gemstone
Amethyst
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron impurities
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Purple to violet, Luster: Vitreous (glassy), Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal, Specific gravity: 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Purple to violet, Luster: Vitreous (glassy), Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal, Specific gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Forms in geothermal environments, often as linings in basaltic geodes or in hydrothermal veins, usually from silica-rich groundwater over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Primarily used in jewelry, ornamental carvings, and as a popular collector's mineral.
Geological facts
Amethyst was once considered as valuable as diamonds until large deposits were discovered in Brazil. Its name comes from the Greek 'amethystos', meaning 'not intoxicated'.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its characteristic purple color and hexagonal crystal prism habit (when raw). Commonly found in Brazil, Uruguay, and Zambia.
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