Lepidolite is a lithium-rich mica known for its distinctive lilac to purple color and scaly, foliated habit. It is found primarily in granite pegmatites and is an important secondary ore for lithium production. Collectors prize it for its glittering appearance and association with other rare pegmatite minerals like colorful tourmalines.
Is this lepidolite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch lepidolite with a known reference. Lepidolite sits at Mohs 2.5-3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Lepidolite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Lepidolite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lilac, pink, violet, purple, white, grayish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: scaly aggregates, massive, tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Lepidolite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside lepidolite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lepidolite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KLi₂Al(Al,Si)₃O₁₀(F,OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 2.8-2.9 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Scaly Aggregates, Massive, Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Lithium Ore, Ornamental
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $5-50 for small specimens, $100+ for high-quality clusters
Where rockhounds find lepidolite
15 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Minas Gerais, Brazil
- San Diego County, California, USA
- Madagascar
- Manitoba, Canada
- Czech Republic
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where lepidolite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, tourmaline, microcline in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a scaly aggregates, massive, tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in California, North Carolina, South Dakota — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify lepidolite?+
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Find lepidolite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
