Mineral Factbook

Spodumene

LiAlSi2O6IMA symbol: Spdapproved

Spodumene is a silicate mineral with the formula LiAlSi2O6, crystallizing in the monoclinic system. It has a Mohs hardness of 5, a calculated density of 3.172 g/cm3. Its streak is white.

Photos

Spodumene specimen photo
Parent Géry · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Spodumene specimen photo
Parent Géry · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Spodumene specimen photo
Tõnis Saadre · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Spodumene specimen photo
Mai Seppel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons

Crystallography

Crystal systemmonoclinic crystal systemWikidata (CC0)
Space groupC 1 2/c 1
Cell (Å, °)a = 9.474, b = 8.39, c = 5.219; α = 90, β = 110.07, γ = 90
Cell volume389.65 ų, Z = 4
Axial ratios1.1292:1:0.6221calculated from COD 9008440
Source structureCOD 9008440 (Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie, 2004) — 1 of 12 structures

Powder X-ray diffraction (calculated)

2θ (degrees, Cu Kα1)I/I₀ (max 100)
d (Å)2.9172.7974.1952.4513.1874.355
I/I₀1005736.936.827.524

xrd-v1: CuKa1 1.5406A, 2theta 5-90, top10, Imax=100, no DW/PO. Computed from COD 9008440; idealized occupancies, no preferred orientation.

Physical properties

Density (calculated)3.172 g/cm³calculated from COD 9008440
Hardness (Mohs)
5single sourceDana's System, 2nd Appendix (1909)
Streak
whitesingle sourceWikidata (CC0)

Chemistry (calculated)

Molecular weight186.09 g/molcalculated from the IMA formula
Composition (wt%)Li 3.73%, Al 14.5%, Si 30.18%, O 51.59%

Classification

Nickel-Strunz (10th)9.DA.30Wikidata (CC0)
Nickel-Strunz (9th)9.DA.30Wikidata (CC0)
Dana (8th)65.1.4.1Wikidata (CC0)