Mineralpedia Details for Lepidolite
Lepidolite
Phyllosilicate - Monoclinic - Mica group member. Ordinary (True or Common) Mica - Trioctahdera. For more information on Mica minerals and other phyllosilicates please reference our article - Click Here.
Lepidolite falls on or close to the Trilithionite - Polylithionite join and is a light mica with substantial lithium. It contains fluorine in the (A) position.
Found in complex zoned pegmatites. Potassium is often replaced by Na, Rb, and Cs.
- Formula
- K(Li,Al)3(Si,Al)4O10(F,OH)2
- Crystal System
- Monoclinic
- Crystal Habit
- Platy, Foliated, Massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect, None, None
- Luster
- Vitreous - Pearly
- Color
- colorless, gray white, lilac, yellowish, white
- Streak
- white
- Class
- Monoclinic
- Fracture
- Uneven
- Hardness
- 2.5-3
- WebMineral
- View Lepidolite
- Mindat
- View Lepidolite
Lepidolite from Zambezia prov., Mozambique
Phyllosilicate - Monoclinic - Mica group member. Ordinary (True or Common) Mica - Trioctahdera. For more information on Mica minerals and other phyllosilicates please reference our article - Click Here.
Lepidolite falls on or close to the Trilithionite - Polylithionite join and is a light mica with substantial lithium. Contain fluorine in the (A) position.
Can be easily distinguished from rgular mica by the flame test for lithium.
Found in complex zoned pegmatites. Potassium is often replaced by Na, Rb, and Cs.
This specimen is all Lepidolite, with compact elongated pink crystals.
Lepidolite from Harding mine, Taos Co., New Mexico, United States
Phyllosilicate - Monoclinic - Mica group member. Ordinary (True or Common) Mica - Trioctahderal Lepidolite lies on or close to the Trilithionite - Polylithionite join and is a light mica with substantial lithium. Contain fluorine in the (A) position. For more information on Mica minerals and other phyllosilicates please reference our article - Click Here.
Can be easily distinguished from rgular mica by the flame test for lithium.
Found in complex zoned pegmatites. Potassium is often replaced by Na, Rb, and Cs.
Nice purplish pink, crystalline mass.
Lepidolite from Maxixe mine, Taquaral, Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Purple Lepidolite ball otherwise known as "ball-peen" lepidolite. 4cm.
Lepidolite from Himalaya mine, San Diego Co., California, United States
A thumbnail light purple cluster of Lepidolite crystals. These are good crystals for lepidolite so often found as compact masses.
Lepidolite from Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil
White Muscovite rimmed by purple Lepidolite.
Lepidolite is a lithium rich mica falling within the solid solution of polylithionite - trilithionite. According to Dr. David London, the lilac or purple color is not due to the presence of lithium but due to the presence of minor manganese. Lepidolite is found chiefly in pegmaties but not exclusive to pegmatites.
