Spodumene

specimen number:
2292234

location:
Minas Gerais, Brazil

description:

A beautiful gem pink crystal grouping of spodumene. This is the variety often called kunzite. In great condition all around, this is cut and polished on the bottom as shown in the video. This weighs 54.71 g.

Kunzite is the pink, lilac, or violet gemstone variety of the lithium aluminum silicate mineral spodumene. The pastel coloration is caused by trace amounts of manganese substituting for aluminum within the monoclinic crystal lattice. A defining optical property of kunzite is its strong pleochroism, causing it to display different color intensities, with the deepest hues visible when looking down the long vertical axis of the crystal prism. It typically forms large, deeply striated prismatic crystals within highly evolved lithium-rich granitic pegmatites, often found alongside lepidolite, elbaite tourmaline, and cleavelandite. First described in 1902 from San Diego County, California, and named after gemologist George Frederick Kunz, this mineral variety is prized by collectors for its exceptional clarity and color, though specimens must be protected from prolonged exposure to bright light to prevent the color from fading over time.

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