Petalite is a mineral commonly used for its lithium content in batteries. It is also known by several other names such as castorite, lithia mica, and xanthite. Castorite is derived from the Latin word for beaver, as the mineral was first discovered in North America near beaver lodges. Lithia mica refers to its composition of lithium and mica, while xanthite comes from the Greek word for yellow, referring to its yellowish-white color. Other less commonly used synonyms for petalite include amblygonite, lepidolite, and spodumene. Regardless of its name, petalite remains an important mineral for various industrial applications.