Lepidolite
Mexico
19.93 carats
© gemselect.com
Lepidolite is a violet to pink variety of Mica. Massive fine-grained material is used for ornamental purposes, it is polished into various shapes - cabochons and slabs. Transparent to translucent material is sometimes faceted.
Lepidolite Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
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Lepidolite Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Lepidolite gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:19.93 cts
Heaviest:85.41 cts
Average:35.66 cts
Total photos:5
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| General Information | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chemical Formula |
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| Photos of natural/un-cut material from mindat.org | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Physical Properties of Lepidolite | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 2.5, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 2.80 to 2.90, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | Perfect, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Uneven, Gemstones (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Lepidolite | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.525 to 1.587, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Biaxial/-, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Birefringence | 0.018 to 0.038, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pleochroism | Nil, Gemstones (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dispersion | Nil, Gemstones (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Violet, pink, red, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Causes of Colour | Pink, Mn2+ in octahedral coordination Mn3+ in octahedral coordination, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Transparent,Translucent, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Lustre | Vitreous,Pearly, Gemstones (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Lepidolite | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Monoclinic, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Habit | Massive, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Geological Environment | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Where found: | The occurrence is chiefly, if not exclusively, in granite pegmatites, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Lepidolite information at mindat.org | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | |||||||||||||||||||||
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