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Lithiophilite

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Foote Lithium Co. Mine (Foote Mine), Kings Mountain District, Cleveland Co., North Carolina, USA
© 2005 JBS

Show Lithiophilite Photos (28)
Formula:
LiMn
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]
System:OrthorhombicColour:Reddish-Brown, yellowish ...
Lustre:Vitreous, ResinousHardness:4 - 5
Name:From LITHIum and the Greek φιλός for "friend" in allusion to its composition containing lithium.


Triphylite Group Triphylite-Lithiophilite Series

A complete series exists with Triphylite.

Classification of Lithiophilite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/A.02-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.AB.10

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
B : With medium-sized cations
Dana 7th edition ID:38.1.1.2
Dana 8th edition ID:38.1.1.2

38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
1 : ABXO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.1.10

19 : Phosphates
1 : Phosphates of the alkali metals
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Type Occurrence of Lithiophilite

Type Locality:Abija N. Fillow Quarry (Branchville Quarry), Branchville, Redding, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, USA
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Yale University, Connecticut 3.5641 3.5645
Year of Discovery:1878
Geological Setting of type material:Pegmatite.

Occurrences of Lithiophilite

Geological Setting:Granite pegmatites, especially the "complex" type containing lithium and phosphate species.

Physical Properties of Lithiophilite

Lustre:Vitreous, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Reddish-Brown, yellowish brown, golden-yellow, salmon-orange; colourless to light yellow, pink in transmitted light.
Streak:Colorless to Grayish White
Hardness (Mohs):4 - 5
Cleavage:Very Good
On {100} nearly perfect; on {010} imperfect; on {011} interrupted.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.345 - 3.5 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.433 g/cm3
Comment:Value for the Mn end-member.

Crystallography of Lithiophilite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 6.094(5) Å, b = 10.427(5) Å, c = 4.743(1) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.584 : 1 : 0.455
Unit Cell Volume:V 301.38 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals rare; commonly coarse wuith uneven surfaces; stout prismatic [100]. Usually massive, cleavable to compact.
Twinning:Rare contact twins on {130}

Optical Data of Lithiophilite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.669 nβ = 1.673 nγ = 1.682
2V:Measured: 48° to 70°, Calculated: 68°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.013

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:strong r < v
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:X= deep pink
Y= pale greenish yellow
Z= pale pink

Chemical Properties of Lithiophilite

Formula:
LiMn
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Li, Mn, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Li, Mn, O, P
Common Impurities:Mg,Ca,Fe

Relationship of Lithiophilite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Triphylite (see here)
Member of Group:
Triphylite Group:
AB(XO
 
4
)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.AB.05Farringtonite
Mg
 
3
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.AB.10Ferrisicklerite
(Fe
3+
 
,LiMn
2+
 
)[PO
 
4
]
8.AB.10Heterosite
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)[PO
 
4
]
8.AB.10Natrophilite
NaMn
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]
8.AB.10Purpurite
(Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)[PO
 
4
]
8.AB.10Sicklerite
(LiMn
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)[PO
 
4
]
8.AB.10Simferite
Li(Mg,Fe
3+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.AB.10Triphylite
LiFe
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]
8.AB.15Sarcopside
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.AB.15Chopinite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.AB.20Beusite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Ca,Mg)
 
3
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.AB.20Graftonite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.AB.25Xanthiosite
Ni
 
3
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
8.AB.30Lammerite
Cu
 
3
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
8.AB.30IMA2009-002
Cu
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AB.35Mcbirneyite
Cu
 
3
(VO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AB.35Stranskiite
(Zn,Cu)
 
3
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
8.AB.40Lyonsite
Cu
 
3
Fe
 
4
(VO
 
4
)
 
6
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.1.1Lithiophosphate
Li
 
3
[PO
 
4
]
19.1.2Olympite
Na
 
5
Li[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.1.3Nahpoite
Na
 
2
HPO
 
4
19.1.4Dorfmanite
Na
 
2
(PO
 
3
OH)·2H
 
2
O
19.1.5Nalipoite
NaLi
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
19.1.6Stercorite
NaNH
 
4
HPO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
19.1.7Archerite
(K,NH
 
4
)[H
 
2
PO
 
4
]
19.1.8Biphosphammite
(NH
 
4
,K)H
 
2
PO
 
4
19.1.9Phosphammite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
HPO
 
4
19.1.11Sicklerite
(LiMn
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)[PO
 
4
]
19.1.12Ferrisicklerite
(Fe
3+
 
,LiMn
2+
 
)[PO
 
4
]
19.1.13Triphylite
LiFe
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]
19.1.14Tavorite
LiFe
3+
 
[OH|PO
 
4
]
19.1.15Marićite
NaFe
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
38.1.1.1Triphylite
LiFe
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]
38.1.1.3Natrophilite
NaMn
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]

Other Names for Lithiophilite

Synonyms:
LithioliteLithio-Mangano-Triphylite
Other Languages:
German:Lithiolit
Lithiophilit
Spanish:Lithiolita
Lithiophilita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in acids.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Lithiophilite

Reference List:Brush and Dana (1878) American Journal of Science: 16: 118.

Brush and Dana (1879) American Journal of Science: 18: 45.

Goldschmidt, V. (1923) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text. Heidelberg: vol. 9: 6.

Vassar in: Landes (1925) American Mineralogist: 10: 383.

Berggren analysis in: Quensel (1937) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 59: 77.

Mason (1941) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 63: 117.

Mason (1942) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 64: 335.

Lindberg (1950) American Mineralogist: 35: 59.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 665-669.

Acta Crystallographica: 13: 325-331.

American Mineralogist (1968): 53: 1804.

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    Localities for Lithiophilite

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