Kunzite
Variety of spodumene
Rare · LiAlSi₂O₆
Pink to violet spodumene coloured by manganese. Named after gemologist George Frederick Kunz, who described it in 1902. Displays strong pleochroism and an orange phosphorescence. Some stones fade on prolonged exposure to strong sunlight, the natural kunzite of Pala, California, much less than irradiated stones.
Identity
- Formula
- LiAlSi₂O₆
- Chemical class
- Silicate
- Mineral group
- Aegirine, Diopside, Enstatite, Hiddenite, Jade, Jadeite
- Also known as
- Pink spodumene, Lilac spodumene
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Habits
- Prismatic, Tabular
- Fracture
- Subconchoidal
Physical properties
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 3.18 g/cm³
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Colors
- pink, violet, pale purple
- Streak
- white
- Transparency
- Transparent
Geology
- Origins
- Igneous
- Host rocks
- Granite
- Associated minerals
- Tourmaline, Beryl, Quartz, feldspar
- Found in
- Pegmatite deposit
- Geography
- Afghanistan, Brazil, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka
Classification
- Rarity
- Rare
- Gem quality
- Yes
Sources
- Kunzite. Mindat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- Kunzite. Gemdat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- Kunzite. Gemological Institute of America, Gem Encyclopedia.
- J. W. Anthony, R. A. Bideaux, K. W. Bladh, M. C. Nichols, Spodumene. Mineral Data Publishing, Handbook of Mineralogy, 2001.
- Spodumene. Mindat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- E. W. Claffy, Composition, tenebrescence and luminescence of spodumene minerals. American Mineralogist, 38, 919-931, 1953.
- M. Pasero and others, IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification, The New IMA List of Minerals, updated September 2026. International Mineralogical Association (CNMNC), 2026.
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