Posted by Emme on April 21, 2002, at 9:18:02
In reply to lepidolite - natural form of lithium salts, posted by cmcdougall on April 19, 2002, at 10:46:50
Lepidolite isn't a salt at all. It's a Li-bearing silicate mineral - the Li ion is covalently bonded within the structure of the mineral. Unlike a salt, it's not soluble. It's a form of mica actually, if any of you are rockhounds. It's a very pretty purplish color - I have a nice hunk of it sitting on my shelf. :) You're not gonna get a whole lot of Li from sucking on it.
It is the commonest source of lithium. I'm not up on the specifics of mining and purifying techniques, but the Li would have to be extracted from the lepidolite via some sort of digestion procedure and *then* be used to form a salt for commercial sales.
(Mineral springs flowing through formations with lepidolite would have elevated temperatures needed to help gradually leach out some of the Li from the mineral (not dissolve the whole mineral itself)).
cheers,
Emme> I know that litium is on the periodic chart but I don't think it is toxic except in high doses. (chem majors - help)
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> Lepidolite has been mined all over the world for years because it is the natural source for lithium salts. I think litium salts are used in several manufacturing and/or smelting processes, as well as for medicinal purposes. Mineral springs that flow through lepidolite formations are also used as a source of lithium salts. I suppose because the salts are water soluble. (chemies?)
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> Metaphysical proponents believe that wearing a crystal of lepidolite will calm you down. New age shops sell it for that purpose, and rock shops sell it because its pretty. The rocks don't combust on exposure to air, but I don't know about the pure elemental salts.
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> I bought a small piece of it and suck on it when I'm stressed out. I figure it can't hurt and just might help. Can't say that I've noticed any effects tho. Pathetic how some of us will try anything, huh? :-)
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> It would be difficult if not impossible to determine how much lithium is contained in a particular chunk of lepidolite or even if I'm absorbing any by sucking on it.
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> What are the noticable and/or immediate effects when taking litium tablets? If I know, I would pay more attention...
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>
> Love and luck to all,
> Carly
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> > I kind of think that everyone is forgetting that lithium is a toxic metallic element. In its *elemental* form I think it will spontaneously combust when exposed to oxygen, that is why it must be combined with other atoms (carbonate ion, i.e.) for it to be water soluble (and stable). Chemistry freaks-help please! :-)
> >
> > Mitch
poster:Emme
thread:102373
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020416/msgs/103706.html