Description
Location: Namibia
Weight: 3.7 Ounces
Dimensions: 1.8 Inches Long, 1.7 Inches Wide, 1.2 Inches Thick
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Purpurite is a rare manganese iron phosphate mineral known for its distinctive purple coloration. Its name comes from the Latin word “purpura,” meaning purple. This mineral appears in shades from deep violet to reddish-purple and is mainly made up of manganese phosphate with the formula MnPO4·H2O. Iron content can affect its color and appearance. Purpurite forms as a secondary mineral through the alteration of primary manganese minerals like lithiophilite and triphylite, typically in phosphate-rich granite pegmatite environments.
The physical properties of purpurite include:
- Color: Ranges from violet to deep red/pink.
- Hardness: 4-4.5 on the Mohs scale.
- Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic.
- Luster: Dull to earthy or satiny.
- Transparency: Typically translucent to opaque.