igneous
Pegmatite
Igneous Pegmatite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness varies by mineral content (6-7 Mohs), coarse-grained texture with exceptionally large crystals, vitreous to pearly luster, and variable colors including white, pink, and grey.
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Physical properties
Hardness varies by mineral content (6-7 Mohs), coarse-grained texture with exceptionally large crystals, vitreous to pearly luster, and variable colors including white, pink, and grey.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the water-rich residual melts of cooling magma chambers, allowing oversized crystals to grow slowly during the final stages of crystallization.
Uses & applications
A major source of rare-earth elements, lithium, gemstones like tourmaline and beryl, and industrial minerals like feldspar and mica.
Geological facts
Pegmatites can host some of the largest individual mineral crystals ever found on Earth, sometimes exceeding several meters in length.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its extremely coarse, interlocking crystal matrix containing quartz, feldspar, and mica. Commonly found globally in ancient mountain belts and continental shields.
