mineral

Amethyst

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron impurities

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale lavender to deep purple; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Pale lavender to deep purple
Luster: Vitreous (glassy)

Identified May 23, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale lavender to deep purple; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal structure: Hexagonal/Trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.65

Formation & geological history

Forms in geothermal environments, typically as lining inside volcanic geodes or in hydrothermal veins when silica-rich water cools and crystallizes over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Primarily used in jewelry (as a gemstone), decorative home decor (geodes), and by collectors for its aesthetic and purported metaphysical properties.

Geological facts

The purple color comes from irradiation of iron impurities within the quartz lattice. It was once considered as valuable as diamonds until large deposits were found in Brazil.