Pegmatite

Description

A coarse-grain granite that is composed of feldspar and quartz with some muscovite or biotite. Sometimes pegmatites may contains gem crystals (topaz, tourmaline, beryl, fluorite, apatite, garnet, lepidolite) and rare elements (uranium, tungsten, tantalum, boron, beryllium and lithium). Some pottery books formerly used the term 'pegmatite' as a synonym for Cornish granite and china stone.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Cornish granite; china stone; pegmatita (Esp.); pegmatito (Port.); Pegmatit (Deut.); pegmatiet (Ned.)

Authority

• Robert Fournier, Illustrated Dictionary of Practical Pottery, Chilton Book Company, Radnor, PA, 1992

• Frank A. Lent, Trade names and Descriptions of Marbles, Limestones, Sandstones, Granites and Other Building Stones Quarried in the United States Canada and other Countries., Stone Publishing Co, New York, 1925