917

The Canadian Mineralogist

Vol. 54, pp. 917-933 (2016)
DOI: 10.3749/canmin.1600010

A TECTONIC EVALUATION OF PEGMATITE PARENT GRANITES

SARAH L. HANSON
Adrian College, Geology Department, 110 S. Madison St., Adrian, Michigan 49221, USA

ABSTRACT

Pegmatites containing rare elements can be grouped into families based on geochemical composition. The family
classification includes pegmatites that are enriched in lithium, cesium, and tantalum (LCT pegmatites) and those that are
enriched in niobium, yttrium þ rare-earth-elements (REE), and fluorine (NYF pegmatites). A small number of pegmatites do
not fall neatly into these categories and include (1) those that exhibit mineralogical and chemical characteristics of both groups
(mixed LCT þ NYF pegmatites) and (2) those that lack one of the chemical components suggested by the acronyms. The
relationship between pegmatite family and granite tectonic type were re-examined using a large data set of published granite
compositions as a proxy for initial pegmatite composition, with special regard to the orogenic settings of the source granite
origin. Pearce trace-element discrimination diagrams for these granites suggest that LCT granite-pegmatite systems originate in
orogenic and perhaps less frequently in post-collisional tectonic settings, whereas NYF pegmatites form in anorogenic and post-
orogenic settings. Geochemical differences in the granite from each tectonic setting are reflected in the pegmatite mineralogy.
Granite that is parental to LCT pegmatites has generally higher abundances of LILE and B, thus the pegmatites typically
contain Li-bearing and Cs-bearing minerals as well as tourmaline group minerals. In contrast, granite that is parental to NYF
pegmatites is typically enriched in the REE and HFSE 6 F, thus typically have accessory Nb-Ta-Ti oxides, REE-bearing
minerals, and in most cases fluorite. These petrogenetic differences hold for the quintessential LCT and NYF pegmatites as well
as for those that have notable absences of one of the principle components.
Mixed-signature pegmatites that can be attributed to a parental granite are rare. For the three locations included in this
study, a post-orogenic to anorogenic origin suggests that these pegmatites may have been broadly NYF systems that were
contaminated at the magmatic stage or hydrothermally altered by a fluid enriched in components representative of LCT
pegmatites.

Keywords: pegmatite, NYF, LCT, Pearce discrimination diagram, parent granite, tectonic origin.

INTRODUCTION the above family classification applies only to

The most widely cited classification system for
pegmatites is based on crystallization depth and
categorizes pegmatites from deepest to shallowest as
abyssal, muscovite, muscovite-rare-element, rare-ele-
ment, and miarolitic (Černý & Ercit 2005). These
authors also suggest a family classification system that
distinguishes pegmatites derived by fractionation of a
granitic melt based on petrogenetic parameters.
Pegmatite families for the rare-element and miarolitic
classes are subdivided into pegmatites that are
enriched in lithium, cesium, and tantalum (LCT
pegmatites), and pegmatites that are enriched in
niobium, yttrium þ rare-earth-elements (REE), and
fluorine (NYF pegmatites). It is important to note that
pegmatites that are derived via fractional crystalliza-
tion of a parent granite. Recent studies (Martin &
DeVito 2005, Hanson et al. 2013, McKechnie et al.
2012) have shown that anatectic pegmatites, those that
result from partial melting of either crustal or mantle
rocks, may be more common than previously thought.
The number of pegmatite studies has increased
significantly since these pegmatite families were first
proposed by Černý (1991). With more detailed
information on a much larger number of pegmatites,
it has become increasingly apparent that some
pegmatites do not fit neatly into the LCT and NYF
families. The most common difficulty arises from
pegmatites that exhibit a distinctly mixed LCT þ NYF
signature. Further complicating the family classifica-

