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The Gemstone Spodumene
Spodumene is a mineral that contains two important gem varieties: pink
Kunzite
and green
Hiddenite
. Both of these gemstone varieties have their own dedicated page. In the gem trade, the term Spodumene is generally used to include only the yellow, brownish, light greenish, and colorless forms of Spodumene.
Chemical Formula
LiAlSi
2
O
6
Color
White, Colorless, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Brown, Pink, Purple, Gray, Multicolored
Hardness
6.5 - 7
Crystal System
Monoclinic
Refractive Index
1.66 - 1.68
SG
3.1 - 3.2
Transparency
Transparent
Double Refraction
.015
Luster
Vitreous
Cleavage
1,2 - prismatic
Mineral Class
Spodumene
Spodumene
AUCTIONS
ALL ABOUT
Most gemstones labeled as Spodumene are of the yellow type; brown and colorless gems are seldom faceted. A rarity is the faint blue to bluish-green variety, as well as multicolored forms.
In a strict sense, the term Hiddenite refers specifically to the green, transparent Spodumene variety originating in Alexander Co., North Carolina, whereas all other green Spodumene is known simply as "Green Spodumene". However, the name Hiddenite has been corrupted by the gem and mineral industry to include all green gem Spodumene from other localities. Chromium
impurities
are responsible for the green color in North Carolina Hiddenite; the other localities generally produce lighter colored and more yellowish in tone, and lack the chromium.
The perfect
cleavage
and
splintery fracture
of Spodumene gemstones make them difficult to
facet
. They are very sensitive to knocks and will chip if hit too hard. Spodumene is also strongly
pleochroic
, showing lighter and more intense coloring when viewed at different angles. Brown Spodumene is sometimes
heat treated
to transform the color into a more pink tone and produce
Kunzite
.
USES
With the exception of
Kunzite
and
Hiddenite
, other color forms of Spodumene are not commonly used as gems. However, the yellow form has started gaining a bit in popularity is is faceted into gemstone cuts. Other color forms are seldom faceted.
VARIETIES
Hiddenite
-
Green chromium-rich transparent variety of
Spodumene
. Originally used only to describe green Spodumene from the Hiddenite area in North Carolina, this term is commonly also used referencing other green forms from Afghanistan and Brazil.
Kunzite
-
Pink to violet transparent variety of
Spodumene
.
Triphane
-
Colorless to yellow transparent variety of
Spodumene
.
Spodumene
TREATMENTS AND ENHANCEMENTS
Some forms of
Kunzite
may be
heat treated
to remove undesirable brownish tints and increase transparency.
Spodumene
SOURCES
The main source of gem-quality Spodumene is Afghanistan; other sources are Pakistan, Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, and the U.S. (California, and Maine).
SIMILAR GEMSTONES
Yellow Spodumene resembles yellow
Beryl
and
,but is lighter in hardness. It also can be similar to yellow
Topaz
and yellow
Citrine
("
Lemon Quartz
"), but is usually lighter in tone and slightly softer.
Spodumene
PHOTOS
[Click photos for more details]
Images of
Kunzite
and
Hiddenite
are listed separately on their own dedicated page.
Spodumene
IN THE ROUGH PHOTOS
[Click photos for more details]
Images of
Kunzite
and
Hiddenite
are listed separately on their own dedicated page.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The mineral Spodumene
The gemstone Kunzite
The gemstone Hiddenite
DISCUSSION
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and ask the experts!
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