Beryl and Columbite of Crystal Mountain Pegmatite District | A Mineral Field Investigation

This video documents a field exploration into the metamorphic pegmatites of Crystal Mountain Pegmatite District in Larimer County, Colorado. Mines of this district once produced commercial quantities of lithium and beryllium ores. Noticing that many of the major mines are under active mining claims, I sought fresh pegmatites in the surrounding mountains within Roosevelt National Forest. Mineral specie discovered in this preliminary investigation include beryl, sericite, columbite, tourmaline, and purpurite. This project investigates formation environments of several minerals found in LCT-type pegmatites, explores diagnostic criteria for minerals, and offers a geologic explanation for the genesis of the unique specie found here.


Video Chapters:
0:00 Field Investigations
4:06 Zoned LCT Pegmatite
8:29 Mineral Occurrences
11:32 Identifying Species
15:02 Columbite Overview
15:53 Geology and Pegmatite Formation


Note: There are many claims in this area and the land designations are complicated. I’d recommend Gaia GPS for planning your route to avoid getting in trouble with property owners, mining claim owners, and to avoid prospecting on national park service land.

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