Petalite

Petalite

Infobox mineral
name = Petalite
category =
boxwidth =
boxbgcolor =



imagesize =
caption =
formula = lithium aluminium tectosilicate mineral LiAlSi4O10
molweight =
color = colorless, grey, yellow, yellow grey, to white
habit = tabular prismatic crystals and columnar masses
system = monoclinic 2/m.
twinning =
cleavage = Perfect in one plane
fracture = Subconchoidal
mohs = 6 - 6.5
luster = Vitreous, pearly on cleavages
refractive = nα=1.504, nβ=1.510, nγ=1.516
opticalprop =
birefringence =
pleochroism =
streak = Colorless
gravity = 2.4
density =
melt =
fusibility = 5
diagnostic =
solubility = Insoluble
diaphaneity =
other = Fluorescent

Petalite, also known as castorite is a lithium aluminium tectosilicate mineral LiAlSi4O10, crystallizing in the monoclinic system. Petalite is a member of the feldspathoid group. It occurs as colorless, grey, yellow, yellow grey, to white tabular crystals and columnar masses. Occurs in lithium-bearing pegmatites with spodumene, lepidolite, and tourmaline. Petalite is an important ore of lithium. The colorless varieties are often used as gemstones.

Discovered in 1800, type locality: Utö Island, Haninge, Stockholm, Sweden. The name is derived from Greek petalon for "leaf".

See also: List of minerals

References

*Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis, 1985, "Manual of Mineralogy", 20th ed., ISBN 0-471-80580-7
* [http://webmineral.com/data/Petalite.shtml Webmineral]
* [http://www.mindat.org/min-3171.html Mindat]
* [http://www.geology.neab.net/minerals/petalite.htm Neab.net]


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  • Petalite — Pétalite Pétalite Catégorie IX : silicates Fragment de pétalite, État du Minas Gerais, Brésil …   Wikipédia en Français

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  • Petalite — Pet al*ite, n. [Cf. F. p[ e]talite.] (Min.) A rare mineral, occurring crystallized and in cleavable masses, usually white, or nearly so, in color. It is a silicate of aluminia and lithia. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • petalite — petalitas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Mineralas. formulė Li[AlSi₄O₁₀] atitikmenys: angl. petalite rus. петалит …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • petalite — /pet l uyt /, n. a mineral, lithium aluminum silicate, Li(AlSi4O10), occurring in colorless or white foliated masses: an important source of lithium. [1800 10; < G Petalit. See PETAL, ITE1] * * * …   Universalium

  • petalite — noun A rare pegmatitic mineral, a lithium aluminosilicate, with the chemical formula LiAlSiO; used in the manufacture of crystallized glass ceramics …   Wiktionary

  • pétalite — (pé ta li t ) s. f. Silicate d alumine et de lithine qui forme des veines dans certaines pegmatites …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • petalite — pet·al·ite …   English syllables

  • petalite — ˌīt noun ( s) Etymology: German petalit, from Greek petalon leaf + German it ite : a usually white mineral LiAl(Si2O5)2 consisting of a lithium aluminum silicate occurring in foliated cleavable masses or in monoclinic crystals (hardness 6 6.5,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Alkali metal — Group → 1 ↓ Period 2 3 Li 3 …   Wikipedia

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