§ Corresponding author e-mail address: slhanson@adrian.edu

918 THE CANADIAN MINERALOGIST
tion are pegmatites, and even pegmatite districts, that
do not exhibit enrichment in all three of the elements
typical of the designated family (Černý & Ercit 2005).
For example, although the Trout Creek Pass pegma-
tites contain accessory Nb-Ta-Ti oxides and REE-
bearing minerals, fluorine-bearing minerals are sparse
and fluorite is notably absent in both the extensive
quarries and in the dump material (Hanson 1990,
Simmons et al. 2012). This assemblage of accessory
minerals suggests that these pegmatites are enriched in
Nb and Y, but with notably low F content they are not
typical NYF pegmatites (Hanson 1990, Hanson et al.
1992).
Early work on pegmatite classifications indicated
affiliations of different pegmatite families to their
parent granite type (S-, I-, and A-types) and tectonic
environment (syn-, late-, post-orogenic, and anoro-
genic) but noted that there were ‘‘significant and
widespread exceptions’’ (Černý & Ercit 2005 and
references therein). A subsequent study by Martin &
DeVito (2005) proposed that there exists a strong
relationship between tectonic setting and pegmatite
types. Based on geochemical constraints, these authors
suggested that LCT pegmatites result from magmatism
in compressional (orogenic) settings, whereas NYF
pegmatites develop in extensional (anorogenic) set-
tings. These authors further noted that this ‘‘proto-
tectonic’’ classification for pegmatites would be more
consistent with the current classification of granite,
which is based on geochemical constraints.
Quantitative analysis of pegmatites is difficult
because the extremely coarse grain size of some
minerals, as well as the internal zonation of the
pegmatites, precludes a direct measurement of both the
modal abundance of minerals and whole rock
chemistry. Further complications in evaluating the
mineralogy of zoned pegmatites arise when only a
portion of the pegmatite is exposed. Thus, the list of
minerals present may be incomplete and the modal
proportions of these minerals may not be representa-
tive of the pegmatite as a whole. Both of these factors
preclude a direct measurement of the whole rock
geochemical composition for pegmatites. For these
reasons, this study evaluated the tectonic origin of
LCT–NYF family pegmatites in well-constrained
granite-pegmatite systems where pegmatites formed
via fractional crystallization of a parent granite. The
parent granite compositions were used as a proxy for
the initial pegmatite composition of the resulting
fractionally crystallized pegmatite. The purpose of this
paper is not to address the pegmatite classification
system, but instead to evaluate the tectonic origin of
LCT and NYF pegmatites in the overall context of
petrogenesis of granite pegmatites that form via
fractional crystallization of granite.
OROGENIC, ANOROGENIC, AND POST-OROGENIC
GRANITES
Orogenic granitic plutons form in tectonic settings
that range from subduction to continental collision.
They generally produce granite that is either I- or S-
type, derived from melting of igneous or sedimentary
rocks, respectively. In subduction zones, water re-
leased from the downgoing slab carries high concen-
trations of large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and B,
but leaves behind the relatively insoluble high field-
strength elements (HFSE). This leads to an enrichment
of the more soluble elements in the overlying mantle
wedge. Subsequent melting of this metasomatized
mantle material produces magma that is enriched in
LILE and B. These melts can accumulate at the base of
the crust where assimilation and fractional crystalli-
zation processes modify the magma to more silicic
compositions. Additionally, this can lead to melting of
overlying lower crustal material. In both cases, the
resulting suite of granitic rocks is generally metal-
uminous and exhibits a calc-alkaline enrichment trend.
If assimilation of crustal material is significant, these
rocks may show a strong imprint of an S-type
component. In continent–continent collisional settings,
crustal thickening and heating produces anatectic S-
type granites that are generally strongly peraluminous,
although some may be weakly metaluminous. How-
ever, S-type granites older than 1.5 Ga that were
derived from metasedimentary protoliths still possess
their primordial mantle characteristics, thus will be
metaluminous rather than peraluminous, in spite of the
important role of metasedimentary rocks at the source
(Valley 2003, Martin & De Vito 2005).
Anorogenic granitic plutons result from melting at
locations where extension and associated attenuation
of the crust is the dominant tectonic process. Extension
can occur during periods of tectonic quiescence on a
regional scale or be more localized, the result of back-
arc spreading or transtension when the collision is
oblique. Thus, localized extension can occur in a
broadly regional collisional tectonic setting. Granite
formed in extensional tectonic settings is referred to as
A-type granite. These granites exhibit variable chem-
ical signatures but typically are enriched in HFSE, are
often Fe-enriched, and are metaluminous to mildly
peralkaline. Frost & Frost (1997) suggested that
extensional environments where the asthenosphere is
at shallow levels will produce granites of varied
composition, the result of the relative contribution of
fractionated tholeiitic magmas and felsic continental
material. The tholeiitic magmas are derived from
either extreme differentiation of basaltic melts or by
partial melting of underplated basalts and their
differentiated equivalents. These authors further sug-
 A TECTONIC EVALUATION OF PEGMATITE PARENT GRANITE
gested that if the crustal component is minor, reduced
rapakivi granite will form (e.g., Sherman and Wolf
River Batholiths). If the material contains substantial
felsic crust as well as underplated crust, a wider range
of compositions including metaluminous magnetite-
bearing granitic rocks will be present. Lastly, associ-
ated partial melting of metasedimentary rocks will
produce peraluminous granite such as those commonly
seen in the southwestern U.S.
Post-orogenic, or post-collision, granites represent
a poorly defined category of plutons emplaced during
the transitional period subsequent to an orogenic
event. Pearce (1996) suggests that the boundary
between post-collision and anorogenic conditions
occurs when magmatism ceases to be linked to
orogenic processes, a boundary which is difficult to
identify. Post-orogenic granites range from A- to I-
type in character and, because of the transitional
tectonic setting, exhibit chemical characteristics that
are transitional between orogenic and anorogenic
granites. They range in composition from weakly
peraluminous to weakly metaluminous (Thompson &
Barnes 1999).
METHODS
Data were mined via an extensive literature search
in an effort to provide whole rock major and trace
element data for granites that are parental to well-
characterized pegmatites. Only pegmatites that were
convincingly attributed to a parental granite were
included in this study and include 16 LCT pegmatites,
24 NYF pegmatites, and three mixed LCT-NYF
pegmatites. The pegmatite locations are given in
Table 1 and the accessory mineralogy in Table 2.
Potential sources of error when classifying pegmatites
based on parental granite compositions include the
incorrect identification of a pegmatite parent granite
and poor resolution of geochemical data, a problem
that is greater with older data.
DISCRIMINATION DIAGRAMS
A comparison of the relative molar abundances of
the alkali elements versus aluminum shows significant
overlap for granitic rocks from different tectonic
settings. In orogenic settings, I-type granite is
generally metaluminous, whereas S-type granite
(,1.5 Ga) is peraluminous to weakly metaluminous.
Anorogenic granites can be metaluminous to mildly
peralkaline. Post-orogenic granite is generally weakly
peraluminous to weakly metaluminous. Similarly,
granite that is parental to LCT and NYF pegmatites
exhibits this overlap (Fig. 1). In general, granites that
are parental to LCT pegmatites are peraluminous,
whereas those that are genetically related to NYF
919
pegmatites range in composition from peraluminous to
metaluminous. This compositional overlap may, in
part, be the result of variable amounts of crustal versus
mantle components that comprise anorogenic, and
particularly post-orogenic, magmas. It is apparent
from this diagram that the aluminum saturation index
is not a good tectonic discriminator for granites, and
thus it is not a reliable method for differentiating the
tectonic origin of pegmatites derived from fractional
crystallization of granite.
Tectonic discrimination diagrams based on whole
rock trace-element compositions are considerably
more effective in determining the petrogenetic origin
for granite (Pearce et al. 1984, Pearce 1996). Averaged
granite trace element compositions for all of the
locations included in this study are shown in Figure
2a–c. The fields shown represent tectonic environ-
ments and include orogenic and anorogenic granites.
Orogenic granite can be subdivided into subduction-
related volcanic arc (VAG) and collision-related (syn-
COL) granite. Anorogenic granite includes those that
form in within plate (WPG) and mid-ocean ridge
(ORG) tectonic settings. Förster et al. (1997), using
data from over 250 locations with known tectonic
settings, evaluated the accuracy of the Rb versus Nb þ
Y diagram in identifying the tectonic setting. These
authors concluded that the granitic rock trace element
concentrations correlated ‘‘to a considerable extent’’
with tectonic setting but should be used judiciously
and consider the nature of the source rock, especially
in complex tectonic settings. Several areas of greater
potential error were noted. First, there was an extreme
overlap within the specific types of orogenic granites
(WPG and VAG). Second, the post-orogenic (post-
COLG) granite field, which lies within the oval in
Figure 2, compositionally overlaps portions of the syn-
COLG, VAG, and WPG granite fields. This is likely
because of the transitional nature of these granites as
these at least partially mantle-derived magmas have
been modified by significant crustal assimilation, and
therefore contain components of both orogenic and
anorogenic granites (Pearce et al. 1984). Furthermore,
these granites are chemically similar to those formed
in back-arc extensional regimes (Förster et al. 1997).
Thus, it is possible to have granite with an anorogenic
signature derived from a localized zone of extension in
a broadly compressional tectonic regime. For this
reason other techniques, such as general geology, age
dating, or isotopic studies, may be required to
determine if a pluton is post-orogenic, anorogenic, or
results from localized extension in a compressional
tectonic regime.
It is apparent from the Pearce discrimination
diagrams (Fig. 2a–c) that orogenic granites are
depleted in Nb þ Y relative to anorogenic granites.
920 THE CANADIAN MINERALOGIST

