Mineral Factbook

Kunzite

Varietyof Spodumene

Kunzite is the pink-violet gem variety of spodumene. As a variety of Spodumene, it shares that species' composition (LiAlSi2O6), crystal structure, and hardness; the distinction is the appearance defined above.

Photos

Kunzite specimen photo
Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Kunzite specimen photo
Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Kunzite specimen photo
Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Kunzite specimen photo
Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons

About Spodumene

Full reference data — crystallography, X-ray diffraction, and cited physical properties — is on the Spodumene species page.

FormulaLiAlSi2O6
Hardness (Mohs)5
Density (calculated)3.172
Crystal systemmonoclinic
Streakwhite