spodumene

American  

[spoj-oo-meen] / ˈspɒdʒ ʊˌmin /

noun

1. a mineral, lithium aluminum silicate, LiAlSi 2 O 6 , occurring in prismatic crystals, transparent varieties being used as gems.

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spodumene British  

/ ˈspɒdjʊˌmiːn /

noun

1. a greyish-white, green, or lilac pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminium silicate in monoclinic crystalline form. It is an important ore of lithium and is used in the manufacture of glass and ceramics and as a gemstone. Formula: LiAlSi 2 O 6

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Etymology

Origin of spodumene

1795–1805; < French spodumène < German Spodumen < Greek spodoúmenos, present participle of spodoûsthai to be burned to ashes (derivative of spodós wood ash)

Example Sentences

This sees annual production increase to 595,000 tons of spodumene concentrate, before a further uplift to 700,000 tons from 2030.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

“With spodumene prices starting to tick higher, we believe that the worst of the lithium cycle is behind us,” the broker says in a client note.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

Chinese companies refine the spodumene into solid lithium, and into the two lithium compounds used in batteries - lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2024

Earnings from the lithium business were expected to start in the first half of 2024 from the sale of interim spodumene concentrate.

From Reuters • Aug. 24, 2023

Kunzite, like all spodumene, has a pronounced cleavage.

From A Text-Book of Precious Stones for Jewelers and the Gem-Loving Public by Wade, Frank Bertram