GY 311 LECTURE SERIES

METALLIC DEPOSITS ASSOCIATED WITH PEGMATITES

Pegmatites are very coarse-grained rocks that occur as dyke or lensoid bodies formed by
igneous or metamorphic processes. Pegmatites vary from a few metres to hundred’s of
metres long and a few centimetres to over 200 metres wide. Some crystals in pegmatites
may be up to several metres in length.

Pegmatites are formed in the temperature range between 700o and 250oC. Most form in
deep-seated high-pressure environment.

Pegmatites formed by metamorphic differentiation and related processes are generally

fewer and smaller in size than igneous pegmatites.

Igneous pegmatites are formed from volatile-rich residual magma fractions left after the
main magmatic mass has solidified. The final residual melts are usually rich in silica,
alumina, H2O, halogens (F, Cl) alkalies (K, Na, Li, etc.) and valuable lithophile and other
elements (e.g. U, Sn, W, Ta, Nb, Th, Li, REE etc.) not readily accommodated in the
common igneous rock forming silicate minerals (e.g. pyroxenes, olivine, amphiboles,
quartz) of Bowen’s reaction series. They are commonly associated with plutonic or
hypabyssal intrusions from which volatile fractions could not readily escape.

Igneous pegmatites have been and are still important sources of Be, Li, Rb, Cs, Ta, Nb
and to a lesser extent U, Th, REE, Mo, Sn and W.

Pegmatites are also major sources of industrial minerals such as muscovite mica, feldspar,
quartz, and a wide variety of gemstones. Most gemstones are associated with pegmatites
of metamorphic origin.

Classification

Pegmatites are classified mineralogically and genetically as:

1. Simple pegmatites and, 2. Complex pegmatites

 Simple pegmatites have simple mineralogy and no well-developed zoning. They are
generally homogeneous in mineralogical and textural composition.

They consist mainly of coarse-grained quartz and feldspars and micas or lithium
minerals. Simple pegmatites are formed by metamorphic processes or simple short-
lived igneous activities.

 Complex pegmatites have well-developed mineral zonation and complex or variable

mineralogy. They form mainly from igneous processes rather than metamorphic
processes.

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 Formation of complex pegmatites generally requires long, continuous period of slow
crystallization, whereby the first formed minerals react progressively with changing
residual pegmatitic fluid.

Textural and mineralogical variations in complex pegmatites define concentric zones

or shells with gradational and rarely abrupt contacts. The zones are commonly
designated, from outside inward as the border zone, the wall zone, the intermediate
zone, and core. All four zones are rarely present in any single pegmatite.

Border zone: generally thin. Most common minerals: fine-grained feldspar, quartz,
and muscovite. Accessory minerals include garnet, tourmaline, beryl etc.

Wall zone: has similar minerals to B zone but is thicker and contain minerals of
economic value, mica, beryl etc.

Intermediate zone: Normally contains the largest accumulation of metallic minerals.

Dominant minerals include coarse-grained feldspar, quartz and micas. Valuable
minerals of U, Th, Li, Ce, Nb, Ta and rare-earth metals (REE) are usually
concentrated in this zone.

Core: Commonly consists of massive barren white quartz with feldspar or quartz.
Other minerals include tourmaline, spoudumene etc. The core is usually barren of
metallic minerals with a few exceptions.

Fig.1. Sketch diagram showing mineralogical or textural zonation encountered in complex pegmatites.

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