Kunzite, Meaning, Properties, and Facts

What is kunzite

Kunzite is spodumene, a lithium aluminum silicate, in pink, lilac or violet. Most spodumene is an opaque, grayish mineral mined as one of the main sources of lithium for batteries, and only a small share grows as clear gem crystals. Kunzite was named in 1903 for George Frederick Kunz, the gemologist and vice president of Tiffany, after crystals turned up at Pala in San Diego County, California.

Kunzite properties

Kunzite properties include strong pleochroism: the color looks deepest down the length of the crystal and paler from the side, so cutters orient gems to show the best pink. It also has two perfect cleavage directions, which make it tricky to cut and easy to split with a sharp knock. Data is on Mindat's kunzite page.

Where kunzite is found

Kunzite is found in lithium-rich granite pegmatites, the same rocks that produce pink tourmaline, morganite and lepidolite. Major sources are Afghanistan and Pakistan, where large crystals come from the Hindu Kush, plus Brazil, Madagascar and the original Pala district in California. Many crystals are etched, with grooved, striated faces from natural corrosion after they formed.

Kunzite and spodumene varieties

Kunzite is one of three spodumene varieties with gem names: kunzite is pink to violet, hiddenite is green and triphane is yellow. Hiddenite was named for William Earl Hidden and comes from North Carolina, though green spodumene from elsewhere often borrows the name. All three share the same formula and the same fragile cleavage.

How to tell if kunzite is real

To tell if kunzite is real, turn it and watch the color. Real kunzite shifts from pink or violet to nearly colorless as you rotate it, while pink glass and most imitations look the same from every side. Rough crystals show long striations, etched faces and flat cleavage breaks, and glass shows bubbles and swirls. Kunzite is easy to tell from rose quartz, which is cloudy and almost never forms clear crystals.

Kunzite care: water and sun

Kunzite care is mostly about light, though water is safe: rinse it in lukewarm, soapy water and dry it with a soft cloth. Skip ultrasonic and steam cleaners and sudden heat, which can split it along its cleavage. Strong light slowly fades the pink, which earned kunzite the nickname evening stone, so keep it in a drawer or a shaded cabinet. See crystals that fade in the sun.

Kunzite price and value

Kunzite price and value depend on color depth, clarity, size and cut. Deep, saturated pink is the rarest, and pale material costs much less. Kunzite often grows in large, clean crystals, so big stones are easier to find than in many gems, and rough blades and chunks are affordable for collectors.

Kunzite meaning and benefits

Kunzite meaning in crystal lore is love and emotional calm, and the benefits people claim for it include an open heart and less anxiety. That is belief, not chemistry. The history runs through Tiffany: Kunz wrote widely about American gems, and his name stuck to the pink spodumene from Pala.

Kunzite for sale

Kunzite for sale at geoslut arrives in drops. Each piece is one of one, photographed in daylight and labeled with its locality, and the list hears first.

Kunzite FAQ

Is kunzite water safe?

Kunzite is water safe for cleaning with lukewarm, soapy water. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners, steam and sudden temperature changes.

Does kunzite fade in the sun?

Kunzite does fade in the sun and other strong light, slowly losing its pink, so store it out of direct light.

Is kunzite the same as spodumene?

Kunzite is the same mineral as spodumene: it is the pink to violet gem variety.

Is kunzite rare?

Kunzite is not rare as a variety, but deep pink, clean crystals are scarce.

Sources

• Kunzite, Gemological Institute of America
• Kunzite, Mindat
• Spodumene (var. kunzite), Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History