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
Age Distribution
Recorded ages: Mesoproterozoic to Cretaceous : 1020 Ma to 126.1 ± 1.1 Ma - based on 8 recorded ages.Crystallography
Crystal System: MonoclinicSynonyms
Flower Sugilite, Lavenderine, Lilalite, Lilianthite, Lithia Mica, Lithionglimmer, and LithioniteVarieties
Cs-rich Lepidolite, Purple Jade, and Rb-rich Lepidolite
On sale
Polished Extra Large Dark Purple Lithium Mica Lepidolite Free Forms x 3 From Zimbabwe
R 627.00 ZAR R 896.00 ZAR
On sale