Espodumena Transparente
Espodumena is a mineral with formula LiAl(SiO₃)₂, in the Inosilicatos group. This specimen comes from Muiane Mukatone, Gilé, Zambezia, Mozambique and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.
Description
Fully formed prismatic crystal, very thin and tall, with complete termination and smooth faces. Transparent, colourless, with no visible traces of colour. Near-perfect vertical structure, with a strong sculptural effect. Slightly UV-reactive.
About Espodumena
Spodumene is a lithium–aluminium inosilicate that occurs in pegmatites, forming very elongate prismatic crystals. Its best-known gem varieties are kunzite (pink), hiddenite (green) and triphane (colourless or very pale). Although these names are widely accepted, there are still discrepancies over the exact criteria that define each variety and even over the mineralogical suitability of recognising such varieties. This piece (and many others from the same source) were sold as hiddenite, although the crystal is not green but colourless and shows very weak orange fluorescence under longwave UV. The debate remains open.
About the locality
Muiane Mukatone is an emerging locality in Mozambique. Its pegmatites have begun to yield high-quality spodumene crystals, with good transparency and well-developed aesthetic forms.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0093
- Composition
- LiAl(SiO₃)₂
- Name
- Espodumena
- Variety
- Transparente
- Group
- Inosilicatos
- Category
- Estélites
- Mine
- Muiane Mukatone
- District / Municipality
- Gilé
- Province
- Zambezia
- Country
- Mozambique
- Size (cm)
- 11.2 x 1.1 x 0.8
- Weight
- 20 g
- Acquired
- 2025
- Etymology
- From the Greek "spodumenos", meaning "burnt", in reference to the ashy appearance of some altered specimens.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Al alza
Related specimens
- Aegirina — Malawi
- Wollastonita — España