One of the challenges in exploring for skarn mineralization is that barren skarn may not give any indication that mineralization is close by. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate titanite as an indicator mineral for tungsten-skarn mineralization. Titanite from samples of scheelite mineralization from the Risby, Ray Gulch and Mactung deposits was analysed by electron microprobe. The titanite is fluorine-rich and some grains contain anomalous tin, but in most grains metal concentrations are at or below the detection limits of the microprobe (~20-50 ppm). Future work is planned to analyze titanite by LA ICP-MS to determine, in particular, the W-Mo-Sn contents to further evaluate the use of titanite as an indicator mineral for W skarn exploration.
