Spodumene (variety: Kunzite)

Although kunzite is the violet or pink variety of the mineral spodumene, light traveling in each direction through a kunzite crystal interacts with the atomic structure to create different colors. Thus, when viewed from different directions, the stone can appear pink, nearly colorless, or green. Additionally, kunzite is an "evening stone", meaning that its color fades with exposure to light. Kunzite is also prone to splitting along weaknesses when cut, making it more suitable for pendants than for rings or bracelets. The stone shown here is one of the largest known gem-quality kunzite crystals.