Kunzite
Physical Information
Kunzite is the pink to lilac variety of the mineral spodumene. Its soft pastel colour comes from small amounts of manganese. It shows pleochroism, which means the colour looks stronger or paler from different angles. It is named after the American gem expert George Frederick Kunz, who described it in the early 20th century.
Kunzite is found in Afghanistan, Brazil, Madagascar and the United States. It has a hardness of 6.5 to 7, but it can split easily along its cleavage, so protect it from knocks. Its colour can fade in strong sunlight, which is why it is sometimes called an "evening stone". Store it out of direct sun.
Metaphysical Properties
Kunzite is known as a stone of unconditional love. It is believed to open the heart to compassion, kindness and self-love. Many people use it to find calm in stressful times and to gently release old emotional pain.
It is associated with the heart chakra, and some also link it to the throat chakra for kind, honest communication. People wear kunzite to invite joy and a positive outlook, or hold it in meditation to feel peaceful and open. It is a thoughtful gift for someone going through a time of heartache.
