If asked to name a type of unaltered igneous rock with economic potential, many geologists would respond, “pegmatite.” And, if they didn’t know already, the economic geologists among them would be gratified to learn that a commonly used classification system of pegmatites is a chemical one (LCT for Li-Cs-Ta pegmatites, and NYF for Nb-Y-F pegmatites), and that pegmatites concentrate more elements of the periodic table to mineable grade than any other igneous rock, not to mention their additional considerable gem (tourmaline, beryl, topaz, garnet) and ceramic (feldspar, quartz, muscovite) potential. Economically attractive, certainly, but with their bewilderingly large range of...

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