The Queen of Kunzite

Herewith, a photo of a 722-carat Kunzite, a pink-lilac gemstone that was discovered in 1902 and named after George Kunz, chief gemologist at Tiffany at that time.  Apparently, a miner sent George a specimen of what looked like pink tourmaline from California's Pala Mountain. After testing the stone, Kunz realized that this innocent looking "tourmaline" was indeed a  mineral formerly assumed to be extinct.  Adding to his excitement, he saw that the gem could store light and glow in the dark.  Given his position at Tiffany as the procurer of the rare and fabulous for the store's wealthy clientele, the mineral was named for him.

This is why, every year, the pilgrimage to the AGTA Tucson show is such bliss for we gemhounds.
Mother Nature at her shiniest!

Photo is courtesy of Diana Jarrett.