3.1" Rough Purple Purpurite Manganese Mineral Specimen Location Namibia
Location: Namibia
Weight: 5 Ounces
Dimensions: 3.1 Inches Long, 1.7 Inches Wide, 1.4 Inches Thick
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Purpurite is a rare manganese iron phosphate mineral, notable for its striking purple coloration. Its name comes from the Latin word purpura, meaning purple. The mineral typically appears in shades ranging from deep violet to reddish-purple and is primarily composed of manganese phosphate, with the chemical formula MnPO₄·H₂O. Variations in iron content can influence the intensity and tone of its color.
Purpurite is a secondary mineral, formed through the alteration of primary manganese-bearing minerals such as lithiophilite and triphylite. This process commonly occurs in phosphate-rich environments, particularly within granite pegmatites.
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.