TABLE 1. GRANITE-PEGMATITE LOCATIONS INCLUDED IN THIS STUDY

Pegmatite Location Host Granite References

LCT Pegmatites
Kings X, Wisconsin, USA Hoskin Lake Granite Richardson 1998
McAllister pegmatite, Alabama, USA Rockford Granite Foord & Cook 1989
S. Maine pegmatites, USA Sebago Pluton Wise & Brown 2010
Brown Derby, Colorado, USA Quartz Creek Granite Elder 1988
San Diego Co., California, USA Peninsular Ranges Batholith Silver & Chappell 1988
Black Hills, South Dakota, USA Harney Peak, Calamity Peak Duke et al. 1992
granites
Red Cross Lake, Manitoba Canada Unnamed leucogranite Černý et al. 2012
Mavis Lake Peg. Group, Ontario, Ghost Lake Batholith Breaks & Moore 1992
Canada
NW Quebec pegmatites, Canada Lamott & Lacorne plutons Mulja et al. 1995, Mulja et al. 1996
Pinilla de Fermoselle, Zamora, Spain Two-mica leucogranite Roda-Robles et al. 2012
Elba, Italy Monte Capan Dini et al. 2001
Varuträsk pegmatite, N. Central Härnö granite Claesson & Lundqvist 1995, Černý et
Sweden al. 2004
High Himalaya, Nepal Manaslu granite LeFort et al. 1987, Černý 1991
Stak Nala, northeast Pakistan Nanga Parbat-Harmosa George et al. 1993, Laurs et al. 1998
leucogranites
Koktokay # 3 pegmatite, NW China Keketuobai Granite Zhang et al. 2008, Zhu et al. 2005
Sierras Pampeanas, northwest Achala Granite Complex Morteani et al. 1995
Argentina
NYF Pegmatites
Mount Antero, Colorado, USA Mt. Princeton Pluton; Mt. Antero Shannon 1988
Int.
South Platte, Colorado, USA Pikes Peak Batholith Simmons et al. 1987, Simmons et al.
1999
Lake George, Colorado, USA Pikes Peak Batholith Smith et al. 1999
Mt. Rosa/Stove Mtn., Colorado, USA Pikes Peak Batholith / Mt Rosa Smith et al. 1999
Granite
Trout Creek Pass District, Colorado, Unnamed granite Hanson 1990, Hanson et al. 1992
USA
Mojave District, Arizona, USA Unnamed granite dikes Brown 2010
Searchlight Dist., Nevada, USA Bat Ears & S. Ridge granites Masau 2003, Bachl et al. 2001
Barringer Hill, Llano, Texas, USA Lone Grove Pluton Ehlmann et al. 1964, Smith et al. 2010
White Mts., New Hampshire, USA Conway Granite Eby et al. 1992, Camp 2011
Wausau Complex, Wisconsin, USA Wausau Complex plutons Falster et al. 2012
Bokan Mountain, Alaska, USA Bokan Mountain Complex Dostal et al. 2013
Antigonish Highlands, Nova Scotia, Georgeville Pluton Murphy et al. 1998
Canada
McKeel Lake, southwest New Westford Intrusion Seidler et al. 2005
Brunswick, Canada
Serie dei Laghi, southwest Alps, Italy Baveno Granite Boriani et al. 1992, Pezzotta et al.
1999
Königshain, Germany Königshain granite, Lusatian Thomas et al. 2009, Hect et al. 1999
Complex
Evje-Iveland, Aust-Agder, Norway Hörvingston Complex Pederson & Konnerup-Madsen 1999
Tysfjord, Norway Tysfjord Granite Romer et al. 1992
Ytterby, Sweden Fellingsboro Granite Eliason & Schöberg 1991
Jharsugda, India Jharsuguda Granite Kumar et al. 2001
Naegi, Japan Naegi Granite, biotite granite Takafumi & Kawbe 2003, Ishihara &
Wu 2001
Klein Spitzkoppe, Namibia Klein Spitzkoppe Stock Haapala et al. 2007
Erongo Mountains, Namibia Erongo Granite (Boulder Forest) Boudreaux 2014
 A TECTONIC EVALUATION OF PEGMATITE PARENT GRANITE 921

