Charoite or Sugilite

beverly off to a rocking start Member since October 2017 Posts: 4	Charoite or Sugilite Oct 13, 2017 9:19:00 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by beverly on Oct 13, 2017 9:19:00 GMT -5 I'm sure you all know an easy way to tell the difference between Charoite and Sugilite. I have small rough chunk maybe 2" x 3" and don't know how to tell which one it is.
	Last Edit: Oct 13, 2017 9:19:26 GMT -5 by beverly

Dr DG fully equipped rock polisher Gone Fishing Member since April 2005 Posts: 1,848	Charoite or Sugilite Oct 13, 2017 11:04:35 GMT -5 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Dr DG on Oct 13, 2017 11:04:35 GMT -5 post a photo
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rockjunquie
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Member since March 2012
Posts: 34,970

Charoite or Sugilite Oct 13, 2017 11:19:48 GMT -5 fantastic5 likes this

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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 13, 2017 11:19:48 GMT -5

Pictures would be good, but they really are miles apart. Does it have swirls of different shades of purple or any chatoyancy? If so then it is charoite. Sugilte is harder and is more apt to be a solid purple.

Deleted Deleted Member Member since January 1970 Posts: 0	Charoite or Sugilite Oct 13, 2017 19:19:15 GMT -5 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2017 19:19:15 GMT -5 ~~Sugilite scratches with a fingernail, charoite does not.~~
	Last Edit: Oct 14, 2017 7:30:54 GMT -5 by Deleted

gemfeller
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Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059

Charoite or Sugilite Oct 13, 2017 20:43:21 GMT -5 rockpickerforever, rockjunquie, and 1 more like this

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Post by gemfeller on Oct 13, 2017 20:43:21 GMT -5

Oct 13, 2017 19:19:15 GMT -5 @shotgunner said:

Sugilite scratches with a fingernail, charoite does not.

That just ain't so Amigo, unless your fingernails are 6 to 6.5 Mohs hardness. Maybe you're thinking of stichtite which has similar color but is very soft. Sugilite has (generally) consistent violet color though some pieces can contain slight patterning but it's usually straight lines. Some gel material is translucent and quite expensive.

Charoite is a little softer, 5 to 6 Mohs, but still too hard to be scratched by a fingernail. It is pattered with swirls of purple lines against a lighter background hue of lavender. These are cabs I've cut of both for visual comparison with your material:

Slightly patterned sugilite with red traces of bustamite:

Charoite:

Deleted
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Member since January 1970
Posts: 0

Charoite or Sugilite Oct 14, 2017 7:29:58 GMT -5 via mobile fernwood and zekesman like this

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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2017 7:29:58 GMT -5

Oct 13, 2017 20:43:21 GMT -5 gemfeller said:

Oct 13, 2017 19:19:15 GMT -5 @shotgunner said:

Sugilite scratches with a fingernail, charoite does not.

That just ain't so Amigo, unless your fingernails are 6 to 6.5 Mohs hardness. Maybe you're thinking of stichtite which has similar color but is very soft. Sugilite has (generally) consistent violet color though some pieces can contain slight patterning but it's usually straight lines. Some gel material is translucent and quite expensive.

Charoite is a little softer, 5 to 6 Mohs, but still too hard to be scratched by a fingernail. It is pattered with swirls of purple lines against a lighter background hue of lavender. These are cabs I've cut of both for visual comparison with your material:

Slightly patterned sugilite with red traces of bustamite:

Charoite:

Stichtite. You are correct. I had the wrong name (again!)