Green Spodumene ("Hiddenite")

Item Description

Of all the colors of Spodumene, green is probably the most difficult to obtain. About 20 years ago, some very attractive green Spodumenes (sometimes referred to as Hiddenite) were found at the Neves Mine. This particular piece is an attractive gem crystal of a hard to find color from what is one of the most well known areas in the world for Spodumene crystals. This crystal is very gemmy, with good luster and it actually shows a slight fluorescence under UV light. There has been a debate as to whether or not Hiddenite can only be used to refer to the chromium or vanadium bearing varieties of green Spodumene, but a brief paragraph on mindat states that any green Spodumene can be referred to as Hiddenite. From mindat.org: "Hiddenite was not originally defined by Kunz as has been sometimes claimed. Smith (1881) did state: "I have employed all the necessary care in examining for chromium, but have found no indication of its presence." Smith tried to verify the presence of vanadium, but could only conclude that his qualitative results would have been similar to either vanadium or chromium. Smith does indicate that his hiddenite varied from pale green to emerald green, "though the color is not so intense as in the finest variety of the latter gem." Colorless or yellow spodumene should not be referred to as Hiddenite. Green spodumene that is photosensitive and not permanently color stable is not hiddenite."