K
KUNZITE
Name: named in 1902 to honor George Frederick Kunz who discovered the new gem.
AKA: Pink Spodumene. Evening Stone.
Description: The rose pink to bluish purple to lilac color of Spodumene. It is known for its extreme pleochroism (showing different colors from different angles).
Variety: Spodumene.
Color: It gets its color from trace amounts of manganese. It has a color range from rose pink to bluish purple; a delicate pastel pink, violet-pink, lilac, and lavender. The most valued kunzite colors are the more intense pinks and bluish purples, but the lighter pinks are the most common. High quality stones show a hot pink flash when viewed down the length of the crystal.
Treatments: Irradiation (produces kunzite from colorless or light-colored Spodumene. The color fades in bright light (as does the untreated material). Treatment is undetectable.
Moh’s Hardness: 6.5 to 7.
Toughness: poor (because of its perfect cleavage in two directions)
Location Found: Afghanistan; Brazil; Madagascar; Pakistan; USA (California).
Birthstone: February, September.
Wedding Anniversaries: 1st.
Zodiac Signs: Leo; Scorpio; Taurus.
Chakra Associations: Heart.
Historical Associations: heart-centered; love; romance; release grief; overcome substance dependencies; creates a protective energetic shield; meditation; quite the chatter of the ego; connecting with a higher spiritual state; calming; peace; grounding. It is meant to be worn at night.
Historically Used to Treat: broken heart; grief; abandonment; neuralgia; sciatica; rashes; hives; substance dependencies.
Care: High heat can cause color loss. Sudden temperature change can cause breaks. Bright light causes the color to fade to a colorless gray or white as the stone is highly photosensitive. Very slowly attacked by concentrated hydrofluoric acid. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners. Use lukewarm, mild soapy water and a soft cloth or a very soft brush. Dry with a soft cloth. Store in a dark, velvet-lined box. Keep it away from other stones as its cleavage makes it uniquely fragile.
Imitations: Pink Glass; Synthetic Pink Sapphire; Synthetic Spinel; Pink Cubic Zirconia.
Synthetics: No commercial synthetics are produced.