Ä [42] PODS Crystals, Gem, Gematra (93:9300/0) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ LAPIDAR Ä
 From : Tandika Star                        93:9600/5       Fri 19 Mar 93 21:13 
 Subj : Kunzite                                                                 
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KUNZITE

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.

OCCURENCE: 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.

-------bibliography-------

1. Scientific, Environment, Occurence and Name are from (or paraphrased from)
"The Audobon 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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