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Though the gems of Spodumene have been discovered in the year 1877 but the mineral was found many decades earlier. The name of the gem is derived from a Greek word meaning “burnt to ashes”. The name is so given due to its appearance and also non gem properties. The precious Spodumene is available in many colors like yellow, green, lilac pink, blue and also in yellowish green. The emerald green form is known as “hiddenite” and the lilac variety as “kunzite”. The Spodumene gemstone is basically lithium aluminium silicate having a specific gravity of 3.17 to 3.23. The hardness of the stone is seven. The optical character of this stone is biaxial.
The crystals of this stone are monoclinic in structure and is commonly lengthened or flattened in shape. Prismatic in shape it is not at all opaque in nature. The faces of the prism are mostly striated.The Spodumene gemstone is mainly available in two varieties “Kuzunite” and “hiddenite”. The latter is a rare variety and is found in green color. Of the two “ kunzite” is mostly known as the collector’s stone.
This stone is pleochroic in nature and poses a challenge for the gem cutters. To bring out the color of this stone is a real tough job. The stone is mainly found in the countries like California, North Carolina and South Dakota in the US, Afganistan, Pakistan, Brazil and Madagascar. Major deposits of ‘Hiddenite’ are found in North Carolina. You can avail this beautiful stone from the various online stone sellers.
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