KUNZITE SPODUMENE MINERAL FACTS Nevada Turquoise gem stones
The Gem and Mineral Collector's Photo Gallery by Nevada Outback

.

Kunzite Mineral Facts:

Chemical Formula: LiAlSi2O6 
Kunzite is a color variety of spodumene which is used as a gemstone.  Spodumene is a member of the pyroxene mineral family.

Colors: white, gray, green or yellowish
green, blue, violet to amethystine.

Hiddenite variety is green, the pink to violet to purple or even blue varieties are named Kunzite. A color center (electron hole) is thought to be present acting as a coloring agent to give Kunzite its color.  Both the gem
varieties kunzite and hiddenite are noted for their strong pleochroism, they are darker looking down the C axis.

Hardness: 6.5 to 7

Density: 3.18

Cleavage: Two planes yielding a perfect prismatic cleavage.

Crystallography: Monoclinic
Most crystals are striated vertically. Twins are fairly common. Although crystals are common the mineral also frequently occurs as platy or scaly aggregates.

Luster:. Vitreous luster which can be pearly on cleavage surfaces.

Optics: (Refractive Index): = a =1.651,
b=1.669, y=1.677.

KUNZITE SPODUMENE

 .


Composition, Structure and Associated Minerals:
Spodumene occurs in granites, pegmatites and crystalline schists, where it was formed by pneumatolytic processes. A comparatively rare species, but found occasionally in very large crystals in certain pegmatite dikes. At the Etta Mine, Black Hills, South Dakota, are many 30 ft. long and 3-4 ft. in diameter. One measured 47 ft. in length. At the Etta tin pegmatite in Pennington County, South Dakota, it is often associated with cassiterite.  As a constituent of Lithium rich pegmatites in California it often occurs associated with lepidolite and tourmaline, and it has been mined for its lithium content.  The best-known gem varieties are Hiddenite and kunzite. There is, however, a yellow transparent variety of spodumene; specimens of this variety occur associated with chrysoberyl in Brazil, and are sometimes sold as chrysoberyl, from which, however, they can readily be distinguished by their inferior hardness and lower specific gravity. Spodumene alters readily to albite, muscovite, eucryptite, or mixtures of these minerals.

Identification and Diagnostics
Before the blowpipe
spodumene swells up and throws out fine branches at first, eventually fusing to a clear, colorless glass, at the same time imparting a crimson color to the flame (test for lithium). It is unattacked by ordinary acids. It melts at about 1325. Its powder reacts alkaline.  It is recognized by its cleavage, positive test for lithium and associated minerals. 

Occurrence, Localities and Origins:
Kunzite, a pink or lilac variety, from San Diego Co., California. Under the influence of radium rays it becomes green. When heated to 240 it becomes a darker rose color, but at 400 it loses all color. Kunzite is named after G. F. Kunz, an American gem expert. This is a pale-pink or lilac-colored variety of spodumene, first found in a pegmatite vein on Pala Mt., San Diego Co., California, associated with muscovite, lepidolite, and tourmaline. The tourmaline occurring with it is represented by red, blue, green and black varieties and is in part
of gem quality. Kunzite is also found in the pegmatites of Madagascar, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Brazil associated with lepidolite, tourmaline, and morganite pink beryl. Kunzite can occur in very large crystals, suitable to cut gems of several hundred carats. The colors of Kunzite will all fade away to colorless
on prolonged intense exposure to sunlight. The color can be resorted on exposure to radiation which first turns the crystal green, the green fading quickly in light to the paler Kunzite color. 

The ordinary varieties of the mineral were once used as a source of
lithium in the manufacture of lithium salts, and the transparent varieties are used as gems. Ordinary ash-grey spodumene is of no value as a gemstone; as noted it was once used as a source of lithium salts, but easier sources exit and are now worked.

For More information on this gem see: Kunzite Spodumene

Return to the Mineral Collectors Information Page

 

Katrina Mine Kunzite Spodumene, Pala, California

Kunzite Spodumene, Anita Mine, Pala, San Diego Co, California

Kunzite Spodumene, Anita Mine, Pala, San Diego County, California

Gem Quality Kunzite

Kunzite Mineral specimen with tourmaline

 

 

Please note that the author, Chris Ralph, retains all copyrights to this entire document and it may not be reproduced, quoted or copied without permission.

Turq_nev_6b.gif (5020 bytes)

NEVADA OUTBACK GEMS TURQUOISE AND JEWELRY

Nevada Outback Gems

Find out more by checking out All of our links below:

View our Contemporary Turquoise Jewelry - Wearable Artwork! View our Unique Gem Quality Turquoise Cabochons
Premium Jewelry, with Gemstones of all types Top Quality Loose Gemstones - Gemstones of all types
Rare Crystals and Gemstone Rough, all types Our Free Colored Gemstone Information Encyclopedia
Chris' Gold Prospecting Encyclopedia Take a virtual tour of our Nevada Turquoise mines
Miners Reference Pages         California Gold Rush Stories More Info about Turquoise, the Beautiful Gem
Metal Detecting with the MXT Metal Detector Nevada Outback Gems Homepage
Build Your Own Mining Equipment Investing in Gold and Precious Metals
Basic Placer Mining More information about us - Nevada Outback Gems
Locations to Prospect for Gold The Rockhound's Corner Nevada Outback Library and Bookstore - Learn more!
Chris's Prospecting Adventures About Nevada Turquoise More Info about Gem Cutting Tanzanite Jewelry
Nevada Outback Gems Site Map Make Your Own Jewelry Buy Safely on EBay: avoid fraud and scam artists