Lithiophilite
Mineral LiMn2+PO4
About it
The manganese partner of triphylite, salmon to clove-brown in lithium pegmatites, often altered to black or purple at the edges. Notable from Branchville, Connecticut, and the Black Hills of South Dakota.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Phosphate, triphylite group
- Formula
- LiMn2+PO4
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 4–5
- Specific gravity
- 3.34–3.5
- Streak
- white to greyish white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy), resinous
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Colours
- salmon pink, clove brown, yellowish brown, honey yellow
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- good in one direction, imperfect in another
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.