Spodumene, primary

At least the petalite conversion aspect of this data appears to be confirmed in some deposits, since after the entire pegmatite was solidified much of the petalite appeared to have been transformed into spodumene and quartz, and occasionally some eucryptite and quartz. The spodumene was in the form of psuedomorphs after petalite, and its very low iron content was similar to that of petalite, and much lower than that of most primary spodumene. However, this phase data and these reactions do not appear to have general applicability, since (1) solid phase reactions do not occur without the solid being remelted or dissolved, at least on a molecular scale, and then recrystallized after the reaction has taken place. (2) The data shows 3-spodumene being stable at 680°C, whereas at atmospheric pressure the change in form from a to 3-spodumene only occurs in ore concentrates above about 1000°C. Also, P-spodumene has never been found in a lithium deposit, and a-spodumene s melting point is shown as 700°C compared to its atmospheric value of 1423°C. (3) Changes in pressure normally have only a relatively minor effect upon a solid s... 

The current primary method for production of lithium is by electrolysis. Spodumene, the most plentiful lithium bearing ore, is beneficiated to 3 to 5% Li20 and heated to 1000°C to convert it from its alpha form to its beta form. The beta form is treated with sulfuric acid to form Li2S04. The Li2S04 is water-soluble and is leached and reacted with sodium carbonate to form lithium carbonate. The lithium carbonate is then reacted with hydrochloric acid to form lithium chloride. Anhydrous lithium chloride is used to produce lithium metal by electrolysis (Austin 1984). 

One primary source for lithium is the mineral spodumene (LiAlSi206) from which lithium chloride can be extracted. Once that occurs, as was first demonstrated by Bunsen and Matthiessen, applying electrolysis to the lithium chloride isolates the lithium. 

In addition to Neoceram N-0, Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd., also produces another glass-ceramic that demonstrates zero expansion. Neoceram N-11 is a white, nontransparent glass-ceramic that contains P-spodumene solid solution primary crystals measuring approximately 1 pm. This glass-ceramic is used for induction cooker top plates, Kitchenware, (Section 4.2.1) or for optical components, such as the coupler housings of optical fibers (Neoceram 1992, 1995). 

Lithium Metaiiurgy The commercial source of lithium metal is the ore spodumene, which is a lithium aluminum silicate mineral, LiAl(Si03)2. The ore is heated and then washed with sulfuric acid to obtain a solution of lithium ion, which is precipitated as lithium carbonate. Lithium carbonate from lithium ore is the primary starting substance for the production of lithium metal and lithium compounds. Lithium metal is obtained by electrolysis of the chloride, which was described in Section 13.2. 

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