Sugilite

The type locality is Iwagi Islet in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, where sugilite occurs as grains in aegirine syenite. Gem-quality purple sugilite was first found in 1975 in a core-drill sample from a manganese mine near Hotazel, South Africa; the Wessels Mine in the Kalahari manganese field remains the notable source, and a large deposit found there in 1979 lies about 3,200 feet (about 975 m) underground. Other sources include Madhya Pradesh in India, New South Wales in Australia, Canada, Italy and Tajikistan.

Gem sugilite is typically an opaque "grape jelly" purple; very rare translucent material is called "sugilite gel". Trade names used for it include Royal Lavulite (for more lavender material), Royal Azel, Royal Lazelle and Cybelene. Gem labs have reported dyed marble, dyed quartzite, dyed magnesite, dyed serpentine and dyed and heated beryl presented as sugilite, and so-called "synthetic sugilite" sold online is most likely an imitation. Sugilite itself is generally untreated, although heating may lighten some dark material. Similar-looking sogdianite and purpurite can be separated by chemical analysis and by purpurite's higher specific gravity.

With poor cleavage, a hardness of about 6 to 6.5 and tough tenacity, sugilite is fairly durable; protective settings are still advisable for rings to prevent scratches. IGS states that it needs no special care: mechanical cleaning systems can be used, or simply a soft brush, mild detergent and warm water.

Sugilite was named in 1976 by Nobuhide Murakami, Toshio Kato, Yasunori Miura and Fumitoshi Hirowatari in honour of Ken-ichi Sugi (1901–1948), a petrologist at Kyushu Imperial University who first found the mineral with M. Kutsuna; IGS dates the first find on Iwagi Islet to 1944. Sugi's name is pronounced with a hard "g". Dark pink crystals were found in India in 1955, but the gem's association with purple began with the South African find of 1975.

The Japanese retailer Pascle describes sugilite, together with larimar and charoite, as one of the "world's three great healing stones" and says it is believed to bring peace of mind to sensitive people, with darker pieces said to ward off evil. These are retailer beliefs, not tested properties.