Purpurite is a rare, soft, deep purple mineral, mostly mined in Namibia. We do not carry it. Amethyst and lepidolite are the purple stones we do.
Phosphate
Purpurite
Purpurita
- Palette
- Purple Pink Brown
- Mined in
- Namibia, United States, Australia, France, Portugal
- Hardness
- Mohs 4.0–4.5 ?
- See-through
- translucent
- Known since
- 1905
- Named for
- Latin purpura, meaning purple, for its color
- Intention
- New Beginnings
- Looking for
- Change and decisions Fresh starts
- Water
- Keep it dry; wipe with a soft cloth
- Dye or finish
- Purpurite is sold as natural chunks and tumbled pieces. We found no bead-trade statement about dye or heat, so ask the seller.
Not in our pieces now
LITHIOPHYLLITE
Purpurite forms when the mineral lithiophyllite alters: its manganese shifts from a +2 to a +3 charge and the lithium is lost.
HETEROSITE
Purpurite is the manganese-rich end of a mineral series; the iron-rich end is called heterosite.
SANDAMAB PEGMATITE
A well-known purpurite locality is the Sandamab pegmatite in Namibia's Erongo Region.
What it is
A dull to satiny stone in deep rose to reddish purple, sometimes with brown or black weathered patches on the surface. It is mostly sold as rough chunks and tumbled or carved pieces, since it is rare to see it cut. A natural mineral, not glass or dye; the manganese in it makes the purple.
Where it comes from
Most gem-quality purpurite comes from Usakos and the Karibib district of Namibia; smaller amounts come from California, Maine, North Carolina and South Dakota, and from Western Australia, France, Portugal and Sweden.
What's said about it
In crystal lore today, purpurite is the stone people keep close through big life changes. It is thought of as a sign of personal growth, and some people picture a phoenix rising from it.
It is soft and splits easily, so people usually carry it in a pocket or purse rather than wear it hard every day.
How people wear or keep it: In a pocket, in a purse, or held while sitting quietly.
In crystal practice
In the crystal tradition, purpurite is paired with the crown chakra, so practitioners rest it there during meditation or lie down with it in place for a few quiet minutes. Day to day, the same tradition suggests keeping it close: in a pocket, in a purse, held while sitting quietly. People reach for it when they want change and decisions, fresh starts, and many set an intention when they put it on. Most practitioners cleanse a new stone first (running water only if the stone can take it, otherwise smoke or moonlight) and set it aside now and then to rest.
These are beliefs people have held and still hold about the stone, reported as such. Nothing here is a promise or a medical claim. We sell stones as jewelry, not for these effects.
Associations
The chakra and star sign this stone is usually matched with. These are popular traditions, not facts about the stone.
ChakraCrown
ZodiacVirgo
ElementAir
Care
- Soft (Mohs 4 to 4.5) and it splits along one flat direction, so a knock can chip it. Store it alone in a soft pouch.
- Wipe with a soft dry or barely damp cloth and dry it at once; do not soak it.
- Skip ultrasonic and steam cleaners, and keep it away from acids, vinegar and hand sanitizer.
- Take it off before washing hands, swimming or exercise.
- It suits a pocket or pendant better than a bracelet worn every day.
How to tell what you have
- Real purpurite is a deep rose to purple-red manganese phosphate with an earthy to satiny shine and a red streak; brown or black areas are natural weathering.
- A bead with bright, glossy, evenly vivid purple may be dyed stone or glass; check the drill hole for color build-up.
What sets the price
Purpurite is rarely cut into beads and mostly sold as mineral pieces, so the price follows how rich the purple is and whether the dull outer layer was brightened with acid.
Questions people ask at our table
What is purpurite?
A manganese iron phosphate mineral, mined mostly in Namibia. It is rare, soft and deep purple, and it is a natural mineral rather than a dyed stone.
How can I tell purpurite from sugilite or charoite?
Purpurite is softer than both, at 4 to 4.5 against about 5 to 6.5, and much heavier for its size. It also leaves a purple streak, while the other two leave a white one, but a gem lab or a specific gravity test is the safe check on a finished piece.
Is purpurite durable enough for a bracelet?
It is soft and splits along a flat direction, so it chips more easily than quartz. Pendants and pocket stones suit it better than daily wrist wear.
Is the color natural?
Yes, the purple is the mineral's own. Rough specimens are sometimes brightened with a mild acid wash, which is one reason to keep it away from acids.
Do you carry purpurite?
No. The nearest purple stones we carry are amethyst and lepidolite, and the carried fluorite also comes in purple.
Not in our pieces right now
Stones we do carry that are close to it are listed under related stones.
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