Lithiophorite - Encyclopedia

    Class : Oxides and hydroxides
    Subclass : Hydroxides and hydrates
    Crystal system : Trigonal
    Chemistry : (Al,Li)MnO₂(OH)₂
    Rarity : Quite common

Lithiophorite is an oxide of manganese, aluminum and lithium (the latter does not seem to be an essential component). It is an essential constituent of "wad" or "psilomelanes", these black oxides which stain the fingers that we encounter in the supergene oxidation zone of manganese deposits, various manganiferous hydrothermal deposits (gold, lead, silver ...), sometimes banded iron formations and certain phosphate pegmatites. Lithiophorite is also a major component of certain lateritic soils. In its deposits, it is associated with numerous other manganese oxides (cryptomelane, braunite, etc...) and its rigorous identification requires the use of X-ray diffraction spectra. Its name derives from its chemical composition (lithium) and Greek pherein (to show). Lithiophorite very rarely occurs in hexagonal crystals ; it rather forms finely grained botryoidal masses, in scales or dendrites, from a bluish black to a matt black. It is locally an important manganese ore.

Main photo : Lithiophorite from Murzinskoe gold deposit, Krasnoshchyokovsky, Russia © Eugene & Sharon Cisneros

No twin known for this mineral species.

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.