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Kunzite  (variety of Spodumene)
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  LiAlSi₂O₆  [Lithium Aluminum Silicate]

Discovered about 1903;   IMA status: Kunzite: Not Valid; Spodumene: Valid
Kunzite is named after George Frederick Kunz (1856-1932), a famous author and gemologist for Tiffany and Co. The name Spodumene is from the Greek word spodumenos, meaning burnt to ash which refers to the ashy gray color of early mineral specimens.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/F.01-120

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.DA.30

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
A : Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si₂O₆; pyroxene family

Related to:

Pyroxene Group. Clinopyroxene Subgroup.

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Spodumene: Crystals are prismatic, typically flattened and striated, to 12.5 m and 54 t. Commonly massive.

Twinning:

Common on [100].

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[110] Good, [100] Good, [010] Partings

Fracture:

Uneven to Subconchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

6.5 - 7.0

Density:

3.03 - 3.23 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

May show Yellow, Orange or Pink fluorescence under LW and SW UV.

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Colorless, pale to deep Pink

Transparency:

Transparent to Translucent

Luster:

Vitreous, Dull; Pearly on cleavages

Refractive Index:

1.653 - 1.682  Biaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.0140 - 0.0270

Dispersion:

Weak; r < v; 0.012

Pleochroism:

Distinct; X = Colorless; Y = Violet Pink; Z = Purple Pink

Occurances

Geological Setting:

A common constituent of lithium-rich granite pegmatites; in aplites and gneisses.

Common Associations:

Quartz, Albite, Petalite, Eucryptite, Lepidolite, Beryl

Common Impurities:

Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, Na, K, H₂O

Type Locality:

Pala district, San Diego County, California

Year Discovered:

1903

View mineral photos:

Kunzite Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org (Kunzite)
Mindat.org (Spodumene)
Webmineral.com (Spodumene)

Kunzite is a member of the Spodumene Family of minerals that also includes Hiddenite. It is a beautiful gem that is found as colorless, pale to deep pink and purplish pink. Kunzite is stronly pleochroic, meaning it has a color intensity difference when viewed from different directions. It is a very difficult gem to facet because of its strong pleochroism, easy cleavage and splintery fracture. Other colors of Spodumene are colorless, yellow (Triphane), pale to deep green (Hiddenite), blue-green and rarely blue.

There are many localities for fine Kunzite crystals including Nuristan district, Laghman Province, Afghanistan; Minas Gerais, Brazil; Maharitra, Mt. Bity, and Anjanabonoina, Madagascar. In the USA, giant crystals in the Etta mine, near Keystone, Pennington County, South Dakota,; and from the Pala district, San Diego County, California.
 

  
Kunzite gems for sale:

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