Geological Information

Geological Information for Amethyst

A member of the quartz family with iron in its crystal lattice being naturally irradiated to FE4+ creating purple colour, hence why the colour is uneven.

• As the colour of amethyst is caused by iron-based colour centres, iron minerals are often companions of amethyst. Of those three, goethite, lepidocrocite, and hematite frequently occur as inclusions. If large amounts of FE3+ and FE4+ both exist in a piece you have citrine + amethyst which is called Ametrine.
• Amethyst comes in some wonderful structures:
  • points and double terminators;
  • caves (and broken in to clusters)
    • Amethyst is grows with a matrix of agate or basalt.
  • clusters like clear quartz,
  • elestials;
  • fairy amethyst (very small druzy crystals emerging from the side of the main point);
  • spirit amethyst (side points are more visible to the naked eye);
  • cactus or pineapple amethyst (like spirit amethyst but the side points are quite large e.g.5-20% of the size of the main termination);
  • flowers and angel wings,
  • rosettes
  • layered with chevron patterning.
• More information at geological information on Wikipedia and this German website: here.

General Identification

• Type: Mineral
• Category: oxide
• Formula: Silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2)
• Crystal system: Trigonal
• Crystal class: Trapezohedral (32)
• Colour: pale to dark purple, violet, lavender, indigo, + citrine (ametrine), + smoky quartz (smoky amethyst), + clear quartz, + green quartz (amegreen)
• Crystal habit: 6-sided prism ending in 6-sided pyramid (typical)
• Mohs hardness: 7–lower if impure varieties
• Lustre / Diaphaneity: Transparent to translucent, Vitreous/glassy

Special Notes

• Points and small clusters are good for individual healing.
• Caves and clusters are good for a clear and expanding the energies of a space.
• TAKE CARE - amethyst fades in the sun
• Found as caves which then get broken up into clusters and points.
  • Specialised shapes: amethyst shapes include Amethyst Rosette / Amethyst Hedgehog Uncommon
•  Very unusual shapes not related to amethyst caves:
  • Spirit Quartz
  • Amethyst elestial (specialised variety - Amethyst Flower)
  • Points and clusters that grow like clear quartz as in Brandberg, Vera Cruz, etc.

Specialised Varieties

Auralite-23

• Not to be confused with geological mineral Auralite which has little information about it either. Auralite-23 is a trademark of Robert Simmons and geologists refute all the information being given in this section by the "channelling" of Robert. They believe it to just be an amethyst variation.
• "Scientifically proven as the world's oldest crystal - developed more than 1.5 billion years ago." Note: I personally disagree with this assertion also.
• "Made up of at least 17 of the following 23 healing stones: Titanite, Cacoxenite, Lepidocrosite, Ajoite, Hematite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Goethite, Pyrolusite, Gold, Silver, Platinum, Nickel, Copper, Iron, Rutile, Limonite, Sphalerite, Covellite, Chalcopyrite, Gialite, Epidote, Bornite"

Brandberg Amethyst (also Brandberg Clear Quartz and Smoky Quartz)

• From Namibia's highest mountain, Brandberg Mountain.
• Grow like clear quartz clusters.
• The Brandberg is a spiritual site of great significance to the San (Bushman) tribes - more about the location.
• The crystals are collected by locals rather than formal mining techniques as in Brazil.

Veracruz Amethyst

• From Veracruz, Mexico.
• Grow like clear quartz clusters.
• The crystals are collected by locals rather than formal mining.