By Chisom Ibemere
Petalite is an important ore of lithium also called Castorite. It is a lithium aluminium phyllosilicate mineral which has colours of yellow, grey, pink, white as well as colourless. It is seen in lithium bearing Pegmatites with other minerals such as the spodumene, lepidolite and tourmaline.
It has lower iron content than primary spodumene, thereby a better source of lithium which is used in glass production. The colourless versions of petalite are used in gemstone production.
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Petalite was gotten from the Greek word “Petalon”, which means leaf. It was discovered by a Brazilian naturalist, Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva in 1800. It’s deposits may be seen in places like Western Australia, Zimbabwe, Kalgoorlie, Canada, Nambia etc.
Petalite had been used in the production of ceramics glazes as raw material. Its first usage was as a raw material in glass ceramic cooking ware Corning ware.
Petalite mineral occurs naturally globally but not in gemstone. It is a major material in which lithium metal can be extracted. It has a healing property.
Petalite is known as the stone of Angels, the white colour brings about the feeling of purity. Petalite lithium are used in the production of glass enamel, Aluminium -lithium alloys and paints. Petalite has a monoclinic crystal structure, with a pearly vitreous lustre and transparent -transluscent. It has a refractive index between 1.50-1.52, gravity of 2.3-2.5 and a perfect cleavage. The transparent, colourless and faceted gemstones are higy priced and valued.
