Amethyst
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The purple variety of quartz, amethyst ranges from pale lilac to deep violet, its color arising from iron impurities combined with natural irradiation inside the crystal. One of the most widely used gemstones anywhere, and a moderately priced semi-precious stone, it occurs in alluvial deposits and geodes across Brazil, Uruguay, Zambia, and Russia. It crystallizes in the trigonal system and measures 7.0 on the Mohs scale, hard enough for everyday wear. Historically tied to sobriety and royalty, amethyst adorned the crowns of European monarchs and the rings of Catholic bishops for centuries, and it remains the birthstone for February.
Physical & Optical Properties
Category
Semi-Precious Gems
Mohs Hardness
7.0
Specific Gravity
2.65
Refractive Index
1.544 – 1.553
Crystal System
Trigonal
Cleavage
None
Fracture
Conchoidal
Color
purple
Birefringence
0.009
Dispersion
0.013
Pleochroism
Weak: (gray)-purple - reddish-purple
Mohs Hardness
Mohs Hardness: 7.0
1 Soft10 Hard
Crystal System
Value & Market
Price Tier
Moderate ($50-500/ct)
Where to Buy Amethyst
Blue Nile
Fine jewelry retailer
James Allen
Gemstone jewelry
Brilliant Earth
Ethically sourced gems
Amazon
Wide selection
Links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Cultural Significance
Birthstone Month
2 (modern)
Treatments
Heat treatment between 878 - 1382 degrees F (470 - 750 degrees C) produces light yellow, red-brown, green, or colorless varieties. The original color an be restored by X-ray radiation. - Gemstones of the world, Walter Schumann, 2001, p 118
Synthetic amethyst produced by hydrothermal method entered the market in 1970s.
7Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
2.65Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
BrittleWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) Very brittle
NoneWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
ConchoidalWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
The colour does not resist high temperatures. When subjected to the action of heat it changes first to a more or less pronounced yellow, gradually assumes a greenish shade, and finally disappears.Max Bauer, Precious Stones (1968) Dover Publications
1.544 to 1.553Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
0.009Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
Weak: (gray)-purple - reddish-purpleHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
0.013Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Purple, violet, pale red-violetWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references
Some amethysts lose some color in daylight.Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
ReddishHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
Violet to purple, O2+→Fe4+ charge transfer, due to irradiation.W. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011)
Transparent,TranslucentUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
Inert to weak greenish or bluishHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010)
TrigonalUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004)
Hexagonal prismsWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Found in geodes in alluvial deposits.Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
Amethyst information at mindat.org
Bolivia
Laurs (2001, 2010)
Laurs (2001, 2010)
Laurs (2001, 2010)
Brazil
Couto (2000)
Priester (1999)
Rocks & Min.:5:131.
Rocks & Min.: 5:131.
Rocks & Min.:5:131.
Balzer (1999)
R. Batista and D. Epstein (2000)
Cambodia
Ngu and Ngoc (1986)
Canada
Garland (2004)
Sinkankas (1997)
Sinkankas (1997)
India
S. Fernandes (1999)
Kenya
Henn and Milisenda (2001)
Madagascar
Aurisicchio et al. (1999)
Madagascar, extraLapis English No.1, 2001, p. 44
Pezzotta (1999)
Madagascar - extraLapis English No.1, p. 92
Mexico
Ontiveros et al. (2004)
Ontiveros et al. (2004)
Myanmar
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Ted Themelis (2008) Gems & mines of Mogok
Namibia
Michelou (2006)
Nigeria
Laurs and Koivula (2003)
Peru
Russia
P. Lyckberg (2009)
V. Bukanov (1999)
V. Bukanov (1999)
South Korea
Yang et al. (2001)
Sri Lanka
Uruguay
Gilg et al. (2003)
mindat.org
USA
Lowell and Koivula (2004)
Laurs (2005)
About Amethyst
자수정(紫水晶, 아메티스트)은 철 이온의 영향으로 보라색을 띠는 석영의 변종으로, 가장 인기 있는 보석 중 하나입니다. 고대 그리스인들은 자수정이 술에 취하지 않게 해준다고 믿어 포도주 잔에 넣거나 몸에 지니고 다녔습니다. 브라질, 우루과이, 잠비아 등이 주요 산지이며, 짙은 보라색의 '딥 러셀 퍼플(Deep Russian Purple)' 색상이 최고로 여겨집니다.
Jewelry Use
Durability
7/10
Suitable for daily wear
Science FYI Family
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Amethyst?
자수정(紫水晶, 아메티스트)은 철 이온의 영향으로 보라색을 띠는 석영의 변종으로, 가장 인기 있는 보석 중 하나입니다. 고대 그리스인들은 자수정이 술에 취하지 않게 해준다고 믿어 포도주 잔에 넣거나 몸에 지니고 다녔습니다. 브라질, 우루과이, 잠비아 등이 주요 산지이며, 짙은 보라색의 '딥 러셀 퍼플(Deep Russian Purple)' 색상이 최고로 여겨집니다.
What is the hardness of Amethyst?
Amethyst has a Mohs hardness of 7.0, making it excellent for use in jewelry.
What color is Amethyst?
Amethyst is primarily Purple.
How much does Amethyst cost?
Amethyst falls into the Moderate ($50-500/ct) price range. Prices vary based on color, clarity, cut, and origin.
Is Amethyst a birthstone?
Yes, Amethyst is the February birthstone (modern).