PEGMATITIZATION Meaning and
Definition
-
Pegmatitization refers to the geological process by which pegmatites are formed. Pegmatites are igneous rocks that are characterized by their exceptionally large crystal size, often exceeding several centimeters or even meters in diameter. They typically occur as lenses or veins within other rocks, such as granite or gneiss.
During the pegmatitization process, a variety of factors are believed to contribute to the formation of these unique rocks. One of the key factors is the presence of water-rich fluids that infiltrate the host rock, carrying with them mineral-rich solutions. These fluids often originate from the partial melting of surrounding rocks, as well as from the exsolution of fluids from cooling magma bodies.
As these fluids move through the host rock, they undergo a cooling and depressurization process, causing them to deposit their dissolved minerals. The slow cooling of the fluids allows for the slow growth of crystals, resulting in the oversized grains that are characteristic of pegmatites. This slow growth process also often leads to the formation of uncommon minerals and gemstones, as well as rare metal deposits that can be found within pegmatites.
Overall, pegmatitization is a geological process that involves the infiltration of water-rich fluids, the deposition of dissolved minerals, and the slow growth of oversized crystals. It is responsible for the formation of pegmatites, which are appreciated not only for their unique crystal size but also for their mineralogical and economic significance.
Common Misspellings for PEGMATITIZATION
- oegmatitization
- legmatitization
- 0egmatitization
- pwgmatitization
- psgmatitization
- pdgmatitization
- prgmatitization
- p4gmatitization
- p3gmatitization
- pefmatitization
- pevmatitization
- pebmatitization
- pehmatitization
- peymatitization
- petmatitization
- pegnatitization
- pegkatitization
- pegjatitization
- pegmztitization
- pegmstitization
Etymology of PEGMATITIZATION
The word "pegmatitization" is derived from the noun "pegmatite", which refers to a specific type of igneous rock. The noun "pegmatite" was coined in the early 19th century and is derived from the Greek word "pegma", meaning "something fastened together" or "something that has been assembled". This is because pegmatite rock typically consists of large crystals that appear to be "fastened" or "assembled" together in a coarse-grained texture. The suffix "-ization" is added to the word "pegmatite" to form the verb "pegmatitization", which refers to the process of forming or transforming into pegmatite rock.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
