Kunzite
| Also known as | Spodumene (Spodumene family) |
|---|---|
| Colour | Pink, Purple |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 |
| Lustre | Vitreous, pearly on cleavage |
| Streak | white |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Cleavage | Perfect prismatic, two directions {110} ∧ {10} at 87° |
| Fracture | Uneven to subconchoidal |
| Chemical formula | lithium aluminium silicate, LiAl(SiO 3 ) 2 |
| Specific gravity | 3.03–3.23 |
What is Kunzite?
Spodumene is a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminium inosilicate, LiAl(SiO3)2, and is a commercially important source of lithium. It occurs as colorless to yellowish, purplish, or lilac kunzite (see below), or alternatively yellowish-green or emerald-green hiddenite; it takes the form of prismatic crystals, often of great size. Single crystals of 14.3 m (47 ft) in size are reported from the Black Hills of South Dakota, United States.
How to identify Kunzite
- Lustre: Vitreous, pearly on cleavage.
- Hardness: Mohs 6.5–7 — about as hard as a steel knife.
- Streak: white.
- Habit: Monoclinic crystal system.
Kunzite value
Kunzite is a fine gemstone priced per carat by quality — colour, clarity, cut, carat and origin — not by weight in grams. Typical market ranges:
| Quality | Price per carat |
|---|---|
| Commercial | $10–$50 / ct |
| Good | $50–$150 / ct |
| Fine | $150–$500 / ct |
| Top | $400–$1,500 / ct |
Ranges cross-validated across two independent research passes against gemstone price guides, 2026-06 — sources: gia.edu, naturalgemstones.com. Colour saturation, clarity, cut and origin move the price enormously, and treatments or lab-grown stones sell for a fraction — so this is a guide, not an appraisal. Have anything valuable checked by a certified gemmologist. See the full crystal & gemstone value guide.
