The trace element composition of scheelite from 19 well-documented reduced and oxidized skarn systems was measured by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to establish chemical criteria for the application of scheelite as an efficient indicator mineral for mineral exploration targeting. In both reduced and oxidized skarns systems, scheelite forms during prograde and retrograde stages. Prograde scheelite is texturally and chemically zoned, whereas retrograde scheelite is predominantly texturally homogeneous but may display chemical zonation. Five chondrite-normalized REE patterns, displaying both positive and negative Eu anomalies, are identified in the data: (i) steep and (ii) shallow negative slopes, (iii) concave, (iv) flat to slightly concave, and (v) convex shapes. The different REE patterns are related to variable fluid salinity and association with co-precipitated garnet or clinopyroxene. Results of partial least square-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) show that scheelite composition varies according to skarn redox, intrusion composition, and metal association. These results support the fact that the trace element composition of scheelite is in part a function of igneous rock composition and oxygen fugacity, in addition to salinity, co-genetic minerals, and composition of the mineralizing fluids. Scheelite from reduced and oxidized skarns can be discriminated from those from orogenic and intrusion-related gold deposits due to their lower Sr and higher Mo, Ta, and Nb concentrations. Scheelite trace element composition investigated by PLS-DA is effective in discriminating different deposit types, supporting the use of scheelite as an indicator mineral for exploration targeting.

通过激光烧蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱法 (LA-ICP-MS) 测量了来自 19 个有充分记录的还原和氧化矽卡岩系统的白钨矿的微量元素组成，以确定白钨矿作为有效指示矿物的应用的化学标准矿产勘探目标。在还原和氧化矽卡岩系统中，白钨矿在顺行和逆行阶段形成。顺行白钨矿具有结构和化学分带，而逆行白钨矿主要在结构上均质，但可能显示化学分带。数据中确定了五种球粒陨石归一化 REE 模式，显示正和负 Eu 异常：(i) 陡峭和 (ii) 浅负斜坡，(iii) 凹形，(iv) 平坦到略微凹形，以及 (v)凸形状。不同的 REE 模式与可变的流体盐度以及与共沉淀石榴石或单斜辉石的关联有关。偏最小二乘判别分析 (PLS-DA) 的结果表明，白钨矿成分根据矽卡岩氧化还原、侵入成分和金属结合而变化。这些结果支持这样一个事实，即白钨矿的微量元素组成部分是火成岩组成和氧逸度的函数，此外还有盐度、共生矿物和成矿流体的组成。来自还原和氧化矽卡岩的白钨矿可以与来自造山和侵入相关金矿床的白钨矿区分开来，因为它们的 Sr 含量较低，Mo、Ta 和 Nb 浓度较高。PLS-DA 研究的白钨矿微量元素组成可有效区分不同的矿床类型，