Spodumene is a primary source of lithium in many commercial deposits.
Spodumene is a lithium aluminum inosilicate with the chemical formula LiAlSi₂O₆. It typically forms in lithium-rich pegmatites, which are exceptionally coarse-grained igneous rocks that crystallize from the final portions of granitic magma. These environments can produce very large spodumene crystals.
Industrial operations process spodumene concentrates to obtain lithium compounds used in batteries, ceramics, glass, and other products. Heating can convert natural alpha-spodumene into a more reactive form, making chemical extraction more efficient.
Spodumene also has gem varieties. Kunzite is the pink-to-purple variety, while hiddenite is a green variety. These gem names refer to color varieties of spodumene, not separate mineral species. Lepidolite is another lithium-bearing mineral, but it is a mica and is not the principal mineral in every lithium deposit.