Hiddenite
A variety of Spodumene
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About Hiddenite
William E. Hidden
Formula:
LiAlSi2O6
Colour:
Green
Name:
Named in 1881 by Joseph Lawrence Smith in honor of William Earl Hidden [February 16, 1853 Providence Rhode Island, USA - June 12, 1918 Newark, New Jersey, USA], mining engineer, mineral collector, and mineral dealer. Hidden was co-namer of mackintoshite in 1893. The town of Hiddenite was named after the mineral variety in 1913.
Hiddenite was not originally defined by Kunz as has been sometimes claimed. Smith (1881) did state: "I have employed all the necessary care in examining for chromium, but have found no indication of its presence." Smith tried to verify the presence of vanadium, but could only conclude that his qualitative results would have been similar to either vanadium or chromium. Smith does indicate that his hiddenite varied from pale green to emerald green, "though the color is not so intense as in the finest variety of the latter gem."
Claffy (1953) provided some information on absorption spectra.
Colorless or yellow spodumene should not be referred to as hiddenite. Green spodumene that is photosensitive and not permanently color stable is not hiddenite.
The mineral variety hiddenite was originally described from Alexander Co., North Carolina, USA. The area where hiddenite was found was governed by county government and was then known as an informal settlement called "White Plains". The town name "Hiddenite" was not granted a charter until 1913, thirty years after the naming of the mineral variety hiddenite.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Hiddenite.
Claffy (1953) provided some information on absorption spectra.
Colorless or yellow spodumene should not be referred to as hiddenite. Green spodumene that is photosensitive and not permanently color stable is not hiddenite.
The mineral variety hiddenite was originally described from Alexander Co., North Carolina, USA. The area where hiddenite was found was governed by county government and was then known as an informal settlement called "White Plains". The town name "Hiddenite" was not granted a charter until 1913, thirty years after the naming of the mineral variety hiddenite.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Hiddenite.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7740 (as Hiddenite)
3733 (as Spodumene)
3733 (as Spodumene)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7740:4 (as Hiddenite)
mindat:1:1:3733:0 (as Spodumene)
mindat:1:1:3733:0 (as Spodumene)
Similar Names
| Haydenit | A synonym of Chabazite | |
| Haydenite | A variety of Chabazite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| Headdenite | A synonym of Arrojadite-(KFe) |
Physical Properties of Hiddenite
Colour:
Green
Chemistry of Hiddenite
Mindat Formula:
LiAlSi2O6
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Synonyms of Hiddenite
Other Language Names for Hiddenite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 7 photos of Hiddenite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 4 photos of Hiddenite associated with Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| 3 photos of Hiddenite associated with 'Kunzite' | LiAlSi2O6 |
| 2 photos of Hiddenite associated with Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| 2 photos of Hiddenite associated with Rutile | TiO2 |
| 2 photos of Hiddenite associated with Siderite | FeCO3 |
| 2 photos of Hiddenite associated with 'Smoky Quartz' | SiO2 |
| 2 photos of Hiddenite associated with Schorl | NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| 1 photo of Hiddenite associated with Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 1 photo of Hiddenite associated with Apatite Group |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Hiddenite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-7740.html
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References for Hiddenite
Reference List:
(1881) Hiddenite.—A New Mineral. Scientific American, 44 (13) 196 doi:10.1038/scientificamerican03261881-196
Smith, J. Lawrence (1881) Hiddenite, an Emerald-Green Variety of Spodumene. Scientific American, 11 (279) 4450 doi:10.1038/scientificamerican05071881-4450bsupp
Smith, Lawrence (1881) Hiddenite, variété vert-émeraude de triphane. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 4 (6) 184-186 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1881.1657
Davidson, S. C. (1927) The hiddenite occurrence in North Carolina. American Mineralogist, 12 (8). 305-307
Palache, Charles, Davidson, S. C., Goranson, E. A. (1930) The hiddenite deposit in Alexander County, North Carolina. American Mineralogist, 15 (8). 280-302
Claffy, Esther W. (1953) Composition, tenebrescence and luminescence of spodumene minerals. American Mineralogist, 38 (11-12) 919-931
Allen, Fred M. (1958) Hiddenite, a North Carolina Gem Stone. Rocks & Minerals, 33 (7). 310-311 doi:10.1080/00357529.1958.11768521
Localities for Hiddenite
Showing 23 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Afghanistan | |
| Jose Zendrera Collection | |
Brazil | |
| Mason (1976) | |
| Natural History Museum Vienna collection (gift from Wilhelm Niemetz) |
| Bauer et al. (1983) | |
China | |
| www.smartminerals.com (2004) |
Finland | |
| Vilpas (1995) |
Madagascar | |
| www.geminterest.com (n.d.) |
| Larsen (2003) |
Romania | |
| Călin et al. (2025) |
Sri Lanka | |
| Ceylon Aluvial Mine (Book, Co. 2002) |
| Dissanayake et al. (2000) |
USA | |
| Jahns et al. (1951) |
| Meyers et al. (1956) |
| Palache et al. (1930) |
| USGS +1 other reference | |
| Rocks & Min.:60:84. | |
| - (2005) | |
| Rocks & Minerals 79:5 p 344 +2 other references | |
| - (2005) | |
| Wilson et al. (2001) | |
| Kunz (1907) +2 other references | |
| Roberts et al. (1965) |
Adams Hiddenite and Emerald Mine, Hiddenite, Alexander County, North Carolina, USA