Spodumene

Spodumene is an important source of lithium for use in ceramics, mobile phone and automotive batteries, medicine, Pyroceram and as a fluxing agent. Lithium is extracted from spodumene by fusing in acid after roasting to convert it to the more reactive β-spodumene.

In 2016, the price was forecast to be $500-600/ton for years to come. However, price spiked above $800 in January 2018, and production increased more than consumption, reducing price to $400 in September 2020.

World production of lithium via spodumene was around 80,000 metric tonnes per annum in 2018, primarily from the Greenbushes pegmatite of Western Australia and from some Chinese and Chilean sources. The Talison mine in Greenbushes, Western Australia is reported to be the largest and to have the highest grade of ore at 2.4% Li₂

O (2012 figures).

In 2020 Australia expanded spodumene mining to become the leading lithium producing country in the world (see table below).

Hiddenite

Hiddenite is a pale, emerald-green gem variety first reported from Alexander County, North Carolina, US. It was named in honor of William Earl Hidden (16 February 1853 - 12 June 1918), mining engineer, mineral collector, and mineral dealer.

This emerald green variety of spodumene is colored by chromium, just like emeralds. Not all green spodumene is colored with chromium, which tend to have a lighter color, and therefore are not true hiddenite.

Kunzite

Kunzite is a pink to lilac colored gemstone, a variety of spodumene with the color coming from minor to trace amounts of manganese. Some (but not all) kunzite used for gemstones has been heated to enhance its color. It is also frequently irradiated to enhance the color.

Kunzite was discovered in 1902, and was named after George Frederick Kunz, Tiffany & Co's chief jeweler at the time, and a noted mineralogist. It has been found in Brazil, US, Canada, CIS, Mexico, Sweden, Western Australia, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

One notable example of kunzite used in jewellery is in the Russian Palmette tiara and necklace worn by the Duchess of Gloucester.

Triphane

Triphane is a synonym of spodumene, but also used for colourless or yellowish varieties.

Spodumene was first described in 1800 for an occurrence in the type locality in Utö, Södermanland, Sweden. It was discovered by Brazilian naturalist Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva. The name is derived from the Greek spodumenos (σποδούμενος), meaning "burnt to ashes," owing to the opaque, ash-grey appearance of material refined for use in industry. Spodumene occurs in lithium-rich granite pegmatites and aplites. Associated minerals include: quartz, albite, petalite, eucryptite, lepidolite and beryl. Transparent material has long been used as a gemstone with varieties kunzite and hiddenite noted for their strong pleochroism. Source localities include Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Madagascar, Pakistan, Québec in Canada and North Carolina, California in the US.

Spodumene is used as a lithium source for commercial applications such as ceramics and ceramic glass, mobile phone and car batteries. It also appears in beautiful crystal structures as the rare gemstones hiddenite, kunzite, and triphane.

Spodumene is not a traditional birthstone, but considered a natural birthstone for those born in early summer from June 21st through July 21st.

Spodumene is believed to help restore vitality and enthusiasm while cleansing the body of lingering negative energy. It can be used on an individual's person or in the home, wherever spiritual cleansing is needed. While it aligns all of the chakras, many believe that the yellow version of the stone stimulates the Solar Plexus chakra while the clear and white stones work with the Crown, Higher Crown, and Solar Star Chakras.