Mineral Type - Lepidolite
A series between Polylithionite and Trilithionite
A Li-rich mica in, or close to, the so-called Polylithionite-Trilithionite series.The original lepidolite came from Rožná pegmatite, Žďár nad Sázavou, Vysočina Region, Moravia (Mähren; Maehren), Czech Republic.
The name is sometimes incorrectly applied to lithian muscovite.
Name
Named in 1792 by Martin Klaproth from the Greek words lepidos for "scale" and lithos for "stone".Physical Properties
Lustre: Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Greasy, PearlyTransparency: Transparent, Translucent
Colour: Pink, light purple, light rose red, other colors possible but are rare. Ideally colorless, but frequently occurs in manganese-bearing environments
Streak: White
Hardness: 2½ - 3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity: Elastic
Cleavage: Perfect {001} perfect
Fracture: Micaceous
Density: 2.8 - 2.9 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.83 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Chemical Properties
Formula: KLi2Al(Si4O10)(F,OH)2 to K(Li1.5Al1.5)(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2Elements listed: O, Si
Common Impurities: H,Al,Li,Fe,Ti,Na,Mg,Ge,etc