Spodumene

Pyroxene Group - Clinopyroxene Subgroup. Spodumene is worked as an ore of lithium, but it is most highly prized as a gem material - the varieties Kunzite (pink) and Hiddenite (green) are especially sought after. It is usually found as a constituent of lithium-rich pegmatites. It forms crystals to 12 meters in length.

History

Activities related to discovery and approval of the group members

Structural context

Spodumene
Crystal System monoclinicCrystal Class prismaticSpace Group C2/c
a5.217—9.504 (8.995)
b5.217—8.46 (8.1101)
c5.024—9.158 (5.654)
alpha90
beta69.67—110.33 (104.3984)
gamma90—120 (91.6667)
volume128.79—520.671 (387.1393)

Based on 18 measurements

Chemical context

Stoichiometric formulas

Spodumene
mindat.org
  • March 13, 2023LiAlSi2O6
IMA
  • March 13, 2023LiAlSi2O6
mineralogy.rocks
  • Aug. 30, 2022LiAlSi2O6

Elements recorded on EPMA

18
Al
18
Li
18
O
18
Si
1
Fe
1
Na

Physical properties

ColorColor entities, recognized using a custom trained NER model
  • colourless
    • light green
    • emerald-green
            • gray
            Color noteOriginal color note from the source
            Colourless, yellow, light green, emerald-green, pink to violet, purple, white, gray
            StreakStreak entities, recognized using a custom trained NER model
              Streak noteOriginal streak note from the source
              White
              Lustre
              Vitreous
              Dull
              Fracture
              Irregular/Uneven
              Sub-Conchoidal
              Transparency
              Transparent
              Translucent
              Tenacity
              brittle
              Hardness
              6.5—7
              Measured density
              3.1—3.2
              Calculated density
              3.184