Kunzite is the pink to lilac variety of Spodumene. It gets its striking color from minor to trace amounts of Manganese and exhibits a vitreous luster and excellent transparency. It has become an extremely popular gemstone because of its pink color, exceptional clarity and durability (7 on the Moh’s hardness scale). As a mineral specimen, it is highly collectable and found in association with numerous aesthetic minerals including Quartz, Elbaite, Microcline, Tourmaline and Morganite.

The crystal system for Kunzite is monoclinic. Crystal forms include prismatic, tabular, flattened and elongated, striated and often massive.

Notable locations for Kunzite include Afghanistan, Brazil, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and the USA (Maine, California).