Lepidolite / Lithia-Mica (rare large locality stone)

Item Description

Here we have an impressive, large beautiful Lepidolite from the Harding Mine in Taos County, New Mexico. This locality was actually the leading producer of beryl in 1950 and 1951 according to the University of New Mexico website. The mine ceased operations in 1958, where it was donated it to the University of New Mexico, by its owner, Arthur Montgomery. The university runs the site as an outdoor geology laboratory with mineral collecting permitted on a small scale. This is a good quality Lepidolite, showing a strong purple color with a slight pinkish overtone. It should be noted that Lepidolite is not a valid species anymore and is defined on mindat.org as a, lithia-rich Mica in the Polylithionite-Trilithionite Series. Regardless, most people still refer to the material as Lepidolite, and if you say the word, everybody will know what you're talking about. This stone is an impressive, large "Freeform Cabochon" of Lepidolite the likes of which we haven't had to offer in the past. These stones are RARE on the market, especially with this kind of color and size. It should be noted that the Mica from the Harding Mine is often labeled as Lithian Muscovite, but this one came to us a being a Lepidolite.
Valued $640.57