This material is never transparent and is too soft for wear. However, cabochons are a magnificent purplish rose hues that have essentially no counterpart in the gem world. The material is available from Namibia in abundance and at low cost.
Purpurite
Information
Data
Value
Name
Purpurite
Stone Sizes
Cabochons up to several inches long can be cut from cleavages.
Occurrence: A secondary mineral, due to the oxidation of phosphates in granite pegmatites.
South Dakota; California; North Carolina.
France; Portugal; Western Australia.
Usakos, Namibia: rich purplish masses.
Comments: This material is never transparent and is too soft for wear. However, cabochons are a magnificent purplish rose hues that have essentially no counterpart in the gem world. The material is available from Namibia in abundance and at low cost.
Name: After the Latin purpura (purple), in allusion to the color.
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