6.0 - 7.0 on the Mohs scale.

Brazil, Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), U.S., Canada, former USSR, Mexico and Sweden.

Lilac pink (colored by manganese), named after the gemologist G.F. Kunz who described it in 1902. Kunzite has strong pleochroism, showing colorless and two shades of color when viewed from different directions. Kunzite is a fragile stone. Called an "evening" stone, it should not be exposed to direct sunlight which can fade it's color in time.

Kunzite is commonly heat treated to improve color from certain locations. Kunzite is also commonly irradiated and heat treated to darken color.

More information on gemstone enhancements.

Kunzite is a member of the Spodumene gemstone family.