The petrology and mineralogy of the pegmatite complex at Bismuth, Torrington, N.S.W.

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Abstract
The pegmatite complex of epi‐Permian age at Bismuth near Torrington, N.S.W., consists of an elongated intrusion of a granitoid quartz‐topaz rock (silexite) together with a series of pegmatites of varying composition. The principal pegmatite consists of orthoclase, biotite, quartz and beryl with concentric zoning passing outwards into fine‐grained biotite‐beryl rock containing a number of ore minerals: arsenides of Co, Fe and Ni, wolframite, bismuth, bismuthinite, molybdenite, joseite, cassiterite, rutile, uraninite and monazite. Small pegmatite veins issuing from this main body contain, in addition to the silicate minerals, high temperature tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite. A second group is characterised by quartz, orthoclase and beryl with occasional patches of tourmaline. Emplacement at no great depth is indicated by breccia veins and stock‐works filled with pegmatite. The origin of a silica hydromagma is considered in terms of existing experimental work and in terms of field occurrence. Structural evidence suggests that the quartzose intrusion preceded the injection of the pegmatite fluids, both being derived from the parent Mole biotite granite.

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