Mineral - Spodumene
Spodumene
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Silicates
Toxicity
none
Formula
LiAl[Si₂O₆]
Unit Cell
a=9.45 b=8.39 c=5.22 β=110° Z=4
Physical Properties
Hardness
6.5 - 7
Streak
white
Density
Normal (2-3,5)
Cleavage
Distinct after {110}
Fracture
conchoidal,
uneven
Tenacity
Brittle
Optical Properties
Color
greenpinkcolorless
Birefringence
0.018
Luster
Vitreous
Transparency
translucent,
transparent
Pleochroism
Rosa/Grün - Farblos
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
monoclinic
Point Group
monoclinic-prismatic - 2/m
Space Group
C2/c (15)
Habit
blocky, prismatic, tabular
Formation
Primary magmatic in highly fractionated, lithium-rich granite pegmatites (LCT pegmatites) under moderate pressures and temperatures (approx. 300–600 °C)
Paragenesis
Twinning
Rarity
Common
Synonyms
Spodumene
Composition
Elements
Mass
SiO₂
63.60
Al₂O₃
27.48
Fe₂O₃
0.04
MnO
0.14
MgO
0.02
CaO
0.02
Li₂O
7.79
Na₂O
0.22
H₂O
0.17
California (Dana 1895)
Groups and Members
Pyroxene-Group
Clinopyroxene-Subgroup