Resumen
This study describes the physical and optical properties, polytypism, chemical composition and paragenesis of a Li-Al-bearing mica suite from the northernmost pegmatite field of Pampean Pegmatite Province. The micas are from two possible cogenetic rare-element pegmatites: Santa Elena, a complex-type, petalite subtype pegmatite, and El Peñón, a beryl-type, beryl-columbite-phosphate subtype pegmatite. The micas are muscovite, lithian muscovite, mixed forms and lepidolite. The muscovite s.I. has 2 M, structure and chemistry with comparatively low contents of Mn, Li, Rb, Cs, Ti and Y; one specimen could be classified as a 'rose muscovite'. The lepidolite and mixed forms have 2 M, dominant polytypism with some scarce X-ray reflections of 1 M or 2 M, polytypes. They are higher in SiO2, MnO, CaO, Li2O, Rb2O, Cs, Ti, Y and P. Li2O ranges between 3,71 and 4,73%, and Rb2O from 0,29 to 2,53%. The geochemical evolution of the micas, illustrated by K/Rb versus lithium, manganeso, cesium, thallium and ytrium diagrams, shows a differentiation trend similar to micas from other LCT pegmatite fieids. The inferred crystallization path has evolved approximately around 2-3 kbar and 350-400ºC, in the stability field of spodumene, in a H2O-saturated environment, under increasing HF, KF and LiF activities.