Compositional Characteristics of Wolframite in Tin Dposits,Dupangling,Guangxi

Statistical data on major,trace and rare-earth elements in wolframite from the quartz vein-and greisen-type tin deposits in the Dupangling orefield reveal(1)The components in wolframite can be divided into two relatively independent groups:the WO3-Nb-Ta-Sc-REE group,in which WO3 is negatively correlated with the others and the FeO-MnO-Sn group,in which MnO is negatively corre-lated with the other two;(2)In general ,REE fractionation is not significant,reflected mainly by the separation of Eu from other REE‘s.LREE and HREE increase or decrease simultaneously ,with HREE being more variable;(3)Nb,Ta,Sc,REE substitute for W, and Sn may enter into wolframite lattice accompanied by Fe-Mn substitution;(4)In contrast to wolframite in quartz veins,which is poor in REE,Nb,Ta and has high δEu values and LREE/HREE and Nb/Ta ratios,wolframite in greisen is rich in REE, Nb,Ta,Sc and has low δEu values and LREE/HREE and Nb/Ta ratios ;and (5)The contents and ratios of trace elements and REE parti-tioning parameters of wolframite can be used as guide for prospecting.