Kunzite
Variety LiAlSi2O6
Take care.
- Fades or changes in light: Keep it in the dark, out of sunlight and bright display lights.
About it
Pink to lilac spodumene coloured by manganese, deepest in colour when viewed down the crystal. Named after gem expert George Kunz; it fades in sunlight, so store it in the dark. From Afghanistan, Brazil, and California.
- Type
- Variety
- Group
- Spodumene variety (pyroxene)
- Formula
- LiAlSi2O6
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 6.5–7
- Specific gravity
- 3.15–3.21
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy)
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- pink, lilac, violet
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- perfect prismatic in two directions at about 87°; splintery fracture
- Under UV light
- often orange to pink under UV
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.