
mineral
Amethyst
Quartz (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, purple color, vitreous luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, and specific gravity of 2.65.
Identified More mineral →
Explore Amethyst in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, purple color, vitreous luster, trigonal crystal system, conchoidal fracture, and specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms in hydrothermal veins and gas cavities within volcanic rocks when silica-rich fluids cool with trace iron impurities.
Uses & applications
Widely used in fine jewelry, ornamental carvings, and holistic crystal collections.
Geological facts
Its purple color is caused by natural irradiation of iron impurities substituting for silicon in the quartz lattice.
Field identification & locations
Identified easily by its distinctive purple hue and conchoidal fracture; found globally with major deposits in Brazil, Uruguay, and Zambia.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Gneiss or Schist
Gneiss or Mica Schist with Garnet
Metamorphic
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Tumbled granite
Granite, a coarse-grained felsic intrusive igneous rock
igneous
Pegmatite with Tourmaline and Quartz
Igneous Pegmatite
igneous
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic
Granite
Granite (Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock)
igneous