A section of an ore grade spodumene. Strong pleochroism is easily seen in gem material showing colorless and two shades of the body. In the gem trade the term spodumene is generally used to include only the yellow brownish light greenish and colorless forms of spodumene. Many specimens of kunzite are strongly pleochroic with the deepest color observed when the gem is viewed down the principal axis. Spodumene occurs in a range of colours although the most common is yellowish grey.
Since the 1970s some isolated transparent colorless varieties have been found most recently light yellow and green varieties have also been known. Its name is derived from the natural color of opaque industrial grade spodumene crystals which are often found in unattractive dull ash gray colors. Spodumene is a gemstone quality pyroxene mineral that draws its name from the greek word spodumenos which means ash colored. Pink kunzite and green hiddenite both of these gemstone varieties have their own dedicated page. Spodumene takes its name from a greek word meaning burnt to ashes with reference to the grey color of the non gem mineral.
The name refers to the mineral spodumene greek ash colored because the common non gem crystals are mostly opaque white to yellowish. Kunzite is the most commonly encountered spodumene gem. By composition spodumene is a lithium aluminum silicate and it is one of the important sources for industrial use. To take full advantage of this phenomenon gemstones are usually cut with their tables perpendicular to the principal axis to yield stones of the deepest color. Lilac pink kunzite coloured by manganese and bright emerald green hiddenite coloured by chromium are very popular by collectors although perfect cleavage makes them fragile gemstones.
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Spodumene is a member of the pyroxene family and one of the rare minerals of the element lithium with lithium aluminium silicate chemical formula. Spodumene crystallises in the monoclinic crystal system. Spodumene is a member of the pyroxene family and one of the rare minerals of the element lithium with lithium aluminium silicate chemical formula. The name refers to the mineral spodumene greek ash colored because the common non gem crystals are mostly opaque white to yellowish. Since the 1970s some isolated transparent colorless varieties have been found most recently light yellow and green varieties have also been known.Spodumene crystallises in the monoclinic crystal system. A section of an ore grade spodumene.
