Amethyst
Amethyst is mother nature’s classy version of a quartz crystal!
They are visually stunning and have been in demand for many centuries. Its name derives from the Greek "amethystos", which means "not drunken", as Amethyst in ages past was thought to ward off drunkenness. This gemstone is also said to protect its wearer against seduction. Moses described it as a symbol of the Spirit of God in the official robes of the High Priest of the Jews. If this stone were not so readily available it would be extremely expensive based upon demand.
The color of some Amethyst may slowly fade upon constant exposure to light. Amethyst changes color when it is heated. Amethyst is sometimes heat treated to deepen its color, or to transform it into Citrine. The color of certain varieties can change to a light green color, which is called "Prasiolite". Smoky colored stones can be transformed to a yellow to brownish-red and clear ones may become yellow. The natural geothermal heating sometimes creates multi-color stones, like the specimens found in Bolivia, a variety called Ametrine. One of the best websites we have found to help "Identify the Location" your specimens came from is www.galleries.com/Amethyst
They have an excellent section describing the specimen formations from most of the source locales for Amethyst such as Uruguay, Brazil, Thunder Bay Canada, Mexico and Africa
Brazilian Amethyst crystals are attractive to look at and form in drusy coatings that line the inside of sometimes large volcanic pockets or “vugs”. Some of the vugs form from trees that were engulfed in a lava flow while other vugs are gas bubbles trapped in the lava. Brazilian vugs can be very large and form crystals that are pale lavender to dark purple in color. The quality of these for gemstones is not as good as others due to the fact that the color is not consistent throughout the crystal but is on the outer surfaces and on the tops of the crystals. Most clusters form with gray, white and blue agate and have a green exterior on the vugs. Inclusions of calcite and cacoxenite are common.
African Amethyst crystals are usually large but not as attractive as Brazilian Amethyst. However, the interior color and clarity are excellent and polished slices and carvings as well as many gemstones from Africa are prized and admired. Colors range from very pale lavender to a very dark purple. Most of the South African Amethyst is formed in vugs of white or tan, to light grey basalt.
Uruguay Amethyst from the Artigas area is the most sought after locale. The specimens from Artigas are more pure and a deeper, richer color than most finds. Artigas amethyst is found as vugs deep in hard rock base and requires major excavation to find the geode like vugs of amethyst. Until 1999 this amethyst was hand dug or excavated with small machinery. Specimens have been sold through Idar-Oberstein German markets for many years.
Item # 1AMURGU12211002
Beautiful Deep Purple Uruguay Amethyst Geode Plate
$59.00
This is a beautiful geode plate of deep purple Uruguay Amethyst we procured from a mineral dealer in Wisconsin on a 2021 trip we made. Amethyst from Uruguay is mined from the same igneous (volcanic) rock formation as the Amethyst to the North in Brazil.
This specimen weighs 13.9 oz or 0.87 lb (396g) and measures 4.3 x 2.2 x 2.4 inches (11.1 x 5.6 x 6.3cm )
Item # 49 AMURGU0922LR8084
Beautiful Deep Purple Uruguay Amethyst Geode
$97.00
This is a beautiful geode of deep purple Uruguay Amethyst. Amethyst from Uruguay is mined from the same igneous (volcanic) rock formation as the Amethyst to the North in Brazil. This geode has polished blue Chalcedony edges all around the vug opening.
This specimen weighs 63.6 oz or 3.98 lb (1.8 kg) and measures 6.5 x 4.5 x 4.51 inches (16.6 x 11.3 x 11.4cm )
Item # 1SMOKAMYTH03201154
Beautiful Smoky Amethyst Quartz Crystals with Red Hematite Fire Inclusions
$89.00
This is a beautiful specimen of Smoky Amethyst we procured from a mineral dealer in 2015. This was mined from the Purple Heart Mine in South Carolina which is a private mine not open to the public. The red Hematite Fire inclusions are exclusive in smoky amethyst to this mine in the regional area. A very nice collectible!
This specimen weighs 8 oz or 0.5 lb (228g) and measures 3.25 x 2.58 x 2.2inches (8.2 x 6.5 x 5.6cm )
Item # 27AMURGU09205014
Beautiful Deep Purple Uruguay Amethyst Geode Plate
$113.58
This is a beautiful geode plate of deep purple Uruguay Amethyst we procured from a South American mineral dealer. Amethyst from Uruguay is mined from the same igneous (volcanic) rock formation as the Amethyst to the North in Brazil. This geode plate has polished edges all around the vug opening. This piece comes with the stand shown in the photo.
