Physical properties of skarns

Abstract

A petrophysical laboratory study was carried out on samples of skarn, lightly mineralized skarn ores, associated calc silicates, carbonate host rocks, intrusive granitoids and country rocks from mineralized areas at King Island, Duckmaloi and Mt Moss. The skarn categories were found to be relatively dense and porous, and to have some radiometric character in the form of low potassium content. Rocks from the skarn environments had variable magnetic susceptibility and remanence properties that were not generally diagnostic. Electrical resistivities of skarns, although somewhat lower than the other rock types, tended to be high but this property was not distinctive. Induced polarization was, as expected, sensitive to the presence of minor sulphides. Thermal con- ductivities could not differentiate the rock types. Acoustic ultrasonic velocities were high for most rocks and could not be used to distinguish types.