Short answer: amethyst is purple quartz. Its color comes from traces of iron in the crystal combined with natural radiation. It rates 7 on the Mohs scale, grows in crystal-lined geodes and veins, and is the birthstone for February. Its name comes from an ancient Greek belief that it kept the wearer from drunkenness, and it remains one of the most popular stones in crystal collections.
What is amethyst?
Amethyst is the violet variety of quartz, silicon dioxide (SiO2). It is hard, 7 on the Mohs scale, has no cleavage and breaks with a curved, shell-like fracture, which makes it durable for jewelry and carvings.
Its color ranges from pale lavender to deep purple, sometimes with flashes of red or blue. Amethyst often shows color zoning: crystals are commonly most intense at their tips, with paler color toward the base.
Why is amethyst purple?
Quartz is colorless when pure. In amethyst, small amounts of iron replace silicon in the crystal structure. Natural radiation from surrounding rocks then alters that iron and creates the color centers that absorb light and make the crystal look purple. Other trace elements play a part too.
Because the color depends on those color centers, it can change. Amethyst can fade if it is overexposed to strong light, and heating changes it: moderate heat turns amethyst yellow, orange or brown, which is how most citrine on the market is made, and partial heating can produce ametrine, a crystal that is part purple and part yellow.
Amethyst geodes
Amethyst is one of the classic geode minerals. In the thick basalt lava flows of southern Brazil and northern Uruguay, gas bubbles in the lava became cavities that later filled with amethyst crystals, sometimes forming geodes large enough to stand in. A 3.7 meter tall, 4 ton amethyst geode from Artigas, Uruguay, stands in the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Smaller cathedrals, clusters and geode halves from these deposits are some of the most familiar pieces in any crystal shop. The geodes guide explains how they form.
Where does amethyst come from?
Russia was the main source until the 19th century, when large deposits were found in Brazil. Amethyst had been as rare as ruby or emerald; suddenly it was abundant.
Today important sources include Brazil, especially Rio Grande do Sul, and Artigas in Uruguay, both known for geodes; the Anahí mine in Bolivia, also the source of ametrine; and Zambia, whose Kariba mine is one of the world's largest producers and known for richly colored material. Amethyst also comes from Thunder Bay in Ontario, and in the United States from Four Peaks in Arizona.
A royal and religious stone
The name comes from the Greek amethystos, "not intoxicated". Ancient Greeks wore amethyst and carved drinking cups from it in the belief that it would prevent drunkenness, and its wine-like color linked it with Bacchus, the god of wine. It was also believed to keep the wearer clear-headed in battle and business.
Amethyst became a stone of royalty and the church. In the Middle Ages it decorated English regalia, and Catherine the Great of Russia was known for her amethyst jewelry. Anglican bishops wear an episcopal ring often set with an amethyst. Before the Brazilian discoveries, amethyst was counted among the five cardinal gems, precious above all others.
What is amethyst traditionally associated with?
In modern crystal traditions, amethyst is associated with calm, clarity, intuition and spiritual awareness. It is one of the stones most often used in meditation, and it is commonly linked with the third eye and crown chakras. It is the February birthstone, the gem of the sixth wedding anniversary, and some lists pair it with Aquarius and Pisces.
These are traditions and beliefs. They are part of why people choose amethyst, not properties you can measure in the stone.
What colors and varieties are there?
- Deep purple with red and blue flashes is the most valued color. The finest grade is sometimes called Deep Siberian, after the historic Russian material.
- Rose de France is the trade name for pale lilac to lavender amethyst, once considered less desirable and now popular.
- Ametrine is a natural mix of amethyst and citrine in one crystal.
- "Green amethyst" is a trade name for green quartz, properly called prasiolite. It is not purple amethyst.
Raw, tumbled and polished amethyst
Clusters, geode halves and cathedrals keep their natural crystal points. Points and towers are often cut from larger crystals. Tumbled stones, palm stones, spheres and hearts show its color and its natural zoning. Because amethyst is hard, polished pieces hold their shine well.
Amethyst jewelry
At 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage, amethyst is a practical, affordable gem for rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets, and it is widely available in large sizes.
How do you care for amethyst?
- Clean it with warm, soapy water and a soft brush, then dry it.
- Keep it out of prolonged strong sunlight, which can fade the color over time.
- Avoid high heat, which changes amethyst's color.
- Store it apart from softer stones, which it can scratch.
How can you tell real amethyst?
- Color zoning: natural amethyst usually shows uneven color, darker at the tips of crystals or in bands. Perfectly even color throughout can suggest glass or synthetic material.
- Inclusions: natural stones often have small inclusions or veils. Round gas bubbles point to glass.
- Temperature: quartz feels cool and warms slowly.
- Hardness: amethyst scratches glass.
- Dyed quartz can show color concentrated in cracks.
Synthetic amethyst is grown in laboratories by a hydrothermal process. It is real quartz, but it should be sold as synthetic.
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Frequently asked questions
Can amethyst go in the sun?
Not for long periods. Amethyst can fade if it is overexposed to strong light, so keep display pieces, especially geodes by windows, out of prolonged direct sun.
Can amethyst go in water?
Yes. Amethyst is hard and not water soluble, so rinsing it or washing it with mild soap is safe. Dry it afterward.
What is amethyst traditionally associated with?
In crystal traditions it is associated with calm, clarity and intuition, and with the third eye and crown chakras. Historically it was believed to keep the wearer from drunkenness. These are traditions rather than measurable properties.
Is amethyst a February birthstone?
Yes. Amethyst is the birthstone for February and the gem of the sixth wedding anniversary.
What is the difference between amethyst and citrine?
Both are quartz. Amethyst is purple and citrine is yellow to orange. Heating amethyst turns it yellow to orange, which is how most citrine on the market is produced.
What is the most valuable color of amethyst?
Deep purple with flashes of red and blue is the most valued. The finest grade is sometimes called Deep Siberian, after historic Russian material. Pale lilac amethyst, sold as Rose de France, is less costly.
Sources
- GIA, February Birthstone: https://www.gia.edu/birthstones/february-birthstones
- Wikipedia, Amethyst: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amethyst
- Geology.com, Quartz: https://geology.com/minerals/quartz.shtml
- GIA, Citrine: https://www.gia.edu/citrine