Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2007-R.Weller

Mineral Information on:
sugulite

Chemical Group:  silicate

Chemical Formula:  (K,Na)(Na,Fe⁺³) 2 (Li,Fe⁺³)Si₁₂O₃₀

Color: magenta to purple, light to dark                                                                        

Hardness:   5.5 to 6                Specific Gravity:  2.74                 Fracture: granular

Cleavage:  none           Luster:  waxy        Transparency: opaque to semi-transparent

Crystal Forms: rare, prismatic

Mineral Associations:

Identifying Characteristics:  color and location

Uses:  as a gemstone

Occurrences: 
WORLD-WIDE locations
Japan
India
     Madhya Pradesh
South Africa
     Wessels Mine, Hotazel, Kuruman district, Cape Province (major deposit)

Additional Information:
Shows color change. Bluish-purple in sunlight, reddish purple in incandescent light.
Also known as Royal Lavulite or Royal Azel