alaskite

Alaskite is a rare type of felsic intrusive igneous rock. It is characterized by its high quartz and feldspar content, specifically alkali feldspar, and a scarcity of mafic minerals. Alaskite is typically leucocratic, meaning it is light in color, often white or pale gray. Its composition is close to that of granite, but it contains very little to no plagioclase feldspar and less than 10% mafic minerals like biotite or hornblende. This makes it a very silica-rich rock.

The texture of alaskite can vary, but it is commonly medium to coarse-grained, reflecting its slow cooling beneath the Earth's surface. It can occur in large intrusions, such as batholiths, or as smaller dikes and sills. Alaskite is often found in association with other granitic rocks and can be a component of large orogenic belts.

Economically, alaskite is significant because it can be a source of rare earth elements (REEs). Certain alaskite deposits, particularly those found in Greenland and parts of North America, contain economically viable concentrations of REEs, which are crucial for many modern technologies, including electronics and renewable energy systems. The extraction and processing of these elements from alaskite are ongoing areas of research and development.