When you hear “purple crystal,” you probably picture amethyst or iolite. One underrated purple gemstone to put on your radar is sugilite, the rare but vibrant purple cyclosilicate mineral.
Amethyst is also a silicate, so is sugilite the same as amethyst? No, sugilite and amethyst are distinct minerals.
Is sugilite a real gem? While its enchanting hue is rare in nature, sugilite is a real gemstone!
Discovered in the mid-20th century in Japan, sugilite is better known in Asia than North America. However, Westerners may recognize a couple of sugilite appearances in pop culture!
In 2013, actress Naomi Watts wore sugilite earrings on the red carpet at the Critics Choice Awards. Plus, the popular animated show, Steven Universe, featured a sugilite character voiced by singer Nicki Minaj.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know everything about sugilite benefits, value, properties, and more!
To start: what is the crystal sugilite?
Sugilite, or sugulite, is a semi-precious gemstone of many names. Some monikers include lavelite, luvulite, Royal Azel, Royal Lazelle, Cybelene, and Wesselite.
Most alternate names originated from specific sugilite deposits, like the South African Wessels Mine (Wesselite) and Hotazel mines (Royal Azel and Royal Lazelle).
Is sugilite a birthstone? Sugilite is an alternate January birthstone, though some say violet sugilite blesses anyone born from December 21 to January 19 — AKA: Capricorn season!
Despite that, sugilite is a zodiac stone for Capricorn’s fellow earth sign Virgo. Virgos are practical but often too hard on themselves, so sugilite brings acceptance and self-compassion to curb self-criticism.
Sugilite has more astrological significance as a star stone for the planet Jupiter. This planet governs exploration, luck, and curiosity — similar feelings you might experience upon discovering a raw sugilite crystal!
Sugilite is a cyclosilicate mineral belonging to the Milarite-Osumilite group. This group encompasses similar, rare cyclosilicates, which are widely unknown outside of experienced gemstone collectors.
If those are unfamiliar to you, sugilite also has a similar chemical structure to tourmaline and aquamarine. Charoite is also commonly mistaken for sugilite.
Sugilite’s chemical composition gets a bit tricky. Its complex formula makes it a sodium potassium lithium silicate mineral. However, iron, manganese, and aluminum are usually present and can replace each other, leading to different colors and varying sugilite crystal properties.
On the Mohs mineral hardness scale, sugilite ranks between 5.5 and 6.5, a mid-range scratch resistance.
You’ll find the rest of the mineralogical sugilite properties below!
Color: Generally purple, pink, or fuschia; May be pale brownish-yellow, dark rose-red, bluish-purple, or colorless
Crystal structure: Hexagonal
Luster: Vitreous (glass-like) to dull or waxy
Transparency: Translucent to opaque
Refractive index: 1.59-1.61
Density: 2.74-2.80
Cleavage: Poor to indistinct on [0001]
Fracture: Uneven to conchoidal
Streak: White
Optical Effects: Chatoyancy, rarely
Pleochroism: Weak
Moving from geological properties into metaphysical properties, what does the sugilite stone symbolize?
Sugilite’s name comes from the man who discovered it: Japanese petrologist Professor Ken-ichi Sugi. The name is commonly mispronounced, so let’s clear up any confusion: the correct pronunciation is SOO-ghee-lite, with a soo like “soon” and a hard g like “goose.”
Sugilite symbolism includes balance, love, and rebirth. Specific sugilite colors may grant different representations, though.
Blue sugilite, sometimes labeled as Richterite, is nicknamed the “Stone of Guidance,” associated with emotional balance following a shocking or traumatizing experience.
The purple and black sugilite meaning is one of spiritual protection, ambition, and the mysterious allure of the unknown.
One alternate name for sugilite, Cybelene, may reference the Greek myth of Cybele and Attis, which contains an origin story for the violet flowers that share sugilite’s coloring.
