Pyroxenes (silicates): Spodumene

Semiprecious stones, Gems Diagnostic card.
In the photo - a kind of spodumena - kunzite. Below: spodumen with Madagascar with obvious signs of corroding.

Li Al Si 2 O 6
Singonia monoclinic
Hardness 6,5-7
Specific weight 3-3.2
Cleavage is perfect
Crack irregular
Color is colorless, differently colored
Color in powder white
Glitter glass

Semiprecious stones, Gems

Semiprecious stones, Gems Its name spodumen probably leads from the characteristic gray color, since from the Greek it is translated as "burned to ash". Since 1879, two jewelry varieties of spodumene are known: giddenite and kunzite. In spodumena there are two varieties - kunzite and giddenite, having, respectively, pink and green color. The mineral is transparent or translucent, has a glassy luster. The hardness of the spodumene is quite high.

Spodumene forms prismatic crystals, sometimes of gigantic size. In parallel with the elongation, hatching is observed. Cleavage along the vertical prism. Columnar aggregates or dense microcrystalline masses are common. Color from grayish white to light gray and light yellow.

Chemical composition. Lithium oxide (Li2O) 8.1%, alumina (Al2O3) 27.4%, silica (SiO2) 64.5%. Cleavage. Perfect in (110) and noticeable in terms of (100). The shape of the crystals. Columnar, thick-plate, sometimes very large crystals. Simple ionic chains. Class of symmetry. Prismatic - 2 / m. Aggregates. Dense, lamellar, spar-like.

The name giddenit received the name of the American mineralogist WE Gydden, first discovered this precious stone in the pegmatites of North Carolina (USA). In Europe, it almost does not enter the market, but in America it is one of the favorite jewelry stones. Its coloration is not always stable.

Kunzite is named in honor of the prominent American gemologist JF Kunz, who first described this mineral in 1902. In light, the color of the kunzite fades. Often it forms large crystals. Cutting is hampered by perfect cleavage. Because of the strong pleochroism at the faceting, the table is oriented perpendicular to the main axis of the crystal. Heating can improve the coloring of brownish and greenish stones.

Diagnostic signs.
In the kunzite, the phenomenon of pleochroism can be clearly seen: when the crystal rotates, the characteristic pink color turns into a pale pink, and then into a light pink color. It swells and stains the flame red. Behavior in acids. Does not dissolve.

Gyddenite is easily confused with beryl, chrysoberyl, diopside. Euclase, pale emerald, green tourmaline. To confuse the kunzite is easy with pinkish-lilac minerals, especially with amethyst, beryl, topaz, and also with pink glass.

Semiprecious stones, Gems Origin.
Spodumene occurs in lithium pegmatites along with quartz, lepidolite (lithium mica), beryl, tourmaline and garnets. Gyddenite forms in pegmatite veins. Its deposits are known in Brazil, Madagascar, the USA (North Carolina, California), Burma, Afghanistan. Kunzite deposits are known in the pegmatites of Madagascar, the USA (California, Maine), Brazil, Burma, Afghanistan.

Place of Birth.
Huge crystals were obtained from the USA (South Dakota), Canada (Manitoba province), Russia (Ural), Brazil, Mexico. In Italy, it is mined on the island of Elba. Kunzite comes from the USA, Afghanistan and Brazil. Gyddenite, except in Brazil, is noted in the state of North Carolina and in Madagascar.

Application.
If the spodumene forms large deposits, it is an important ore for lithium and its salts. Kunzite and giddenite are used in jewelry. Colorless, red, yellow, green. Beautifully colored differences (kunzite, giddenite) refer to precious stones. The perfect cleavage of the mineral makes it difficult to cut (it is very sensitive to pressure). The presence of pleochroism determines the location of the table when cut perpendicular to the main axis of the crystal.

Semiprecious stones, GemsSemiprecious stones, Gems
Gyddenite. Afghanistan. 4 cm (left) and 5 cm. Photo: © V.А. Sleetov.

Semiprecious stones, GemsSemiprecious stones, GemsSemiprecious stones, Gems
The cunite. Urupuka rn, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Kunzite (a cluster of crystals), prov. Lagman, Afghanistan. Munich show-2007.

Semiprecious stones, Gems
Crystal spodumena. Afghanistan. (2011).

Semiprecious stones, Gems
Spodumen. Nuristan, prov. Lagman, Afghanistan. Photo: © А.А. Evseev.

