Green Spodumene var: Hiddenite

Item Description

Spodumene is found in a good range of colors, but green is probably the most difficult to obtain. About 40 years ago, some very attractive green Spodumenes (sometimes referred to as Hiddenite) were found around Governador Valadares. This particular piece is an attractive gem crystal of a hard to find color from what is one of the most well known localities in the world for Spodumene crystals. This crystal is nearly water clear in with good luster all around. The piece weighs 2.83 grams. 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."
From the collection of Shields Flynn.