The multi-part myth begins with Cybele, a Phrygian goddess, being secretly impregnated by Zeus after rejecting him, then subsequently birthing a demon. The demon scared the gods, so they emasculated him, his spilled blood forming an almond tree.
Later, a river god’s daughter, Nana, ate from the tree, unknowingly impregnating herself. Upon delivering, she abandoned the baby, and shepherds raised him as Attis. He eventually became so handsome, Cybele fell in love with him! (Ancient myths and incest, what can you do?)
However, Attis fell in love with another woman. In revenge, Cybele drove Attis so insane, he stopped at a pine tree and emasculated himself before taking his life. There, the first-ever violets bloomed where his blood fell.
Every year during the Ritual of Attis, folks cut a pine down, covered it in violets, and carried it to Cybele’s shrine to mourn for three days before Cybele “resurrects” Attis, followed by celebration.
Phew, ancient myths are intense! For more everyday issues not related to fruit-induced pregnancies, what are the healing properties of sugilite?
By the nature of their colors and vibrations, crystals can act as healing stones. Is sugilite a healing stone? Absolutely!
As a purple gemstone, sugilite metaphysical properties encompass intuition, inspiration, and spirituality.
How do you wear sugilite? Most crystal healers recommend wearing sugilite jewelry on the right hand for the most effective healing.
So, what is sugilite good for? Let’s look at the specific sugilite healing properties.
Physically, sugilite stones are commonly used for treating headaches, epilepsy, and wounds. Wearing a sugilite pendant is said to make your heart stronger.
Blue sugilite may support the endocrine system, easing hormone-induced mood swings and reducing overactive fight-or-flight responses.
How do you use sugilite for emotional issues?
Sugilite’s emotional benefits may include lowering stress and aggressive tendencies, along with nurturing positivity and spiritual love.
Many who use the crystal, in a sugilite ring or sugilite bracelet for instance, report higher sentimentality and deeper feelings of connection with the people and nature around them. Others claim sugilite encourages forgiveness, bringing the freedom of release to those bound by resentment.
The sugilite chakra graces the crown, the swirling halo of light above your head. The crown chakra represents spiritual ascension and divine connection.
A crown chakra blockage can lead to feelings of aimlessness, isolation, or insomnia. You can balance the chakra to feel enlightened and in-tune with the universe using sugilite.
Experts look at a particular gem’s value factors when grading. Color is paramount in assessing sugilite’s value; however, cut, transparency, carat weight, and treatments may affect its value, too.
Sugilite can be pale yellow or colorless, but gem-quality specimens are pink to purple. The purple hue comes from its high lithium content and magnesium presence. Deeper coloring equals a higher value.
The two main types of sugilite coloring are the rarer solid-colored stones and the more common patterned stones. Black sugilite patterns can be blotchy, layered, or veined. White spots from pectolite are also common. Black splotches won’t affect the value if the overall color is still deep. However, deep purple mixed with lighter hues can lower the value.
Sugilite gemstones can be translucent or opaque, but translucent sugilites are very rare and often have a cloudy appearance. Sugilite gel — highly translucent specimens — rarely show inclusions.
Sugilite’s clarity grade (the amount and visibility of inclusions) is usually opaque. The most common inclusions are manganese oxides, which create brown or black coloring. If included, sugilites are fibrous, with the fibrous bands sometimes producing chatoyancy, the “cat’s eye” effect.
While often left rough, the most common sugilite cut is the cabochon. However, some translucent sugilite stones are faceted.
If a specimen displays chatoyancy, it must be cut as a cabochon. Other common cuts are sugilite beads and carvings.
Despite its rarity, sugilite grows to fairly massive sizes. Mining specimens over 10 carats is common, so the value per carat doesn’t change with size.
Treatments aren’t common for sugilite, though sometimes it's heated to lighten very dark coloring. Synthetics and simulants, however, are more common.
It’s important to be cautious about whether you have genuine sugilite or fake sugilite. Some common sugilite simulants include dyed beryl, marble, quartzite, or magnesite. Others are man-made, like imitation sugilite formed of ceramic or glass or block sugilite composed of crushed sugilite bound by resin.
