Sugilite

The piece has royal purple bands of parallel fibrous, shimmering and very chatoyant sugilite alternating with bands of comparatively drab lavender-coloured sugilite, all sandwiched between thin external layers of grey-black shale. I was informed that this is one of only five significant such fibrous pieces found and it was bought by Marshall Sussman on a trip to Namibia.

Photo by László Kupi