mineral

Tumbled Amethyst Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron impurities

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Soft pale pinkish-purple to deeper violet. Luster: Vitreous to glassy when polished. Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (trigonal). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.65.

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
Color: Soft pale pinkish-purple to deeper violet
Luster: Vitreous to glassy when polished

Identified July 26, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in hydrothermal veins, granitic pegmatites, and volcanic geodes where silica-rich fluids cool and crystallize in the presence of iron traces and natural irradiation over geological timescales.

Uses & applications

Popular for lapidary work, jewelry, tumbling collections, metaphysical practices, and decorative ornamental accents.

Geological facts

Amethyst gets its iconic purple color from trace amounts of iron incorporated into the quartz structure, which are subsequently irradiated by natural ambient radiation. Ancient Greeks believed amethyst could prevent drunkenness.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its distinctive purple tint, glassy luster, and inability to be scratched by steel. Commonly sourced from Brazil, Uruguay, Madagascar, and South Africa.

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