Objective Skarn deposits are one of the most abundant types of ore deposit in the Earth's crust and are a major target for mineral exploration in many metallogenic belts across China. Deposit models serve as graphical representations of metallogenic theories and as indispensable tools for guiding exploration efforts and assessing undiscovered mineral resources. Therefore, the deposit model of skarn deposits has received significant attention. However, systematic summaries of recent research progress are relatively limited.

Methods A comprehensive collection of domestic and international data on skarn deposits is undertaken, combined with the author’s over 20 years of research, to analyze the progress of research on skarn deposit models.

Results The study outlines the global research history and primary types of skarn deposits, summarizes their mineral assemblages, zoning patterns, and controlling factors, and reviews the current state of research on skarn copper−polymetallic deposits associated with porphyry systems, distal skarn deposits, and those formed by the alteration of igneous rocks. This study uses skarn deposits from the Middle to Lower Yangtze River region and the middle section of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt in China as a case study to develop two metallogenic models: an oxidative skarn copper−iron−gold deposit model and a reductive skarn tungsten−gold−antimony deposit model.

Conclusions These two metallogenic system deposit models broaden the direction of mineral exploration, provide insights into future research on skarn deposit models, and offer references for breakthroughs in exploration strategies.