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Purpurite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  (Mn³⁺,Fe³⁺)PO₄  [Manganese Iron Phosphate]

Discovered in 1905;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Purpurite gets its name for the Latin word purpura (or purpureus) meaning purple in allusion to its typical color.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Phosphates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

7/A.02-60

7 : Phosphates, Arsenates, Vanadates
A : Waterfree phosphates [PO4]3- without unfamiliar anions, cations of small size: Li, Be, Al
02 : Simferrite - Natrophilite series

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal

Crystal Habit:

Crystals are extremely rare; typically massive; cleavage fragments to 20 cm

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[100] Good, [010] Imperfect

Fracture:

Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

4.0 - 4.5

Density:

3.20 - 3.40 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Violet, Dark pink, Dark red, Reddish purple, (Brownish black from alteration)

Transparency:

Subtranslucent to Opaque; Transparent on thin edges

Luster:

Earthy (dull), Satiny

Refractive Index:

1.85 - 1.92  Biaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.0700

Dispersion:

Relatively strong

Pleochroism:

Strong;
X = greenish gray, gray to rose-red;
Y = Z = blood-red to purplish

Occurances

Geological Setting:

Derived from oxidation and leaching of primary Mn–Fe phosphates, particularly lithiophilite, in complex granite pegmatites; rarely, formed by reaction between bat guano and Fe–Mn deposits resulting from seawater ingress.

Type Locality:

Faires Mine, Kings Mountain, Gaston Co., North Carolina, USA

Year Discovered:

1905

View mineral photos:

Purpurite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Purpurite has a color almost unique in the gem world and even gets its name from the Latin word for purple. It is only found as opaque, massive forms so only available as cabochons. Cabochons are beautiful with the unique purple to purple-red color and satiny chatoyance. Purpurite is relatively rare since there is limited material available with consistent color in sizes large enough for cabochons. There are several localities worldwide but the main source is the Karibib district, Namibia. There are some minor sources in the US including the Faires tin mine, Kings Mountain, Gaston County, North Carolina; at several mines in the Pala and Rincon districts, San Diego County, California; in the White Picacho district, Yavapai County, Arizona; large cleavages from the Crystal Mountain district, Larimer County, Colorado; at the Custer Mountain mine and other pegmatites in Custer County, South Dakota; from Branchville, Fairfield County, Connecticut; at Greenwood and Rumford, Oxford County, Maine.
 

  
Purpurite gems for sale:

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