Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2007-R.Weller

Mineral Information on:
lepidolite

Chemical Group:  silicate-mica

Chemical Formula:   (OH,F)₂KLiAl₂Si₃O₁₀   (lithia mica)

Color: rose-red, violet-gray, lilac, yellowish, light gray, white             Streak:

Luster:  pearly        Transparency:  translucent

Hardness:  2.5 to 4          Specific Gravity:  2.8 to 3.3                    Fracture:

Cleavage:   perfect basal cleavage    (a mica)

Crystal Forms: Monoclinic system

Mineral Associations: Lepidolite is found in granite-pegmatite veins.
     Lepidolite is associated with lithium tourmaline (rubellite), spodumene, amblygonite.

Identifying Characteristics: Sparkly masses of small lilac pink mica flakes

Uses:  source of lithium (important for batteries); sometimes as a gemstone

Occurrences:  Brazil; in the USA from California, Maine, Connecticut

Toxicity:      when-swallowed-                            when inhaled-

Additional Information: