What is the crystal structure of spodumene?
Monoclinic crystal systemSpodumene / Crystal systemIn crystallography, the monoclinic crystal system is one of the seven crystal systems. A crystal system is described by three vectors. In the monoclinic system, the crystal is described by vectors of unequal lengths, as in the orthorhombic system. They form a rectangular prism with a parallelogram as its base. Wikipedia
What is the chemical formula for spodumene?
LiAlSi₂O₆Spodumene / Chemical formula
Is kunzite a spodumene?
About Kunzite Kunzite is the best-known variety of the mineral spodumene. It’s named after famed gemologist George Frederick Kunz, who was the first to identify it as a unique variety of spodumene.
What are the physical properties of spodumene?
| Physical Properties of Spodumene | |
|---|---|
| Chemical Classification | Silicate |
| Mohs Hardness | 6.5 to 7 |
| Specific Gravity | 3.1 to 3.3 |
| Diagnostic Properties | Prismatic crystals with strong striations parallel to their principal axis. Perfect cleavage. |
What is the density of spodumene?
It is obtained after high temperature treatment of α-spodumene and is the base mineral of almost every lithium extraction processes. It has a tetragonal structure [34,35] and a density of 2.374 g·cm−3.
What is spodumene ore?
spodumene, also called Triphane, a lithium aluminum silicate mineral (LiAlSi2O6) in the pyroxene family, an important ore of lithium and a source of ceramic materials. It is ordinarily found in lithium-bearing granite pegmatites.
What type of rock is spodumene found in?
What is spodumene stone?
Spodumene is a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminium inosilicate, LiAl(SiO3)2, and is a source of lithium. It occurs as colorless to yellowish, purplish, or lilac kunzite (see below), yellowish-green or emerald-green hiddenite, prismatic crystals, often of great size.
What is the luster of spodumene?
VitreousSpodumene / Luster
What rock is spodumene found in?
Spodumene ore naturally occurs in the crystal structure of monoclinic alpha form (α-form). In order to extract lithium from the ore via the leaching process, however, the ore’s crystal structure must be in the tetragonal beta form (β-form). ¹ This conversion is achieved through decrepitation, or the shattering of the crystal structure.
What is the effect of decrepitation on spodumene crystals?
Facilitated by calcination, decrepitation expands the spodumene’s crystal structure by about 30%, ultimately allowing the otherwise chemically inert ore to react with sulfuric acid. ¹
How is lithium made from Spodumene?
In the production of lithium compounds from spodumene concentrate, calcination is utilized to carry out two separate steps in the process: decrepitation and acid roasting. Spodumene ore naturally occurs in the crystal structure of monoclinic alpha form (α-form).
What is the specific gravity of spodumene?
Calculated Properties of Spodumene Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.11 gm/ccnote: Specific Gravity of Spodumene =3.15 gm/cc. Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.01