Poisonous and radioactive dangerous stones and minerals

** - poisonous stones and minerals (mandatory check in the chemical laboratory + explicit indication of toxicity)
** - radioactive stones and minerals (mandatory check on the standard dosimeter + ban on open sales in case of radioactivity exceeding 24 milli / g / h + additional measures of population protection)

  1. Adamine *
  2. Annabergite * Erythrin *
  3. Antimonitis *
  4. Arsenolit **
  5. Arsenopyrite **
  6. Auripigment **
  7. Baildonite *
  8. Beryl **
  9. Betafit **
  10. Billietite **
  1. Bismuthinite *
  2. Breithauptit *
  3. Witherite *
  4. Gadolinite **
  5. Galit * *
  6. Geocronite *
  7. Glaucodot *
  8. Decloisite * Mottramite *
  9. Jordananite *
  10. Carnotite **
  1. Kinovar **
  2. Cobaltin *
  3. Kotunit *
  4. Lyroconite *
  5. Marcasite *
  6. Monazite *
  7. Mytalian *
  8. Nickelin *
  9. Otenith **
  10. Pyromorphite *
  11. Pyroclor *
  1. Proustite *
  2. Rammelsbergit *
  3. Realgar **
  4. Mercury *
  5. Senarmontitis *
  6. Sulfur *
  7. Scutterudite *
  8. Strontianite * *
  9. Antimony *
  10. Tetrahedrite *
  11. Thorionite **
  1. Torit **
  2. Uraninite **
  3. Pharmacolit *
  4. Chalcosine *
  5. Hutchinsonite *
  6. Celestine * *
  7. Zircon **
  8. Euxenite **
  9. Enargite *
  10. Ashinit **
  11. Conichalcite

Catalog of minerals and semi-precious stones of the world by groups

** - poisonous stones and minerals
** - radioactive stones and minerals

Types of minerals (classification
On chemical composition)

