Editing Pegmatite (section)

== Classification ==
Modern pegmatite classification schemes are strongly influenced by the depth-zone classification of granitic rocks published by Buddington (1959), and the Ginsburg & Rodionov (1960) and Ginsburg et al. (1979) classification which categorized pegmatites according to their depth of emplacement and relationship to metamorphism and granitic plutons. Cerny’s (1991) revision of that classification scheme is widely used, Cerny’s (1991) pegmatite classification, which is a combination of emplacement depth, metamorphic grade and minor element content, has provided significant insight into the origin of pegmatitic melts and their relative degrees of fractionation.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cerny |first1=P. |last2=Ercit |first2=T. S. |date=2005-12-01 |title=The Classification of Granitic Pegmatites Revisited |url=http://www.canmin.org/cgi/doi/10.2113/gscanmin.43.6.2005 |journal=The Canadian Mineralogist |language=en |volume=43 |issue=6 |pages=2005–2026 |doi=10.2113/gscanmin.43.6.2005 |bibcode=2005CaMin..43.2005C |s2cid=129967533 |issn=0008-4476}}</ref>

Granitic pegmatites are commonly ranked into three hierarchies (class – family – type – subtype) depending upon their mineralogical-geochemical characteristics and depth of emplacement according to Cerny (1991). Classes are Abyssal, Muscovite, Rare-Element and Miarolitic. The Rare-Element Class is subdivided based on composition into LCT and NYF families: LCT for Lithium, Cesium, and Tantalum enrichment and NYF for Niobium, Yttrium, and Fluorine enrichment. Most authors classify pegmatites according to LCT- and NYF-types and subtypes. Another important contribution of the classification is the petrogenetic component of the classification, which shows the association of LCT pegmatites with mainly orogenic plutons, and NYF pegmatites with mainly anorogenic plutons.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Simmons |first1=Wm. B. Skip |last2=Webber |first2=Karen L. |date=2008-08-29 |title=Pegmatite genesis: state of the art |url=http://www.schweizerbart.de/papers/ejm/detail/20/58158/Pegmatite_genesis_state_of_the_art?af=crossref |journal=European Journal of Mineralogy |language=en |volume=20 |issue=4 |pages=421–438 |doi=10.1127/0935-1221/2008/0020-1833 |bibcode=2008EJMin..20..421S |issn=0935-1221}}</ref>

Lately, there have been a few attempts to create a new classification for pegmatites less dependent on mineralogy and more reflective of their geological setting. On this issue, one of the most notable efforts on this matter is Wise's (2022) pegmatite classification, which focuses mostly on the source of the magma from which the pegmatite crystalizes.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wise |first1=Michael A. |title=A proposed new mineralogical classification system for granitic pegmatites |journal=The Canadian Mineralogist |date=2022 |volume=60 |issue=2 |pages=229–248 |doi=10.3749/canmin.1800006 |bibcode=2022CaMin..60..229W }}</ref>