mineral

Purpurite

Manganese Iron Phosphate, Mn3+(PO4)

Hardness: 4 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale; Color: Deep purple, reddish-purple, dark violet, often with blackish tarnish; Luster: Sub-metallic to dull, earthy, or silky; Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic; Cleavage: Good in one direction; Specific Gravity: 3.4 to 3.7

Hardness: 4 to 4
Luster: Sub-metallic to dull, earthy, or silky

Identified August 7, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed as a secondary mineral resulting from the alteration of primary manganese-bearing phosphate minerals, typically triphylite or lithiophilite, in granite pegmatites through weathering and oxidation processes.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a mineral specimen for collectors, for lapidary work, and occasionally cut into cabochons for jewelry.

Geological facts

Purpurite is named from the Latin word 'purpurus', meaning purple, in direct reference to its distinct and striking color which comes from the presence of trivalent manganese.

Field identification & locations

Identified primarily by its distinct deep purple color, association with pegmatites, and relatively soft Mohs hardness. Found in locations such as the USA (South Dakota, Maine), Namibia, Australia, and Sweden.