A relatively new gem, sugilite was only discovered in the last century! Japanese geologist Ken-ichi Sugi made the first discovery in 1944.
Sugi discovered sugilite on Iwagi Island in southwest Japan, but he didn’t know he was making a new discovery. Instead, he believed it was a mineral similar to eudialyte. In fact, the specimens uncovered were very small yellow crystals, not of gem-quality.
It wasn’t until 1976 that sugilite received an official mineral description from distinguished mineralogist Nobuhide Murakami and colleagues. Unfortunately, Sugi would pass away before seeing the result of his discovery, but he was honored posthumously by the stone bearing his name.
Between 1944 and 1976, sugilite made other appearances around the world. In 1955, miners in central India found dark pink sugilite crystals, but they couldn't be cut.
Arguably the most significant discovery occurred in 1975, when a thin, deep purple sugilite seam appeared in the Kalahari Manganese Field near Hotazel, South Africa.
The Kalahari deposit produced the first gem-quality sugilite material, kicking off its widespread association with purple hues. By 1979, miners found another huge deposit estimated to have 10-20 tons of sugilite underneath the original Kalahari deposit, but its depth (3,200 feet underground) has prevented miners from attempting to uncover most of it.
Sugilite received classification as a “rare gem” in 1980, raising its price. A few more small deposits have been discovered, but sugilite remains rare.
That said, how does sugilite form?
Sugilite commonly occurs within rocks made up of numerous minerals. Gem-quality sugilite raw forms in stratiform manganese deposits, like those in South Africa. However, the mineral can also form in aegirine-bearing igneous rocks.
Sugilite can occur as a primary mineral in igneous rocks or a secondary mineral in marble. For reference, primary minerals form from the original rock, while secondary minerals form when the rock is weathered and chemically changed.
Now, where does sugilite stone come from?
Currently, sugilite only forms in six places worldwide. As you know, South Africa’s Kalahari locale is currently the only commercial source of gem-quality sugilite.
The other sugilite deposits are in:
Australia
Canada
India
Italy
Japan
The highest-valued sugilite crystals for sale are translucent with bright purple, solid coloring. Called sugilite gel, these specimens are like chrysoprase in their translucence and range from $15 per carat for low-grade stones to $150 per carat for high-grade stones.
Why is sugilite so expensive? Its rare gem classification and the lack of gem-quality deposits are behind sugilite gel’s high price point.
However, there are other affordable options!
The majority of commercial sugilite is opaque with varying purple coloring. Low-grade stones in this category are typically $3 per carat, and richer shades of purple command higher prices. Top-grade opaque sugilite is usually around $6 per carat.
Impure sugilite (sugilite combined with other minerals like chalcedony) and block sugilite are often even more affordable than opaque sugilite.
Sugilite isn’t the hardest mineral, but its poor cleavage and relatively good tenacity means it can be pretty durable in jewelry.
However, we recommend buying sugilite jewelry with protective settings, particularly for sugilite rings.
We don’t have much research on the effect of chemicals or temperature changes on sugilite, but it’s best to avoid contact with either to be safe. We recommend cleaning the stone with warm water, mild soap, and a soft brush.
By now, you can see why this rare stone sugilite has captured hearts and imaginations. From its almost alien fuschia coloring to its fascinating history, sugilite is a captivating and underrated gem. Turn heads and raise your spirit with your own sugilite stone!
Find beautiful sugilite stones today!
当您听到“紫色水晶”时,您可能会想到紫水晶或堇青石。一种被低估的紫色宝石是 sugilite,它是一种稀有但充满活力的紫色环硅酸盐矿物。
紫水晶也是硅酸盐,那么苏吉石和紫水晶一样吗?不,苏吉石和紫水晶是不同的矿物。
苏吉石是真正的宝石吗?虽然其迷人的色调在自然界中很少见,但苏吉石是真正的宝石!
