Zunyite Gemstone: Properties, Meanings, Value & More

Zunyite is a collector’s stone named for its discovery in the legendary Zuni mines of Colorado, USA. Today, the best known source of zunyite is nearby in the state of Arizona.

Is zunyite rare? As a mineral, not really. But facetable zunyite material is scarce, so zunyite gemstones are rare.

Colors for zunyite range from colorless or white to light brown or flesh-red (a muted, pale orange-brown). The presence of other minerals — notably iron oxide minerals like hematite — can alter zunyite’s coloring.

Intrigued by this curiously named stone? Stick around to learn all about zunyite’s mineral characteristics, prices, history, benefits, and more!

Pictured above: Very sharp sunyite crystal colored by red hematite inclusions and small, foliaceous hematite in faces | Image credit: David Hospital, CC-BY-SA-4.0

About Zunyite Stone

Zunyite is a rare semi-precious gemstone mostly known among collectors.

The stone sometimes displays pretty crystal twinning and intriguing geological alteration.

Outside of gem and mineral collecting, zunyite has been used industrially for:

• Refractory materials

• Catalytic cracking (in gasoline)

• Source of aluminum

• Source of fluoride

Astrologically, zunyite is recommended for Aquarius signs.

Zunyite Specifications & Characteristics

Zunyite is an aluminum sorosilicate hydroxide fluoride chloride mineral. (Try to say that five times fast!)

The chemical formula for zunyite is Al13Si5O20(OH,F)18Cl, which is approved by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA).

In terms of mineral habits, zunyite crystals are often tetrahedral (like a triangular pyramid) and rarely pseudo-octahedral (resembling two triangular pyramids connected at their bases). The crystals may be modified by zunyite cubes.

Zunyite crystals may display contact and penetration twinning on {111}.

Contact twinning means two of the same crystals are intergrown, sharing one plane, often like mirror images of each other. Penetration twinning means the two crystals interpenetrate (look like they’re passing through) each other and their shared plane is irregular or not well-defined.

Zunyite properties listed:

• Mohs hardness: 7

• Color: Colorless, white, grayish-white, gray, beige, brown, pink, red, flesh-red

• Crystal structure: Isometric/cubic

• Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

• Transparency: Translucent to near opaque

• Refractive index: 1.562-1.600

• Density: 2.87-2.90

• Cleavage: Distinct/good on {111}

• Fracture: Uneven/irregular or conchoidal

• Streak: White

• Luminescence: Sometimes fluorescence - faint to bright red in SW-UV

• Pleochroism: None

• Birefringence: None

• Dispersion: None

With zunyite’s properties established, let’s take a look at the mineral’s varieties.

Types of Zunyite

The only variety of zunyite is dillnite. Dillnite is a fluorine-rich type of zunyite with the formula Al13Si5O20(OH,F)18Cl.

Dillnite and zunyite form a series with consistent chlorine content but varying degrees of substitution between hydroxide and fluorine. They share similar properties, but dillnite has a lower refractive index.

Now let’s shift gears to explore zunyite metaphysical properties.

Pictured above: Brownish-red zunyite crystals on specimen donated to museum in early 1900s | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Zunyite Meaning & History

Metaphysically, zunyite symbolizes protection, energy, and purpose.

Zunyite may be associated with the historical legends of its namesake: the Zuni mine and Native American Zuni tribes.

Based in present-day New Mexico and Arizona, the Zuni tribes were reclusive and the subject of many colonizer legends. Their true way of life was spread when notable (but controversial) American anthropologist Frank Cushing established “participant observation” research by studying the tribes via joining them.

For some, zunyite may be connected to zunyite myths and deities, such as Áwonawílona, meaning “All Containing,” the creator deity and “supreme life-giving power.”

History

The first discovery of zunyite occurred in 1884. American chemist William Francis Hillebrand published the first description of zunyite in 1885.

Hillebrand based his description off of specimens given to him by Franklin Guiterman, an American metallurgist and chemist who was the general manager in the Colorado department of American Smelting and Refining Company.

HIllebrand’s description reported on two new minerals found together in the Zuni (or Zuñi) mine in Colorado, USA, now zunyite’s type locality. The now-closed mine had only been discovered a few years prior in 1881 for silver mining.

For the mineral’s names, Hillebrand named the main mineral zunyite after the mine and the second mineral (the matrix of the zunyite samples) he named guitermanite after Guiterman.

Note: Guitermanite is not an IMA-approved mineral species, as it’s likely a mixture of jordanite and another mineral.

Later Zunyite Discoveries

After Hillebrand’s description, zunyite was discovered elsewhere in Colorado. In the first half of the 20th century, other deposits emerged around the world.

One notable deposit, reported in 1979, is a giant lode in Nevada, USA. The roughly 1,200-foot long and 10- to 60-foot wide lode was zunyite and quartz, composed of up to 75 percent pure zunyite.

Another significant discovery happened in 1986, when the first facetable zunyite crystals were reported from Arizona, USA.

Although dillnite was first described from Czechoslovakia in 1849, its connection to zunyite was first reported in 1961 by Jiři Konta and L. Mraz.

