Purpurite is easy to identify with its striking pink purple color.

Chemical Formula: (Mn,Fe)PO4
Class: Volcanic Igneous
Hardness: Varied
Coloration: Almost every shade of purple

How to identify it/Unique Characteristics or Properties:
Purpurite and hetoposite together make up a mineral series. Purpurite has manganese and heteposite has iron. Other than that they are identical. Both minerals are very rare, as purpurite usually forms from the breakdown of lithiophite, which is another rare mineral. Most of the time, purpurite is only a smattering of color on the surface of another mineral as it broke down.

Where to find it in…

The Northwest: N/A
Other: South Africa. In the USA, N. Carolina, California, Black Hills S.D.
Past Uses: It has been rarely used as a pigment in paints because of its bright purple, but because of its rarity it is used sparingly.
How it was Made: Forms when another phosphate mineral breaks down over time.
Interesting Facts: Good luck telling the difference between purpurite and hetoposite, but fortunately that isn’t too necessary and they can be distinguished from everything else by their bright purple.