KUNZITE

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SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION: Kunzite is a pink to purple variety of Spodumene. It is lithium aluminum silicate from the pyroxene group. It's chemistry is LiAlSi2O6. The hardness is rated at 6-1/2 to 7. The streak is white.

ENVIRONMENT: Kunzite is found only in granite pegmatities, where it generally occurs with tourmaline, albite, and lepidolite.

OCCURRENCE: The Pala district in San Diego Co., California, produces gem-quality kunzite. It has also been found in Maine, Brazil and Madagascar.

NAME: Kunzite is named after George F. Kunz, PhD. Dr. Kunz, a well known mineralogist, is the author of "The Curious Lore of Precious Stones".

LEGEND and LORE: Kunzite is a relatively new stone and not mentioned in ancient texts.

MAGICAL PROPERTIES: This mineral is relatively unexplored for magical uses. Cunningham suggests that it is a centering/grounding stone and may also be useful for attracting love.

HEALING: The position for this stone is the Crown Chakra. Because of it's high lithium content, it is recommended for psychological disorders involving severe/manic depression.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: My first exposure to Kunzite came about in one of those "it can't be coincidence" ways. I was preparing a medicine bag for a friend of a friend who is a diagnosed manic depressive. I had NO idea what would be a good stone to use for her, and had been concerned since nothing was "jumping out of the collection" to be "hers". I went shopping, and in the mall was a man selling stone/crystal jewelry. He had a dish of rough and semitumbled stones on the table. I walked right over and picked up a lovely purple-pink stone, and stood there talking to him about his display. Kind of suddenly, I blurted out "I want to buy THIS stone...How much?" He asked me what I wanted it for, and I actually TOLD him. I also said, I don't know what this is, but I know it is the right thing to use. He laughed, and explained to me what it was and GAVE it to me to use. As it turned out, the piece was granular, and I found a gem-quality piece to use in the medicine bag. I now use the granular piece all the time for treating sever depression and other related psychological disorders.

NOTES: Kunzite will gradually fade with exposure to sunlight.

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1. Scientific, Environment, Occurrence and Name are from (or paraphrased from) "The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals".

2. Legends and Lore, Magical Properties are from "Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic", by Scott Cunningham.

3. Personal Experience is from MY personal experience, journals and notebooks, by Tandika Star.

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KUNZITE: Very high spiritual love vibration. Heart opener - it awakens the highest heart consciousness. It will connect one to their own infinite source of love. Aligns the crown and heart chakras. Symbolizes a pure expression of joy in thoughts and feelings. A good stone to be worn by star children or walk-ins to help them adjust to earth plane environments and energy.

Compiled by Fern Bouchard

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KUNZITE (Pink Spodumene): high lithium content makes Kunzite beneficial to individuals with addicitve behavior. Strengthens cardiovascular system. Aids manic depression. Excellent balancer for physical/emotional/mental bodies. Powerful stone for opening/healing heart. Helps one surrender to Higher Self. Enhances self-esteem. Tolerance, acceptance. Soothing, calming. (4) By Legion of Light