Spodumene var. Kunzite

This splendid off-matrix Spodumene crystal is the variety Kunzite named for George Frederick Kunz, gemmologist and V.P. of Tiffany & Co., New York.  This large thumbnail-size crystal is entirely gemmy and its complete.  Its undamaged termination is naturally etched in an undulating sawtooth pattern and is remarkably crystallised when seen under low magnification.  The crystal is Kunzite’s characteristic pale pink and clearly displays its trichroic properties, i.e. a different colours when viewed along each of its three axes.  An excellent and rare location piece from the Stewart mine (also known as the Stewart Lithia mine) at Pala in San Diego County, California, USA.