TABLE 1. CONTINUED.

Pegmatite Location Host Granite References

Catamarca, northwest Argentina El Portezuelo Granite Colombo et al. 2010
Sierra de San Luis, Argentina Potrerillos Batholith Lira et al. 2012
Mixed-Signature Pegmatites
Rau I Pegmatite, Yukon Terr., Canada Rackla Pluton Panton 2008, Cempı́rek & Groat 2014
O’Grady & Selwyn N.W.T., Canada O’Grady Batholith, Selwyn Duncan 1999, Gordy & Anderson
Plutonic Suite 1993, Ercit et al. 2003
Tørdal Pegmatites, Norway Tørdal Granite Bergstøl & Juve 1988, Anderson et al.
2009

Most granite parental to LCT-type pegmatites plots on
the (Nb þ Y)-depleted side of the diagram in either the
VAG or syn-COLG fields. Thus, granite that is
parental to LCT pegmatites is the result of magmatism
in orogenic tectonic settings. In contrast, granite that is
parental to NYF pegmatites is generally more enriched
in Nb þ Y and plots on the anorogenic side of the
diagram. Although many of the granites plot as
decidedly WPG, there is considerable overlap into
the post-collisional (post-COLG) field. Thus, granite
that is parental to NYF pegmatites results from melting
in a post-orogenic to anorogenic regime. There is also
a minor overlap at the granite-type boundaries,
possibly the result of analytical error (more of a
problem with older data), assimilation or fractionation
processes within the magma chamber, or post-
magmatic processes.
Granite that is genetically related to mixed-
signature pegmatites is rare and, in the few cases
where it has been documented, exhibits highly variable
compositions. Based on Nb, Y, and Rb, granite
parental to the three mixed-signature pegmatites is
FIG. 1. Molar composition of aluminum versus alkali elements
for granite parental to LCT, NYF, and mixed LCT þ NYF
pegmatites.
geochemically comparable to both orogenic (syn-
COLG) and anorogenic (WPG) granites (Figs. 2a–b).
Two of these locations also fall within the post-
orogenic field. Data for Ta and Yb are scarce and were
available for only two locations that host mixed-
signature pegmatites. These parental granites plot
definitively within the orogenic field (Fig. 2c).
It is worth noting that the Rb versus Nb þ Y
diagram most effectively discriminates between oro-
genic and anorogenic granite-pegmatite systems. The
division between orogenic and anorogenic granites on
the Ta versus Yb diagram occurs at very low values of
Yb (~1 ppm). Thus, small variations in Yb, perhaps
within analytical error, could result in granite compo-
sitions plotting in the incorrect field.
In an effort to better understand the individual
pegmatites, averaged analyses of granite parental to
pegmatites of each type are plotted individually in
Figures 3–5.
Granites that host LCT pegmatites
On the Rb versus Nb þ Y plot (Fig. 3a), all of the
granites that are parental to LCT pegmatites plot as
orogenic granites, and most as collisional granites.
Granite from four localities, San Diego Co., Califor-
nia, Black Hills, South Dakota, Coosa Co., Alabama
(Rockford Granite), and Quartz Creek, Colorado all
plot within the VAG granite field. This arc-related
origin is consistent for the first two locations but not
the latter two. Specific granite intrusions of the
Peninsular Range Batholith have not been correlated
directly to the San Diego County pegmatites, thus the
analyses used for this batholith may not be from the
specific pluton that produced the pegmatites. Regard-
less, it is clear that this granite in this batholith is
related to a large-scale subduction zone that was
present along the west coast of North America during
the Cretaceous. Likewise, the ~300 Ma Rockford
Granite, which is parental to the McAllister pegmatite,
has been attributed to crustal shortening and anatexis
in an Acadian continental-oceanic subduction regime
 TABLE 2. ACCESSORY MINERALOGY OF PEGMATITES INCLUDED IN THIS STUDY 922

tantalite group
oxides

Alkalinity
Beryl
Spodumene;
Lepidolite
Pollucite
Tourmaline
Apatite
Phosphates
Cassiterite
Garnet
Topaz
Columbite 
Wodginite
Other Nb-Ta
Fluorite
REE Mins

petalite
Location
LCT
Kings X, Wisconsin, USA P X X X X X X X X X X X M
McAllister pegmatite, Alabama, USA P X X X X X X X X X X X
S. Maine Pegmatites, USA P X X X X X X X X X X X
Brown Derby, Colorado, USA P X X X X X X X X X X X SE X M Xt
San Diego Co., California, USA M X X X X X X X X X X X
Black Hills, South Dakota, USA P X X X X X X X X X X
Red Cross Lake, Manitoba, Canada P X X X X X X X X X X M Xt
Mavis Lake Peg. Group, Ontario, Canada P X X X X
Northwest Quebec pegmatites, Canada P X X X X X X X
Pinilla de Fermoselle, Zamora, Spain P X X X X X
Elba, Italy P X X X X X X X X X E
Varuträsk pegmatite, North central Sweden P X X X X X X X X X X
High Himalaya, Nepal P X X X X X X X
Stak Nala, northeast Pakistan P X X X X X X X X
Koktokay # 3 pegmatite, northwest China M X X X X X X X X X
Sierras Pampeanas, northwest Argentina P X X X X X X X
THE CANADIAN MINERALOGIST

