PEGMATITES

Pegmatites are very coarse-grained igneous or metamorphic rocks, generally of granitic composition. Chemically, the bulk composition of most pegmatites is close to that of granite. Main constituents- microcline, orthoclase ,mica and quartz. Sodalite,apatite,sphene,zircon along with some oxides of Zr,Ti,Li,Rb,B,F as well as REE are also present. The size of crystals (mica, microcline) in pegmatites can reach upto 10m.

Pegmatite ore deposits

Formed during the Pegmatitic/Aqueo-igneous stage of crystalliztion. It is a transition between a strictly igneous stage & a hydrothermal stage. The late residual magma left in the last stage of crystallization contains- low melting silicates, water and other low melting compounds & fluids. These fluids consists of liquid CO2 ,compounds of B,F,Cl,S,P and other rare elements. They aid crystallization by 1. Decreasing the viscosity of the magma 2. Lowering the freezing point of minerals.

Classification
According to the mineral paragenesis 1. Simple pegmatites- Simple mineralogy ,consist of one or two minerals ,no internal zoning 2. Complex pegmatites- complex mineralogy with many rare minerals, display a concentric internal zoning. Internal zoning can be Purely textural- fine grained borders with coarse grained core. Purely mineralogical- plagioclase+kfeldspar+biotite along the margin, albite core and quartz rich intermediate zone.

Why internal zoning develops ?

Three hypotheses have been put forward 1. Fractional distillation- the minerals crystallize and precipitate according to Bowens reaction series during stages of magmatic crystallization. 2. Deposition along open channels from solutions of changing compositions. 3. Third hypothesis- 2 stage model (a) crystallization of a simple pegmatite & (b) partial/complete replacement of pegmatite as hot aqueous solutions pass through it.

Bikita Pegmatite
An example of zoned pegmatite from Zimbabwe. The Bikita Pegmatite, which is about 2360-2650 Ma old. It is one of the world's largest Li-Cs-Be deposits. The main pegmatite is about 2 km long and 45-60 m thick. Contacts between different zones may be sharp or gradational. Inner zones may cut across or replace outer zones, but not vice versa, so that inside the wall zones at Bikita no two cross-cuts expose the same zonal sequence. The crystals in complex pegmatites can be very large and at Bikita, the spodumene crystals are commonly 3 m long. The minerals of major economic importance were petalite, lepidolite, spodumene, pollucite, beryl, eucryptite and amblygonite.

Border zone Wall zones

Selvage of fine-grained albite, quartz, muscovite Mica band. Coarse muscovite, some quartz.Hanging wall feldspar zone. Large microcline crystals Petalite-feldspar zone Spodumene zone (a) massive (b) mixed spodumene, quartz, plagioclase and lepidolite Pollueite zone. Massive pollucite with 40% quartz Feldspar-quartz zone. Virtually devoid of lithium minerals 'All mix' zone. Mieroline, lepidolite, qual1z

Intermediate zones

Core zones

Massive lepidolite (a) high grade core, nearly pure lepidolite (b) lepidolite-quartz subzone Lepidolite-quartz shell 'Cobble' zone. Rounded masses of lepidolite in an albite matrix Fe1dspathie lepidolite zone Beryl zone. Albite, lepidolite, beryl Footwall feldspar. Albite, muscovite, quartz

Intermediate zones

Wall zones

Mode of occurence

Pegmatites may occur as Dikes, sills, sheets, small lacoliths and other irregular bodies. Occur as dikes in competent rocks and as lenticular mass in incompetent host. May occur singly or in swarms forming Pegmatite fields. Pegmatite fields in turn may be strung out in a linear fashion to form pegmatite belts. Eg.- pegmatite belt of the Mongolian Altai, about 450 km long and 20-70 km broad, which contains over 20 pegmatite fields.

Economic aspects of Pegmatitic Ore Deposits

Pegmatites of economic importance are mostly assosiated with felsic igneous bodies such as granitic or quartz diorite rocks. The chief economic minerals of pegmatites are feldspar, mica, quartz, beryl, pollucite, bertrandite, corundum, gemstones, spodumene, lepidolite, amblygonite, petalite, tantalite, columbite, wolframite, feberite, scheelite, molybdenite and uraninite.

Simple pegmatites- source of Quartz, Feldspar, Mica. Complex pegmatites- The intermediate zone of complex pegmatites contains variety of economic minerals precious and semi-precious metals. chief industrial minerals- corundum, cryolite, REE, quartz, mica, etc. chief metals- tin, tungsten, molybdenum, uranium, etc. The contact of intermediate zone with outer zone formation of book mica. Gemstones beryl, topaz, tourmaline, optical grade flourite crystal, peizoelectric quartz crystal, etc.

Occurrence

Bihar Pegmatite Belt, Hazaribagh, Munger, Gaya. Nellore Belt in Andhra Pradesh. Bhilwara Ajmer-Jaipur Udaipr district in Rajasthan.

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