Lepidolite (rare yellow color)

Item Description

Lepidolite is the name that was given to Li-rich mica, often showing a distinctive purplish or pinkish-purple hue. It should be noted that Lepidolite is no longer a valid species and has been reclassified as a series between Polylithionite and Trilithionite mica. With that said, nearly every one still calls these specimens Lepidolite, and probably will until a more correct name is applied to it. An mentioned most Lepidolites show some kind of purple hue, sometimes a silvery shade, but THIS piece is a rarely seen YELLOW example featuring tightly intergrown crystal aggregates on all sides. The piece really looks like a "floater" to me, as it appears to be crystallized all over, with no real damage or point of attachment that I can find. When strongly backlit, the piece does pass light, creating a very pleasing effect. If you collect Brazilian minerals, Mica specimens or you just like unusual-looking examples of well-known minerals, don't miss out on this one, as they are rarely offered for sale these days.
Ex Colin Manlove collection.