spodumene
Definition
Noun: 1. A mineral: A pyroxene mineral with the chemical composition LiAlSi₂O₆ (lithium aluminum silicate). It is an important commercial source of the element lithium. 2. A source of lithium: Refers to the mineral's primary economic use as an ore for extracting lithium, a metal used in batteries, ceramics, and glass.
Usage Examples
- As a mineral:
- The geologist identified the large, prismatic crystals in the pegmatite as spodumene.
- Transparent varieties of spodumene, like kunzite (pink) and hiddenite (green), are valued as gemstones.
- As a lithium source:
- The new electric vehicle battery factory will require a steady supply of spodumene for lithium production.
- Most lithium is mined from either brine deposits or spodumene-bearing hard rock.
Advanced Usage
- Industrial Context: In mining and materials science, "spodumene" specifically denotes the α-spodumene (natural) and β-spodumene (heated) forms, which have different properties for lithium extraction.
- The ore must be converted from alpha to beta spodumene through calcination to make the lithium acid-soluble.
Variants and Related Words
- Kunzite (n): A pink to violet gem-quality variety of spodumene.
- Hiddenite (n): A green gem-quality variety of spodumene.
- Triphane (n): A historical name for colorless or yellow spodumene.
- Pyroxene (n): The group of silicate minerals to which spodumene belongs.
Synonyms
- Lithium aluminum silicate (n): The chemical name for the mineral.
- Lithium ore (n): A functional synonym highlighting its economic role (though other minerals can also be lithium ores).
Related Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)
- Pegmatite (n): The type of coarse-grained igneous rock where spodumene crystals are commonly found.
- Lithium extraction (n): The industrial process for which spodumene is a primary feedstock.
Noun
-
a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminum silicate; a source of lithium
