Kunzite
What is Kunzite?
Kunzite is a pink to lilac colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral spodumene. It’s primarily found in Afghanistan, Brazil, and Madagascar. Kunzite is known for its beautiful colors and is often used as a gemstone.
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Kunzite is a pastel-colored gemstone that belongs to the spodumene family. Its soft colors and lustrous appearance make it a popular choice for jewelry, especially rings and pendants.
| Chemical Classification | Inorganic - Silicate (Spodumene) |
| Color | Ranges from light pink to violet. |
| Streak | White |
| Luster | Vitreous. |
| Transparency | Transparent to translucent. |
| Occurrence | Afghanistan, Brazil, and Madagascar. |
| Formation | Typically found in granite pegmatites. |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Cleavage | Perfect in one direction |
| Mohs Hardness | 6.5 - 7 |
| Specific Gravity | Approximately 3.18. |
| Diagnostic Properties | Pink to violet, a variety of spodumene. |
| Chemical Composition | LiAl(SiO3)2 |
| Pleochroism | Strong; kunzite can show different color intensity when viewed from different angles. |
| Crystal System | Monoclinic (variety of Spodumene) |
| Optical Properties | Biaxial (-) |
| Refractive Index | 1.660 - 1.676 |
| Birefringence | 0.015 |
| 2V angle | Measured: 84° |
| Dispersion | 0.017. |