Kunzite is the best-known variety of the mineral Spodumene. It's named after famed gemologist George Frederick Kunz, who was the first to identify it as a unique variety of Spodumene. Kunzite has two perfect cleavage directions. It's pleochroic, with the best color visible when you look down the length of the crystal. Cutters keep these factors in mind when they orient gems for finishing. California's San Diego Country is an important source of Kunzite.