mineral

Amethyst Cluster

Silicon Dioxide (Quartz variety: Amethyst) - SiO2

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Light to dark purple, violet. Luster: Vitreous (glassy). Crystal structure: Trigonal (hexagonal system). Cleavage: None, exhibits conchoidal fracture. Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Light to dark purple, violet
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified August 4, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed within gas cavities (vugs or geodes) in volcanic rocks, or within hydrothermal veins where silica-rich solutions precipitate quartz crystals at low to moderate temperatures over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Widely used in jewelry, decorative items, crystal healing, and mineral collecting.

Geological facts

The purple color is caused by natural irradiation of iron impurities substituted for silicon in the crystal lattice. Ancient Greeks believed amethyst could prevent intoxication, hence the name derived from the Greek 'amethystos', meaning 'not intoxicated'.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its distinctive purple color and hexagonal prismatic crystal terminations growing from a matrix base. Commonly found in Brazil, Uruguay, Zambia, and the USA.

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