Kunzite (Spodumene) Faceting Information
Suggestions for successful tips for kunzite faceting Information. Offers details on kunzite (spodumene) stones, and related issues and topics.
Kunzite (Spodumene)
Color: Pink, violet, cornflower-blue
Moh's Hardness: 6-7
Refractive Index: 1.655-1.68
Critical Angle: 37.31°
Specific Gravity: 3.16-3.20
Cleavage: perfect in 2 directions
Fracture: Uneven, very splintery
Dispersion: .017
Heat Sensitivity: Yes
Birefringence (double refraction): Medium (.015)
Crystal Structure: Monoclinic
Treatments: None
What I prefer to polishing with: Tin lap with Alumina oxide. Zinc laps with 8,000 pre-polish and 50,000 polish.
Jeff's Comments: Saw as little as possible, it is very tender and will fall apart from too much sawing and the vibration. Orient for best color which is usually the "c", cut slightly off the from the cleavage plane ("c"). Use a fine lap during the cutting process, a coarse lap tends to aggravate cleavage problems and chipping.
Related Articles
Tourmaline Gem, Price, and Jewelry Information
Some Advice for Cutting Tourmaline Gemstones
Blue Tourmaline (Indicolite) Buying Guide
A Faceter’s Guide to Rough Gem Stress
Latest Articles
Milarite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Appraising Pearls: How to Grade Pearls
Agate Buying Guide
Carving Techniques for Handling Inclusions in Transparent Gems
Never Stop Learning
When you join the IGS community, you get trusted diamond & gemstone information when you need it.
