Chapter 11

TOURMALINE ASSOCIATIONS
WITH HYDROTHERMAL ORE DEPOSITS

John F. Slack

U.S. Geological Survey

National Center, MS 954
Reston, VA 20192 U.S.A.

INTRODUCTION

Tourmaline has long been recognized as an important gangue mineral in metallic and
nonmetallic ore deposits (e.g. Lindgren, 1933; Bateman, 1950; Routhier, 1963; Smirnov,
1976; Guilbert and Park, 1986; Pirajno, 1992). This chapter summarizes information on
tourmaline in metallic hydrothermal deposits, excluding clearly magmatic occurrences in
granites and pegmatites. Major groupings of tourmaline-bearing deposits discussed include:
(1) granitoid-related greisens, veins, skarns, replacements, breccia pipes, and porphyries;
(2) veins in volcanic rocks; (3) veins in metamorphic rocks; and (4) various types of
stratabound ores, in both metasedimentary and metavolcanic terranes. Tourmalinites
(stratabound tourmaline-rich rocks) are described in some detail, with an emphasis on field
relations, chemistry, and metallogeny. Compositions of tourmalines from different
hydrothermal deposits are presented on ternary cation diagrams, using analyses compiled
mainly from the literature. Also, available data for stable and radiogenic isotopes in
tourmalines and tourmalinites, within the context of hydrothermal ore-forming processes,
are summarized in an attempt to constrain formation of the tourmaline and the source of the
contained boron. The diversity of tourmaline-bearing deposits discussed here documents
the widespread and important role of hydrothermal boron in crustal ore-forming processes.

Some of the terminology used in this chapter requires explanation. First, the term "ore
deposit," while properly restricted to mineral concentrations that have been or may be of
economic significance, is used here for simplicity in a much broader sense, to encompass
both economic and non-economic mineralization. Second, and more importantly, this
chapter describes tourmaline-related deposits of hydrothermal, not magmatic, origin.
Discussion of tourmaline-related deposits that occur locally within granitoid bodies, such as
tin ± tungsten greisens and veins, is nevertheless included because these deposits probably
formed mainly, if not exclusively, from hydrothermal fluids rather than granitic melts.

Finally a few words about the ore deposits under discussion. Those included here
range from small occurrences of little economic significance to world-class orebodies that
represent major global sources of metals; most of the deposits described have been mined
in the past or are currently being mined. It is beyond the scope of this chapter to specify the
tonnage and grade of each deposit, or to indicate its relative commercial value. However,
wherever possible, large deposits are identified as such. The interested reader is referred to
the cited publications for information on the size, grade, and mining history of individual
ore deposits, as well as on details of their geology, mineralogy, and genesis.

0275-0279/96/0033-0011$05.00