3.1" Rough Purple Purpurite Manganese Mineral Specimen Location Namibia

Location: Namibia

Weight: 4.8 Ounces 

Dimensions: 3.1 Inches Long, 2 Inches Wide, 1.3 Inches Thick

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Purpurite is a rare manganese iron phosphate mineral notable for its distinctive purple coloration. Its name is derived from the Latin term “purpura,” meaning purple. The mineral typically exhibits hues ranging from deep violet to reddish-purple and consists mainly of manganese phosphate, with the formula MnPO4·H2O. Variations in iron content influence its color intensity and overall appearance. Purpurite forms as a secondary mineral through the alteration of primary manganese-bearing minerals such as lithiophilite and triphylite, usually within phosphate-rich environments like 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.