Some Effects of World War II on Pegmatite Minerals and Mining

Abstract

Granitic pegmatite deposits are the chief source of feldspar; sheet mica; beryllium, tantalum-columbium, and lithium minerals; and certain types of kaolin. They also have yielded significant quantities of cassiterite, uranium-thorium and rare-earth minerals, gems, scrap mica, molybdenite, zircon, and tungsten minerals, either directly or as the sources of tributary placers deposits. The output from pegmatite mines in the United States is very small as compared with other mineral products in terms of bulk or value, and much of it comprises so-called "minor" metals and non-metals. Nevertheless, pegmatite minerals play a vital part in domestic industrial economy, particularly in the ceramic and electrical fields. Numerous special-purpose uses also are important, even though they require very small quantities of raw material.