POLISHED LEPIDOLITE STONES

Lepidolite is a grayish, lilac-purple to light pink mineral and member of the mica group. Lepidolite was traditionally mined as a source of the element lithium, though this is now less common. Fine-grained masses of the mineral are often polished into ornaments such as towers, eggs, and spheres. Because of the mineral’s sparkly luster and color (usually a result of intermingled quartz), polished material is exceptionally unique and a phenomenal addition to any collection. Lepidolite traditionally sits within the gray, pink, purple and red range of colors, but can be colorless. This mineral has a micaceous fracture and will flake in the same way that mica does. Most people assume that the purple color of lepidolite is the result of its lithium content. However, geologists tend to believe that manganese content is responsible for the purple-pink coloration.