Where is Pegmatite found?
Pegmatite
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Open the appPegmatite occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Pegmatite
Brazil
Minas Gerais state is world-renowned for its pegmatites, producing significant quantities of tourmaline, beryl, topaz, and other gemstones, as well as industrial minerals.
United States
Maine (e.g., Mount Mica, Dunton Quarry), California (e.g., Pala District), North Carolina, and Colorado are known for their pegmatite occurrences, yielding gemstones and industrial minerals.
Afghanistan/Pakistan
The Hindu Kush region is famous for its pegmatites, producing high-quality tourmaline, beryl, and spodumene.
Madagascar
Known for a wide variety of pegmatite minerals, including beryl, tourmaline, spodumene, and rare earth minerals.
Canada
Manitoba (Tanco Mine) is a significant producer of lithium (spodumene) from pegmatites. Ontario and Quebec also have numerous pegmatite occurrences.
Russia
The Ural Mountains and Siberia host numerous pegmatite fields with diverse mineralogy.
Australia
Western Australia has significant lithium-bearing pegmatites (e.g., Greenbushes).
Collecting tips
- Look for Granitic Intrusions. Pegmatites are often found in the vicinity of larger granitic batholiths or plutons, representing the final, volatile-rich melts.
- Identify Dikes and Veins. Pegmatites commonly occur as dikes or veins cutting across older country rock. Look for sharp contacts with the surrounding rock.
- Search for Coarse Grains. The most distinctive feature is the exceptionally large crystal size. Look for outcrops where individual mineral grains are clearly visible and large.
- Check for Rare Minerals. The presence of unusual or rare minerals (e.g., tourmaline, beryl, garnet, lepidolite) in large crystals is a strong indicator of a pegmatite.
- Examine Weathered Zones. Weathering can sometimes expose the large crystals more clearly, as softer minerals erode away.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Variable, often light (white, pink, grey)
- Luster:
- Vitreous to pearly
- Streak:
- White (for quartz and feldspar, main components)
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