CHEMISTRY (Mn,Fe)PO4
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY Orthorhombic
CRYSTAL GROWTH AND HABITS Crystals of Purpurite are unknown to the author. Purpurite is found as cleavable masses.
COLOR AND OTHER OPTICAL PROPERTIES Purpurite is typically reddish purple to deep red.
HARDNESS 4 - 4.5
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 3.2 - 3.4
LUSTER Satiny on a fresh surface
STREAK Pale purple
BREAKABILITY Purpurite has a good cleavage in one direction and uneven fracture. It is brittle.
OCCURRENCE Purpurite is produced as an oxidation product of the leaching of manganese and iron phosphates, usually the mineral lithiophilite.
ASSOCIATED MINERALS Lithiophilite
NAME From the Latin "purpura" because of its purple color.