The facts
What lepidolite actually is
Lepidolite is classified as lepidolite series (mica group), with the composition K(Li,Al)₃(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(F,OH)₂. It crystallises in the monoclinic system.
Colour comes from manganese giving the lilac to pink-purple tone, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.525–1.590. Specific gravity around 2.80–2.90. Cleavage: perfect basal {001}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where lepidolite comes from
Lepidolite is produced at Itinga and Aracuaí, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Pala, California, USA, Bikita, Zimbabwe and Karibib, Namibia.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How lepidolite is treated
Untreated, but very commonly resin-stabilised because the micaceous aggregate falls apart otherwise — this is essential for polishing and should be disclosed. A significant lithium ore. Too soft and cleavable for jewellery beyond beads and cabochons.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What lepidolite is confused with
In the trade lepidolite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Sugilite, Charoite, Amethyst, Purpurite or Dyed stone.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.525–1.590 and specific gravity 2.80–2.90 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What lepidolite is used for
Demand for lepidolite comes from carving and sculpture, decorative objects, mineral collecting, jewellery, wellness and body care and heavy industry, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the block, by the piece or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 2.5–4; cleavage perfect basal {001}. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What lepidolite costs
As a guide, lepidolite trades around $0.20–5/ct.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is lepidolite treated, and how?
Untreated, but very commonly resin-stabilised because the micaceous aggregate falls apart otherwise — this is essential for polishing and should be disclosed. A significant lithium ore. Too soft and cleavable for jewellery beyond beads and cabochons.
Where does lepidolite come from?
Itinga and Aracuaí, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Pala, California, USA, Bikita, Zimbabwe and Karibib, Namibia. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is lepidolite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2.5–4 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does lepidolite cost?
Indicatively $0.20–5/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is lepidolite confused with?
Most often Sugilite, Charoite, Amethyst, Purpurite and Dyed stone. A refractive index of 1.525–1.590 and a specific gravity near 2.80–2.90 separate it quickly.
What is lepidolite used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects, mineral collecting, wellness and body care and heavy industry. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for lepidolite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about lepidolite