Pennsylvania, USA - druzy clusters that filled fractures in metamorphic rocks. North Carolina, USA - Druzy clusters that have a bluish-violet tint. Maine, USA - Dark druzy clusters that are not widely distributed today. However, the interior color and clarity are excellent and polished slices and carvings as well as many gemstones are prized and admired. Often amethyst- coated stalactites and other unusual formations occur inside these vugs.Īfrica - crystals are usually large but not attractive. The crystals are usually colored throughout, unlike the Brazilian crystals, and form with a multicolored agate that often contains reds, yellows and oranges. Uruguay - crystals are dark to medium and form in druzy crusts that line the inside of volcanic vugs that have a gray or brown exterior. Clusters are druzy crusts that line the fissures formed in ancient metamorphic rocks. Thunder Bay, Canada - a distinct red hematite inclusion just below the surface of the crystals is unique to this locality. Maraba, Brazil - large crystals with unattractive surfaces that are of a pale to medium color and often carved or cut into slices. Calcite sometimes is associated and inclusions of cacoxenite are common. Most clusters form with gray, white and blue agate and have a green exterior on the vugs. The crystals that form are usually light to medium in color and only colored at the tops of the crystals. Other vugs are just gas bubbles in the lava. Some of the vugs form from trees that were engulfed in a lava flow millions of years ago and have since withered away. Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul, Bahaia, Brazil - crystals form in druzy crusts that line the inside of sometimes large volcanic rock pockets or "vugs". These are some of the most valuable amethysts in the world. Often the crystals are phantomed opposite of Vera Cruz amethyst having a purple interior with a clear or white quartz exterior. Guerrero, Mexico - dark, deep purple, prismatic crystals that radiate outward from a common attachment point. Crystals are typically phantomed, having a clear quartz interior and an amethyst exterior. Vera Cruz, Mexico - very pale, clear, prismatic crystals that are sometimes double terminated and have grown on a light colored host rock. The following is a list of many of the more noteworthy localities and some of the attributes that characterize the amethyst found there. Today, amethyst is a lovely and affordable gemstone that is fortunately available in a wide variety of cut and uncut stones that we can all possess and admire. The color purple is traditionally the color of royalty and amethyst has been used since the dawn of history to adorn the rich and powerful monarchs and rulers. Other cuts can be used when the color is better distributed. Because of the patchiness of the color distribution in the crystals, amethyst is often cut as brilliant round cuts to maximize the color. Often cut gems of amethyst are graded using the terms: Siberian, Uruguayan or Bahrain to represent high medium and low grade respectively, regardless of the actual source. The name "amethyst" comes from the Greek word amethustos which means "not drunken." This was maybe due to a belief that amethyst would ward off the effects of alcohol, but most likely the Greeks were referring to the almost wine-like color of some stones that they may have encountered. The amethyst is one of the first stones collectors are attracted to due to its beautiful color. This coloration is due to a combination of very small amounts of iron and aluminum. The key to this is the specimen's color, shape of crystal, inclusions, associations and character of formation.Īmethyst is part of the Quartz family and its color can be a deep or pale purple and even a smoky purple. Experts can often identify the source mine that a particular amethyst came from. Different localities can produce a unique amethyst to that particular region or even to that particular mine. However, amethyst is not the same everywhere. As a mineral specimen, amethyst is popular for its color and nice crystal shapes that produce a handsome, purple, sparkling cluster. Amethyst can occur as long prismatic crystals that have a six sided pyramid at either end or can form as druzes that are crystalline crusts that only show the pointed terminations. Its color is unparalleled, and even other, more expensive purple gemstones are often compared to its color and beauty.Īlthough it must always be purple to be amethyst, it can and does have a wide range of purple shades. If it were not for its widespread availability, amethyst would be very expensive. Uses: Gemstone ornamental stone Amethyst glass electronicsĬLICK HERE To Purchase Kidz Rocks Amethyst Products.Īmethyst is the purple variety of quartz and is a popular gemstone.
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