Pegmatites are associated with which deposit type?

• A. Titaniferous magnetite deposit
• B. A fissure vein of quartz with gold
• C. Disseminated sulfide deposit
• D. Banded iron formation

Answer: (B)

Pegmatites form in late-stage granitic intrusions and are rich in volatiles, producing extremely coarse crystals and often a suite of rare minerals. This granitic, hydrothermal-setting commonly drives fracture-filling processes in the surrounding rock, giving rise to quartz fissure veins. Gold mineralization frequently occurs in these quartz veins, so pegmatites are best linked with quartz-vein–type gold deposits. The other deposit types come from different geological environments—sedimentary iron formations or broad hydrothermal sulfide systems—and don’t fit the pegmatite setting as closely.