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Spodumene

Chemical Formula

LiAlSi2O6

Chemical Class

Silicates

Properties

Its crystals have prismatic habit, and they often reach huge dimensions, up to 10 m long. Its color is widely varied, and it can be grey, white, colorless, yellow, green (Hiddenite), from rose to lilac and purple (Kunzite).

Origin

Galileia, MG.

Curiosities

Its name comes from the Greek ‘spodumenos’, meaning reduced to ashes, due to its grayish white color, the same color as volcano ashes. It was described in 1800, by the Brazilian scientist José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva.

Use

It is a source mineral of the Lithium element. Transparent varieties, Hiddenite and Kunzite, are used as gemstones.

Source: MM Gerdau - Museu das Minas e do Metal -

ABC of mining

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