Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Mawi, Nuristan, Afghanistan
SIZE : 16.5 x 10 cm

This specimen is a pink-violet spodumene crystal (kunzite variety) associated with grayish crystals of quartz and lamellar albite (cleavelandite variety). The kunzite measures 6.5 x 3.5 cm, it has two colours: from very pale pink in its base to violet on its top. The all specimen mesures 16.5 x 10 cm

This sample comes from Mawi pegmatites in Afghanistan. The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle acquired it in 1996. It is currently exposed in the Treasure Room, within the Gallery of Mineralogy of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Spodumene
VARIETY :Kunzite

HISTORY : Name inspired by the Greek word "σποδυμενοσ" [spodumenos] meaning "ash" colour, in reference to its gray cristals

Species first described in 1800 by José Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva (1763-1838), Brazilian politician and geologist

Type-locality: Utö Island, Sodermanland, Sweden
ANCIENT NAME : Triphane

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Li Al Si2O6
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Monoclinic
COLOR : Colourless, pink, yellow, green, violet, gray
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Vitreous
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Prismatic crystals, flats and striated
HARDNESS : 6,5-7,0
DENSITY : 3,184

CHEMICAL CLASS : VIII - Silicates
GROUP : Pyroxen (Li)
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 8/F.01-120
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 9.DA.30

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Kunzite

MNHN N°196.48

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