This specimen weighs 49.5 oz or 3.1 lb (1.406kg) and measures 6.7 x 4.3 x 2.8 inches (17 x 10.8 x 7cm )
Item # 28AMURGU09209997
Beautiful Deep Purple Uruguay Amethyst Geode Plate
$216.17
This is a beautiful geode plate of deep purple Uruguay Amethyst we procured from a South American mineral dealer. Amethyst from Uruguay is mined from the same igneous (volcanic) rock formation as the Amethyst to the North in Brazil. This geode plate has rough edges all around the vug opening. This piece comes with the stand shown in the 1st photo.
This specimen weighs 94.5 oz or 5.9 lb (2.679kg) and measures 7.7 x 7.7 x 3.7 inches (19.7 x 19.6 x 9.5cm )
Item # 29AMURGU09209938
Large Lavender Purple Uruguay Amethyst Geode
$146.56
This is a large Amethyst polished face geode from Uruguay which we procured from a South American mineral dealer. Amethyst from Uruguay is mined from the same igneous (volcanic) rock formation as the Amethyst to the North in Brazil. This geode plate has rare light green banding around the vug opening.
This specimen weighs 64.4 oz or 4.02 lb (1.826kg) and measures 5.8 x 4.3 x 4.9 inches (14.7 x 10.9 x 12.5cm )
Item # 30AMURGU09209949
Large Purple Uruguay Amethyst Geode
$183.20
This is a large Amethyst polished face geode from Uruguay which we procured from a South American mineral dealer. Amethyst from Uruguay is mined from the same igneous (volcanic) rock formation as the Amethyst to the North in Brazil. This geode has rare green banding all around the vug opening. This piece comes with the stand shown in left photo.
This specimen weighs 80.4 oz or 5.03 lb (2.282kg) and measures 6 x 4.6 x 6.1 inches (15.3 x 11.6 x 15.6cm )
Mexico Amethyst is found in Chihuahua, Durango, Guerrero and Veracruz areas. The amethyst found in the State of Veracruz is in the mountainous area near the town Las Vigas. Guerrero and Veracruz are known for high quality floater crystal specimens, while Chihuahua and Durango are best known for amethyst plates, crystals on matrix and geodes
Item # 12AMMX09171122
Beautiful Lavender Amethyst with Selenite on Quartz Matrix
$49.00
This is a beautiful old stock specimen of light purple Amethyst crystals with white selenite plates on a quartz matrix. We procured this from a mineral dealer in New Mexico years ago. It was glued into a foam block that has totally disintegrated. There is orange glue on the bottom of this piece which we elected to leave as is. We believe this specimen was collected in the 1960's based upon information from the dealer who sold it to us. It is from Chihuahua, Mexico and has been in our collection for over 25 years.
This specimen weighs 2.24 oz or 0.14 lb (64g) and measures 2.5 x 1.8 x 1.5 inches (6.3 x 4.6 x 3.9cm )
Item # 31AMURGU09209987
Large Purple Uruguay Amethyst Geode
$144.36
This is a large Amethyst polished face geode from Uruguay which we procured from a South American mineral dealer. Amethyst from Uruguay is mined from the same igneous (volcanic) rock formation as the Amethyst to the North in Brazil. This geode has rare green and a second rust orange-brown banding all around the vug opening. This piece comes with the stand shown in left photo.
This specimen weighs 63.1 oz or 3.94 lb (1.789kg) and measures 6.9 x 2.8 x 5.7 inches (17.7 x 7.1 x 14.5cm )
We have listed amethyst specimens newly available available from Brazil ... on this page... https://spiritrockshop.com/amethyst-from-brazil/ Click photo on the left to see our Brazilian Amethyst Page we are always looking for new specimens for your collections....
Item # 51 AMGURU0922LR9083
Beautiful purple Amethyst Geode from Uruguay
$92.00
This is a beautiful geode of deep purple Uruguay Amethyst. Amethyst from Uruguay is mined from the same igneous (volcanic) rock formation as the Amethyst to the North in Brazil. This geode has polished edges all around the vug opening.
This specimen weighs 33.1oz or 2.07 lb (941g) and measures 6.3 x 3.4 x 2.7 inches (15.9 x 8.8 x 6.8cm )
Item # 50 AMGURU0922LR1004
Beautiful purple Amethyst Geode from Uruguay
$79.00
This is a beautiful geode of deep purple Uruguay Amethyst. Amethyst from Uruguay is mined from the same igneous (volcanic) rock formation as the Amethyst to the North in Brazil. This geode has polished edges all around the vug opening.
This specimen weighs 18.6oz or 1.16 lb (529g) and measures 4.48 x 2.98 x 2.8 inches (11.3 x 7.5 x 7.1cm )
Thunder Bay Canada Amethyst has a distinct red hematite inclusion just below the surface of the crystals or coating the outside of the points. This characteristic is unique to this locality. Crystals are normally drusy coatings that line or fill the fissures that develop in metamorphic rock during its formation. Crystal points are highly in demand and rather rare to find
Item # AMTBP09162192
3.4 in Amethyst Point from Thunder Bay, Canada
$125.00
Beautiful deep purple Thunder Bay, Canada Amethyst Point. This specimen is a real classic collection piece with a chevron like formation from this locality. This specimen came from a retired mineral collector in Quartzsite, Arizona in the early 2000's.
