Cassiterite deposition induced by cooling of a single-phase magmatic fluid: Evidence from SEM-CL and fluid inclusion LA-ICP-MS analysis

Cassiterite (SnO2), the principal ore mineral of tin, is mainly formed in granite-related magmatic hydrothermal systems. The precipitation mechanism of this mineral in hydrothermal veins is still debated due to lack of direct constraints on this specific mineralization process. Here, we present a detailed reconstruction of fluid evolution history from a high-grade cassiterite-quartz vein in the Weilasituo Sn-polymetallic deposit, North China, based on combined SEM-CL imaging with fluid inclusion microthermometry, Raman and LA-ICP-MS analysis of intergrown cassiterite and gangue minerals.