gemstone
Amethyst
Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale; color ranges from pale lilac to deep purple; vitreous (glassy) luster; trigonal crystal system; distinct conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage; specific gravity of 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale; color ranges from pale lilac to deep purple; vitreous (glassy) luster; trigonal crystal system; distinct conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage; specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms in hydrothermal veins, volcanic gas cavities (geodes), and pegmatites where silica-rich solutions cool and precipitate iron impurities under irradiation.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, crystal healing, and as a collector's mineral specimen.
Geological facts
Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz and was historically considered a precious gemstone equivalent in value to diamond and ruby until large deposits were discovered in Brazil.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive purple color and hexagonal crystal habit or conchoidal fracture. Common sources include Brazil, Uruguay, Zambia, and the United States.
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