Inorganic Gemstones

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Spodumene

Spodumene (Kunzite) rough from Afghanistan.

Spodumene happens in a variety of colours, although the most typical is yellowish grey. Two gem varieties - lilac pink kunzite (coloured by manganese) and bright emerald green hiddenites (coloured by chromium) - are extremely well-liked by collectors, although perfect cleavage means they are fragile gemstones. Strong pleochroism is definitely observed in gem material, showing colourless and 2 shades from the body colour when viewed from different directions. Stones ought to always be cut to exhibit the very best colour with the table facet. The pink colour may fade as time passes, however, many material is irradiated to intensify it.

Spodumene was discovered in 1877 in Brazil, although it had been not until 1979 that kunzite and hiddenite were named different varieties of the identical mineral. Spodumene can also be present in Madagascar, Burma, the united states, Canada, the first kind USSR, Mexico and Sweden.

Lilac-pink kunzite is known as following the gemmologist G.F. Kunz, who first described it in 1902; hiddenites is known as after W.E. Hidden, who discovered it in New york in 1879.


Properties
Chemical Composition: 
Silicate of Lithium and Aluminium where sodium, iron or calcium may replace lithium. LiAl(SiO3)O2
Classification / Type: 
-
Colors / Varieties: 
  • Kunzite: Pink, Violet, Purplish.
  • Hiddenite: Emerald green (Cr)
  • Yellow and yellowish green, colorless to gray, blue
Crystal System / Forms: 
Monoclinic System / Long, flat, deeply striated crystals with steep terminations, often have a wood-like surface alteration; massive.
Hardness: 
7
Specific Gravity: 
3.18
Cleavage / Fracture: 
Perfect 2 directional prismatic cleavage at right angles / Splintery fracture
Optic Character: 
Anisotropic, D.R.; Biaxial positive
Lustre: 
Vitreous
Refractive Index / Birefringence: 
1.660 - 1.675 / 0.015; Range: 1.655 - 1.671
Dispersion: 
0.017
Magnification: 
Primary fluid inclusions, complex three phase liquid inclusions, needle-like etch tubes, twin planes and cleavage cracks, crystalline inclusions.
U.V. Fluorescence: 
Yellowish green: weak orange yellow
Spectrum: 
Yellow / yellowish green: Band at 437nm with a weaker band at 433nm.
Cause of Color: 
Yellowish green: Ferric iron
Treatment (Enhancement): 
Specific Tests & Remarks: 
In different lighting, exhibits reversible darkening and lightening of color.
Synthesis: 
-
Geological Occurrence: 
Granite pegmatite.
Sources: 
Brazil, Sri Lanka, U.S.A.
Cuts & Uses: 
Facetted cuts, cabochon, beads, carvings, etc. (table facet should be cut at right angles to the c-axis for best color).
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