How and where is Sugilite formed and found?

Sugilite is a fairly new gemstone addition.  While it has probably been laying undiscovered for eons, its recent discovery in 1944 has made gemstone aficionados smile due to the beautiful hues and attributes of this stone.  Sugilite was discovered in 1944 by the Japanese geologist Ken-ici Sugi on the island of Iwagi, Shikoku, Japan.

This beautiful gemstone is created by quite a few elements including Potassium, Sodium, Lithium, Iron, Maganese, Aluminum and Silicate. Sugilite is a rare mineral that is not found in that many areas of the world.  It has a strange crystal form that does not shape well and is usually not cut for small gemstones, in fact it is usually found in large masses so it is often used to compliment other stones such as Turquoise, Malachite and Coral.

Sugilite comes in several hues including yellow, brown, black, but most importantly a deep rich purple. It is sometimes referred to as the Purple Turquoise.  Its luster and texture is usually opaque and waxy.  While it resembles Turquoise in many ways, both minerals are very different in structure and composition.

The hardness of Sugilite is decent enough for ornamental jewelry purposes.  It usually scores between 6 and 6.5 on Moh’s hardness scale.  Sugilite is found in very few places most notably, Iwagi Island in Japan, Mont Saint – Hilaire in Quebec and probably most frequently in South Africa.  If you are looking for a gemstone that is growing in popularity to compliment gemstones such as Malachite, Turquoise and Coral, definitely look into Sugilite.

The colors, shapes and sizes that Sugilite comes in

Sugilite is a fairly recent addition to the jewelers showcase.  It was originally discovered in 1944 by Japanese geologist Ken-ichi Sugi off the island of Iwagi in Shikoku, Japan.  However, this minerals beautiful hues and attractive attributes are making it extremely popular in the jewelry marketplace. 

Sugilite is made from many different types of elements including Potassium, Sodium, Maganese, Lithium, Iron, Aluminum and Silicate, its crystal structure is very poor, but since it is found in large masses, it is usually sold in larger pieces that compliment other types of gemstones.

The hues that Sugilite comes in are varied.  For instance, it’s most notable hue and most valuable hue is that of a very deep and rich purple.  The stone is usually translucent to opaque, however when it comes in purple and of very large mass, it is usually opaque with a waxy luster.  Other colors that Sugilite comes in are yellow, brown, black, a pale pink and yellow.

It should be noted that Sugilite is the perfect gemstone to use to accent other stones, specifically Turquoise, Malachite and Coral.  It can be cut into many shapes and sizes, but it usually looks its best in larger sizes do to its crystal formation.

This mineral does make great jewelry, because it has a decent hardness of 6 to 6.5 on the Moh’s scale and is generally stable in its color.  It is not brittle and will be perfect for day to day use.  Because of its wonderful attributes, many jewelry insiders predict that Sugilite will grow in popularity in the next coming years.