在 20 世纪中叶在日本发现的苏吉石在亚洲比北美更为知名。但是,西方人可能会认出流行文化中的几个 sugilite 外观!
2013 年,女演员娜奥米·沃茨 (Naomi Watts) 在评论家选择奖 (Critics Choice Awards) 的红地毯上佩戴了 sugilite 耳环。此外,流行的动画节目《宇宙小子》以歌手妮琪·米娜 (Nicki Minaj) 配音的 sugilite 角色为特色。
在本指南结束时,您将了解有关 sugilite 的好处、价值、属性等的所有信息!
开始:什么是水晶 sugilite?
Sugilite 或 sugulite 是一种有许多名称的半宝石。一些绰号包括 lavelite、luvulite、Royal Azel、Royal Lazelle、Cybelene 和 Wesselite。
大多数替代名称源自特定的苏吉莱特矿床,如南非韦塞尔矿 (Wesselite) 和 Hotazel 矿 (Royal Azel 和 Royal Lazelle)。
苏吉石是生辰石吗? Sugilite 是另一种1 月生日石,尽管有人说紫色 sugilite 会祝福 12 月 21 日至 1 月 19 日出生的人——又名:摩羯座季节!
尽管如此,sugilite 是摩羯座的土象星座处女座的生肖石。处女座很实际,但往往对自己太苛刻,所以 sugilite 带来接纳和自我同情来抑制自我批评。
苏吉石作为木星的星石具有更多的占星意义。这颗行星掌管着探索、运气和好奇心——你可能会在发现未加工的苏吉石晶体时体验到类似的感觉!
Sugilite 是一种环硅酸盐矿物,属于 Milarite-Osumilite 组。该组包括类似的稀有环硅酸盐,在经验丰富的宝石收藏家之外,它们是广为人知的。
如果您对这些不熟悉,苏吉石也具有与电气石和海蓝宝石相似的化学结构。 Charoite也常被误认为是 sugilite。
Sugilite 的化学成分有点棘手。其复杂的配方使其成为钠钾锂硅酸盐矿物。然而,铁、锰和铝通常存在并且可以相互替代,从而导致不同的颜色和不同的苏吉石晶体特性。
在莫氏矿物硬度等级上,苏吉石的等级介于 5.5 和 6.5 之间,属于中等耐刮擦性。
您将在下面找到其余的矿物学 sugilite 属性!
颜色:一般为紫色、粉红色或紫红色;可能是淡棕黄色、深玫瑰红色、蓝紫色或无色
晶体结构:六角形
光泽:玻璃质(玻璃状)至暗淡或蜡状
透明度:半透明到不透明
折射率:1.59-1.61
密度:2.74-2.80
乳沟: [0001] 上差到模糊
骨折:不均匀到贝壳状
条纹:白色
光学效果:Chatoyancy,很少
多色性:弱
从地质特性到形而上特性,苏吉石象征着什么?
Sugilite 的名字来源于发现它的人:日本岩石学家 Ken-ichi Sugi 教授。这个名字经常被误读,所以让我们澄清一下所有的混淆:正确的发音是 SOO-ghee-lite, soo像“soon”,硬g像“goose”。
Sugilite 象征意义包括平衡、爱和重生。不过,特定的 sugilite 颜色可能会赋予不同的表示形式。
蓝色 sugilite,有时被称为 Richterite,被称为“指导之石”,与令人震惊或创伤性经历后的情绪平衡有关。
紫色和黑色的苏基石寓意是一种精神保护、野心和未知的神秘诱惑。
sugilite 的另一个名称 Cybelene 可能参考了 Cybele 和 Attis 的希腊神话,其中包含与 sugilite 相同颜色的紫罗兰花的起源故事。
多部分的神话始于弗里吉亚女神西布勒,在拒绝宙斯后被宙斯秘密怀孕,然后生下了一个恶魔。恶魔吓坏了众神,所以他们阉割了他,他溢出的血液形成了一棵杏仁树。
后来,河神的女儿娜娜吃了树上的果子,不知不觉地怀孕了。分娩后,她抛弃了婴儿,牧羊人将他抚养为阿蒂斯。他最终变得如此英俊,Cybele爱上了他! (古代神话和乱伦,你能做什么?)
然而,阿蒂斯爱上了另一个女人。为了报复,Cybele 把 Attis 逼疯了,他停在一棵松树前,在自杀前阉割了自己。在那里,他鲜血直流的地方开出了有史以来第一朵紫罗兰。
每年的阿蒂斯仪式期间,人们都会砍下一棵松树,用紫罗兰覆盖它,然后把它带到西布勒的神殿哀悼三天,然后西布勒“复活”阿蒂斯,然后庆祝。
呸,古代神话很激烈!对于更多与水果引起的怀孕无关的日常问题,sugilite 的治疗特性是什么?
由于其颜色和振动的性质,水晶可以作为治疗石。苏吉石是治疗石吗?绝对地!
作为一种紫色宝石,苏吉石的形而上学特性包含直觉、灵感和灵性。
你怎么穿sugilite?大多数水晶治疗师建议将 sugilite 首饰戴在右手上,以获得最有效的治疗效果。
那么,sugilite有什么用呢?让我们看看具体的 sugilite 愈合特性。
在物理上,sugilite 石头通常用于治疗头痛、癫痫和伤口。据说佩戴sugilite吊坠可以让你的心脏更强壮。
蓝色 sugilite 可能支持内分泌系统,缓解激素引起的情绪波动并减少过度活跃的战斗或逃跑反应。
您如何使用 sugilite 解决情绪问题?
Sugilite 的情感益处可能包括降低压力和攻击性倾向,以及培养积极性和精神爱。
许多使用水晶的人,例如在 sugilite 戒指或 sugilite 手链中,报告说他们与周围的人和自然有着更高的感性和更深的联系感。其他人声称 sugilite 鼓励宽恕,为那些被怨恨束缚的人带来释放的自由。
sugilite 脉轮为王冠增光添彩,在你头顶旋转的光晕。顶轮代表精神提升和神圣联系。
冠脉轮阻塞会导致漫无目的、孤立或失眠的感觉。您可以使用 sugilite 平衡脉轮,感受开悟和与宇宙的和谐。
专家在分级时会查看特定宝石的价值因素。颜色在评估 sugilite 的价值时至关重要;然而,切工、透明度、克拉重量和处理也可能影响其价值。
Sugilite 可以是淡黄色或无色,但宝石级标本为粉红色至紫色。紫色色调来自其高锂含量和镁含量。更深的着色等于更高的值。
苏吉石着色的两种主要类型是较稀有的纯色宝石和较常见的图案宝石。黑色 sugilite 图案可以是斑点状、分层状或脉纹状。凝胶石的白点也很常见。如果整体颜色仍然很深,黑色斑点不会影响值。然而,深紫色与较浅的色调混合会降低价值。
Sugilite 宝石可以是半透明的或不透明的,但半透明的 sugilite 非常罕见,并且通常具有混浊的外观。 Sugilite 凝胶——高度半透明的标本——很少显示内含物。
Sugilite 的净度等级( 内含物的数量和可见度)通常是不透明的。最常见的夹杂物是氧化锰,会产生棕色或黑色。如果包括在内,sugilites 是纤维状的,纤维带有时会产生猫眼效应,即“猫眼”效应。
虽然经常留下粗糙,但最常见的苏吉石切割是凸圆形。然而,一些半透明的 sugilite 石头是刻面的。
如果标本显示猫眼,则必须将其切割为凸圆形。其他常见的切割是sugilite 珠子和雕刻。
尽管它很稀有,但 sugilite 会长到相当大的尺寸。开采超过 10 克拉的标本很常见,因此每克拉的价值不会随大小而变化。
sugilite 的处理并不常见,但有时会加热以淡化非常深的颜色。然而,合成物和模拟物更为常见。
重要的是要小心你是否有真正的苏吉石或假的苏吉石。一些常见的苏基石模拟物包括染色绿柱石、大理石、石英岩或菱镁矿。其他的是人造的,如由陶瓷或玻璃制成的仿苏吉石或由树脂粘合的碎苏吉石组成的块状苏吉石。
