Lithiophilite (inclusions in Quartz)
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Lithiophilite was named by George Brush and Edward Dana in 1878 for LITHIum and the Greek word for friend in allusion to its composition containing lithium. Lithium is named from the Greek word lithos for stone.

Discovered in 1878; IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

LiMn²⁺PO₄

Lithium Manganese Phosphate

Molecular Weight:

156.85 gm

Composition:

Lithium

4.43 %

Li

9.53 %

Li₂O

Manganese

35.03 %

Mn

45.23 %

MnO

Phosphorus

19.75 %

P

45.25 %

P₂O₅

Oxygen

40.80 %

O

100.00 %

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

PHOSPHATES

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

7/A.02-20

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

8.AB.10

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H₂O
B : With medium-sized cations

Related to:

Triphylite Group. Triphylite-Lithiophilite Series. Isostructural with Olivine.

Members of Group:

Triphylite Group: Ferrisicklerite, Karenwebberite, Lithiophilite, Natrophilite, Purpurite, Sicklerite, Triphylite. The Triphylite Group is a group of anhydrous phosphates.

Varieties:

None

Synonyms:

Lithiolite, Lithio-Mangano-Triphylite, ICSD 25834, PDF 33-803

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal

Crystal Habit:

Sharply terminated crystals may show {010}, {011}, {021}, {111}, with {100}, {110}, {130}, {140}; commonly as crudely anhedral crystals and cleavages, to 1 m.

Twinning:

Rare contact twins on {130} 

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Perfect on {100}, good on {010}

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

4.0

Density:

3.29 - 3.50 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Clove-brown, yellowish brown, honey-yellow, salmon-pink, blue-gray, gray, typically surficially black from alteration; colorless to pale yellow or pink in transmitted light. Low Fe mineral is pale pinkish brown to orange. May be black due to oxidation and staining.

Transparency:

Transparent to translucent

Luster:

Sub-vitreous to resinous, greasy

Refractive Index:

1.663 - 1.691  Biaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.008 - 0.010

Dispersion:

Strong; r < v

Pleochroism:

Weak; X = deep pink, Y = pale greenish yellow, Z = pale pink

Occurances

Geological Setting:

A late-stage mineral in some complex granite pegmatites; usually primary but rarely secondary.

Common Associations:

Sicklerite, Purpurite, Huréaulite, numerous Fe–Mn phosphates and oxides.

Common Impurities:

Mg, Ca, Fe

Type Locality:

Fillow Quarry (Branchville Quarry; Branchville Mica Mine; Smith Mine), Branchville, Ridgefield, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, USA

Year Discovered:

1878

View mineral photos:

Lithiophilite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Lithiophilite is a member of the the Triphylite Group of minerals that also includes Purpurite and Triphylite. The Triphylite Group is a group of anhydrous phosphate minerals. The name Lithiophilite, which is also incorrectly spelled Lithiophylite, can be translated from the Greek as lithium friend for its lithium content. Although Lithiophilite is scarce and generally does not form good crystals, it can be found as inclusions in Quartz. Quartz gems, usually cabochons, with thin, flat slivers of brown Lithiophilite are rare, unusual, attractive and very collectable. These flat slivers of Lithiophilite are often iridescent.

Locations for finding Lithiophilite: In the USA, from Branchville, Fairfield County, and in the Strickland quarry, Portland, Middlesex County, Connecticut; at several places in Maine, as Buckfield and Norway, Oxford County, and Poland, Androscoggin County; in the Custer Mountain mine, and elsewhere in Custer County, South Dakota; good crystals from the Foote mine, near Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina; in the Harding mine, Dixon, Taos County, New Mexico; in the White Picacho district, Yavapai County, Arizona; at several mines in the Pala district, San Diego County, California. In Canada, from the Tanco mine, Bernic Lake, Manitoba. From the Mangualde pegmatite, near Mesquitela, and the Bendada pegmatite, near Guarda, Portugal. In the Viitaniemi pegmatite, near Eräjärvi, Finland. Large masses in the Blesberg mine, Noumas pegmatite, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. From Karibib, Namibia. In the Buranga pegmatite, near Gatumba, Rwanda. At Wodgina, Western Australia. Several other localities are known.
 

  
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