Spodumene
| Colour | Pink, Green, Clear |
|---|---|
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 |
| Lustre | Vitreous, pearly on cleavage |
| Streak | white |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Cleavage | Perfect prismatic, two directions {110} ∧ {10} at 87° |
| Fracture | Uneven to subconchoidal |
| Chemical formula | lithium aluminium silicate, LiAl(SiO 3 ) 2 |
| Specific gravity | 3.03–3.23 |
What is Spodumene?
Spodumene is a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminium inosilicate, LiAl(SiO3)2, and is a commercially important source of lithium. It occurs as colorless to yellowish, purplish, or lilac kunzite (see below), or alternatively yellowish-green or emerald-green hiddenite; it takes the form of prismatic crystals, often of great size. Single crystals of 14.3 m (47 ft) in size are reported from the Black Hills of South Dakota, United States.
How to identify Spodumene
- Lustre: Vitreous, pearly on cleavage.
- Hardness: Mohs 6.5–7 — about as hard as a steel knife.
- Streak: white.
- Habit: Monoclinic crystal system.
Spodumene in different forms
Stones often confused with Spodumene
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Spodumene?
Spodumene is Mohs 6.5–7 on the hardness scale.
What colour is Spodumene?
Spodumene is typically pink, green, clear (Highly variable: white, colorless, gray, pink, lilac, violet, yellow and green, may be bicolored; emerald green – hidden).