kunziten.
/ˈkʌntsʌɪt//ˈkʌnzʌɪt/ Mineralogy.
A lilac-coloured variety of spodumene which is valued as a gem and becomes phosphorescent or changes colour when irradiated (see quot. 1962); a gemstone of this mineral.
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society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > gem or precious stone > spodumene stones > [noun]
hiddenite1881
kunzite1903
the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > silicates > inosilicates single chain > [noun] > pyroxene > clinopyroxenes > spodumene
spodumene1805
triphane1816
killinite1818
hiddenite1881
kunzite1903
1903 C. Baskerville in Science 4 Sept. 304/2 On account of this unusual and characteristic phosphorescence, as well as the other properties, I propose the name Kunzite.
1903 Nature 10 Sept. 460/1 The name of Kunzite has, it is stated, been given to the stone.
1905 Westm. Gaz. 18 Jan. 12/1 To those who love some new thing the latest discovery in precious stones, Kunzite, will..be extremely welcome.
1922 W. E. Ford E. S. Dana's Mineral. (ed. 3) 481 Kunzite is a clear lilac-colored variety [of spodumene] found near Pala, San Diego Co., California.
1949 Rocks & Minerals Mar.–Apr. 177 Kunzite. A perfect pear shaped stone of good color, 4·70 carats, $50.00.
1962 R. Webster Gems I. vii. 129 Kunzite shows a golden-pink or orange glow under long-wave ultra-violet light, and a similar but much weaker effect is seen under the short-wave ultra-violet lamp. Under an x-ray beam kunzite shows a very strong orange fluorescence with a strong and persistent afterglow. When the phosphorescence has died away the stone is found to have changed its colour to a bluish-green; this remains stable provided that the stone is kept away from a stong light.
1973 Fortnum & Mason Ltd. Christmas Catal. 23/1 Openwork ring, in 18 ct. gold set with diamonds and one freeform kunzite, £265·00.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online December 2018).
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n.1903