NYF
Mount Antero, Colorado, USA P/M X X X X X X M
South Platte, Colorado, USA M X X S X AM
Lake George, Colorado, USA M X X X
Mount Rosa/Stove Mtn., Colorado, USA M X X X X S X B A Xt
Trout Creek Pass, Colorado, USA P X E AM
Mojave Dist. Arizona, USA P X E B M Xt
Searchlight Dist., Nevada, USA P X X X X X X X BAM
Barringer Hill, Llano, Texas, USA Peral X F S(?) X BAG
White Mts., New Hampshire, USA M X X FS X BAMX
Wausau Complex, Wisconsin, USA M X X X X X X X X Ps T X B A M Xt
Bokan Mountain, Alaska, USA Peral X X
Antigonish Highlands, Nova Scotia, Canada P X X X Ps
McKeel Lake, SW New Brunswick, Canada P X X Ps X Xt
 TABLE 2. CONTINUED.

tantalite group
oxides

Alkalinity
Beryl
Spodumene;
Lepidolite
Pollucite
Tourmaline
Apatite
Phosphates
Cassiterite
Garnet
Topaz
Columbite 
Wodginite
Other Nb-Ta
Fluorite
REE Mins

petalite
Location
Serie dei Laghi, southwest Alps, Italy P X X X Xt G
Königshain, Germany P X F X M Xt
Evje-Iveland, Aust-Agder, Norway M X X X X F X B A M Xt G
Tysfjord, Norway M X X SEF X B
Ytterby, Sweden M X X EF X B A M Xt G
Jharsugda, India P X X X
Naegi, Japan P X X X A M Xt G
Klein Spitzkoppe, Namibia P X X X X E X B
Erongo Mts., Namibia P X X X X X X X X B M Xt
Catamarca, northwest Argentina M X X X X X Ps X M Xt
Sierra de San Luis, Argentina P X X X Ps X AM
Mixed
Rau I Pegmatite, Yukon, Canada M X X X X X X X X M
O’Grady & Selwyn N.W.T., Canada M X X X X M Xt F A
A TECTONIC EVALUATION OF PEGMATITE PARENT GRANITE

Tørdal, Norway P X X X X X Ps X M

X ¼ mineral present.
P ¼ Peraluminous; M ¼ metaluminous; Peral ¼ peralkaline.
Other Nb-Ta oxides: Ps ¼ Pyrochlore supergroup; E ¼ Euxenite group; S ¼ Samarskite group; T ¼ Tapiolite; X ¼ present but not differentiated.
REE minerals: A ¼ allanite; B ¼ bastnäsite; G ¼ gadolinite; M ¼ monazite; Xt ¼ xenotime.
Note: this list is based on the above referenced literature and may be missing information.
923
924 THE CANADIAN MINERALOGIST

FIG. 2. Tectonic discrimination diagrams for averaged compositions of granite parental to LCT, NYF, and mixed LCTþNYF
pegmatites (after Pearce et al. 1984, Pearce 1996). (a) Rb versus Nb þ Y tectonic discrimination diagram. (b) Nb versus Y
tectonic discrimination diagram. The dashed line represents the upper limit of a zone of overlap between WPG from
attenuated continental lithosphere and ORG from anomalous ridge segments. (c) Ta versus Yb diagram. The dashed line
represents the upper limit of a zone of overlap between WP granites from attenuated continental lithosphere and OR granites
from anomalous ridge segments. Abbreviations: Volcanic arc granite (VAG), syn-collisional (syn-COLG), within plate
granite (WPG), post-collisional granite (post-COLG), and ocean ridge granite (ORG).

(Drummond et al. 1988). In contrast, the ca. 1.7 Ga
Harney Peak and Calamity Peak granites in the Black
Hills are attributed to melting of a metasedimentary
protolith during collision associated with the Trans-
Hudson Orogeny (Krogstad & Walker 1996, Duke et
al. 1992). These data, although compositionally within
the VAG field, lie very near the VAG and syn-COLG
boundary, thus it is likely that the volcanic arc
signature simply results from a small amount of
analytical error in this older data set. The Quartz Creek
Granite is somewhat enigmatic, as the composition
plots as transitional between VAG and WPG granites
and also falls within the post-COLG field.
On the Nb versus Y and Ta versus Yb diagrams
(Figs. 3b–c), granites parental to LCT pegmatites
generally plot within the orogenic field. On Figure 3c,
 A TECTONIC EVALUATION OF PEGMATITE PARENT GRANITE 925

FIG. 3. (a–c) Tectonic discrimination diagrams for granite that is parental to LCT pegmatites (after Pearce et al. 1984, Pearce
1996). Abbreviations are as in Figure 2.

