History:

Sugilite is named after Professor Ken-ichi Sugi, a Japanese specialist in rock formations, who first discovered it in southwest Japan in 1944. Although later noted in India, the first Sugilite suitable for jewelry use wasn’t recovered until 1979 from a South African manganese mine in the Kalahari desert near Botswana. The area in which Sugilite is found is known as the Kuruman manganese field. Although this region is dotted with manganese mines, only one, the Wessel mine, produces gem sugilite.

A Mineral, not a Gem:

Sugilite is a somewhat obscure mineral. Although well known in the mineral trade, it has until recently been infrequently used. However it is now becoming very popular in the jewelry trade as it is used in place of ornamental and semiprecious stones.

The polished stones have a very distinctive opaque purple color when found in its most desirable color shades. It has been described as a purple turquoise although there is no relation between the two minerals.

Specifications:

• Chemical composition: A complex silicate.
• Color:  Lavender, purple, reddish violet.
• Optics:  R.I. 1.60-1.61, unaxial negative.
• Durability: Hardness 6-6.5.
• Crystal structure: Hexagonal
• Specific Gravity:  2.74.
• Sources: South Africa is the primary source. Fine, deep purple material is used for cabochons, inlays, and ornamental objects. A few small translucent pieces have been faceted.

Care and Handling:

Maintaining the beauty of your Sugilite jewelry simply entails cleaning with a commercial jewelry cleaner when necessary.

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Last modified: November 20, 2009