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Although emerald deposits are relatively rare, they can be formed in several different, butspecific geologic settings and the classification systems and models currently used to describeemerald precipitation and predict its occurrence are too restrictive, leading to confusion as to theexact mode of formation for some emerald deposits. Generally speaking, emerald is beryl withsufficient concentrations of the chromophores, chromium and vanadium, to result in green andsometimes bluish green or yellowish green crystals. The limiting factor in the formation of emeraldis geological conditions resulting in an environment rich in both beryllium and chromium orvanadium. Historically, emerald deposits have been classified into three broad types. The first andmost abundant deposit type, in terms of production, is the desilicated pegmatite related type thatformed via the interaction of metasomatic fluids with beryllium-rich pegmatites, or similar graniticbodies, that intruded into chromium- or vanadium-rich rocks, such as ultramafic and volcanic rocks,or shales derived from those rocks. A second deposit type, accounting for most of the emerald ofgem quality, is the sedimentary type, which generally involves the interaction, along faults andfractures, of upper level crustal brines rich in Be from evaporite interaction with shales and otherCr- and/or V-bearing sedimentary rocks. The third, and comparatively most rare, deposit type is themetamorphic-metasomatic deposit. In this deposit model, deeper crustal fluids circulate along faultsor shear zones and interact with metamorphosed shales, carbonates, and ultramafic rocks, and Beand Cr (±V) may either be transported to the deposition site via the fluids or already be present inthe host metamorphic rocks intersected by the faults or shear zones. All three emerald depositmodels require some level of tectonic activity and often continued tectonic activity can result in themetamorphism of an existing sedimentary or magmatic type deposit. In the extreme, at deepercrustal levels, high-grade metamorphism can result in the partial melting of metamorphic rocks,blurring the distinction between metamorphic and magmatic deposit types. In the present paper,we propose an enhanced classification for emerald deposits based on the geological environment,i.e., magmatic or metamorphic; host-rocks type, i.e., mafic-ultramafic rocks, sedimentary rocks, andgranitoids; degree of metamorphism; styles of minerlization, i.e., veins, pods, metasomatites, shearzone; type of fluids and their temperature, pressure, composition. The new classification accountsfor multi-stage formation of the deposits and ages of formation, as well as probable remobilizationof previous beryllium mineralization, such as pegmatite intrusions in mafic-ultramafic rocks. Suchnew considerations use the concept of genetic models based on studies employing chemical,geochemical, radiogenic, and stable isotope, and fluid and solid inclusion fingerprints. The emerald occurrences and deposits are classified into two main types: (Type I) Tectonic magmatic-relatedwith sub-types hosted in: (IA) Mafic-ultramafic rocks (Brazil, Zambia, Russia, and others); (IB)Sedimentary rocks (China, Canada, Norway, Kazakhstan, Australia); (IC) Granitic rocks (Nigeria).(Type II) Tectonic metamorphic-related with sub-types hosted in: (IIA) Mafic-ultramafic rocks(Brazil, Austria); (IIB) Sedimentary rocks-black shale (Colombia, Canada, USA); (IIC) Metamorphicrocks (China, Afghanistan, USA); (IID) Metamorphosed and remobilized either type I deposits orhidden granitic intrusion-related (Austria, Egypt, Australia, Pakistan), and some unclassifieddeposits.

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The Leech River Complex, part of the Pacifi c Rim Terrane, is a Cretaceous metasedimentary and metaigneous assemblage on southern Vancouver Island. The Leech River Complex is fault-bounded between the Eocene Metchosin Igneous Complex to the south (part of the Crescent Terrane) and the Paleozoic to Jurassic Wrangel Terrane to the north and provides critical information on the evolution of the central part of the western North American forearc in Cretaceous through Eocene time. Single detrital zircons from the metasedimentary component, known as the Leech River Schist, give U-Pb interpreted ages that range from Precambrian to ca. 103 Ma, indicating a varied source region and a probable Early Cretaceous depositional age. U-Pb geochronology and fi eld investigations indicate at least two magmatic-metamorphic events in the Leech River Complex: one during the Late Cretaceous, and the other during the early Middle Eocene. The peraluminous Jordan River metagranodiorite, a fi ne-grained biotitic stock and related dikes intruded the Leech River Complex at ca. 88 Ma, during the older magmatic event. Metamorphic pressure-temperature conditions of 525-550 °C and 2-3 kbar are recorded in the contact aureole. The later event occurred during emplacement of the Walker Creek intrusions, a suite of peraluminous tonalite, trondjhemite, and granodiorite dikes that intruded the Complex at ca. 51 Ma and produced a similar metamorphic aureole. Both intrusive suites have