Abstract
Many rare metals used in a range of in high-technology and clean energy applications are derived from granitic pegmatites, but debate continues about the origin of these rocks. It is clear that som...
Highlights
Granitic pegmatites are important sources of rare metals, such as Ta, Nb, Li, Cs and the rare earth elements (REE), that are being increasingly used in new and green technologies
Using wholerock geochemistry, detailed petrography and mineral chemistry from pegmatites across the Lewisian Gneiss Complex, with a particular focus on rare-metal-type pegmatites found in the Harris Granulite Belt (HGB) on South Harris, we aim to test the hypothesis that in the absence of a parental granite, small-scale partial melting of local crust can produce ‘standard’ granitic pegmatites, and rare-metal pegmatites
Other monazite grains within muscovite and fractured garnet feature reaction rims; their isotopic other pegmatites in the Lewisian Gneiss Complex; rather it seems that rare-metal pegmatites and standard biotite–magnetite pegmatites in the southern parts of the Lewisian Gneiss Complex formed at the same time
Summary
Granitic pegmatites are important sources of rare metals, such as Ta, Nb, Li, Cs and the rare earth elements (REE), that are being increasingly used in new and green technologies. Workers were divided on the origin of pegmatites; some favoured a purely igneous origin (De Beaumont, 1847; Hitchcock, 1883), whilst others relied on hydrothermal processes to explain their formation (Hunt, 1871). It was Brögger (1890) who first suggested that a complex interplay of igneous and hydrothermal processes is responsible for their formation.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
