Spodumene

spodumene

Spodumene is a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminum inosilicate, also LiAl(SiO3)2, and is a source of lithium.

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Spodumene mineral

It occurs as colorless to yellowish, also purplish, or lilac kunzite, yellowish-green or emerald-green hiddenite, prismatic crystals, often of great size. We found single crystals of 14.3 m / 47 ft in size in the Black Hills of South Dakota, United States.

The normal low-temperature form (α) is in the monoclinic system. Whereas the high-temperature (β) crystallizes in the tetragonal system. The normal (α)e converts to (β) at temperatures above 900 °C. We also often observe streaks, parallel to the main axis of the crystal. The facets of the crystals often reveal apparent triangular markings.

The stone was first described in 1800 for an occurrence in the type locality in Utö, Södermanland, Sweden. A Brazilian naturalist, Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva, discover the stone. The gemstone’s name comes from the Greek spodumenos, meaning “burnt to ashes” owing to the opaque, also ash-grey appearance of material refined for use in industry.

The gemstone occurs in lithium-rich granite pegmatites and aplites. Associated minerals include: quartz, also albite, petalite, eucryptite, lepidolite and beryl.

Transparent material has long been used as a gemstone with varieties kunzite and also hiddenite noted for their strong pleochroism. Source localities include Afghanistan, also Australia, Brazil, Madagascar, Pakistan, Québec in Canada and North Carolina, California in the US.

Gemstone varieties

Hiddenite

Hiddenite is a pale emerald green gem variety first reported from Alexander County, North Carolina, US. The name comes from William Earl Hidden (16 February 1853 – 12 June 1918), a mining engineer, mineral collector, and mineral dealer.

Spodumene kunzite

Kunzite is a pink to lilac colored gemstone, a variety with the color coming from minor to trace amounts of manganese. Some, but not all, kunzite used for gemstones has been heated to enhance its color. To improve the color of the stone, it often undergoes irradiation treatment

Triphane

Triphane is a synonym, but also used for colorless or yellowish varieties.

Spodumene meaning and healing properties

The following section is pseudo scientific and based on cultural beliefs.

The stone of love, pure unconditional sensual love. Highly purifying, the gem will release the emotional blocks and release love on all levels. The stone can remove any obstacles to love.

Triphane crystals are for cleansing and restoring. They remove negative energy and pollutants from the aura and emotional body, clear environments, and restore freshness, optimism and a sense of purpose. Rarities include a faint blue to bluish-green variety, as well as bicolored or tricolored specimens.

Spodumene from Pakistan

FAQ

What is spodumene used for?

A lithium aluminum silicate mineral usually found in pegmatite veins. In its natural opaque form, the crystal is worked as a lithium ore and processed into different grades for use in ceramics, glass, batteries, steel, fluxing agents and medicine.

What is the difference between spodumene and lithium?

Higher quality gems typically hosts higher lithium content in comparison to most brines. Geographic location, rock minerals are way more homogeneously distributed on earth with deposits on each continent’s.

Where is spodumene found in the world?

The stone deposits are found in locations all around the world. The most notable deposits are found in Afghanistan, Brazil, Madagascar, Pakistan and the United States (California, North Carolina and South Dakota).

How do you identify spodumene?

The crystal is strongly pleochroic. The pleochroism is easily observed in many transparent crystals, where the color ranges from yellow to violet when viewed at different angles. Pink kunzite will often exhibit a deeper pink color on crystal terminations due to the pleochroism. The stone can grow into enormous crystals.

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