A naturally occurring mineral deposit of alpha-spodumene has been successfully used to fabricate glasses and glass ceramics in the Li2O-Al2O3-SiO2 (LAS) system. TiO2 is an effective nucleating agent in promoting the crystallization of Li2O-Al2O3-4SiO(2) glass to produce LAS glass-ceramics in which beta-quartz(ss) and beta-spodumene(ss) are the major crystalline phases evolved. The crystallization process and microstructural evolution were monitored using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy.