THE MINERAL PURPURITE
- Chemistry: MnPO4, Manganese Phosphate
- Class: Phosphates
- Uses: Only as a mineral specimens.
- Specimens
Purpurite forms a series with the mineral
The alteration is an oxidation reaction with the manganese ion going from a positive two (+2) charge in lithiophyllite to an ion with a positive three (+3) charge in purpurite. With the change in charge in the manganese ion, the lithium ion is then lost. Often some of the original lithiophyllite is still present in most purpurite specimens. The purple color or purpurite is truly unique in the mineral rainbow.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
- Color is purple (hence the name).
- Luster is vitreous to sub-metallic.
- Transparency: Crystals are translucent to opaque.
- Crystal System is orthorhombic; 2/m2/m2/m
- Crystal Habits generally are massive grains or crusts.
- Cleavage is good in one and poor in another direction.
- Fracture is uneven.
- Hardness is 4 - 4.5.
- Specific Gravity is approximately 3.3 (above average)
- Streak is deep red to purple.
- Other Characteristics: Brown coatings can be removed by weak acid baths that can also bring out more purple color.
- Associated Minerals are
lithiophyllite ,heterosite , quartz and feldspars. - Notable Occurrences include Namibia; western Australia; North Carolina, USA and France.
- Best Field Indicators are color, associations, lack of crystals and luster.
Copyright ©1995-2008 by Amethyst Galleries, Inc.
Site design & programming by galleries.com web services