although most of the parental granites show chemical
affinities to granite that formed in collisional tectonic
settings, several of the granites plot within the WPG
field. As noted above, this is likely the result of
analytical error related to the low abundances of Yb.
Taken as a whole, there are two locations that are
unusual and warrant further comment. These include
the Lamotte and Lucerne plutons in northwestern
Quebec and the Quartz Creek Granite in Gunnison
Co., Colorado. Although the Lamotte and Lacorne
plutons plot decidedly in the syn-COLG field on the
Rb versus Nb þ Y diagram, they compositionally
straddle the orogenic–anorogenic boundary on the
remaining discrimination diagrams. The variation in
Ta, Nb, and Y can be correlated to location within the
pluton. The outer portion of the pluton is composed of
biotite monzonite that compositionally falls within the
orogenic field, whereas the more fractionated musco-
vite monzonite from the pluton core plots as
anorogenic granite (Mulja et al. 1995). Thus, the
greater trace element abundances are attributed to
extreme inward fractional crystallization from biotite
monzonite to muscovite monzonite and ultimately the
pegmatites, a chemical variation noted by Förster et al.
(1997). It should also be noted that recent evidence
suggests that the Sebago Pluton may be migmatitic
926 THE CANADIAN MINERALOGIST

FIG. 4. (a–c) Tectonic discrimination diagrams for granite that is parental to NYF pegmatites (after Pearce et al. 1984, Pearce
1996). Abbreviations are as in Figure 2.

