At WesGem Corporation, we offer a diverse selection of high-quality lithium minerals, including Kunzite, Amblygonite, Spodumene, and Lepidolite. Our expertly sourced stones meet the stringent demands of various industries, ensuring reliability and performance. Trust WesGem Corporation for your essential raw material needs.
What is Lithium
According to the Geological Agency, lithium found with 1% to 13% oxide content is considered high grade, whereas exploration often begins at levels as low as 0.4%. The grade, expressed as a percentage, measures the concentration of lithium in the minerals or rocks.
Lithium is a highly sought-after metallic mineral in the manufacturing sector. Seven years ago, ceramics and glasses accounted for 35% of lithium demand, while greases, metallurgical powders, polymers, and other industrial uses made up over 35%. Batteries comprised less than 30% of the demand. However, by 2030, it is projected that batteries will represent 95% of lithium demand.
USAGE
Lithium-ion batteries are used in mobile phones, computers, electronics, energy storage systems and electric vehicles. The forecast is that they will dominate the lithium market over the next decades.
Types Of Lithium Pegmatites (Rocks)
SPODUMENE
Spodumene is a mineral consisting mainly of lithium, aluminum, and silicon. As a pyroxene mineral, it is commonly found in pegmatite formations, which are coarse-grained igneous rocks. Spodumene is a vital source of lithium, an essential element in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in electronics like smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles. Varieties of spodumene include kunzite (pink to lilac) and hiddenite (green).
LEPIDOLITE
Lepidolite is a lithium-rich mineral from the mica group, typically found in granitic pegmatites alongside other lithium-bearing minerals such as spodumene and kunzite. It often appears pink, lilac, or purple and is known for its shiny, sparkly look due to mica flakes.
Lepidolite’s high lithium content makes it a valuable lithium source. It is also used as a gemstone in jewelry because of its attractive color and appearance.
Additionally, in some spiritual and healing practices, lepidolite is valued for its believed calming and stress-relieving properties, promoting emotional balance.
KUNZITE
Kunzite is a gem-quality variety of the mineral spodumene, a lithium aluminum silicate. Typically pink to light purple, kunzite’s color ranges from nearly colorless to deep violet, due to trace amounts of manganese. Discovered in the early 20th century, it was named after mineralogist George Frederick Kunz.
Valued for its delicate color and transparency, kunzite is often faceted for brilliance and used in rings, pendants, and earrings. Its relative softness necessitates careful handling to avoid scratches.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, kunzite is believed to have metaphysical properties, promoting emotional healing, compassion, and love, and is used in meditation and relaxation.
AMBLYGONITE
Amblygonite is a phosphate mineral with the chemical formula (Li,Na)AlPO4(F,OH), indicating its content of lithium, sodium, aluminum, phosphorus, fluorine, and hydroxyl. Found as prismatic crystals in granitic pegmatites, amblygonite often coexists with other lithium minerals like spodumene and lepidolite.
It exhibits pale colors, from white to yellowish, greenish, or bluish, and can show pleochroism, displaying different colors from various angles. Although sometimes used as a gemstone, amblygonite is not as widely recognized as other gems.
It is an important lithium source for producing lithium compounds used in industries, including lithium-ion batteries for electronics and electric vehicles.
