Sugilite
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ra%27ike" title="User:Ra'ike">Ra'ike</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameSugilite
Chemical FormulaKNa₂Li₃(Fe,Mn,Al)₂Si₁₂O₃₀
Mohs Hardness5.5
Crystal Systemhexagonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagepoor
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.77
Colorspurple, pink, violet, reddish-brown
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityWessels Mine, Hotazel, Kalahari Manganese Field, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, collector
Associated Mineralsbraunite, kutnahorite, pectolite, aegirine, albite
Rarityrare
Description
This image shows a close-up of sugilite, featuring vibrant purple and magenta tones, intricately veined and mottled with reddish-brown and darker grey areas.
Geological Context
Sugilite is a rare cyclosilicate mineral that forms in manganese-rich metamorphic rocks, typically found in stratiform manganese deposits under low-temperature, high-pressure conditions.
