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 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 no true cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins and gas cavities within volcanic rocks from cooling silica-rich solutions.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry, ornamental carvings, and as a popular collector specimen.
Geological facts
The purple color is caused by irradiation and trace amounts of iron impurities substituting for silicon.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive purple hue and conchoidal fracture; commonly found in Brazil, Uruguay, and the Ural Mountains.
