A) Lithium-bearing minerals
The most important pegmatitic lithium-bearing minerals
are; Spodumene (LiAlSi2O6) is a pyroxene bearing
monoclinic system. Lepidolite is a lithium-bearing
mica and amblygonite is a lithium-bearing phosphate.
Lithium-bearing minerals have vast applications for
preparation of light alloys, nuclear energy, vitamin
preparation plus chemical and battery industry.
Beryllium-bearing minerals
Pegmatites are the most important source for
beryllium-bearing minerals. 90% of beryllium is used
for hard and resistant alloys. Russia produces more
than 70% of the world’s beryllium. Brazil, Argentina,
Zimbabwe and Rwanda are in next ranks, respectively.
The most important beryllium-bearing pegmatitic
minerals are; beryl, berylionite, bertrandite and
chrysoberyl, and the most important pegmatitic mica is
muscovite or white mica. This mineral is in form of
flakes. Mica flakes are used for electronic
consumption, optic and thermal insulation works and
electricity current conductivity, but mica flakes as
filler is used for following cases; cement, asphalt,
dye, concrete decoration and drilling mud. The United
States is the biggest producer of white mica in the
world. Russia, India and South Korea are in the next
Mineral bearing trace elements
More than 300 minerals comprise trace elements have
been recognized in nature. Trace elements are used
Raw petroleum refining, glass and ceramics industry,
color TV picture tubes, preparation of permanent
magnets, optical powers and alloys.
The most important minerals of this group is monazite,
zinotaim, zircon, allanite and baidelite.
The most significant origin for alkali feldspars is
deep pegmatites. More than 50% of produced alkali
feldspars are used in glass industry. The role of
this mineral in glass preparation is to increase glass
ductile resistance and prevention from
Meanwhile, it is important as dye for ceramics, tiles,
tyre and soap production.
Granitic intrusive massive has usually 1 to 4% water.
At early and main stage of magma crystallization, this
amount of water together with volatile materials is
produced and accumulated at the last stage of this
process. Remaining dilute part of magma is full of
volatile materials. In fact, it is full of elements
that have gone out from magma main mineral lattice and
reached the last phase of crystallization. It is due
to big and small radius of ions. This hot and dilute
magma upraises and goes toward intrusive massive and
injected in rocks’ fractures, pores of intrusive
massive and even host rocks. In these pores, magma
solidifies between temperatures of 550 to 650C. This
phenomenon is due to decrement of pressure and
temperature. Because of magma dilution and nuclear
volume decrement, the crystals of crystallized
minerals are often big and can grow easily and freely
without any contact with neighboring crystals. The
final product of this process is a big-crystal rock
holding very big crystals and comprising rare
elements. The growth rate of some of these minerals
is up to 30cm, daily. The following important
minerals originate from pegmatites;
Lithium and beryllium-bearing minerals, micas,
minerals holding rare elements, valuable and tungsten
minerals, feldspars, minerals bearing tin plus uranium
and niobium. On the other hand, some of these
minerals, such as beryllium-bearing minerals
exclusively originate from pegmatitic ore deposits,
and there are no other sources for them in nature. In
the meantime, pegmatites are paradise for
mineralogists and those interested in collecting
natural decorative crystals and jewels.
Pegmatites are classified to four groups as follows;
Low-depth , intermediate-depth, high-depth and very
Low-depth or porous pegmatites
These types of pegamtites are formed in the depth of
5.1 to 5.3m from ground surface. Due to low pressure,
a lot of rooms are available among the crystals. This
group includes of valuable minerals like, beryl, topaz
and seldom Li, Sn and trace elements.
Hypabyssal or trace elements bearing pegmatites
These types of pegamtites are formed in the depth of
5.3 to 7m from ground surface. They include trace
elements like, Li, Rb, Cs, Be, Nb-Ta, Hf, Zr, Ge,B, F,
The economic value of these pegmatites are more than
Pegmetites of high depths or simple pegmatites or
Pegmetites are formed in depth of 7 to 11km from
ground surface. The majority of them, includes two
types of micas and accessory minerals, like garnet,
tourmaline, kyanite, zircon, apatite and monazite.
This group of minerals appears in form of cavity
fillings and fractures. They are distributed, vastly.
Economic potential of the mentioned group is low and
also is hardly exploited as economic reserve of
uranium and trace elements.
Pegmetites of very high depths or ceramics pegmatites
These pegmatites are formed in the depth of more than
11km from ground surface, and are usually suitable for
