Amethyst

covenofcrystals
Aug 5
2 min read

Chemical Composition

Formula: SiO₂ (Silicon Dioxide)

Mineral Class: Quartz

Crystal System: Trigonal

Hardness: 7 on the Mohs Scale

Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz, coloured primarily by trace amounts of iron (Fe³⁺) and natural gamma radiation exposure. The combination of these factors alters the crystal lattice, producing its signature violet hue.

Colour Range

Pale lavender to deep violet

Reddish-purple (Siberian amethyst)

Bluish-violet

Occasionally bands or zones of white quartz

What Affects Amethyst's Colour:

Iron content: More iron = deeper colour.

Radiation exposure (natural): Essential for violet pigmentation.

Heat: Can fade colour or transform it into citrine (golden quartz).

Some "amethyst" sold on the market is actually heat-treated citrine or synthetic quartz, especially if the colour is unnaturally bright.

Mining Locations

Amethyst is widely found around the world. Some locations are prized for specific qualities of amethyst:

Country	Region	Notes
🇧🇷 Brazil	Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul	Largest deposits; often large, geode-form
🇺🇾 Uruguay	Artigas	Deep purple, high saturation, sought after for jewelry
🇿🇲 Zambia	Kariba region	High-quality, bluish-purple tones
🇷🇺 Russia	Ural Mountains	"Siberian" amethyst – reddish-purple, very rare
🇲🇽 Mexico	Guerrero, Vera Cruz	Delicate lavender and prismatic crystals
🇺🇸 USA	Arizona, North Carolina, Georgia	Smaller deposits; Thunder Bay in Canada is also known
🇮🇳 India	Maharashtra	Lesser-known commercial sources

Spiritual & Metaphysical Uses

Amethyst is one of the most revered stones in the spiritual and metaphysical world, used for centuries for its calming, protective, and purifying qualities.

Spiritual awareness

Inner peace

Protection

Intuition

Sobriety

Healing