Porphyry and Skarn Systems: Critical Metal Enrichment, Fluid Evolution and Exploration Implications
A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Deposits".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 746
Special Issue Editors
Interests: porphyry deposit; geochemistry; mineral exploration; economic geology
Interests: skarn deposit; fluid inclusion; economic geology
Interests: magmatism; economic geology; low-temperature thermochronology
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Porphyry and skarn deposits are among the Earth’s most important sources of copper, molybdenum, and gold, and are increasingly recognized as vital suppliers of critical metals for renewable energy technologies, such as cobalt, tungsten, lithium, indium, and rhenium. These mineral systems exemplify the dynamic interplay among magmatic–hydrothermal fluids, crustal lithologies, and structural controls. Recent advances in microanalytical geochemistry, experimental modeling, and geophysical exploration call for an integrated reappraisal of metal transport and deposition mechanisms, as well as their implications for future resource targeting.
For this Special Issue, we invite contributions that highlight recent progress in the following areas:
(1) Critical metal enrichment processes, including enrichment mechanisms of energy-related metals (e.g., Cu, Co, Li, REE) in porphyry–skarn environments, and the role of exotic ligands, magmatic redox conditions, and fluid–rock interactions in metal scavenging and ore formation.
(2) Fluid evolution pathways employing isotopic and geochemical tracers to constrain fluid origin and evolution, supported by microthermometry and LA-ICP-MS fluid inclusion analysis, and investigating transitions from magmatic to hydrothermal stages and triggers for metal precipitation.
(3) Exploration innovations, such as novel geochemical vectors, mineralogical indicators, and geophysical signatures for deep targeting, along with machine learning applications in deposit modeling and resource prediction.
(4) Global case studies and modeling based on field investigations of understudied regions and metallogenic belts, and quantitative 3D modeling of ore-forming processes.
(5) Post-mineralization exhumation and preservation conditions, integrating multiple geo-thermochronological techniques to unravel the relationships between ore formation and subsequent post-mineralization modifications, thereby guiding the identification of high-potential exploration targets.
We look forward to receiving your original research and reviews that will help advance our understanding of these complex and economically crucial systems.
Prof. Dr. Chengbiao Leng
Prof. Dr. Qihai Shu
Prof. Dr. Fan Yang
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- porphyry deposit
- skarn deposit
- critical metals
- fluid inclusions
- geochemistry
- metallogenesis
- mineral explorations
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