gemstone
Amethyst Beads
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, deep purple to pale violet color, vitreous luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, deep purple to pale violet color, vitreous luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity of 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins and gas cavities (vugs/geodes) within volcanic rocks, often through the cooling of silica-rich solutions containing trace amounts of iron
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry, ornamental carvings, bead-stringing, and as a popular collector specimen or spiritual crystal
Geological facts
Amethyst was once considered one of the cardinal gemstones of high value until large deposits were discovered in Brazil during the 19th century
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinctive purple coloration and hard quartz durability; commonly sourced from Brazil, Uruguay, Zambia, and parts of the United States
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