PEGMATITES OF LOWER SILESIA - MAGMATIC ROCKS AND THEIR MINERALS

Discover the fascinating world of pegmatites in Lower Silesia! This book is perfect for all lovers of geology, mineralogy, and the mysteries of the Earth. Immerse yourself in a read that reveals the secrets of these extraordinary magmatic rocks and their unique minerals. Learn about the history, genesis, and significance of pegmatites in industry and science.

• Rich source of knowledge about pegmatites of Lower Silesia
• Detailed descriptions of magmatic rocks and their minerals
• Illustrations and photos showcasing the beauty of pegmatites
• Information on the use of pegmatites in industry and technology
• Interesting facts about rare elements and gemstones
• Accessible language for readers with varying levels of knowledge
• Ideal gift for geology and mineralogy enthusiasts

Pegmatites have fascinated humans for centuries, being an important source of feldspar-quartz raw materials for the ceramic and glass industries. In recent decades, it has turned out that they can also be a valuable source of rare elements, essential in advanced technologies such as electronics, automotive, aerospace, renewable energy, and military. They are still an important source of precious and ornamental stones.

In pegmatites, to an extent incomparable with other magmatic rocks, some rare elements can concentrate, leading to the formation of exotic minerals, rarely found in other types of rocks. It is estimated that out of over 5500 known minerals, about 500 species, mainly minerals of Li, Be, B, Nb, Ta, U, and other rare elements, are mainly characteristic of these rocks.

Extremely aesthetic specimens, especially in the form of well-formed crystals with high transparency, obtained during the exploitation of pegmatites, are the pride of many natural history museums and private collections around the world, and some of them reach prices comparable to those of works of art. From a scientific point of view, pegmatites are an excellent natural laboratory in which the effects of many magmatic and post-magmatic processes can be traced.

The complexity of pegmatite-forming processes is evidenced by the fact that, despite the abundant specialist literature and progress in understanding the nature of these processes, pegmatites still escape generally accepted classifications of magmatic rocks. Controversies regarding the definition of pegmatites have continued since the beginnings of modern geology, reflecting the changing state of knowledge, and a universal model of the genesis of these rocks is still beyond our reach.