Sugilite Gemstone

Sugilite Gemstone

Sugilite derives its name from the Japanese petrologist Ken-ichi Sugi, who first identified it in 1944 in Iwagi Islet, Japan. Sugilite also contains the Greek word Lithos meaning stone.

The specimens that Dr. Sugi found were not gemstone quality. In 1979 a Sugilite deposit was discovered in the Southern Kalahari Desert of South Africa. The Sugilite here was rich with the manganese element that gives Sugilite its rich purple to pink colors. In 1980 Sugilite was classified as a rare gemstone.

Sugilite is of a potassium sodium lithium iron manganese aluminium silicate chemical composition. It has a hexagonal crystal structure. It is of the cyclosilicate mineral group and has a similar structure as Emerald, Iolite, and Tourmaline.

Sugilite has a polycrystalline aggregate composition. This means that it is made of small, microscopic crystals of different sizes and orientations. These small crystals are also known as “grains.” One of the microscopic crystals intermixed with Sugilite is Chalcedony.

Sugilite gemstone has a range of colors in pinkish, lilac, plum, magenta, reddish-purple and bluish-purple. However, it is the one-colored, intense reddish-purple Sugilte that is much sought after and thus the most highly valued.

Though other small deposits of Sugilite have been found, it is still a rare purple cyclosilicate mineral today.

Sugilite has a hardness ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale. However, it is considered fairly tough due to its indistinct cleavage. Usually it occurs mixed with chalcedony quartz, or black matrix which results in different hardness.

Sugilite is opaque and some extremely rare gemstones are transulent. Sugilite has a glass-like, resinous and waxy luster.

Sugilite usually comes mixed with chalcedony and with inclusions such as black matrix, veins or layers, patches, and other interesting patterns that are also desirable and much sought after in Sugilite gemstones.

Most Sugilite is opaque and because of its 5.5 to 6.5 hardness on the Mohs scale, it is often carved or cut en cabochons. The translucent material is usually faceted. Sugilite are also tumbled, drilled for beads and used as an inlay material.

Sugilite is occasionally dyed to enhance color, especially the dark colored Sugilite. Note, imitation plastic Sugilite is known and sold very cheaply.

Sugilite is also known as Wesselite, referring to the Wessels Manganese Mine in South Africa. Its other trade names include "sugilite jade" or "purple turquoise", "royal azel", "cybeline", "royal lazelle", "lavulite", "luvulite" and "royal lavulite".

Sugilite gives positive energy and helps the wearer to focus on the tasks at hand and to achieve his or her goals. It gives the feelings of spiritual love and helps to reduce stress. Sugilite has the Yang fire energy in Feng-shui.

Sugilite helps us to align our energies with the universal energy thus enabling us to attain higher states of consciousness.

The strong violet energy is extremely healing for reaching deep spiritual wisdom and love.

Carrying or wearing the stone can bring positive vibration of love, creativity and inner peace. These stones may be placed under children's pillows to ward off nightmares and in their school bags to help them deal with learning disability.

Sugilite is a multipurpose material that can be used to create a wide range of striking purple jewelry. It is a gemstone that can be used for both women's and men's jewelry.

Sugilite was first discovered in Japan. However, gemstone-quality deposits been found in the Wessels Mine in South Africa. Small amounts of rare pink crystals have been found at Madhya Pradesh, India. Other deposits have recently been found in Australia (New South Wales), Tajikistan, Italy and Canada (Quebec).

Clean your Sugilite gemstone using a soft cloth with soap and water. Make sure to rinse well in order to remove all soap residue.