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Field measurements of the thermal infrared (TIR) reflectance from drill hole samples proved to be an effective method to map variations in garnet species associated with hydrothermal alteration zonation of the Jiama porphyry-skarn Cu deposit 1# skarn orebody, Tibetan Plateau, China. The TIR mineral spectral information was combined with electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) measurements to provide geological insights on effectively determining (a) garnet end components and providing a format for further research on the type and genesis of the deposit, (b) the significance of the characteristic spectrum of garnet to the variation of mineralization environment, (c) the relationship between the characteristic spectrum of garnet and Fe/Al content, (d) the garnet characteristic spectrum to the economic mineralization. The results suggest that garnet characteristics of the thermal infrared spectrum can be used as an indicator for skarn deposit prospecting.