Classification and mineralization potential of the pegmatites of the Eastern Brazilian Pegmatite Province

Abstract

The potential for Nb, Ta, Li, Sn-mineralization as well as for precious stones for the Eastern Brazilian Pegmatite Province (EBPP) has been evaluated on the basis of 530 K-feldspar and 550 muscovite major and trace element analyses. The EBPP is situated mainly in the State of Minas Gerais, but encompasses also parts of the States of Bahia, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. The EBPP is the largest pegmatite province of South America. It was divided into the pegmatite districts of Itambé, Araçuaí, Safira, Nova Era, Aimorés and Espera Feliz. This was done to test whether the pegmatites of these districts differ in their mineralization potential and how geotectonic setting influences mineralization potential. The fractionation diagrams such as Cs, Zn, Li, Be, Ba versus K/Rb, Cs versus Ta/(Ta + Nb), and U, Na₂O versus K/Cs for the pegmatite districts of Araçuaí and Safira show the widest range in fractionation. These pegmatite districts are leaders in the production of gem-quality tourmaline, aquamarine, morganite, and contain abundant spodumene, tantalite and columbite. In contrast, the Espera Feliz and Aimorés pegmatite districts are the most primitive districts examined and have a corresponding lack of rare-element mineralization. Literature data indicate that all studied pegmatites are of Brasiliano age, i.e., formed between 600 and 480 Ma. The pegmatites of Transamazonic age (1.9 Ga), found rarely in the study area, are of economic importance in the context of emerald mineralization, but seem to be of less importance for rare metal and other gemstone mineralization.