Native elements:
  1. Diamond
  2. Graphite
  3. Iron
  4. Gold
  5. Copper
  6. Platinum
  7. Mercury *
  8. Sulfur *
  9. Silver
  10. Antimony *
Sulphides:
  1. Antimonitis *
  2. Argentina
  3. Arsenopyrite **
  4. Auripigment **
  5. Bismuthinite *
  6. Bornitis
  7. Breithauptit *
  8. Boulangerite
  9. Bournonite
  10. Wurzit
  11. Galena
  12. Gauerite
  13. Geocronite *
  14. Glaucodot *
  15. Greenokite
  16. Jemsonite
  17. Diskrasite
  18. Jordananite *
  19. Kinovar **
  20. Cobaltin *
  21. Cowellin
  22. Cosalit
  23. Marcasite *
  24. Meningitis
  25. Miargyrite
  26. Millerite
  27. Molybdenite
  28. Nickelin *
  29. Pyrgirite
  30. Pyrite
  31. Pyrrhotite
  32. Polybasite
  33. Proustite *
  34. Rammelsbergit *
  35. Realgar **
  36. Silvanit
  37. Scutterudite *
  38. Stannin
  39. Stefanit
  40. Sphalerite
  41. Tetrahedrite *
  42. Ulmanit
  43. Chalcosine *
  44. Chalcopyrite
  45. Hutchinsonite *
  46. Enargite *
Pyroxenes (silicates):
  1. Augite
  2. Bronzite
  3. Hedenbergite
  4. Diopside
  5. Jade
  6. Spodumene
  7. Fassaite
  8. Aegirine
  9. Enstatite
Halides:
  1. Atakamit
  2. Boleitis
  3. Williomit
  4. Galit * *
  5. Diaboleitis
  6. Yodargyrite
  7. Carnallite
  8. Kerhirit (chlorargyrite)
  9. Connollyte
  10. Cryolite
  11. Kotunit *
  12. Myersit
  13. Marshit
  14. Nadorit
  15. Mytalian *
  16. Tomsenolite
  17. Fluorite
Spinels
(Oxides):
  1. Ghanit
  2. Magnetite
  3. Surik
  4. Franklinite
  5. Chrysoberyl
  6. Chromite
  7. Spinel
Oxides and hydroxides:
  1. Arsenolit **
  2. Betafit **
  3. Billietite **
  4. Brookyt
  5. Brucite
  6. Wolframite
  7. Hematite
  8. Getit
  9. Diaspora
  10. Ilmenite
  11. Cassiterite
  12. Quartz
  13. Colombith
  14. Corundum
  15. Cristobalite
  16. Cuprite
  17. Limonite
  18. Manganite
  19. Octaedrite
  20. Opal
  21. Perovskite
  22. Pyrolusite
  23. Pyroclor *
  24. Pyrocystite
  25. Platnerite
  26. Psilomelan
  27. Rutile
  28. Senarmontitis *
  29. Tellurite
  30. Tenorite
  31. Thorionite **
  32. Tridymite
  33. Uraninite **
  34. Fergusonite
  35. Chalcedony
  36. Zincite
  37. Euxenite **
  38. Ashinit **
Other:
  1. Astrophyllite
  2. Petrified wood
  3. Amber
Carbonates:
  1. Azurite
  2. Ankerite
  3. Aragonite
  4. Artinite
  5. Aurichalcite
  6. Bura
  7. Witherite *
  8. Geylussite
  9. Hydrozincite
  10. Dolomite
  11. Potassium nitrate
  12. Calcite
  13. Kernite
  14. Colemanite
  15. Ludwigit
  16. Magnesite
  17. Malachite
  18. Sodium nitrate
  19. Pearsonite
  20. Rodicite
  21. Rhodochrosite
  22. Rosazit
  23. Siderite
  24. Smithsonite
  25. Strontianite * *
  26. Throne
  27. Uleksite
  28. Phosgenite
  29. Cerussite
Sulphates:
  1. Alotrichin
  2. Alunite
  3. Alunogen
  4. Anhydrite
  5. Anglesite
  6. Barite
  7. Botriogen
  8. Brochantite
  9. Wolfenite
  10. Gypsum
  11. Glauberite
  12. Devillin
  13. Cainite
  14. Kreonette
  15. Crocoite
  16. Linarit
  17. Römerit
  18. Spangolite
  19. Tenardite
  20. Celestine * *
  21. Cyanotrichitis
  22. Scheelite
  23. Epsomith
Zeolites
(Silicates):
  1. Harmony
  2. Heylandite
  3. Gmelinite
  4. Gismondine
  5. Lomontite
  6. Mordenite
  7. Mesolithic
  8. Natrolite
  9. Skolecith
  10. Stylebite
  11. Thomsonite
  12. Ferrierite
  13. Phillipsit
  14. Shabazit
Phosphates:
  1. Adamine *
  2. Annabergite * Erythrin *
  3. Apatite
  4. Austinit
  5. Baildonite *
  6. Turquoise
  7. Brasilianite
  8. Vanadinitis
  9. Variscite
    Strenghit
  10. Wavellite
  11. Vivianite Kerchinite
  12. Decloisite * Mottramite *
  13. Kakoxen
  14. Carnotite **
  15. Clinoclase
  16. Lavendouraith
  17. Lazulit Scorzalite
  18. Lyroconite *
  19. Mimetite
  20. Monazite *
  21. Olivenith *
  22. Otenith **
  23. Pyromorphite *
  24. Pseudomalachitis
  25. Pharmacolit *
  26. Chalcophyllite
Silicates:
  1. Andalusite
  2. Brownite
  3. Völler
  4. Willemite
  5. Gadolinite **
  6. Gehlenith
  7. Gemimorphite
  8. Gumit
  9. Datolith
  10. Dumortierite
  11. Ilvayit
  12. Jortdalit
  13. Kyanite
  14. Lavasonitis
  15. Monticellite
  16. Olivin
  17. Sillimanite
  18. Staurolite
  19. Titanite
  20. Topaz
  21. Torit **
  22. Forsterite
  23. Chloritoid
  24. Zircon **
  25. Euclase
The Epidotes
(Silicates):
  1. Allanit
  2. AXINITE
  3. Benitoit
  4. Beryl **
  5. Vesuvian
  6. Dioptase
  7. Klinoziosite
  8. Cordierite
  9. Milarit
  10. Osumilit
  11. Piemontite
  12. Taramellite
  13. Tourmaline
  14. Zoisite
  15. Eudialyte
  16. Epidote
Grenades
(Silicates):
  1. Almandine
  2. Andradit
  3. Grossular
  4. The pie
  5. Spessartine
  6. Uvarovite
Mica
(Silicates):
  1. Biotite
  2. Clintonite
  3. Xanthophyllite
  4. Lepidolite
  5. Marguerite
  6. Muscovite
  7. Phlogopite
  8. Cinivaldite
Chlorites
(Silicates):
  1. Vermiculite
  2. Cammeririte
  3. Klinochlor
  4. Pennine
  5. Sepiolitis
  6. Serpentine
  7. Chrysocolla
Feldspars (silicates):
  1. Albite
  2. Anorite
  3. Hyalophane
  4. Microcline
  5. Orthoclase
  6. Plagioclase
  7. Sanidine
Faldshpathoids (silicates):
  1. Analcim
  2. Gayuin
  3. Lapis lazuli
  4. Leucite
  5. Nepheline
  6. Petalite
  7. Pollucite
  8. Scapolite
  9. Sodalite
Amphiboles
(Silicates):
  1. Actinolite
  2. Anthrophyllite
  3. Apophyllite
  4. Babingtonite
  5. Bavenith
  6. Bustamit
  7. Wollastonite
  8. Glaucophane
  9. Cummingtonite
  10. Neptunite
  11. Pectolite
  12. Pyrophyllite
  13. Prenit
  14. Ribekit
  15. Hornblende
  16. Rhodonite
  17. Talc
  18. Tremolite
  19. Eudidymitis