Purpurite: what it is, where it's from, how to tell it's real
Purpurite is one of the most intensely coloured stones there is: vivid purple to magenta, often with a satiny, almost metallic sheen, set in a dark brown to black crust. It's a natural colour, though it's so bright that people often assume otherwise.
What it is
Purpurite is a manganese iron phosphate. Its colour comes from manganese. It forms when an earlier phosphate mineral in granite pegmatites is altered by weathering, and it usually occurs as masses rather than clean crystals, often coated with dark brown or black manganese and iron oxides. Where the purple is exposed and polished, it shows a silky lustre. Its name comes from the Latin purpura, purple.
Where it comes from
Much of the purpurite on the market comes from Namibia, around Usakos, and it is also known from pegmatites in the USA, including South Dakota, and from a few other countries. Good, solid, bright material is limited, because purpurite is often crumbly and mixed with its dark crust.
How to tell real purpurite
- Look for the sheen and the crust. Real purpurite has a satiny to sub-metallic purple sheen and usually shows patches of dark brown or black oxide. Uniform purple stone with a glassy shine isn't purpurite.
- Watch for dyed stone. Dyed howlite and other stones are sometimes sold as purpurite. Dye tends to gather in cracks and pits.
- Check the weight and texture. Purpurite is fairly dense and often slightly grainy or fibrous where broken.
Looking after it
Purpurite is moderately soft (about 4 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale) and can be brittle, and its dark crust can mark fingers and cloth. Handle it gently, keep it dry, and clean it with a soft brush rather than water.
See the purpurite pieces in the shop.
Questions
- Is purpurite naturally purple?
- Yes. Its purple to magenta colour comes from manganese in the mineral itself.
- Where does purpurite come from?
- Much of it comes from Namibia, around Usakos; it is also found in pegmatites in the USA and a few other countries.
- How do I care for purpurite?
- Keep it dry, handle it gently because it can be brittle, and clean it with a soft brush rather than water.