Podumene is a lithium aluminum silicate mineral. It is one of the most important sources of lithium and is typically found in pegmatitic rocks. Kunzite is the purple to pink variety of spodumene, valued for its attractive color and used as a gemstone. The color comes from trace amounts of manganese, the value of kunzite increases with the richness of its color.

Kunzite's color can appear to shift under different lighting conditions, displaying a pleochroic effect (i.e., different colors when viewed from different angles).

This particular specimen has been heat treated.