Sugilite
Image: <bdi><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56247090" class="extiw" title="d:Q56247090"><span title="mineral collector and dealer">Robert M. Lavinsky</span></a></bdi> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameSugilite
Chemical FormulaKNa₂(Fe,Mn,Al)₂Li₃Si₁₂O₃₀
Mohs Hardness5.5
Crystal Systemhexagonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageimperfect on {1010}
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.74
Colorspurple, pinkish-purple
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityWessels Mine (Wessel's Mine), Hotazel, Kalahari manganese fields, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, ornamental stone, collector
Associated Mineralsquartz, braunite, kutnohorite, pectolite
Rarityuncommon
Description
This specimen displays a vibrant, rich purple sugilite forming a granular or botryoidal crust on a white, possibly crystalline, matrix. The sugilite has a textured surface with small sparkling areas, highlighting its intense color.
Geological Context
Sugilite is a rare cyclosilicate mineral typically found in manganese deposits or alkali-rich igneous rocks, forming through metasomatic processes in manganese-rich environments.
