Tungsten and tin deposits in South China: Temporal and spatial distribution, metallogenic models and prospecting directions

South China is one of the most important tungsten-tin metallogenic areas in the world. Based on the up-to-date geological and chronological data of more than 130 deposits of economic significance, this paper preliminarily summarized the main types and temporal-spatial distribution characteristics of the large-scale tungsten and tin mineralization related to granite in South China. The statistical results show that skarn and quartz-vein types are the most important tungsten metallogenic styles, while skarn and cassiterite-sulfide types are the most important tin metallogenic styles in South China. Tungsten and tin mineralization related to granite in South China are multi-aged, but the largest scale of mineralization is developed within the Yanshanian period. Tungsten mineralization, the majority of which represented by the Nanling and Ganbei metallogenic belts, mainly formed from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (160 ∼ 120 Ma), while the most important tin mineralization formed in the Late Cretaceous (110 ∼ 80 Ma, peaking at 90 ∼ 80 Ma) and Late Jurassic (160 ∼ 150 Ma) as represented by the Youjiang Basin and Nanling metallogenic belt, respectively. The combined occurrence of different mineralization styles or metal assemblages in individual deposit and sometimes within the same orefield is the most striking feature of granite-related tungsten-tin deposits in South China, and a comprehensive understanding of their patterns are of great significance to guide ore prospecting. To address this issue, this paper proposed several combined metallogenic models and prospecting directions for tungsten-tin mineralization in South China based on recent researches and exploration progresses from typical examples including the Yaogangxian, Chuankou, Maoping, Shizhuyuan, Dachang and Gejiu deposits or orefields. In addition, conventional petrological and mineralogical characteristics that differentiates tungsten and tin granites are summarized, and on this basis the chemical composition of both melt inclusion and early stage fluid inclusion from granitic magmatic-hydrothermal systems were tested as new index to evaluate the tungsten and tin mineralization potential of granitic system.