rather than the result of fractionation of a parental
granite (Simmons et al. 2013).
The Quartz Creek Granite, which hosts the Brown
Derby pegmatite, exhibits chemical characteristics of
both orogenic and anorogenic granite. It plots along
the VAG–WPG boundary and within the post-COLG
field on Figure 3a and plots within the WPG field on
Figures 3b and 3c. It is perhaps not surprising that the
granite compositions are enigmatic, as the mineralogy
of this pegmatite is also unusual. Although it is clearly
an LCT pegmatite with abundant lepidolite and other
minerals typical of LCT pegmatites, accessory miner-
als typically associated with NYF pegmatites, includ-
ing fluorite and rare Nb-Ta-oxide minerals, are also
present.
Granites that host NYF pegmatites
Granite that is parental to NYF pegmatites is shown
in Figure 4a–c. On both the Rb versus Y þ Nb and Nb
versus Y plots most of the averaged granite compo-
sitions plot in the WPG field. However, three of the
plutons, the Mount Antero Intrusion (Fig. 4a) and the
Trout Creek Pass and Naegi intrusions (Fig. 4b) plot
 A TECTONIC EVALUATION OF PEGMATITE PARENT GRANITE
FIG. 5. (a–b) Tectonic discrimination diagrams for granite that
is parental to mixed LCT þ NYF pegmatites (after Pearce
et al. 1984, Pearce 1996). Abbreviations are as in Figure
2.
just beyond the WPG boundaries. These data plot very
near the WPG field, thus the deviation may be
attributed to analytical error, as these data sets are
older. Furthermore, it is not possible that the Trout
Creek Pass and Naegi pegmatites are related to mid-
ocean ridge spreading. The Naegi pegmatites were
emplaced during the late Cretaceous in the area that is
now Japan, a time when subduction was the dominant
tectonic regime (Ishihara & Wu 2001). The Trout
Creek Pass pegmatites yielded monazite ages of 1.59
6 2 Ga (Simmons et al. 2012). This, coupled with
the geologic setting, suggest that these pegmatites are
the result of localized extension in central Colorado
during emplacement of the Trout Creek Pass pegma-
tites (Simmons et al. 2012).
Although granite parental to NYF pegmatites
generally plots in the WPG field, many of these
granites also fall within the post-COLG field (Fig. 4a).
Granite-pegmatite systems that plot solely in the WPG
field and thus are clearly anorogenic in origin include:
New Hampshire pegmatites; Bokan Mountain, Alaska;
927
Antigonish Highlands in Nova Scotia; McKeel Lake,
New Brunswick; both Namibia locations; and Cata-
marca, Argentina. The Pikes Peak Batholith is also
interpreted to be anorogenic because, although some
of the pluton analyses plot in within the compositional
range of post-orogenic granite, most of the analyses
plot solely within the WPG field. Lastly, although the
analyses from the Nine Mile Pluton in the Wausau
Complex, Wisconsin plots in the field of overlap for
anorogenic and post-orogenic granites, previous stud-
ies (Simmons et al. 2012) have shown that these
plutons are anorogenic. The remainder of the pegma-
tites compositionally overlap the anorogenic and post-
orogenic fields and include: Mount Antero and Trout
Creek Pass, Colorado; Mojave Pegmatite District,
Arizona; Searchlight District, Nevada; Barringer Hill,
Texas; Tysfjord and Evje-Iveland, Norway; Ytterby,
Sweden; Jhargsugda, India; Naegi, Japan; Serie dei
Laghi, Italy; and Sierra de San Luis, Argentina.
Further information is required to determine whether
these granites are orogenic or post-orogenic in nature
and this is only given for a few of the above locations.
When plotted individually, granite parental to the
Barringer Pegmatite (Lone Grove Pluton), Mojave
pegmatites, and Trout Creek Pass pegmatites span the
VAG-WPG boundary, a characteristic typical of post-
orogenic granites (Smith et al. 2010). However, it is
important to realize that this chemical signature is
indistinguishable from that of granite that forms in a
back-arc setting. Based on other geological consider-
ations, Simmons et al. (2012) suggested that both the
Trout Creek Pass and Mojave pegmatites are associ-
ated with localized rifting, perhaps resulting from
back-arc extension. This complication is also apparent
for the Serie de Laghi, Italy granite. Attributed to post-
orogenic magmatism that occurred subsequent to peak
Hercynian regional metamorphism, these granites are
associated with transcurrent faults that connected
narrow extensional basins during, and at the end of,
uplift of the orogenic belt (Boriani et al. 1992). Lastly,
the Sierra de San Luis pegmatites in Argentina are
reported as occurring in a within-plate geologic setting
(Lira et al. 2012). For granite from the remainder of
these ambiguous locations, tectonic setting of origin
remains unclear.
Granites that host mixed signature pegmatites
Mixed pegmatites that can be convincingly shown
to be genetically related to a parental granite are rare.
The Rb versus Nb þ Y and Nb versus Y diagrams are
shown in Figure 5a–b. The Ta versus Yb diagram is
not included because most of the published analyses
do not include these elements. At the three locations
where this correlation has been made, the parental
928 THE CANADIAN MINERALOGIST
granite does not appear to be the result of magmatism
in a single tectonic setting. The O’Grady Batholith
compositions suggest an orogenic origin, whereas the
Tørdal Granite plots along the orogenic–anorogenic
compositional boundary. Both of these granites also
have compositions that fall within the post-COLG
field. In contrast, the Rackla granite, host to the Rau
pegmatite, clearly exhibits chemical affinities to
anorogenic granite. Until data for more pegmatites
are available, it cannot be determined if there exists a
distinct tectonic affiliation for mixed-signature peg-
matites.
DISCUSSION
In granite-pegmatite systems, parental granite
compositions can be thought of as pegmatite starting
compositions, thus they do not take into account
subsequent processes such as continued fractionation
of the melt, alteration by late stage fluids, and reaction
with the country rock. It is important to realize that the
final pegmatite composition, and the minerals present,
can be significantly modified from this starting granite
composition. In spite of these limitations, this type of
analysis can be informative, especially in exploration
for pegmatite-related deposits and for their in situ
evaluation, since the often incomplete exposure of
zoned pegmatites precludes a direct assessment of
pegmatite compositions.
The above geochemical comparisons suggest that
significant differences in pegmatite compositions can
be attributed to the tectonic regime in which the
granitic rocks form. This is consistent with the work of
Černý (1991), Černý & Ercit (2005), and Martin &
DeVito (2005). It is evident that in most cases, LCT
and NYF pegmatites that result from fractionation of
parental granite inherit distinct compositional, thus
mineralogical, characteristics from the parent granite.
These characteristics are determined by the tectonic
origin for the granite-pegmatite system. Pegmatites
that are derived from granites formed in orogenic
tectonic regimes, such as subduction zones and
collisional boundaries, typically contain the Li-, Cs-,
and Ta-bearing minerals that are characteristically
associated with LCT pegmatites. In contrast, granites
formed in post-orogenic and anorogenic (extensional)
tectonic settings are typically more enriched in HFSE
and REE, thus the associated pegmatites commonly
contain Nb-Ta-Ti oxide minerals, REE-bearing min-
erals, and fluorite-minerals that typify NYF pegma-
tites. Although this petrogenetic classification readily
distinguishes orogenic from anorogenic granite-peg-
matite systems, the transitional nature of post-orogenic
granite results in a minor compositional overlap with
orogenic granites and a substantial overlap with
anorogenic granites. For granite compositions that fall
in this shared field, the specific tectonic setting (post-
orogenic versus orogenic or anorogenic) cannot be
determined using solely this analysis. Additionally,
granite that results from localized extension (e.g.,
back-arc basins) may plot within the post-GOLG field,
a geochemical signature that does not reflect the
overall compressional tectonic setting. In summary,
parent granites of LCT and NYF pegmatites, and by
inference the associated pegmatites, can be, based on
the current data, differentiated geochemically with a
rather high level of confidence. However, it is
