a light-colored, coarsegrained, intrusive igneous rock, usually granitic, containing large crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica, and sometimes rare minerals: typically found in fissures of other igneous rocks
Origin of pegmatite; from Classical Greek p?gma (gen. p?gmatos), a framework, something fastened together (; from Indo-European base an unverified form pa?-: see fang) + -ite: from its texture
A coarse-grained granite, sometimes rich in rare elements such as uranium, tungsten, and tantalum.
Origin of pegmatiteGreek p&emacron;gma, p&emacron;gmat-, something fastened together (from p&emacron;gnunai, to fasten; see pag- in Indo-European roots) + –ite1.
- A coarsely crystalline igneous or plutonic rock composed primarily of feldspar and quartz, normally with muscovite and/or biotite mica. Often contains other minerals, which may be of economic importance. Pegmatite is chemically identical to granite, but has a much coarser crystal structure. Common colors are gray, white, and pink. Pegmatite is quarried for decorative stone and as a source of beryllium, columbium and tantalum when these are present. Gemstones of the quartz/silicate family may also be found in pegmatites.