mineral

Amethyst Quartz Cluster

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron impurities

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pale to deep purple/violet with smoky/brownish tones. Luster: Vitreous (glassy). Crystal System: Hexagonal/Trigonal. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Pale to deep purple/violet with smoky/brownish tones
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified July 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins and geodes inside volcanic rocks. Purple coloration is due to irradiation of trace iron impurities (Fe3+) within the quartz crystal structure.

Uses & applications

Used extensively as semi-precious gemstone in jewelry, lapidary art, crystal healing, interior decoration, and as a popular collector's mineral specimen.

Geological facts

Amethyst is the official birthstone for February. Its name comes from the ancient Greek 'amethystos', meaning 'not intoxicated', as Greeks believed the gem protected its owner from drunkenness.

Field identification & locations

Identified by six-sided prismatic terminations with distinct purple to violet color. Commonly found in Brazil, Uruguay, Madagascar, Zambia, Russia, and Thunder Bay (Canada).

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