Sugilite Properties Facts and Photos

What is Sugilite Stone?

Sugilite is a rare mineral that was first discovered in Japan in 1944.  In 1976 it was named after Professor Ken-ichi Sugi, an eminent petrologist who discovered the stone.

The greenish yellowish-brown stone that he discovered was visually quite different to the purple stone found many years later in South Africa.

The sugilite found in Japan was at the time believed to be a variety of eudialyte.  With this already being a known mineral, the stone was not believed to be a new find.  It was another thirty two years before sugilite was finally classified as a mineral in its own right. 

In 1973 a new source of sugilite came to light.  It was found in an area known as the Kalahari Manganese Fields in the Southern Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

As well as the size dwarfing any deposit that had been found previously, the quality of this sugilite stone was far superior.  The vast majority came from the Wessels Mine although much smaller quantities were also found in the adjacent N'Chwaning Mine.

Sugilite was once known as luvulite although the name is now very rarely used.

Sugilite Properties

Sugilite crystallises in masses and also forms individual crystals but they're extremely rare.  They have only been found in a small number of locations worldwide.

The vast majority of sugilite and certainly the finest grade material comes from the Kalahari Manganese Field.  Located in the Northern Cape of South Africa, this is the largest known manganese deposit on Earth.  It lies amongst sedimentary rocks known to be more than two billion years old.

Over the last few years smaller deposits of gem grade sugilite have been found in Italy, New South Wales, Mount Saint-Hilaire Canada and Tajikistan.  It has also reportedly been found in India but because of the limited amount present and low grade, the find has not been pursued.

Healing Properties of Sugilite

When used for its metaphysical healing properties sugilite strengthens emotions, aids mental and physical healing and reduces stress.  It balances the mind body and spirit, encourages peace of mind and a feeling of wellbeing and spiritual love.

Due to the presence of manganese sugilite is said to be a good remedy for a headache. 

Sugilite counteracts the feeling of alienation or isolation and reduces tension about what you want and what can realistically be achieved.
A major love stone, sugilite brings wisdom and opens all the chakras to the acceptance of love and a path of happiness. It helps find answers to questions about life such as why am I here?  What is my destiny?

Having a close relationship with love makes sugilite perfect for protecting the soul against shock and trauma.  It can often bring light into the darkest situations.

Sugilite promotes understanding on a mental level whilst emotionally it helps with the ability to face difficult situations.  It eases sorrow, grief and fear and encourages positive thoughts and behaviour.

A stone for those who need love and support, sugilite is an essential companion for those who find certain aspects of everyday life a struggle.

Sugilite Interesting Facts

The name sugilite is usually pronounced with a soft 'g' as in the word 'genius'.  It should be said with a hard 'g' as in 'gold'.  That's because the surname of the person after whom the stone was named is pronounced in this way. 

On Mohs scale of mineral hardness sugilite grades 7 so it's relatively hard.

The finest grade material when in massive form is known as gel sugilite.  The crystal habit referred to as massive means crystals grow as one large tightly intergrown mass with no external shape or form.

Due the rarity of gel sugilite the smallest piece can command eye-watering prices.

We do a considerable amount of our business in South Africa yet in recent years it has been extremely difficult to find any sugilite.

Sugilite is a rare mineral highly sought after by collectors around the world.

Article Pictures

The sugilite in the picture at the top of our article is courtesy of Steve (singingstone48 Flickr).  The second piece is on display in the Harvard Museum of Natural History, Massachusetts, USA.  The single polished sugilite stone and the rough pieces were once part of our collection.

Most pictures are clickable and redirect to the original non-compressed image.  

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