Sugilite 2505528 224905389 2008-07-10T22:54:16Z Melesse 200177 adding commons lik [[Image:Sugolite Gemstone Tile.jpg|thumb|Sugilite tile]] [[Image:Sugilith.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Sugilite]] [[Image:Sugilith geschliffen.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Sugilite]] '''Sugilite''' (also known as '''luvulite''') is a relatively rare pink to purple [[Silicate minerals|cyclosilicate]] mineral with the complex chemical formula: [[potassium|K]][[sodium|Na]]<sub>2</sub>([[iron|Fe]],[[manganese|Mn]],[[aluminum|Al]])<sub>2</sub>[[lithium|Li]]<sub>3</sub>[[silicon|Si]]<sub>12</sub>[[oxygen|O]]<sub>30</sub>. Sugilite crystallizes in the [[Hexagonal (crystal system)|hexagonal]] system with prismatic crystals. The crystals are rarely found and the form is usually massive. It has a [[Mohs hardness]] of 5.5 to 6.5 and a [[specific gravity]] of 2.75 - 2.80. Sugilite was first described in 1944 by the [[Japanese people|Japanese]] [[petrologist]] Ken-ichi Sugi (1901-1948) for an occurrence on Iwagi Islet, [[Japan]] where it is found in an [[aegirine]] [[syenite]] [[intrusive]] stock. It is found in a similar environment at [[Mont Saint-Hilaire]], [[Quebec]], [[Canada]]. In the Wessels mine in northern [[Cape Province]] of [[South Africa]] sugilite is mined from a [[stratum|strata-bound]] [[manganese]] deposit. It is also reported from [[Liguria]] and [[Tuscany]], [[Italy]]; [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]; and [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]]. ==See also== *[[List of minerals]] *[[List of minerals named after people]] ==References== {{commonscat|Sugilite}} *[http://webmineral.com/data/Sugilite.shtml Webmineral] *[http://www.mindat.org/min-3822.html Mindat w/ locations] *[http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/dietr1rv/sugilite.htm R. V. Dietrich] *[http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/sugilite/sugilite.htm Mineral galleries] *[http://www.minsocam.org/msa/Handbook/Sugilite.PDF MSA Handbook PDF] {{mineral-stub}} {{Manganese minerals}} [[Category:Potassium minerals]] [[Category:Sodium minerals]] [[Category:Iron minerals]] [[Category:Manganese minerals]] [[Category:Aluminium minerals]] [[Category:Lithium minerals]] [[Category:Silicate minerals]] [[Category:Gemstones]] [[de:Sugilith]] [[it:Sugilite]] [[nl:Sugiliet]] [[ja:杉石]] [[pl:Sugilit]] [[pt:Sugilite]]