RocksdayCharoite vs Sugilite
How to tell them apart
A swirling lilac-purple silicate known from only one place on Earth.
Photo: Piotr Sosnowski, CC BY 3.0
A rare, intensely magenta-purple silicate prized for cabochons.
Photo: RDCnet, CC BY-SA 4.0
Key differences
- Sugilite is more magenta and not swirly or silky.
- Charoite is lilac and swirly.
Side by side
| Property | Charoite | Sugilite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 5–6 | 5.5–6.5 |
| Luster | Silky to vitreous | Vitreous to waxy |
| Streak | White | White |
| Colors | Purple, Black, Orange | Purple, Pink |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic (fibrous) | Hexagonal |
| Specific gravity | 2.54–2.78 | 2.74–2.8 |
| Formula | K(Ca,Na)₂Si₄O₁₀(OH,F)·H₂O | KNa₂(Fe,Mn,Al)₂Li₃Si₁₂O₃₀ |
| Found in | Chara River, Siberia, Russia | Wessels mine, South Africa; Iwagi Island, Japan |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify charoite
- Swirling, silky purple with chatoyant streaks.
- Black and orange specks of other minerals.
- Hardness about 5.5.
Crystal system: Monoclinic (fibrous)
Full Charoite guide →How to identify sugilite
- Deep magenta to grape purple, usually opaque.
- Often mottled with black manganese minerals.
- Hardness about 6.
Crystal system: Hexagonal
Full Sugilite guide →More comparisons
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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