Lithium Quartz

Hi,

A new quartz variety on mindat should probably be entered as "Lithia Quartz" versus the existing "Lithium Quartz" entry. The Lithium Quartz definition seems to be related to new-age healing properties, and is likely a new and separate definition than that of Lithia Quartz.

Lithia Quartz, as the term has been historically used in southern California, is an older term for any lithia-bearing mineral inclusion in quartz, not necessarily lepidolite or being lavender in color, and has been used to describe quartz containing phantoms or micro-crystalline layered inclusions including Tourmaline Group minerals such as Elbaite or Foitite (not to be confused with the variety 'Tourmalinated Quartz'), and more often consisting of minerals such as Spodumene, Ambygonite, Amblygonite-Montebrasite Series, or Triphylite Group minerals such as Lithiophilite, Triphylite-Lithiophilite Series, and lithium-containing Mica Group minerals such as Lepidolite, Trilithionite, Polylithionite, etc.

Scott



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/08/2011 01:24AM by Scott L. Ritchie.

Nine months is a long time without reply - what exactly is the problem with senior management here? Time to shake things up on mindat.org.

Scott

Perhaps a new entry for our glossary? And another fine example of Scott endearing himself to the managers of mindat. Scott, if it will make you feel any better, ill cut all the managers salaries in half as punishment.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/13/2012 06:47AM by Rock Currier.

Not in Hey 3rd edition, Bayliss or De Fourestier - nothing obvious found in google search either.

Not saying that it doesn't deserve to be in the database, but would prefer at least one printed reference before we add it.

Jolyon

If it has been proved that the quartz contains "reasonable" (few %) amounts of lithium oxide, one could call it lithia quartz

lithia [ˈlɪθɪə]
n
1. (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) another name for lithium oxide
2. (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) lithium present in mineral waters as lithium salts
[New Latin, ultimately from Greek lithos stone]

I've added Scott's definition of Lithia Quartz for now.

Thanks Jolyon, Rock, and Rolf... love you guys! The definition should also include inclusions of Clay and Smectite Group minerals such as Montmorillonite and Swinefordite, etc. A typical example of the so-called 'Lithia Quartz' would be the Montmorillonite phantom quartz from the White Queen mine in Pala.



Scott



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/13/2012 11:10PM by Scott L. Ritchie.

It does not sound like a name that should be encouraged, even if it has some historic use, unless the quartz or inclusions can be shown to be Li-rich. Better to use names like tourmalinated quartz that are less confusing.

Regards,
Ralph

Although I did add this entry, I did block it from being added to locality lists and as the species in photo uploads as that will just encourage its use.

Jolyon

Jolyon Ralph Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Although I did add this entry, I did block it from
> being added to locality lists and as the species
> in photo uploads as that will just encourage its
> use.

Thanks Jolyon

Regards,
Ralph