APPLICATIONS: | Source of lithium, phosphorus, gem stones and as mineral specimens. |
ASSOCIATED MINERALS: | Lepidolite, quartz, albite, elbaite, topaz, cassiterite, apatite, brazilianite, beryllonite, montebrasite, triphylite, lithiophilite and spodumene. |
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: | Taurus. |
CHEMICAL STRUCTURE: | (Li, Na)AlPO4(F, OH), Lithium Sodium Aluminum Phosphate Fluoride Hydroxide. |
CLASS: | Phosphates. |
CLEAVAGE: | Four directions all with varying quality with one direction being perfect, two directions being good and one direction being only distinct. All cleavage angles are non-right angles. |
COLOR: | White or creamy, but can also be colorless or pale yellow, green, blue, beige, gray or pink. |
CRYSTAL HABITS: | Short prismatic, tabular or equant crystals referred to as lath-shaped, but more commonly found as anhedral masses and compact grains. Twinning forms elongated, flatten crystals. Lamellar twinning is sometimes seen. |
CRYSTAL SYSTEM: | Triclinic, bar 1. |
FIELD INDICATORS: | Density, associations, environment, lithium flame test and numerous cleavage angles. |
FRACTURE: | Uneven to conchoidal. |
GENERAL INFORMATION: | When powdered and placed in a gas flame, it gives the flame a bright red color and this indicates the presence of lithium. Some specimens are fluorescent orange in long-wave UV light. |
GEOGRAPHY: | Minas Gerais, Brazil; Montebras, France; Germany; Varutrask, Sweden; Sakangyi, Burma; Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. In the United States localities include Pala District of San Diego County, California; Newry, Hebron, Buckfield and Topsham, Maine; Taos County, New Mexico; Yavapai County, Arizona and the Black Hills area of South Dakota. |
GROUP: | Amblygonite. |
HARDNESS: | 5.5 - 6. |
LUSTER: | Vitreous to greasy and pearly on cleavage surfaces. |
METAPHYSICAL: | Is used to calm and soothe. Can equilibrate and stabilize large areas such as malls and schools. It's considered a "food" of the gods, imparting the sense of divinity and immortality. Is helpful to those in pursuit of music, poetry and the arts. Provides resolution for duality. Can help with the unpleasantness and to enhance understanding when one is forced to end relationships. |
PHYSICAL: | Can be used to treat ambulatory disorders, increase clarity of visions and give relief of genetic defects. |
TRANSPARENCY: | Transparent to translucent. |
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: | 2.98 - 3.11. |
STREAK: | White. |
VIBRATES: | To the number 6. |