German chemist and mineralogist Egon Althaus reportedly created the first synthetic (fluorine-free) zunyite in 1966.

Pictured above: Glassy, translucent, grayish-tan zunyite crystals covering milky quartz matrix; From Arizona | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Zunyite Healing Properties

As a commonly brownish healing stone, zunyite’s healing powers reflect the grounding and protective properties of other brown gemstones.

Important note: Do NOT consume zunyite in crystal healing elixirs.

Physical Healing

Physically, zunyite gemstone benefits are said to include treating:

• Immune system function

• Breathing / respiratory illnesses (e.g. asthma, allergies)

• Blood circulation

Emotional Healing

Emotionally, zunyite crystals are believed to:

• Increase intuition

• Be grounding

• Provide emotional balance

• Help you release past baggage

• Reduce stress

• Promote spiritual awareness & wisdom

Chakra Healing

Chakra healing involves using opening or aligning specific energy centers (chakras) in the body to resolve negative symptoms associated with that chakra being blocked.

Zunyite is a chakra stone for the root (base) chakra.

Located at the base of your spine, the root chakra governs fundamental needs like stability, connection, and safety.

Emotional signs that your root chakra is blocked include feeling no sense of belonging, insecure about finances, or detached from others. Physical blockage signs are incontinence, pelvic pain, and constipation.

By using zunyite, you can open your root chakra, allowing you to feel grounded, safe, comforted, and secure in who you are.

Pictured above: Superb, sharp zunyite crystal perched on top edge of a blade of matrix; Extremely rare find, discovered in the 1980s | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Zunyite Gemstone Properties

Besides its rarity, zunyite’s value also depends on its color, cut, clarity, transparency, and carat weight.

Color

Zunyite’s color ranges from white to flesh-red to brown. Darker hues, including red, often come from hematite inclusions.

The best zunyite gems for faceting are colorless and transparent.

Cut

Because gem-quality, facetable material is so scarce, faceted zunyite are gems are rare and may be valuable commodities for collectors.

Most zunyite for sale is available as rough (uncut) specimens or crystals.

Clarity & Transparency

Clarity describes the degree of visible inclusions in a gem, which can lower its transparency and value. Zunyite can be transparent, but inclusions can make it nearly opaque, lowering its value.

Inclusions found in zunyite include:

• Titanium oxide grains

• Hematite (may be lamellar)

• Iron oxides

Additionally, alteration of zunyite can make it cloudier and more opaque.

Carat Weight

The only sizable zunyite crystals with facetable areas have come from Arizona, USA. Despite their size, the gem-quality areas only yield faceted gems up to 0.5 carat.

Pictured above: Very rich, large zunyite specimen with glassy, translucent, grayish-tan crystals on kaolinite-rich matrix; From type locality in Colorado in museum stash dated pre-WWI | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Zunyite Formation & Sources

Typically, zunyite forms when feldspars are altered hydrothermally, meaning hot water transformed them into zunyite.

The mineral is found in very aluminum-rich shales (soft, fine-grained sedimentary rocks) and altered volcanic rocks.

Zunyite is also found in metalliferous (metal-containing) veins.

Minerals commonly associated with zunyite are:

• Alunite

• Beryllium minerals

• Diaspore

• Hematite

• Fluorite

• Kaolinite

• Rutile

• Pyrite

• Pyrophyllite

• Quartz

• Sulfides

• Topaz

Mining Locations

A number of countries have zunyite deposits, but gemmy, facetable crystals only come from the Dome Rock Mountains in Arizona, USA. Some transparent zunyite crystals are also found in Kuni village, Japan.

Other notable sources of attractive zunyite rough are:

• Algeria

• Iran

• Morocco

• Slovakia

• South Africa

• Turkey

• UK (England)

• USA (Colorado, Utah)

• Uzbekistan

The only known sources of dillnite are Czechoslovakia, Mongolia, and Slovakia.

Zunyite Price & Value

Faceted zunyite gems are generally around $20 per carat (or roughly $80 total), which isn’t extremely high but you might have trouble finding them.

More often, you’ll come across rough zunyite for sale.

Rough zunyite crystals and specimens range from about $20 to $260 each, with some going for $200 to $1,250. Average prices for rough zunyite are around $75.

You can find zunyite pendants for around $10 to $15.

Zunyite Care and Maintenance

Personal safety first: zunyite doesn’t contain many dangerous elements, but it does have high toxicity risk if ingested or swallowed. Don’t use it in elixirs and keep it away from pets or children.

For gemstone care, zunyite is pretty easy to take care of. It only reacts to hydrofluoric acid. You can clean it with the standard mild soap, warm water, and a soft toothbrush.

You may want protective settings on zunyite jewelry due to its cleavage, though.

Zest Up Your Collection with Zunyite!

It may look like an everyday rock at first glance, but zunyite is a unique mineral with industrial value and collection appeal. If you’re a Colorado native, this gem is a great way to honor your home state, but anyone can enjoy zunyite’s good vibes!

Buy zunyite and other unique gemstones today!