How to clean it
Dry cloth only. Very soft at 2.5 to 3 and flakes easily.
Lilac to pinkish purple, often micaceous and flaky
Lepidolite
Properties
Composition
Lithium-rich mica (K(Li,Al)₃(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(F,OH)₂)
Hardness (Mohs)
2.5–3
Crystal system
Monoclinic
Colour
Lilac to pinkish purple, often micaceous and flaky
Mined in
Brazil, Madagascar, USA, Czech Republic, Zimbabwe
Worth knowing
Genuinely contains lithium — the same element used in mood-stabilising medication. That is a mineralogical fact, not a claim that holding the stone has any comparable effect.
History
Named in 1792; became an industrial source of lithium in the twentieth century.
Practical
Caring for Lepidolite
How to tell it is real
Rarely imitated. It is a mica and splits into sheets — that layered structure is the identifier.
One general rule covers most mistakes: never store stones loose together. Diamond at 10 on the Mohs scale scratches everything else you own, and it does not need much contact to do it.
What that hardness means in practice
Very soft — a fingernail is around 2.5 on the scale. Protected settings only, and store it separately.
Traditional associations
Lepidolite is traditionally the stone most often reached for when the goal is calming an overactive mind. In chakra systems it is placed at the Third Eye, Crown, and in elemental correspondence it is assigned to Water.
These are cultural associations recorded across various traditions, not claims about physical effects. The composition and hardness above are measurable; this paragraph is folklore, and worth reading as such.
Questions
What is Lepidolite made of?
Lithium-rich mica (K(Li,Al)₃(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(F,OH)₂), crystallising in the monoclinic system.
Where does Lepidolite come from?
Brazil, Madagascar, USA, Czech Republic, Zimbabwe.
How do I clean Lepidolite?
Dry cloth only. Very soft at 2.5 to 3 and flakes easily.
How can I tell if Lepidolite is real?
Rarely imitated. It is a mica and splits into sheets — that layered structure is the identifier.
Can I wear it every day?
At 2.5–3 on the Mohs scale, not in a ring. Keep it to pieces that take fewer knocks.