It weighs 6.9 oz or 0.43 lb (197g) and measures 3.4 x 2 x 1.8 in (8.6 x 5.3 x 4.7cm )
Item # AMTBP09161203
Large Amethyst Point Tip from Thunder Bay, Canada
$59.00
Large purple Thunder Bay, Canada Amethyst Point Tip. This specimen is was procured from a Mineral Dealer in Franklin, North Carolina at the May 2016 Franklin Gem and Mineral Show. This Amethyst Point makes a nice large cabinet display
It weighs 21.7 oz or 1.35 lb (616g) and measures 4.1 x 3.4 x 2.8 in (10.4 x 8.6 x 7.1cm )
Item # AMTB041100AA
Purple Thunder Bay Amethyst Crystals on matrix
$24.00
Thunder Bay Amethyst Crystal Vein Specimen This piece of Amethyst Crystal vein is on a matrix of pink-tan Barite blades and Hematite. Has vug that penetrates through the specimen.
Specimen weighs 1 lb (496g) and measures 4.7 x 2.7 x 2.2" (11.9 x 6.9 x 5.6cm)
Reel Mine (aka Reel Amethyst Mine) near Iron Station, Lincoln County, North Carolina
Lewis Sigmon 165 lb Amethyst Cluster Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum Linville, North Carolina
The Reel Mine was mined years ago for amethyst for abrasives. This world class mine located in the Western North Carolina Mountains was once mined by Tiffany and Company for gem grade amethyst. Some of the finest North American amethyst was recovered from this location over many years.
On November 4, 1972, Lewis Sigmon, in the Reel Mine in Iron Station, North Carolina, discovered the largest amethyst cluster ever found in North America which is two feet long, two feet wide and one foot high; it weighs a massive 165 pounds. The intense purple pigment of the gem (which has been compared a glass of grape juice held up to sunlight) is as remarkable a feature as its size and is a result of manganese dust, a characteristic of the mine from which the amethyst came. This famous Amethyst cluster currently resides in the Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum in Linville, North Carolina. http://www.grandfather.com/things-to-do/the-nature-museum/
It was actually a fee-based operation where rockhounds could dig until an altercation prompted the owners to shut it down. The mine has been closed to collectors for a number of years.
Item # AMRMNC11160594
Smoky Amethyst Quartz Reel Mine Lincoln County N.C.
$129.00
This is a Rare Amethyst Cluster from the Classic Locality, the Reel Mine (aka Reel Amethyst Mine) located near Iron Station, Lincoln County, North Carolina. Specimens from this location are very hard to come by. The crystals have superb glassy luster and are very richly piled up and set off by the largest crystal forming at the top. Old Timers called this "Real Mine Amethyst", but this is more correctly referred to as Smoky Amethyst Quartz. It is basically Smoky Quartz with Amethyst Phantoms. There is a beautiful combination of smoky and amethystine hues, and the crystals have enough clarity to see this beautiful color mix. This piece came from a 1950 to 1978 estate collection (see old sticker on bottom of display case). It is glued down to Styrofoam and set in a 2-1/2" display cube. The weight listed excludes the weight of the display cube. This is a highly sought after specimen from this classic location...not another one like it!
It weighs 3.2 oz or 0.2 lb (91g) and measures 2.3 x 1.8 x 1.3 in (5.9 x 4.6 x 3.5cm )
Item # AMRMNC11169594
Smoky Amethyst Quartz Reel Mine Lincoln County N.C.
$129.00
This is a Rare Amethyst Cluster from the Classic Locality, the Reel Mine (aka Reel Amethyst Mine) located near Iron Station, Lincoln County, North Carolina. Specimens from this location are very hard to come by. The crystals have superb glassy luster and are very richly piled up and set off by the two largest crystals forming at the top. Old Timers called this "Real Mine Amethyst", but this is more correctly referred to as Smoky Amethyst Quartz. It is basically Smoky Quartz with Amethyst Phantoms. There is a beautiful combination of smoky and amethystine hues, and the crystals have enough clarity to see this beautiful color mix. This piece came from a 1950 to 1978 estate collection (see old sticker on bottom of display case). It is glued down to Styrofoam and set in a 2-1/2" display cube. The weight listed excludes the weight of the display cube. This is a highly sought after specimen from this classic location...not another one like it!
It weighs 3.2 oz or 0.2 lb (93g) and measures 2.2 x 1.8 x 1.5 in (5.6 x 4.7 x 4cm )