Purpurite sphere

Purpurite is a manganese iron phosphate mineral that usually occurs on the surface of Triphylite due to heavy oxidation. Along with occurring on top of one mineral, it can also be found by itself crystallized in mass formation. This mineral was first discovered back in 1905 by L.C. Graton and W.T. Schaller. They chose to name this newly found rock after the Latin word “purpura”, referencing its purple color. The best known Purpurite specimens usually come from the country of Namibia, but can also be found in France, Western Australia, and North Carolina, USA.

35mm