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What is Pegmatite?



Definition

Definition
Pegmatite rock is a holocrystalline, intrusive igneous rock which is composed of interlocking phaneritic crystals

History

Origin
-

Discoverer
R. J. Hauy

Etymology
From Greek pegma, pegmat which means- thing joined together + -ite

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group
Plutonic

Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Pegmatitic

Color
Black, Brown, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, Red, Rust, Silver, White, Yellow

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
Yes

Wind Resistant
No

Acid Resistant
No

Appearance
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Jewelry, Source of corundum, tourmalines, beryls and topaz

Types

Types
Granite Pegmatite, Gabbro Pegmatite and Diorite Pegmatite

Features
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Source of corundum, tourmalines, beryls and topaz

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

Formation
Pegmatite rock is holocrystalline, intrusive igneous rock which is formed by partial melting and dewatering during the process of metamorphism.

Composition

Mineral Content
Apatite, Beryl, Feldspar, Fluorite, Garnet, Lepidolite, Quartz, Silica, Spodumene, Topaz

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, Phosphorus Pentoxide

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
7

Grain Size
Medium to Coarse Grained

Fracture
Conchoidal

Streak
White

Porosity
Less Porous

Luster
Grainy, Pearly and Vitreous

Compressive Strength
178.54 N/mm2 19

Cleavage
Perfect

Toughness
2.1

Specific Gravity
2.6-2.63

Transparency
Translucent to Opaque

Density
2.6-2.65 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.79 kJ/Kg K 17

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
China, India, Iran, Japan, Nepal, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea

Africa
South Africa

Europe
Austria, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada

South America
Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>
<< Reserves

Igneous Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Pegmatite

What is Pegmatite? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Pegmatite i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Pegmatite include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Pegmatite is 178.54 N/mm2. Streak of Pegmatite is white while its cleavage is perfect. Luster of Pegmatite is grainy, pearly and vitreous and its fracture is conchoidal. Pegmatite is translucent to opaque in nature. Know all about Pegmatite, What is Pegmatite, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.

Know about Composition of Pegmatite

What is Pegmatite composed of? Get to know about composition of Pegmatite here. Pegmatite definition gives information about the Formation of Pegmatite and its composition.The composition of Pegmatite can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Pegmatite rock includes Apatite, Beryl, Feldspar, Fluorite, Garnet, Lepidolite, Quartz, Silica, Spodumene, Topaz and The compound content of Pegmatite rock includes Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, Phosphorus Pentoxide. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Pegmatite rock in next section.

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