mineral
Amethyst
Quartz (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, purple to violet color, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, and no cleavage with conchoidal fracture.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, purple to violet color, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, and no cleavage with conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Forms within gas cavities in volcanic rocks (vesicles) through the precipitation of silica-rich hydrothermal fluids containing trace iron over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used as a popular gemstone in jewelry, decorative crystal specimens, and for metaphysical purposes.
Geological facts
The purple color is caused by natural irradiation of trace iron impurities substituting for silicon in the crystal lattice. Brazil, Uruguay, and Zambia are major global producers.
Field identification & locations
Identified easily by its distinct purple quartz crystal points growing within a basalt or agate matrix. Common in mineral shops and crystal collections worldwide.
