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Ephesite


Ephesite is a rare sodium lithium aluminum silicate, and a member of the mica group (Rieder et al., 1998). The mineral name recalls the ancient city of Ephesus, Turkey, nearby the original occurrence (Smith, 1851). When Philips (1931) found a similar mineral from South Africa, he dubbed it also ephesite. Restudy of South African material by Schaller et al. (1967) established an essential lithium content for the species. The modern definition of ephesite apparently relies on material from South Africa rather than type material from Turkey.

Ephesite forms pink platy crystals on a matrix of massive manganese oxides. Like most mica specimens, many of the pink crystals are cleaved; however some terminations appear intact. The largest crystal measures 1.5 cm across, one side contacted and the other cleaved. The terminated crystals are tapered, with terminations 3 mm across, and a maximum widths (at their girdles) of 5 mm across. From the collection of E.R. Laskowski (1949-2020), a mining engineer who retired to Tucson, Arizona.

Price: $500

Item code: MS1980

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