Lepidolite
Lepidolite is a silicate mineral prized by collectors for its exceptional color range.
About Lepidolite
Lepidolite is a silicate mineral in the mica group (trilithionite-polylithionite series) and has the chemical formula K(Li,Al)3(Al,Si)4O10(F,OH)2. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system and is one of the most visually varied minerals in the collector market. Its combination of structural character and global distribution make it a recognized species in both systematic and aesthetic collections.
Identification & care
Specimens usually show tabular pseudohexagonal crystals; scaly, platy, fine-grained masses; coarse books; typically in dense lepidolite aggregates. Its color range is broad, including lilac, pale purple, rose-pink, colorless, pale yellowish, and pale gray. The luster is vitreous, pearly, the streak is white, and specimens are typically transparent, translucent. The cleavage is perfect/basal on {001} — classic mica cleavage. The fracture is uneven (mica-like flexible flakes), which aids identification.
Collector context
How it forms
Lepidolite forms in granitic pegmatites — specifically lithium-rich pegmatites (lct type); often associated with other lithium minerals like tourmaline (elbaite), kunzite, and morganite. It is commonly found in association with elbaite (tourmaline), kunzite (spodumene), morganite (beryl), topaz, quartz, feldspar, columbite-tantalite.
Why collectors care
Lepidolite is a frequently-sought species in serious collections because its habit is recognizable, its color often strong, and its best examples unmistakable even at a distance. Chinese material has driven much of the recent visual shift in the species — sharper crystals, deeper colors, cleaner matrix.
What affects value
Value in Lepidolite is assessed, in typical order of weight, against: (1) locality provenance; (2) size relative to the species norm; (3) crystal form and termination sharpness; (4) color saturation and zoning; (5) transparency and internal clarity; (6) matrix quality and aesthetic balance; (7) condition (absence of damage, chips, or repair). Cleaning quality and verified locality documentation act as multipliers across the above.
Naming history
The name Lepidolite has a specific etymological and historical context — see Mindat's reference entry for provenance details. We have retained naming data at the record level; published prose is paraphrased from factual fields rather than copied from source.