Name/Title
LepidoliteEntry/Object ID
78.63.350Description
Chemical Composition: KLi2AI(AI,Si)3O1O(F,OH)2
Crystal System: Monoclinic System
Description: Common Name: Lepidolite
Chemistry:KLi2Al(Al, Si)3O10(F, OH)2, Potassium lithium
Group: Silicates
Location: Maine
Description: Lepidolite crystals,lilac and white. This is one of the new minerals,it is light and they use it for airplane props in place of Aluminum. It takes the place of Magnesium.
Physical Charateristics:PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
• Color is violet to pale pink or white and rarely gray or yellow.
• Luster is vitreous to pearly.
• Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent.
• Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m
• Crystal Habits include tabular to prismatic crystals with a prominant pinacoid termination. Lepidolite's four prism faces and two pinacoid faces form pseudo-hexagonal crystal "books". The sides of the crystal often tend to tapper. Also as micaseous, lamellar or granular rock forming masses.
• Cleavage is perfect in one direction producing thin sheets or flakes.
• Fracture is not readily observed due to cleavage but is uneven.
• Hardness is 2.5.
• Specific Gravity is approximately 2.8+ (average)
• Streak is white.
• Associated Minerals are quartz, feldspars, spodumene, ambygonite and tourmaline especially elbaite.
• Other Characteristics: cleavage sheets are flexible and elastic, meaning they can be bent and will flex back to original shape. Also some specimens may show triboluminescence.
• Notable Occurrences include Brazil; Ural Mountains, Russia; several African localities and California, USA.
• Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, cleavage, elastic sheets and associations.
Fracture: Uneven
Hardness: 3 Calcite
Luster: Vitreous
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Specific Gravity: 2.8
Streak: WhiteCollection
Delmar Smith Mineral CollectionDimensions
Height
2-1/4 inWidth
2-1/4 inLength
4 inDimension Notes
Dimension taken at widest pointsLocation
Location
Shelf
CS-D-2Room
Curation StorageBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
StorageMoved By
Curtis GardnerDate
January 3, 2024Location
Cabinet
H-5 rearWall
NorthBuilding
Storage (old gift shop upstairs)Category
Permanent