RocksdayHiddenite vs Spodumene
To tell Hiddenite from Spodumene: This is the green gem form of spodumene.
Green spodumene. The original North Carolina stones are colored by chromium; pale green spodumene from elsewhere is often sold under the same name.
Photo: Parent Géry, CC BY-SA 3.0
A lithium silicate from granite pegmatites. Pink kunzite and green hiddenite are its gem forms; plain spodumene is a major lithium ore.
Photo: Parent Géry, CC BY-SA 3.0
Key differences
- This is the green gem form of spodumene.
- Hiddenite is the green gem form, originally the chromium-bearing stones from North Carolina.
Side by side
| Property | Hiddenite | Spodumene |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 | 6.5–7 |
| Luster | Vitreous | Vitreous |
| Streak | White | White |
| Colors | Green, Yellow | Pink, Purple, Green, White |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic | Monoclinic |
| Specific gravity | 3.1–3.2 | 3.1–3.2 |
| Formula | LiAlSi₂O₆ | LiAlSi₂O₆ |
| Found in | Alexander County, North Carolina; Afghanistan | Greenbushes, Western Australia; Afghanistan |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify hiddenite
- Yellow-green to emerald-green flattened prisms.
- Two cleavages nearly at right angles.
- Hardness about 6.5–7, so a knife blade does not scratch it.
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Full Hiddenite guide →How to identify spodumene
- Flattened, striated prisms, often lilac-pink.
- Two cleavages at nearly 90° — splits easily.
- Color looks deepest down the length of the crystal.
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Full Spodumene guide →More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between hiddenite and spodumene?
Hiddenite is a mineral (LiAlSi₂O₆) with a Mohs hardness of 6.5–7 and a vitreous luster, usually green or yellow. Spodumene is a mineral (LiAlSi₂O₆) with a Mohs hardness of 6.5–7 and a vitreous luster, usually pink, purple, green or white.
How can you tell hiddenite from spodumene?
This is the green gem form of spodumene. Hiddenite is the green gem form, originally the chromium-bearing stones from North Carolina.
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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