Name: Rough Amethyst from Brazil - 39.6 CTW
Brand: GemerLand
SKU: SR-AMTH00053
Price: 27.95 AUD
Availability: InStock

Amethyst is a purple variety of the mineral. It occurs in all intensities of the color purple from a light pastel to a depth of royal splendor. Until the beginning of the 20th century it was quite rare and costly. When vast deposits were found in Brazil, amethyst became very accessible and affordable. Amethyst has always been linked to the thinking process, ensuring clarity of vision.

Name	Amethyst
Is a Variety of	Quartz
Refractive Index	1.544-1.553
Colors	Pale lilac to deep reddish purple. May have color zoning.
Hardness	7
Wearability	Very Good
Enhancements	Amethyst can be heat treated to improve the color or change it to citrine. Not common.
Typical Treatments	Heat Treatment
Etymology	From the Ancient Greek amethystos, meaning “not drunk.” It was believed you could drink all night and remain sober if you had an amethyst in your mouth.
Inclusions	Prismatic crystals and negative cavities, thumbprint marks, so-called rippled fractures, and twinning lines.

Enhancements

A variety of treatments can change the color of amethysts. However, strictly speaking, only those gems with lilac to deep purple colors remain amethysts. All others simply become different colored varieties of quartz. For example, amethysts heated to yellow or red-orange colors are, by definition, citrines.

Sources

Today’s major sources are Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Zambia. Brazil can produce stones of large size but generally moderate color. They often show uneven color, despite the best efforts of cutters to minimize it. Many gem enthusiasts prefer the usually smaller but more richly colored stones from Zambia as well as, more recently, Uruguay.

Care

Although quartz gems are very durable, amethysts are sensitive to extreme heat. Furthermore, inclusions can make these gems susceptible to shattering in ultrasonic cleaners. Avoid mechanical cleaning systems and stick to a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water, instead.