sugilite

Name:

Sugilite

Chem:

KNa2Li3(Fe,Mn,Al)2Si12O30
Potassium sodium lithium (Iron, Manganese, Aluminum) Silicate

Crystal:

Hexagonal (crystals are very rare, usually massive)

Color:

purple, orchid, brown, and black

Refrac. Index:

1.60-1.61

Birefraction:

NA

Hardness:

6 - 6.5

Spec. Grav.:

2.75 - 2.80

Fracture:

subconchoidal

Cleavage:

one direction

Environment:

found in aegirine syenite

Association:

albite, pectolite, titanite, allanite, zircon, apatite

Locals:

| Iwagi Island, Shikoku, Japan | South Africa |

Misc:

Gem info:

The very best quality comes as a translucent material which is normally cabbed. It is finding use in jewelry with turquoise, malachite and lapis as associate stones and in intarsia. It has a value about the same as turquoise or good lapis.

facet


Name:	Sugilite
Chem:	KNa2Li3(Fe,Mn,Al)2Si12O30 Potassium sodium lithium (Iron, Manganese, Aluminum) Silicate
Crystal:	Hexagonal (crystals are very rare, usually massive)
Color:	purple, orchid, brown, and black
Refrac. Index:	1.60-1.61	Birefraction:	NA
Hardness:	6 - 6.5	Spec. Grav.:	2.75 - 2.80
Fracture:	subconchoidal	Cleavage:	one direction
Environment:	found in aegirine syenite
Association:	albite, pectolite, titanite, allanite, zircon, apatite
Locals:	\| Iwagi Island, Shikoku, Japan \| South Africa \|
Misc:
Gem info:	The very best quality comes as a translucent material which is normally cabbed. It is finding use in jewelry with turquoise, malachite and lapis as associate stones and in intarsia. It has a value about the same as turquoise or good lapis.
	facet