Lepidolite　has　an　Al2O3　content　of　greater　than　22%.　Using　it　efficiently　will　be　very　important　for　the　economic　extraction　of　lithium　from　this　low-grade　lithium　ore　if　an　industrial-scale　extraction　process　is　to　be　developed.　This　paper　presents　a　novel　technique　for　recovering　aluminium　and　lithium　from　the　gypsum　residue　generated　during　the　extraction　of　lithium　from　lepidolite.　The　alkali　digestion　conditions　were　considered　based　on　the　principles　behind　the　Bayer　process.　Maximum　extraction　of　aluminium　(100%)　and　96.4%　extraction　of　lithium　were　recorded　at　caustic　ratio　(Na2O/Al2O3　molar　ratio)　of　1.7,　digestion　temperature　of　136°C　and　digestion　time　of　60　min.　After　digestion,　aluminium　hydroxide　was　precipitated　by　cooling　and　seeding　of　the　digestion　solution.　Li+　ion　was　not　adsorbed　by　aluminium　hydroxide　during　this　process.　Therefore,　Li　could　easily　be　recovered　by　adding　sodium　phosphate　(Na3PO4).　In　addition,　the　precipitation　of　lithium　at　several　different　molar　ratios　of　Li+/PO43　-　was　performed　to　investigate　its　influence　on　the　recovery　process.　©　2015　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.