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Polylithionite mineral

Polylithionite is the lithium-bearing mica mineral species listed by IMA-CNMNC in September 2026 with formula KLi2AlSi4O10F2 and approved status (PDF page 175). Its 1998 s.p. entry denotes a special-procedure action, not a modern approval-number CURIE. The Handbook of Mineralogy describes monoclinic material and uses the generalized formula KLi2AlSi4O10(F,OH)2; its natural specimen analyses and hydroxyl substitution are not substituted for the current IMA formula. Documented geological occurrence includes late-stage segregations, veinlets and metasomatic replacement in syenite pegmatites of the Lovozero alkalic massif. This establishes a lithium-bearing geological host, not a universal ore grade, present mining status or recovery process. The IMA-approved mica nomenclature report defines lepidolite as a series name for trioctahedral micas on or near the trilithionite-polylithionite join. Lepidolite is therefore not used as an exact synonym for this endmember; a lepidolite-labelled mixed feed needs specimen-specific characterization before its behavior can be assigned to polylithionite. This species is distinct from elemental lithium and a bulk lithium concentrate. No microbial mechanism or criticality designation is assigned here.

Sources & References

  1. ima_2026_09: IMA-CNMNC. The New IMA List of Minerals, September 2026; field definitions on PDF page 1 and polylithionite row on PDF page 175.
    https://cnmnc.units.it/files/editor/IMA_Master_List_(2026-09).pdf (accessed 2026-10-12)
  2. handbook_polylithionite: Handbook of Mineralogy. Polylithionite, version 1.2, copyright 2001 Mineral Data Publishing; complete one-page entry, especially Crystal Data, Chemistry, Mineral Group and Occurrence.
    https://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/polylithionite.pdf (accessed 2026-10-12)
  3. rieder_1998_micas: Rieder et al. (1998). Nomenclature of the micas. Clays and Clay Minerals 46(5), 586-595; Table 4 and Series Names section on page 589, with IMA Commission approval identified on page 586.
    https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.1998.0460513 (accessed 2026-10-12)

Curation History

Timestamp Curator Action Summary
2026-10-12T01:57:45Z Codex (GPT-6; codex) create Created the mineral species identity and bounded geological context from the dated IMA list and original Handbook entry; retained the distinction from lepidolite-series feeds and deferred microbial claims.

Record source: data/records/polylithionite.yaml