important to realize that this type of analysis is not
foolproof and should also be considered in light of
other geochemical considerations, such as regional
geology, pluton age determinations, etc.
Perusal of Table 2 reveals that although many
minerals are common to both LCT and NYF pegmatite
types, some are generally unique to each. Additionally,
some pegmatites that are characterized as NYF do not
appear to, based on mineral abundance, be enriched in
all three of the elements suggested by the acronym.
For example, in pegmatites of the Trout Creek Pass
and Mojave districts, fluorine-bearing minerals are rare
and fluorite is notably absent. Thus, these pegmatites
are depleted in F, one of the components assumed to
be essential based on the acronym for the NYF family
designation. In both cases where NYF pegmatites are
F-depleted, the parent granite clearly plots as post-
orogenic or anorogenic.
In summary, the family classification based on
acronyms that describe the chemical constituents of
pegmatites can be misleading if one of the three
typical components is not present or visible at the
available erosional level. Regardless of whether the
pegmatites are typical or atypical, the compiled set of
data shows that the petrochemical distinction holds,
that LCT pegmatites are generally related to orogenic
granites and NYF pegmatites are generally related to
post-orogenic or anorogenic granites.
With so little available data for mixed-signature
pegmatites, and the ambiguous nature of geochemical
classification for these pegmatites using Pearce dis-
crimination diagrams, this analysis cannot isolate a
single tectonic origin for these granite-pegmatite
systems. Early reports of mixed LCT þ NYF pegmatites
suggested that they form in highly fractionated granite-
pegmatite systems and exhibit a broadly NYF signature
with only a minor LCT component. The LCT
component may be present as accessory minerals,
trace-element LCT components in rock forming
minerals, or as late-stage LCT pegmatites within groups
that are predominantly NYF (Černý 1991). For
example, some of the most fractionated NYF pegma-
tites associated with the Tørdal granite contain
 A TECTONIC EVALUATION OF PEGMATITE PARENT GRANITE
prominent concentrations of LCT minerals in their
cores (Černý 1991). Similarly, pegmatites related to the
O’Grady Batholith exhibit an overall NYF signature but
grade toward LCT pegmatites in a small region of the
batholith where the granite becomes pegmatitic (Ercit et
al. 2003). The highly fractionated mixed LCT-NYF
pegmatites associated with the Rakla Granite contain
fluorite as well as common fine-grained REE, Nb, and
Ta minerals (Scribner et al. 2015).
Martin & DeVito (2005) suggest that mixed-
signature pegmatites are simply NYF pegmatites that
have been overprinted by an LCT assemblage at the
hydrothermal stage. The greater mobility of elements
that form minerals typical of LCT pegmatites, such as
Li, Cs, and B, allows for the alteration and secondary
precipitation of these minerals in close proximity to the
NYF pegmatite minerals. These authors further suggest
that the opposite does not occur because the HFSE,
which are typical of NYF pegmatites, are not generally
soluble, thus they cannot easily be mobilized to form
secondary NYF minerals in broadly LCT pegmatites.
This model is consistent with observations by Černý
(1991), who suggested that the predominant character-
istic of mixed LCT-NYF pegmatites was an overall
NYF signature. However, although the HFSE are
generally considered to be immobile in many geologic
settings, some studies have suggested that in specific
circumstances, such as in F-enriched peraluminous and
alkaline rocks, these elements can become mobile
(Jiang et al. 2005 and references therein). If this is the
case, it would be possible to produced a mixed-
signature pegmatite by overprinting a broadly LCT
pegmatite with a late-stage NYF mineral assemblage.
Given that trace element compositions of parental
granites plot within the post-COLG or WPG fields, it
seems plausible that some mixed pegmatites share a
post-orogenic or anorogenic origin with NYF pegma-
tites. For at least the locations included in this study,
the pegmatites (and perhaps parental granites) may
have been either contaminated by digestion of
undepleted crustal material (as suggested by Černý
& Ercit 2005) or overprinted with an LCT assemblage
by an externally derived fluid phase that leads to the
contamination of the pegmatite (as proposed by Martin
& De Vito 2005). In contrast, the mixed LCT-NYF
signature exhibited by pegmatites in the Moldanubian
Zone, Czech Republic, has been attributed to contam-
ination during ascent and emplacement of an LCT-
pegmatite melt as it assimilated host rock material
composed of carbonatite-like marbles with a strong
NYF-like geochemical signature (Novák et al. 2012).
It is evident that these few case studies cannot resolve
the origin of mixed-signature pegmatites and suggest
that more than one process may be responsible for the
formation of these unusual pegmatites.
929
CONCLUSIONS
For granite-pegmatite systems, published whole-
rock granite compositions were used as a proxy for
pegmatite compositions and evaluated using the
tectonic discrimination diagrams of Pearce et al.
(1984). It is evident from these diagrams that the Rb
versus Nb þ Y diagram is more effective than the Y
versus Nb and Yb versus Ta diagrams in discriminat-
ing the tectonic origin of granite-pegmatite systems.
The resulting plots suggest that there is a petrogenetic
link between the tectonic regime and the type of
pegmatites (LCT versus NYF) that form via fraction-
ation of a parental granite. Magmatism in orogenic
tectonic settings can result in LCT pegmatites that
generally have higher abundances of LILE and B. This
geochemical composition is manifested in the miner-
alogy of these pegmatites, as they typically contain Li-
bearing and Cs-bearing minerals as well as tourmaline
group minerals. Post-orogenic and anorogenic tectonic
regimes, as well as localized extension in broadly
compressional settings, can produce granite that is
parental to NYF pegmatites. These pegmatites are
enriched in the REE and HFSE 6 F, thus typically
have accessory Nb-Ta-Ti oxides, REE-bearing miner-
als, and in most cases fluorite. It is important to note
that this orogenic versus anorogenic geochemical
distinction holds for pegmatites that exhibit mineral-
ogical characteristics representative of all the elements
in the acronyms, as well as for pegmatites that have
mineral compositions suggesting a depletion in one of
those elements.
Mixed-signature pegmatites that can be attributed
to parental granites are rare and, for the few locations
where this correlation has been made, the granite
geochemical signatures failed to converge on a single
tectonic setting. These parental granites plot as
orogenic and anorogenic granites and two of the three
locations also plot as post-orogenic granites. Earlier
work suggests that these pegmatites exhibit an overall
NYF composition with a subordinate LCT component
(Černý 1991, Černý & Ercit 2005). Given the post-
orogenic to anorogenic signature of the parent
granites, it is likely that the granite-pegmatite systems
included in this study may have been either contam-
inated by digestion of undepleted crustal material as
suggested by Černý & Ercit (2005) or hydrothermally
overprinted with an LCT assemblage as suggested by
Martin and De Vito (2005). This however, is certainly
not the only process that forms mixed-signature
pegmatites as Novák et al. (2012) showed that
pegmatites in the Moldanubian Zone, Czech Republic
resulted from assimilation of NYF components in a
carbonatite-like marble host rock. Clearly there is
930 THE CANADIAN MINERALOGIST
much yet to learn about the geochemical and the
tectonic origin of mixed LCT-NYF pegmatites.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author is delighted to dedicate this article to
William ‘‘Skip’’ Simmons and Karen Webber. I have
learned a great deal from them over the years. I am
especially indebted to Skip for sharing his love of
pegmatites and getting me started on a fantastic
lifelong journey that involves travel and pegmatite
research! Reviews by Alexander Falster, Skip Sim-
mons, Jan Cempı́rek, and Encar Roda-Robles greatly
improved this manuscript.
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Received January 23, 2016. Revised manuscript accepted
May 18, 2016.