General Information:
Chemical Formula:
K(Li,Al)3(Si,Al)4O10(F,OH)2
Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 386.31 gm)
Potassium 10.12 % K
Lithium 3.59 % Li
Aluminum 6.98 % Al
Silicon 29.08 % Si
Hydrogen 0.52 % H
Oxygen 49.70 % O
Empirical Formula:
KLi2AlSi4O10(OH)2
Environment:
Lithia-bearing pegmatites.
Locality:
Pala, San Diego Co., California, USA.
Name Origin:
From the Greek lepidion - "scale" and lithos - "stone."
Physical Properties:
Cleavage:
[001] Perfect
Color:
colorless, gray white, grayish, yellowish, or white.
Density:
2.8 - 2.9, Average = 2.84
Diaphaniety:
Translucent
Habits:
Platy - Sheet forms (e.g. micas)., Foliated - Two dimensional platy forms., Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.
Hardness:
2.5-3 - Finger Nail-Calcite
Luminescence:
None.
Luster:
Vitreous - Pearly
Streak:
white
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