Spodumene
Spodumene | |
---|---|
Tenebrescence, chatoyancy | |
References | [2][3][4][5] |
Spodumene is a
The naturally-occurring low-temperature form α-spodumene is in the
Discovery and occurrence
Spodumene was first described in 1800 for an occurrence in the
Spodumene occurs in lithium-rich granite pegmatites and aplites. Associated minerals include: quartz, albite, petalite, eucryptite, lepidolite and beryl.[3]
Transparent material has long been used as a
Since 2018, the
Economic importance
Spodumene is an important source of
In 2016, the price was forecast to be $500–600/ton for years to come.[12] However, price spiked above $800 in January 2018, and production increased more than consumption, reducing the price to $400 in September 2020.[13][14]
World production of lithium via spodumene was around 80,000 metric tonnes per annum in 2018, primarily from the
In 2020, Australia expanded spodumene mining to become the leading lithium producing country in the world.[16]
Extraction of lithium from spodumene is challenging due to the tight binding of lithium in the crystal structure. Processing methods rely on roasting at high temperature with various reagents. At temperatures in excess of 800 °C (1,470 °F), the spodumene is converted from the alpha structure to a more open beta structure from which the lithium is more easily extracted by the reagents. Suitable extraction reagents include alkali metal sulfates, such as sodium sulfate; sodium carbonate; chlorine; or hydrofluoric acid.[17]
An important economic concentrate of spodumene, known as spodumene concentrate 6 or SC6, is a high-purity lithium ore with approximately 6 percent lithium content being produced as a raw material for the subsequent production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.[18][19]
Gemstone varieties
This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2022) |
Hiddenite
Hiddenite is a pale, emerald-green gem variety first reported from Alexander County, North Carolina, U.S.[20] It was named in honor of William Earl Hidden (16 February 1853 – 12 June 1918), mining engineer, mineral collector, and mineral dealer.[21][additional citation(s) needed]
This emerald-green variety of spodumene is colored by chromium, just as for emeralds. Not all green spodumene is colored with chromium, which tend to have a lighter color, and therefore are not true hiddenite.[clarification needed]
Kunzite
Kunzite is a purple-colored gemstone, a variety of spodumene, with the color coming from minor to trace amounts of manganese. Exposure to sunlight can fade its color.[21]
Kunzite was discovered in 1902, and was named after
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An almost colorless kunzite crystal (upper left), a cut pale pink kunzite (upper right) and a greenish hiddenite crystal (below) (unknown scale)
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Kunzite, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
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Hiddenite from Araçuaí, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Triphane
Triphane is the name used for yellowish varieties of spodumene.[23]
See also
Notes
- S2CID 235729616.
- ^ a b Spodumene, Mindat.org
- ^ a b Anthony, John W., Bideaux, Richard A., Bladh, Kenneth W., and Nichols, Monte C. (1990). Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, Arizona
- ISBN 0-471-80580-7
- ^ a b Deer, Howie and Zussman, Rock Forming Minerals, v. 2 Chain Silicates, Wiley, 1963 pp. 92–98
- ^ Schwartz, G. (1928). "The Black Hills Mineral Region". American Mineralogist. 13: 56–63.
- ^ Robert Louis Bonewitz, 2005, Rock and Gem, London, Dorling Kindersley
- ^ "This Congo project could supply the world with lithium". MiningDotCom. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ "AVZ Minerals Limited". AVZ Minerals. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ "AVZ Minerals Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS – April 2020)". AVZ Minerals.
- S2CID 225417879.
- ^ "Spodumene concentrate forecasted price 2020". Statista. 21 July 2016. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020.
- ^ Shi, Carrie; Ouerghi, Dalila (5 October 2020). "Demand pick-up halts spodumene price fall". www.metalbulletin.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020.
- ^ "Lithium Resources and Energy Quarterly" (PDF). December 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 September 2020.
- ^ "Greenbushes Lithium Mine". Golden Dragon Capital. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- ^ Jaskula, Brian W. (January 2020). "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2020" (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- .
- ^ Jamasmie, Cecilia (28 September 2020). "Piedmont Lithium stock soars on confirmed Tesla deal". mining.com. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ Piedmont Lithium Signs Sales Agreement with Tesla, 28 September 2020, retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ Smith, John Lawrence. "Hiddenite, an emerald-green variety of spodumene." American Journal of Science 3.122 (1881): 128–130.
- ^ ISSN 0035-7529.
- ^ "Kunzite Gemstone | Kunzite Stone – GIA". www.gia.edu. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
- S2CID 243253247.
References
- Kunz, George Frederick (1892). Gems and Precious Stones of North America. New York: The Scientific Publishing Company.
- Palache, C., Davidson, S. C., and Goranson, E. A. (1930). "The Hiddenite deposit in Alexander County, N. Carolina". American Mineralogist Vol. 15 No. 8 p. 280
- Webster, R. (2000). Gems: Their Sources, Descriptions and Identification (5th ed.), pp. 186–190. Great Britain: Butterworth-Heinemann.
- The key players in Quebec lithium Archived 2013-01-30 at archive.today, "Daily News", The Northern Miner, 11 August 2010.
External links
- Texts on Wikisource:
- "Kunzite". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
- Rudler, Frederick William (1911). "Spodumene". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.).
- "New International Encyclopedia. 1905.