NakedClay@aol.com on sun 26 dec 99
Don,
Lepidolite, like a number of rare minerals, has been unavailable for many
years, due to the closure of mines in the few places in the world where it
came from. I queried several of the mineral/mined materials experts I was
referred to through this list, about a year ago. Unfortunately, there isn't a
big market for Lepidolite, other than gem seekers and ceramicists. The
biggest source for North American lepidolite came from Honduras and
Venezuela. There were also some mines in Europe, Africa, and Australia. Alas,
none of these mines are in operation.
Best wishes!
Milton NakedClay@AOL.COM
Hank Murrow on mon 27 dec 99
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Don,
>
>Lepidolite, like a number of rare minerals, has been unavailable for many
>years, due to the closure of mines in the few places in the world where it
>came from. I queried several of the mineral/mined materials experts I was
>referred to through this list, about a year ago. Unfortunately, there isn't a
>big market for Lepidolite, other than gem seekers and ceramicists. The
>biggest source for North American lepidolite came from Honduras and
>Venezuela. There were also some mines in Europe, Africa, and Australia. Alas,
>none of these mines are in operation.
>
>Best wishes!
>
>Milton NakedClay@AOL.COM
When Foote Minerals ceased mining their deposits, they produced a lovely
'manufactured' substitute called Litholite 400; but deleted it due to
declining demand. One of the best and largest Lepidolite deposits was mined
in the former Rhodesia. Unfortunatly, our boycott of the latter government
there shut down the operation. I have used it with relish for thirty years,
and regard my dwindling supply with chagrin. Hank in Eugene
Nancy Guido on mon 27 dec 99
I was given this recipe as a substitute for lepidolite from my clay supplier.
I haven't tried it yet though.
3 parts spodumene
1 part custer feldspar
Nancy G.
Michael Banks on tue 28 dec 99
Lepidolite is still mined in Asia and possibly Africa. A local ceramic
materials distributer here was recently able to source lepidolite for me in
ton lots from the UK. I also did a web search for this mineral a few months
ago and located a miner/supplier in China, but as the information pages of
the site were in Mandarin, so I didn't bother saving the URL.
For serious lepidilite-ophiles, I suggest making enquiries through the
Chinese trade ministry, or someone on Clayart in China.
Michael Banks,
Nelson, New Zealand
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Don,
>
> Lepidolite, like a number of rare minerals, has been unavailable for many
> years, due to the closure of mines in the few places in the world where it
> came from. I queried several of the mineral/mined materials experts I was
> referred to through this list, about a year ago. Unfortunately, there
isn't a
> big market for Lepidolite, other than gem seekers and ceramicists. The
> biggest source for North American lepidolite came from Honduras and
> Venezuela. There were also some mines in Europe, Africa, and Australia.
Alas,
> none of these mines are in operation.
>
> Best wishes!
>
> Milton NakedClay@AOL.COM
>
Gail Dapogny on wed 29 dec 99
What about petalite as a sub?
--Gail Dapogny in Ann Arbor
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I was given this recipe as a substitute for lepidolite from my clay supplier.
> I haven't tried it yet though.
>
>3 parts spodumene
>1 part custer feldspar
>
>Nancy G.
Hank Murrow on thu 30 dec 99
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I was given this recipe as a substitute for lepidolite from my clay supplier.
> I haven't tried it yet though.
>
>3 parts spodumene
>1 part custer feldspar
>
>Nancy G.
Dear Nancy, I used Lepidolite for years until it became
unavailable. You could add some cryolite to your substitute for its
Fluorine content. Most of my additions fall into the .6% to 1.2% range.
Nowadays I use Low Melt Spodumene,Hank in Eugene
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