Spodumene
Mineral LiAlSi2O6
Also called Triphane
Take care.
- Fades or changes in light: Keep it in the dark, out of sunlight and bright display lights.
About it
Flattened, striated blades that change colour with direction, in lithium pegmatites; pink kunzite and green hiddenite fade in sunlight. Afghanistan, Brazil, and California's Pala district.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Silicate (inosilicate), pyroxene group
- Formula
- LiAlSi2O6
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 6.5–7
- Specific gravity
- 3.1–3.2
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy)
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- pink, lilac, green, yellow, colourless, white, grey
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- perfect in two directions at about 87°
- Under UV light
- pink kunzite often orange-pink under longwave UV
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.