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the latter returned the verdict of spodumene, or triphane. Being
neither a mineralogist nor a financier, Mr. Stevenson seemed not
interested in the subject and declined to put either cash or vitality
into a scientific search by Mr. Hidden, who finally, in company with
Mr. Pratt, mined and succeeded in bringing to the light the totally
new variety of brilliant emerald green so long concealed from mankind,
and in other ways proved North Carolina's wealth of minerals.
KUNZITE.
The most conspicuous variety of spodumene to-day is the amethystine,
recently discovered in California, at Mesa Grande, in San
Diego County, and named for Dr. Kunz. The color of Kunzite is
very nearly that of the pink topaz, a delicate light rose, tinged with
lilac.
It takes a good polish and cut brilliant makes a very artistic
ring stone, much more so than amethyst, at about the same hardness,
but is lighter, and of an entirely different constitution.
When Kunzite was first found near Pala, in Southern Califor-
nia, and was sent to New York, it was not recognized as spodumene,
but thought to be tourmaline, previously discovered in that locality.
Examination showed the crystals to be remarkably like Hiddenite
from North Carolina, differing only in color, and with the lithia
minerals it was finally placed.
"If sufficient differences are found to exist between this spodumene
and the other known varieties of it," says Dr. Kunz, in the
American Journal of Science, 1903, "a new name will be given to
it"
Differences were thought to exist, Charles Baskerville proposed,
in a note to Science, the name of Kunzite, and Kunzite it is to this
day.
Still, it is remarkably like Hiddenite in almost every essential,
except that of color, which is no real difference. Sunlight tends to
fade its delicate lilac pink. At great depths it is often a rich deep
purple just as Hiddenite, the farther you go down, is a richer,
deeper green. Under the X-rays it exhibits strong phosphorescence.
In hardness it is about 7, equal to quartz, but lapidaries are
often unsuccessful in cutting it, the cleavage being very easy, caus-
ing
it to flake.
Kunzite is on the American list as the natal stone for September.
RHODONITE.
Rhodonite belongs also to the Pyroxene group. It is a manganese
spar, used largely in Russia as an ornamental stone. It is
very tough, hardness 5.5 to 6.5 ; specific gravity 3.6 to 3.7. It is
transparent to opaque, lustre vitreous, found sometimes in large
pieces, and is always cut en cabochon. The color is flesh red to
light rose red, somewhat ruby-like. In appearance it resembles rose
quartz. It is found in the Ural Mountains, in Persia and near
Cummington, Mass.
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