一种相对较新的宝石,苏吉石是在上个世纪才发现的!日本地质学家杉一健一于 1944 年首次发现。
Sugi 在日本西南部的岩木岛上发现了 sugilite,但他不知道自己正在做出新的发现。相反,他认为这是一种类似于eudialyte的矿物质。事实上,发现的标本是非常小的黄色晶体,不是宝石级的。
直到 1976 年,sugilite 才收到著名矿物学家 Nobuhide Murakami 及其同事的官方矿物描述。不幸的是,杉木在看到他的发现结果之前就去世了,但他被追授了以他名字命名的石头。
1944 年至 1976 年间,sugilite 出现在世界各地。 1955 年,印度中部的矿工发现了深粉色的苏吉石晶体,但无法切割。
可以说,最重要的发现发生在 1975 年,当时在南非 Hotazel 附近的卡拉哈里锰矿区出现了一个薄而深紫色的 sugilite 煤层。
卡拉哈里矿床产出了第一种宝石级苏吉石材料,开启了其与紫色的广泛联系。到 1979 年,矿工们发现了另一个巨大的矿床,估计在原来的卡拉哈里矿床下面有 10-20 吨苏吉石,但它的深度(地下 3,200 英尺)阻止了矿工们试图发现其中的大部分。
苏吉石在 1980 年被列为“稀有宝石”,从而提高了价格。已经发现了更多的小矿床,但苏吉石仍然很少见。
也就是说,sugilite是如何形成的?
Sugilite 通常出现在由多种矿物质组成的岩石中。在层状锰矿床中形成宝石级苏吉石原石,如南非的矿床。然而,这种矿物也可以在含云母的火成岩中形成。
Sugilite 可以作为火成岩中的主要矿物或大理石中的次要矿物出现。作为参考,原生矿物是从原始岩石中形成的,而次要矿物是在岩石风化和化学变化时形成的。
现在,苏吉石从哪里来?
目前,sugilite 仅在全球六个地方形成。如您所知,南非的卡拉哈里地区目前是宝石级苏吉石的唯一商业来源。
其他 sugilite 矿床位于:
澳大利亚
加拿大
印度
意大利
日本
出售价值最高的苏吉石晶体是半透明的,带有亮紫色,纯色。这些标本被称为 sugilite 凝胶,其半透明性就像绿玉髓,价格从低等级宝石每克拉 15 美元到高档宝石每克拉 150 美元不等。
苏吉石为什么这么贵?苏吉石凝胶的高价位背后是其稀有的宝石分类和宝石级矿床的缺乏。
但是,还有其他经济实惠的选择!
大多数商业苏吉石是不透明的,具有不同的紫色。此类别中的低等级宝石通常为每克拉 3 美元,而较深的紫色则价格较高。高档不透明苏吉石通常约为每克拉 6 美元。
不纯的 sugilite(sugilite 与其他矿物如玉髓)和块状 sugilite 通常比不透明的 sugilite 更实惠。
Sugilite 不是最坚硬的矿物,但其较差的解理性和相对较好的韧性意味着它在珠宝中非常耐用。
但是,我们建议购买带有保护性设置的 sugilite 首饰,尤其是 sugilite 戒指。
我们没有太多关于化学品或温度变化对 sugilite 的影响的研究,但为了安全起见,最好避免接触其中任何一种。我们建议用温水、温和的肥皂和软刷清洁石头。
到现在为止,您可以理解为什么这种稀有的苏吉石会吸引人们的心和想象力。从其近乎异类的紫红色到其迷人的历史,苏吉石是一种迷人但被低估的宝石。转过头来,用你自己的 sugilite 石头提升你的精神!
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