Vein-stockwork deposits of tin and tungsten occur in a wide variety of structural styles that include individual veins, multiple vein systems, vein and fracture stockworks, breccias, and replacement zones in altered wall rocks adjacent to veins. The deposits generally occur in or near granitic intrusions which have been emplaced at relatively shallow levels (1 to 4 km) in the Earth’s crust. The associated intrusions are highly fractionated and typically enriched in lithophile elements such as Rb, Li, Be, Sn, W, Mo, Ta, Nb, U, Th, and REEs, and volatile elements such as F and B.

Hydrothermal alteration of wall rocks associated with vein-stockwork tin and tungsten deposits is commonly greisen-type alteration that is characterized by Li-, F-, and/or B-bearing minerals such as topaz, fluorite, tourmaline, and various F- and/or Li-rich micas. Vein-stockwork deposits with extensively greisenized wall rocks that contain disseminated tin and/or tungsten minerals have been referred to as “greisen” deposits (Shcherba, 1970; Taylor, 1979; Reed, 1986). Such deposits are included in this review as vein-stockwork deposits; “greisen” is used primarily in reference to a type of alteration rather than as a type of deposit.