Kunzite
A variety of Spodumene
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About Kunzite
George F. Kunz circa 1903
Formula:
LiAlSi2O6
Name:
Originally described by George F. Kunz in 1903 as a transparent, lilac, spodumene from Pala, California. Named in 1903 by H. Charles Baskerville in honour of George Frederick Kunz (29 September 1856, New York City, New York, USA - 29 June 1932), American mineralogist, gemologist, author, editor, and vice-president of Tiffany and Co. of New York, New York, USA.
A pink gem variety of Spodumene.
Kunzite is frequently irradiated to enhance the colour.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Kunzite.
Kunzite is frequently irradiated to enhance the colour.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Kunzite.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2289 (as Kunzite)
3733 (as Spodumene)
3733 (as Spodumene)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2289:3 (as Kunzite)
mindat:1:1:3733:0 (as Spodumene)
mindat:1:1:3733:0 (as Spodumene)
Similar Names
| Kansite (of Meyer et al.) | A synonym of Mackinawite |
| Quincite | A synonym of 'Quinzite Opal' |
Pronunciation of Kunzite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Chemistry of Kunzite
Mindat Formula:
LiAlSi2O6
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Synonyms of Kunzite
Other Language Names for Kunzite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 93 photos of Kunzite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 60 photos of Kunzite associated with Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| 57 photos of Kunzite associated with 'Cleavelandite' | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 49 photos of Kunzite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 44 photos of Kunzite associated with Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| 33 photos of Kunzite associated with Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| 24 photos of Kunzite associated with Lepidolite | |
| 17 photos of Kunzite associated with 'Smoky Quartz' | SiO2 |
| 17 photos of Kunzite associated with Pollucite | (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O |
| 14 photos of Kunzite associated with 'Morganite' | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Kunzite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2289.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Kunzite
Reference List:
Baskerville, C. (1903) Kunzite, a new gem. Science, 18 (453). 303-304 doi:10.1126/science.18.453.303-a
Claffy, Esther W. (1953) Composition, tenebrescence and luminescence of spodumene minerals. American Mineralogist, 38 (11-12) 919-931
Rehman, Habib Ur, Martens, Gerhard, Tsai, Ying Lai, Chankhantha, Chawalit, Kidkhunthod, Pinit, H. Shen, Andy (2020) An X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (XANES) Study on the Oxidation State of Chromophores in Natural Kunzite Samples from Nuristan, Afghanistan. Minerals, 10 (5) 463 doi:10.3390/min10050463
Localities for Kunzite
Showing 88 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Afghanistan | |
| Orris et al. (2002) |
| Lai et al. (2024) |
| Betts (n.d.) | |
| Lavinsky (n.d.) |
| Juergen Roth collection | |
| Cook (1997) | |
| Orris et al. (2002) |
| King (n.d.) |
| Orris et al. (2002) | |
| Orris et al. (2002) | |
| Orris et al. (2002) |
| Betts (n.d.) | |
| Orris et al. (2002) | |
| Rehman +5 other references | |
| Orris et al. (2002) |
| Orris et al. (2002) |
| Skublov et al. (2024) |
| Orris et al. (2002) | |
Australia | |
| Sorrell (n.d.) |
Brazil | |
| Natural History Museum of Los Angeles ... |
| Sauer (1982) |
| Bastos (2002) |
| King (n.d.) +1 other reference | |
| Sauer (1982) | |
| Betts (n.d.) | |
Canada | |
| Groat et al. (2003) |
| J.C. Pedersen (2000) |
Ethiopia | |
| Küster et al. (2009) |
Finland | |
| Lahti et al. (1986) +1 other reference |
Madagascar | |
| www.geminterest.com (n.d.) |
| Michel Arliguie collection & photo (photo id 899764) |
| Arliguie Michel collection & photo (Photo ID: 85907 ) | |
| Lacroix (1922) | |
| Mason (1976) |
Mozambique | |
| Russel G. Rizzo specimen & photo id ... |
| Gomes et al. (2022) | |
| Geotrade Bohemia |
| Geotrade Bohemia | |
| Wilson et al. (2000) | |
Namibia | |
| von Bezing (2007) |
Nigeria | |
| Moore (2001) |
Pakistan | |
| www.paksearch.com (n.d.) |
Russia | |
| Kovalenko (Levashova) |
Sri Lanka | |
| Ceylon Aluvial Mine (Book, Co. 2002) |
USA | |
| Seidler (1964) | |
| Geffner et al. (1997) |
| Kunz (1905) +1 other reference |
| Kunz (1905) |
| Kunz (1905) +2 other references | |
| Kunz (1905) +2 other references | |
| Todd et al. (1987) +1 other reference |
| Journal of Pegmatology v. 1 (2002) | |
| Kunz (1903a) +1 other reference | |
| Mason (1976) | |
| Merrill |
| Fisher (2011) | |
| Foord et al. (1986) +1 other reference | |
| Personally collected | |
| personal collections (Reed, Mauthner) | |
| 126-127. +4 other references | |
| Hapeman (2011) | |
| Cook (1997) |
| Christopher N. Wentzell | |
| Weber (1963) +1 other reference | |
| Rocks & Min.: 23:517. +1 other reference |
| Kunz (1905) | |
| Kunz (1905) | |
| Merrill (1914) |
| Sheppard (2008) +1 other reference | |
| January: p. 37-40 +1 other reference | |
| Rogers |
| Larson (2011) |
| Rocks & Minerals. Vol. 70. No. 6 +2 other references |
| Jarnot (1995) |
| Rocks & Min.: 70:382 | |
| Anderson |
| |
| King et al. (6) |
| |
| Anderson |
| Meyers et al. (1956) |
| Wilson et al. (1978) |
| Smith et al. (2000) |
| Seaman (1976) |
Laghman, Afghanistan