Mineralogical constraints on the magmatic–hydrothermal evolution of rare-elements deposits in the Bailongshan granitic pegmatites, Xinjiang, NW China

The Bailongshan pegmatite district in south Xinjiang Province, NW China, is a newly discovered area of rare-element pegmatites. It is a superlarge Li–Rb reserve that includes an estimated 3.45 million tons of Li2O and 176,000 tons of Rb2O. On the basis of a detailed characterization of textures and minerals in the Bailongshan 2# and 5# pegmatites, six zones are identified: a saccharoidal albite zone (zone I), a graphic pegmatite zone (zone II),...