mineral

Amethyst

Amethyst (Silica mineral, SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Purple, violet, or lavender; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal (crystalline quartz); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Purple, violet, or lavender
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified March 18, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins or geodes within volcanic rock. The purple color is caused by trace amounts of iron impurities irradiated by natural radiation. Can be found in rocks from various geological ages, frequently in Cretaceous basalt.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a gemstone in jewelry (rings, necklaces, earrings) and as a lapidary material for carvings or ornamental specimens for collectors.

Geological facts

Amethyst was once considered one of the 'Cardinal Gems' along with diamond and ruby. Its name comes from the Greek word 'amethystos,' meaning 'not drunken,' as ancient people believed it would prevent intoxication.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its distinctive purple color and hexagonal prism shape in raw form. Commonly found in Brazil, Uruguay, Zambia, and South Korea. Collectors look for deep saturation ('Deep Siberian' color) and high clarity without inclusions.