mineral

Amethyst (or Rose Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pale purple/violet to pink. Luster: Vitreous/glassy. Crystal system: Hexagonal/Trigonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Pale purple/violet to pink
Luster: Vitreous/glassy

Identified July 27, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pale purple/violet to pink. Luster: Vitreous/glassy. Crystal system: Hexagonal/Trigonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific gravity: 2.65.

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins and geodes within igneous rocks (such as basalts and granitic pegmatites) when silica-rich fluids cool and crystallize, with trace elements of iron and natural irradiation imparting color.

Uses & applications

Popular as a gemstone for jewelry, ornamental carvings, crystal healing collections, and decorative mineral specimens.

Geological facts

Amethyst gets its purple color from iron impurities combined with natural gamma irradiation. Historically, ancient Greeks believed amethyst could prevent drunkenness, and its name derives from the Greek word 'amethystos', meaning 'not intoxicated'.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its light purple/violet hue, hardness (scratches glass, cannot be scratched by a steel nail), vitreous luster, and lack of cleavage. Commonly found in Brazil, Uruguay, Madagascar, Zambia, and Russia.