Lepidolite var. ball-peen
Lepidolite var. ball-peen
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- Availability
- Sold
- Size
- 11 x 7 x 4 cm - Cabinet
- Formula
- K(Li,Al)3(Si,Al)4O10(F,OH)2 (RRUFF)
- Locality
- Bennett quarry, Buckfield, Oxford Co., Maine, United States
Lilac "Lepidolite" forming rounded crystals. Lepidolite is a lithium rich mica falling withing 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.
"Lepidolite" was actually discredited as a unique mineral species. It is rather a "catch-all" name describing purple or lilac colored Muscovites belonging to the solid solution group of Polylithionite - Trilithionite, which are lithium rich micas. Lepidolite is often found in LCT (lithium - cesium - tantalum) pegmatites and can often be enriched in rubidium.
This particular habit of Lepidolite is often described as "ball-peen" Lepidolite for its similarity to the ball-peen hammer. David London describes this habit in his book "Pegmatites" and again sites differential or rapid growth in the constantly evolving chemical environment.
Lepidolite
- 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
Data courtesy of Webmineral.
- Collection
- Art Smith Collection
- Mineralpedia
- View Lepidolite
- On Dakota Matrix
- Previously Sold Lepidolite
- On Dakota Matrix
- Other Available Lepidolite
- WebMineral
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- Mindat
- View Lepidolite
