Spodumene is a natural source of lithium oxide used in bodies and glazes to introduce lithia, alumina, and silica. Lithium oxide is used because it reduces thermal expansion, melting temperature, and viscosity of the glaze melt.
Information gathered from Digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database and The Potter's Dictionary of Materials and Techniques by Frank Hamer.
Why did the price of Spodumene skyrocket?
We don't have any information at this time except that a very large price increase was just passed along to us. We will update this page with more information as we receive it.