Sugilite Rough Stone - 4 Ounces

Sugilite is a rare purple gemstone, once so difficult to obtain that it was extremely expensive, and now much more popular.

It takes a great polish and makes great cabs, beads and other lapidary and jewelry pieces. 

Technically a silicate, sugilite gets its purple coloration from the presence of manganese. It occurs as a secondary deposit

in a large manganese mine, usually forming in thin flat to slightly wavy layers, as seams in the host rock. Ranging from 5.5

to 6.5 on the Mohs Scale, it is softer than its black manganese host rock. Some pieces may also contain the extremely rare

richterite, a blue mineral.

Our sugilite is in natural form, still attached to its matrix. Coloration, thickness of sugilite seam, and hardness can vary within

the same small piece; some pieces may not have sugilite thick enough to cab, but they can be used in other ways, including

natural-face freeform jewelry pieces and as specimens. The black matrix can be easily trimmed off. Pieces range in color from

a very light lavender to royal purple. 

All of these pieces have solid sugilite layering at least one side of the piece; almost all the pieces have it on both sides, although

it may be very thin. 

Unit for sale: 4 ounces. 2-8 pieces per 4 ounces. 

Origin: Wessels Mine, South Africa