Identification guide · Minerals
How to Identify Lepidolite
Lepidolite is usually pink, purple, and lilac with a pearly luster and is translucent. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Its streak is white. It is most often confused with Satin Spar, Fluorite, and Erythrite; the tests below separate them.
Lepidolite identification checklist
| Color | Pink, Purple, Lilac, Rose | Look at a clean, dry surface in daylight. Color zoning, banding or spots are as diagnostic as the hue. |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | Pearly | Compare a fresh surface with glass and metal; this luster is softer than either. |
| Transparency | Translucent | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 2.5 | A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. |
| Streak | White | Drag a corner across unglazed porcelain (the back of a bathroom tile) and check the powder color. |
| Cleavage | Perfect basal | |
| Fracture | Uneven | |
| Specific gravity | 2.85 | Ordinary rock-like heft (specific gravity about 2.85), similar to quartz. |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
Lepidolite look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Both sit near Mohs 2.5, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Lepidolite vs Satin Spar →
Fluorite is harder (Mohs 4) than Lepidolite (Mohs 2.5), so Fluorite will scratch Lepidolite and not the other way round. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Lepidolite vs Fluorite →
Both sit near Mohs 2.5, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Lepidolite vs Erythrite →
Quartz is harder (Mohs 7) than Lepidolite (Mohs 2.5), so Quartz will scratch Lepidolite and not the other way round. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not.
Field tips
- Check whether the specimen's color and texture match typical Lepidolite examples.
- Use hardness, streak, luster, grain size, and locality together; no single trait is enough for every specimen.
Lepidolite identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Lepidolite?
Check the color (pink, purple, lilac, and rose), the pearly luster, a Mohs hardness of 2.5 and a white streak. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Lepidolite?
Lepidolite has a Mohs hardness of 2.5. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not.
What is the difference between Lepidolite and Satin Spar?
Lepidolite (Mohs 2.5, pearly luster) and Satin Spar (Mohs 2, silky luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Lepidolite vs Satin Spar comparison for a side-by-side table.
Is Lepidolite worth anything?
Entry-level Lepidolite specimens sell for around $5, typical collector pieces about $20, and premium examples $100 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Lepidolite?
Lepidolite is most often pink, purple, lilac, and rose. Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
