Sugilite
Australia
15.15 carats
© gemselect.com
Sugilite most commonly forms compact masses with a light brownish yellow to a bright magenta colour. The material yields attractive cabochons, beads, ornamental objects. Semi-transparent stones are occasionally faceted. Crystal specimens are very rare.
Sugilite is also known as Wesselite, because translucent facetable material of intense purple colour was found in the Wessels Manganese Mine near Hotazel, South Africa.
The name Cybelene has also been used for Sugilite.
Sugilite Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
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Sugilite Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Sugilite gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:12.41 cts
Heaviest:74.11 cts
Average:27.41 cts
Total photos:21
Do you have a larger Sugilite? Why not upload a photo?
| General Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Other Names/Trade Names: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chemical Formula |
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| Sugilite Treatments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It has been noted by J.Call (unpublished observation) that dark purple sugilite can be lightened by heating at about 450°C; the product may have a banded appearance - Nassau (1984) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sugilite Simulants | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| May be mixed with chalcedony - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Physical Properties of Sugilite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 5.5 to 6.5, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 2.69 to 2.79, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | Poor, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Sub-Conchoidal, Gemstones (2009) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Sugilite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.607 to 1.612, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Uniaxial/-, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birefringence | 0.003 to 0.005, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pleochroism | Weak, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Violet, purple-red, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Causes of Colour | Purple, Mn3+ and Fe3+ presumably in octahedral coordination, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Translucent,Opaque, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) Opaque to semi-transparentMore from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lustre | Resinous, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Sugilite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Hexagonal, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Habit | Massive, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Geological Environment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Where found: | Sugilite occurs in an aegirine-bearing syenite stock in biotite granite in bedded manganese deposits., Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Sugilite information at mindat.org | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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