The Gemstone and Mineral Kunzite
Colors: Pink, Pinkish
violet
Composition: Lithium Aluminum Silicate,
LiAl(SiO3)2
R.I.: 1.65 - 1.68
Durability: Fragile
S.G.: 3.00 - 3.20
Treatment: Irradiation is possible
Hardness: 6 1/2 - 7 1/2
Localities: Brazil, Pakistan, California,
North Carolina and Madagascar
Spodumene is an important ore of lithium
which occurs in lithium-bearing granite
pegmatites. It is typically associated with
quartz, albite, beryl, tourmaline and lepidolite.
Kunzite is a transparent lilac-colored variety
of spodumene, hiddenite is a transparent green
variety. Both are used as gemstones.
Kunzite is the light to deep pink/lavender purple member of the spodumene
family. It is trichroic - displaying different colors from different
angles. Kunzite was first found in Pala, California, in 1902,
and is named after the gemologist George F. Kunz. In the latter part
of the 19th century. Kunz was chief gem buyer for Tiffany & Co. He was
a pioneer of the science now known as gemology.
It is generally found in large sizes, perhaps ten carats or more. Small
stones with an attractive color may be hard to find. Kunzite may fade
with prolonged exposure to strong light, this is especially true if
the material is irradiated, but this treatment is infrequently done.
The perfect cleavage and splintery fracture of kunzite makes it one
of the most difficult gems to cut. It is very sensitive to knocks and
will chip if hit too hard. Kunzite is famous for its strong pleochroism,
showing lighter and more intense coloring when viewed at different angles.
For this reason, it is always cut to show the deepest pink color through
the top of the gem. The deeper pink the kunzite, the more valuable it
is.
Note: Pleochroism - Dichroism These are
effects present in a mineral exhibiting two or more separate colors
when viewed at different angles. Pleochroism and Dichroism are synonymous,
except Dichroism refers only to two colors, but pleochroism can be more
than two.
