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History and Availability
Kunzite was first found in pegmatite deposits near Pala, California. The mineral is named after a prominent gemologist of that era, George F. Kunz. Known deposits of kunzite occur in Brazil, Madagascar, Myanmar, Sweden, United States, Mexico, Sweden and Canada.
Appearance
Gem-quality kunzite is pinkish, pale violet or lavender in color with a vitreous or glassy luster. Its hardness is 6 to 7, slightly softer than quartz. The mineral is strongly pleochroic, so the intensity of its color varies depending on the angle from which one views a sample.
Kunzite's color tends to fade under strong light, though exposure to heat and/or radiation can restore faded specimens and may darken light samples. The gem is sometimes called "evening stone," since gemologists advise against exposing kunzite jewelry to daylight. The stone is fragile and difficult to cut, therefore it is rarely found in small settings.
Similar Minerals
So-called "rose kunzite" is a synthetic form of sapphire. True kunzite is similar in appearance to rose quartz and morganite (pink emeralds or gem-quality beryl). Cut kunzite stones are more expensive than rose quartz specimens of similar size and quality and considerably less costly than morganite gems of equivalent size and quality.