FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[jerry]

Anyone who can tell me the difference between the brazilian petalite and other country's? thanks

[Jordi Fabre]

Welcome to FMF jerry!

The ones I saw on the past from Brazil were quite sharper than the Afghanistan-Pakistan ones and smaller too. Them look a little bit like the italian ones from San Piero in Campo, Italy.

Anyway the last word is from Luiz Menezes which is currently in Denver Show. I suggest to you wait his answer, he knows about this topic much more than me.

Jordi

[jerry]

[Luiz Menezes]

Hello Jerry:

All Brazilian petalites that I have seen are colorless, cleaved; sometimes I could see etched fragments that may look like etched crystals but on my opinion are only etched cleaved pieces.

They are found mainly in pegmatites at Itinga, on the North of Minas Gerais; the main use is as a raw material for the manufacture of special ceramics, but a small percentage of the pieces show clean areas that make the material suitable for cutting.

I have never seen any euhedral petalite crystal from Brazil; I am not familiar with the material from Pakistan/ Afganistan, I know that euhedral crystals, showing incipient signs of etching, have been found in Mianmar; the crystals I have seen from there are pale brownish-gray, I have not seen from there colorless petalite like those found in Brazil.

Luiz

[jerry]

Hi Luiz,
Thanks for your information.
Yes, you are right. Most of the brazilian petalite is used as material of making heat proof cramics. And we are such this kind factory, who is looking for the petalite supplier. So if possible, can you give me some advice?
Many thanks
Jerry

[Jordi Fabre]

[Luiz Menezes]

Jerry:

The main producer is Mineração Arqueana, and its owner is Amilcar Afgouni; I don't have his directions here with me at Denver, I can send you his E-mail address after my return to Brazil on Sep.25.

Luiz

[jerry]

[jerry]

[marvsT/Nminerals]

Hello Luiz, I have a few small petalites, to 27mm, from the Palelni Mine, Momeik Township, Myanmar. They are pale reddish brown to light grayish in color. I have seen photos of crystals from there that appeared colorless and others that changed from near colorless to a pinkish color with change of lighting. Otherwise, as you described, lightly to moderately etched with no matrix.