Lithiophilite Field of view: 3.0 mm Locality: Foote Lithium Co. Mine (Foote Mine), Kings Mountain District, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA Pale transpare — Photo: Christopher Emproto · CC BY 3.0
Lithiophilite
Lithium-manganese phosphate — a pegmatite mineral forming a series with the iron end-member triphylite.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Lithiophilite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula LiMn²⁺(PO₄).
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pbnm). It is a member of the Olivine structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4–5; specific gravity 3.44–3.5; typically pink or brown or yellow; White to grayish white streak; Vitreous to subresinous luster; refractive index 1.675; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Lhp, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1878.
A late-stage mineral in some complex granite pegmatites; usually primary but rarely secondary.
It is found associated with Sicklerite, purpurite, huréaulite, numerous Fe–Mn phosphates and oxides.
The name refers to its lithium content and the Greek for friend.
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