By Chisom Ibemere
Kunzite remains the best-known variety of spodumene while others include green hiddenite and yellow triphane. It was recognized initially as a unique variety of spodumene in 1902. It is the light pink to violetish purple variety of the mineral spodumene. It may be seen in places like Afghanistan, Brazil, Madagascar, and the US state of California.
Its name was given after George Frederick Kunz, a famed gemmologist who was the first to identify it as a unique variety of spodumene. The colour occurs due to the presence of manganese. The main and important source of the mineral is California’s San Diego.
Kunzite can undergo irradiation and heat-treated to enhance its colour. Natural and treated colours of kunzite may fade when exposed to heat and bright light. It is ranked on the refractive index between 1.660 and 1.681 with a hardness of 6.5 and 7 on the Moh’s scale.
Kunzite is not popular in many places. The biggest deposit is majorly gotten from Afghanistan and Brazil even though it doesn’t originate from these places. It is an expensive gemstone. It is not seen in many localities around the world. The biggest places where it can be found are Afghanistan in Brazil, with smaller deposits around Pakistan and a few other countries.
Kunzite deposits may be found in the South-Western and Northern regions of the country. Kunzite mining and processing are great source of employment.