gemstone
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 conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, purple to violet color, vitreous luster, hexagonal crystal system, and conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Forms within gas cavities in igneous rocks or hydrothermal veins when silica-rich fluids cool over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in fine jewelry, decorative sculptures, and as a popular mineral specimen for collectors.
Geological facts
Its distinct purple color is caused by iron impurities combined with natural irradiation during formation.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its purple prismatic crystal tips and hard quartz matrix; commonly sourced from Brazil, Uruguay, and Zambia.
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