Constrains of physical properties and geochemical characteristics of country rock on skarn tungsten mineralization: a case study of the Longjiaoshan-Fujiashan skarn tungsten deposit in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt

•The differences in the levels of major and trace elements and organic carbon content in the ore-hosting and barren strata of the Longjiaoshan-Fujianshan skarn deposit are negligible. However, the physical properties of limestone (specific surface area, porosity, and permeability) have a significant effect on mineralization.•The strata with high specific surface area, high porosity, and high permeability strata have larger mineralization scales and wider alteration ranges than the low specific surface area, low porosity, and low permeability strata, which is conducive to the formation of larger skarn-type mineralization.•Investigating the influence of different physical properties of the surrounding rock on the skarn mineralization process is of great research value. In particular, for surrounding rocks (i.e., certain lithology: limestone) from skarn deposits, physical properties have a significant influence on mineralization.