate regional
metamorphic rocks or contact consisting of silicates of Ca, Mg and Fe derivatives protolith limestone
and dolomite in which has metasomáticamente introduced large quantities of Si, Al, Fe and mg. So
skarn means calc-silicate rocks containing minerals, such as, for example, diopside, wollastonite,
actinolite andradita garnet.

However, the term skarn is widely used and is appropriate to refer to related contact halos intrusion
within calcareous deposits sequences. The latter rocks formed by calcite or dolomite become
marble, calc-silicate rocks corneas and / or skarns by the effect of contact metamorphism.

Main production skarn deposits includes: Fe, Cu, W, Zn, Pb, Mo, Sn, U, Au, garnet, talc and
wollastonite.

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2. DEFINITION

Skarn is a reservoir formed in an atmosphere of contact metamorphic rock box with

carbonates. Additionally phenomena metamorphosis contact can detect a strong
metasomatosis on rocks limestone and the pluton. Estemetasomatosis manifested by
intense mobilization of fluids toward the rock pluton cash and cash from the rock was the
pluton.
The part of the skarn which belonged to the intrusive rock is called endoskarn, the part that
belonged to rock exoskarn box. Mineralization may affect both sides, but in the exoskarn is
more common.
Skarns may be formed during regional metamorphism or contact and a variety of
metasomatic processes involving fluids magmatic, metamorphic, meteoric and / or marine
origin. They are adjacent to plutones, along faults and major shear zones in the shallow
geothermal systems in the bottom of the seabed, and less deep in the crust, metamorphic
buried land.

3. ORIGIN

 Formed mainly in calcareous rocks as they can be dissolved or replaced more easily
by hydrothermal fluids.
 Magma ascent forming an aureole of contact metamorphism in the host rocks.
 hydrothermal fluids react with the host rock initiating the formation of a high
temperature skarn (700-600ºC).
 Cooling phase (450-300ºC) where some oxides and sulfides are precipitated.
 Percolation of meteoric waters may occur in some mineral alteration (stage
supergene enrichment).

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4. FORM SKARN DEPOSIT

The type skarn mineral deposits are unevenly may form languages mena extending along
any flat structure (stratification, joints, faults, etc.)
Distribution within the contact aureole is poorly defined because the orebodies may end
abruptly due to some structure.

Fig. 1: Shape depot skarn

5. STAGES OF FORMATION SKARN

There are different mineral assemblages skarn deposits in, and their formation processes
are similar, site of an intrusion, magmatic and hydrothermal activity at different levels in
the cortex.
These are explained by the following processes:
a. PROGRADE SKARN:
− isochemical metamorphism

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− And metasomatic replacement

b. RETROGRADE SKARN:
− retrograde alteration

5.1. METAMORPHISM ISOCHEMICAL

It involves the recrystallization of the host rocks of the intrusion; thus marbles produced
from limestone, corneal from shales, etc. If impure limestones can be generated are calcium
silicates and magnesium, which corneal calc silicate, which may contain some minerals
economic, such as talc and wollastonite interest will be formed. The process can increase
the fragility of rocks and hence its permeability.

5.2. METASOMATIC AND REPLACING

Infiltration of hydrothermal magmatic rocks coming fluids in contact with igneous rocks
leads to the transformation of carbonate rocks in skarns and modification of corneal
produced in the previous stage. It is a prograde and metasomatic metamorphism takes
place at temperatures between 400 and 800 ° C, during which the formation of the ore takes
place. New minerals that appear as a result of this process are dominantly Anhydrous. This
stadium, like the previous one, is most important and highest grade the greater the depth
at which it occurs.

5.3. ALTERATION RETROGRADE

It is a stage associated cooling pluton, and involves the development of an alteration by

hydration prior skarn minerals and parts of the intrusion, due to the circulation of rainwater.
Thus, minerals such as actinolite, epidote, chlorite, etc. appear The temperature decrease
further results in the precipitation of sulphides. Contrary to what happens in the earlier
stages, this stage is more important the smaller the depth at which it occurs.

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Fig.2: Stages of formation of a skarn

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6. SKARN DEPOSITS IN PERU

The skarn deposits in Peru are formed mainly in the Mesozoic sedimentary strip of the inter-
ridge in contact stocks intrusive tertiary, of intermediate composition (diorite, quartz
diorite, granodiorite, monzonite Quartz Monzonite) with limestone Mesozoic (Triassic -
Jurasico, Cretaceous).
The skarn deposits is of great importance in the production of metallic minerals Peru.
Part of the large production polymetallic (zinc, lead, copper, silver) comes from these
deposits skarn emplaced in Mesozoic Sedimentary Gaza in the Cordillera Interandina.

6.1. IN THE COASTAL MOUNTAIN RANGE

 MARCONA
Marcona iron deposit is located in the central Peruvian coast in the Marcona district,
province of Nazca in Ica region.

6.2. IN THE MESOZOIC SEDIMENTARY STRIP OF THE WESTERN CORDILLERA

 ANTAMINA
This type skarn deposit lies directly to the north of the Cordillera Huayhuash in the province
of San Marcos, Ancash department.
 RAURA
Raura mining district has an area of 4 km x 10 km, with a depth of 600m, it is in the district
of Cauri province of Lauricocha, department of Huanuco at an altitude ranging from 4349
to 5300 meters.
 ATACOCHA
Atacocha the site is located 15 km NE of the city of Cerro de Pasco, belonging to the province
of Pasco, the district of Yanacancha, has an altitude of 4000 meters.
 MILPO
This site is housed in the Gaza Sedimentary Mesozoic of the Western Cordillera, between
Tingo and Huallaga rivers in the district of Yanacancha province of Cerro de Pasco, 16 km
NE of the city of Cerro de Pasco, at an altitude of 3900 m.
 TINTAYA

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The Tintaya copper deposit belongs to the southern copper belt, located in the Faja
Intercordillerana.Esta located in the district of Yauri, Espinar province, Cusco department.
In the Eastern Cordillera

 COPPERY
This deposit is located in the eastern mountain range, in the department of Huancavelica.

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7. CONCLUSIONS
 Mineral deposits are deposits Skarn metasomatic replacement characterized by the
presence of calc-silicate minerals faneríticos coarse, Ca, Fe, Mg and Mn. selectively replaces
carbonate rocks and may be associated with metallization of W, Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Fe-Ca-Ag
and Au lower. The host rock is typically limestone, limestone, dolomite or limestone clastic
sedimentary rocks.

 The skarn deposits have law type, tonnage and variable morphology.

 The skarn deposits are of great importance in polymetallic production (zinc, lead, copper,
silver) in Peru, these are set in the sedimentary strip Mesozoic in the Cordillera Interandina
as: Antamina, Raura, Milpo, Tintaya and Cobriza.

8. BIBLIOGRAPHY

 http://www.cec.uchile.cl/~vmaksaev/DEPOSITOS%20DEL%20TIPO%20SKARN.pdf
 http://www.proexplo.com.pe/2013/programa/cursos_cortos/Yacimientos%20y%2
0Metalogenia/DEPOSITOS%20TIPO%20SKARN.pdf

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