Spodumene var. Kunzite

This miniature Spodumene var. Kunzite crystal has a lot more going for it than might initially be apparent. Before the staggering discoveries were made in Afghanistan, Madagascar was one of the historic sources of gemmy pink Kunzite, but remarkably very few specimens are now seen from there. This one is, and is from the historically important pegmatites in Sahatany Valley, Ibity, Antsirabe II District. It is in itself a nice smaller Kunzite with a fine glassy interior, and, turning the specimen end on, reveals a rather intense shift in colour from pale to vibrant pink. It comes from the collection of H. Stanger in Graz and probably dates back to the 1970s, perhaps earlier.