

The purple color comes from the existence of manganese in clear quartz. However, the shades can include a reddish and milky purple quality. This form of quartz must be purple to be an amethyst. The color of amethyst crystals vary in shades of purple. Amethyst ranges in shades of purple from pale lavender and lilac to a deep intense purple.

These crystals can be found in clusters (or druse) in a geode rock. German amethyst is often pale in color and is found coupled with other forms of crystal such as agates.Īmethyst can be found in other countries around the world, including: Bolivia, Argentina, Madagascar, India and Sri Lanka.Īmethyst is a variety of quartz which naturally occurs in crystal form. Italy's amethyst crystals are of evenly distributed saturation.

Italy and Germany are two of Europe's most notable sites for amethyst. Amethyst is the state gemstone for South Carolina. They range in color from medium to high saturation. The United States is home to amethyst deposits in several states, including: Maine, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Montana, Colorado, Georgia, Arizona, Rhode Island and Virginia. Amethyst druses from Africa contain small crystals of fully saturated color and wonderful clarity. Amethyst is known as the gemstone of Ontario.Īmong the African countries that mine amethyst are Zambia and Namibia. The color unique to Canada includes a reddish inclusion slightly under the surface of each crystal. Amethyst druze is a cluster of small points. Thunder Bay is one of the major sources for Canadian amethyst which is typically mined as crystal druses. Amethyst from Guerrero is typically deep and a highly saturated dark purple. Amethyst from Vera Cruz has a tendency to be of lighter shades and typically clear. Two main sources of amethyst from Mexico include Vera Cruz and Guerrero, Mexico. The larger Uruguayan vugs contain stalactites and other formations on which amethyst druses form. Similar to Brazil, amethyst geode crystals are also found in volcanic vugs in Uruguay. Uruguayn amethyst is considered the darkest and deepest purple available. The amethyst crystals produced in these areas vary in color saturation.Īmethyst from Uruguay vary in saturation from a medium saturated purple to a deep and highly saturated purple. Vugs were often formed from lava and magmatic flow over trees or gas bubbles created by heat convection. These geode rocks containing amethyst crystal are often formed by volcanic material. Vugs are small cavities in rocks that are lined with crystals. These amethyst crystals are found in vugs. The most notable sources of amethyst cathedral geodes in Brazil come from Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Bahia and Maraba. Geode crystals also occur in volcanic gas bubbles.Īmethyst cathedrals (amethyst churches) are typically found in Brazil and Uruguay.

Amethyst crystal sometimes occurs in faults and ancient cracks in rock structure. These geode crystals are given their purple tones by manganese. The formation of amethyst geodes occur in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Amethyst has been found in great quantities in Brazil. Australia is also home to dark, highly saturated amethyst. For example, African amethyst is small, but carries a high saturation in color. The quality of amethyst differs by its locality. For this reason, amethyst prices are affordable. Amethyst is found globally and is easily available. Amethyst is the most valuable form of quartz. Quartz is the most common mineral on earth. Amethyst crystal is found in Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Uruguay, Africa, Europe and the United States. The Dalai LamaĪmethyst (quartz crystal) can be found in many regions around the world. Physical Properties of Amethyst For the Joy of It
