Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2017 13:51:17 GMT -5
Fluorite is a Moh's 4, and Lepidolite ranges 2.5 to 4, so a scratch test won't be definitive. Fluorite will usually fluoresce under UV, Lepidolite will not. Lepidolite insoluble in acids, fluorite will react in sulfuric acid, creating hydrofluoric acid, WHICH ATTACKS GLASS! Both fuse easily, lepidolite turns flame crimson, fluorite turns flame brick red, color perception being subjective, not a good test unless 2 known samples are available for flame comparison. Cubic crystals would be defining for fluorite, but unless isolated, IMHO could be mistaken for the 6 sided lamellae of lepidolite. Fluorite is heavier than lepidolite, 3.1-3.3 versus 2.8-2.9, so that's a possible puzzle answer. Info in this post extracted from Simon & Schuster's Guide to Rocks and minerals. Well done!! Woot!! I see the triangular corners of cubes that are not lamellar at all. Great post. I may be misinterpreting the image.
|
|