mineral
Amethyst
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron impurities
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Purple, violet, or lavender; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Purple, violet, or lavender
- Luster
- Vitreous (glassy)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Purple, violet, or lavender; Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed in hydrothermal veins and volcanic geodes when silica-rich water precipitates in cavities. The purple color is caused by trace amounts of iron irradiated by natural radiation.
Uses & applications
Widely used for jewelry, as status symbols, in crystal healing practices, and as decorative display specimens.
Geological facts
Amethyst is the birthstone for February. Its name comes from the Greek word 'amethystos', meaning 'not intoxicated', as it was once believed to protect the wearer from drunkenness.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its 6-sided prism shape (if terminated), purple hue, and inability to be scratched by steel. Commonly found in Brazil, Uruguay, Zambia, and Arizona.
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