Petalite Castorite Specimen Kazakhstan

$43.00

Out of stock

Description

PETALITE SPECIMEN

This is the polished grayish-white petalite specimen with muscovite and lepidolite. Dimensions: 3.9 x 2.5 x 0.4″ (9.8 x 6.3 x 1.1cm). Weight – 4.4oz (125 grams). Origin: Kazakhstan.

Some information about petalite:

Petalite, also known as castorite, is a lithium aluminium phyllosilicate mineral LiAlSi4O10, crystallizing in the monoclinic system. Petalite is a member of the feldspathoid group. It occurs as colorless, grey, yellow, yellow grey, to white tabular crystals and columnar masses. Occurs in lithium-bearing pegmatites with spodumene, lepidolite, and tourmaline.

Discovered in 1800, by Brazilian naturalist and statesman Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva. Type locality: Utö Island, Haninge, Stockholm, Sweden. The name is derived from the Greek word petalon, which means leaf (perfect cleavage).

The first important economic application for petalite was as a raw material for the glass-ceramic cooking ware CorningWare. It has been used as a raw material for ceramic glazes.

Additional information

Weight 125 g