Sugilite (rare) (fine color)

Item Description

Here we have a beautiful, richly colored and eye-catching piece of the rare species Sugilite featuring intense purple chatoyant, semi-fibrous crystals and crystalline areas on all sides of the underlying matrix. There are few minerals with this color, and this particular piece has a more vibrant/saturated hue than most of the other Sugilites we've had to offer in the auctions. The color of this species is what really draws one's attention, and considering the fact that this is a rare mineral, it's a great combination of rarity and beauty in the mineral world. Many people think that Sugilite gets is color from manganese, but it's actually completely devoid of it, as it is a potassium sodium iron lithium silicate. For reference, this species was named after Ken-ichi Sugi, and is almost always mispronounced as "Soo-jill-ite", but should properly be pronounced with a hard "g" as in "golf" (Soo-Ghee-Lite). The N'Chwaning Mines have some of the best examples of the species ever found, and are highly prized by collectors.