Amethyst is the clear purple, mauve or violet form of the mineral quartz. As such it
is related to citrine which is the yellow form of quartz, and also to rock crystal which is
the colorless variety.
Color Variation
It is possible for some specimens of quartz to be different colors in different areas. Amethyst
and citrine are varieties of quartz that can both occur in the same stone. As the photograph
above demonstrates, the difference in color at the two ends create a striking contrast. Such
stones are often called Ametrines.
The beautiful light silky green stone below is also an Amethyst and comes from one
small Amethyst mine in Brazil. This "Green Amethyst" is actually Prasiolite, a rare green
variety of quartz. Since the miners are calling this gemstone "Green Amethyst" . . . we will
do the same. And . . . this one is currently in our inventory.
Name Derivation
Amethyst gets its name from a Greek word amethustos meaning "not drunken", as it was believed
to protect against intoxication by alcohol.
Pricing
Compared with diamond, ruby, emerald and sapphire, amethyst is inexpensive, particularly in
lower quality grades. Even in very high qualities, amethyst is still not expensive, which makes
it an exceptional buy among gemstones. However, the beauty of its deep rich royal purple is
undeniable.
Technical Characteristics
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Chemical Composition:
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SiO2 - Silicon Dioxide
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Hardness:
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7
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Specific Gravity:
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2.65 - 2.66
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Refractive Index (R.I.):
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1.544 - 1.553
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Bi-refringence:
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0.009
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Crystal Structure:
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Trigonal
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Optic Sign:
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Positive
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Optical Character:
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Uniaxial
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