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Spodumene is a lithium aluminosilicate. It is found in lithium-rich pegmatites in which spodumene can be associated with tourmaline, quartz, lepidolite and beryl.
The crystals are often flattened and striated. They are transparent with a vitreous lustre. Kunzite is a variety of spodumene that has a pink-lilac colour, produced by manganese impureties. Hiddenite is a green-, to yellowish variety, coloured by both chromium and iron impurities.
The crystals present a strong pleochroïsm: their colour can vary from yellow to purple according to the observation angle. The Pala district (California, USA) produced very coloured transparent kunzite crystals. The only known occurrence of hiddenite is Hiddenite (North Carolina, USA), where the discovered crystals are green-emerald. The largest known crystal of spodumene measures approximately 13 founders in length. It comes from Blacks Hills in South Dakota (USA). Rather recently, many gemmeous spodumene occurences were found in Minas-Gerais (Brazil), Madagascar, central China, west-Australia, Angola and in the Nuristan province (Afghanistan).
In France, spodumene was encountered at the Gwernavalou Quarry (Trémargat, Côtes-d'Armor, Brittany).
The type mineral for spodumene was found at the Utö island, near Haninge, Stockholm area, Sweden. The type specimen current location is unknown.
Did you know? This mineral is used as a primary source of lithium (like petalite and lepidolite). It is also actively mined for jewellery.
HISTORY : Name inspired from the Greek word "σποδυμενοσ" [spodumenos] meaning "ash" color, in reference to its gray cristals
Species first described in 1800 by José Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva (1763-1838), Brazilian politician and geologist
Type-locality : Utö Island, Sodermanland, Sweden
ANCIENT NAME : Triphane
CHEMICAL FORMULA : Li Al Si2O6
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Monoclinic
COLOR : Colorless, pink, yellow, green, violett, gray
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Vitreous
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGIE : Prismatic crystals, flats and striated
HARDNESS : 6,5-7,0
CHEMICAL CLASS: 3,184
DENSITY : VIII - Silicates
GROUP : Pyroxen (Li)
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 8/F.01-120
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 9.DA.30
