Interesting facts about Amethyst

Interesting facts about Amethyst

Amethyst is the most highly valued member of the Quartz mineral family, and it has Purple hues that vary from very pale to dark.  The medium-dark to dark tones are considered the most desirable and of course are quite a bit more expensive than the lighter tones.  The finest gems usually come from the Elahara mines in Sri Lanka, and the Pau d'Arco mines in Brazil.

These fine gemstones are deep dark and rich in color, with all the fire in sparkle you would want to see.  Most Amethysts on the market are relatively free of inclusions. Amethyst is heat sensitive, excessive heat could turn the stone colorless, or it may produce a Citrine or green color, whereas an abrupt temperature change may fracture the stone. Chemicals that could attack this gem are hydrofluoric acids, ammonium fluoride, and alkalies.

Amethyst is produced in abundance from the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil where it occurs in large geodes within volcanic rocks. Many of the hollow agates of southwestern Brazil and Uruguay contain a crop of amethyst crystals in the interior. Artigas, Uruguay and neighboring Brazilian state Rio Grande do Sul are large world producers exceeding in quantity Minas Gerais, as well as Mato Grosso, Espirito Santo, Bahia, and Ceará states, all amethyst producers of importance in Brazil.

It is also found and mined in South Korea. The largest opencast amethyst vein in the world is in Maissau, Lower Austria. Much fine amethyst comes from Russia, especially from near Mursinka in the Ekaterinburg district, where it occurs in drusy cavities in granitic rocks. Many localities in south India yield amethyst. One of the largest global amethyst producers is Zambia in southern Africa with an annual production of about 1000 tonnes.

Amethyst occurs at many localities in the United States.[11] Among these may be mentioned: the Mazatzal Mountain region in Gila and Maricopa Counties, Arizona; Red Feather Lakes, near Ft Collins, Colorado; Amethyst Mountain, Texas; Yellowstone National Park; Delaware County, Pennsylvania; Haywood County, North Carolina; Deer Hill and Stow, Maine and in the Lake Superior region of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ontario in Canada. Amethyst is relatively common in Ontario, and in various locations throughout Nova Scotia. The largest amethyst mine in North America is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Amethyst mines can be found in Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Russia, India, Zambia and other African countries. The largest of these mines are in Brazil. Unfortunately, care must be taken when buying Amethyst stones as it is possible to come across some fake stones. Luckily, these fakes can be spotted as the stone will look flawless and too perfect. Natural occurring amethysts will have some flaws inside of the gem indicated that it must have originated in a mine as opposed to being grown.

Up until the 18th century, amethyst was included in the cardinal, or most valuable, gemstones (along with diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald). However, since the discovery of extensive deposits in locations such as Brazil, it has lost most of its value.

Collectors look for depth of color, possibly with red flashes if cut conventionally. As amethyst is readily available in large structures the value of the gem is not primarily defined by carat weight, this is different to most gemstones where the carat weight exponentially increases the value of the stone. The biggest factor in the value of amethyst is the colour displayed.

The highest grade amethyst (called "Deep Russian") is exceptionally rare and therefore, when one is found, its value is dependent on the demand of collectors. It is, however, still orders of magnitude lower than the highest grade sapphires or rubies (padparadscha sapphire or "pigeon's blood" ruby).