In the Quartz group, Amethyst is the most sought after. Per the Gemstones of the World 5th Edition by Walter Schumann: "The name means “not drunken” (Greek), as amethyst was worn as an amulet against drunkenness.” Some amethysts lose color in daylight. Heat treatment also changes the color from the purple hues. The original color can be restored by X-ray radiation, if you have access to it. :) 

A: Light purple Amethyst Heart Pendants 

B: Light purple Amethyst Faceted Oval beads

C: Light purple Amethyst Rounds

D: Medium purple Amethyst Nugget beads

E: Dark purple Amethyst Chips

F: Amethyst dyed a bluer purple - or this is a dyed quartz. The seller said it was Amethyst.

G:Dark purple Amethyst faceted rondelles

Sources:

Amethyst can be found in Brazil, Madagascar, Zambia, Uruguay, Burma (Myanmar), India, Canada, Mexico, Namibia, Russia, Sri Lanka, and the US.

Care of Amethyst:

Amethyst can lose the purple color in daylight. Because it is a brittle stone, Amethyst can chip or break if dropped onto a hard surface. Store your Amethyst jewelry in a soft and dark container and when wearing, try to keep the stone from contacting harder substances.

Metaphysical Properties:

According to the Crystal Bible by Judy Hall, "Amethyst is an extremely powerful and protective stone with a high spiritual vibration. It guards against psychic attack, transmuting the energy into love. A natural tranquilizer, Amethyst blocks geopathic stress and negative environment energies. Its serenity enhances higher states of consciousness and meditation. Amethyst has strong healing and cleansing powers, and enhances spiritual awareness”

Amethyst can be confused with precious beryl, fluorite, kunzite, spinel, topaz, tourmaline, and tinted glass. There is a lot of synthetic amethyst in the gemstone market. See example F above. It was labeled and sold as Amethyst, but undoubtedly has been dyed. Unless I get a professional test, I would say that at best it is dyed Amethyst, and maybe it is dyed quartz.

Physical Properties:

Per the Gemstones of the World 5th Edition by Walter Schumann: "

• Color: purple, violet, pale red-violet
• Color of streak: white
• Mohs' hardness: 7
• Density: 2.65
• Cleavage: None
• Fracture: Conchoidal, very brittle
• Crystal system: (Trigonal) hexagonal prisms
• Chemical composition: SiO2 Silicon dioxide
• Transparency: Transparent
• Refractive index: 1.544-1.553
• Double refraction: -+0.009
• Dispersion: 0.013 0.008)
• Pleochroism: Weak: reddish-violet, gray-violet
• Absorption Spectrum: (550-520)
• Fluorescence: Weak; Bluish

I have been waiting a long time to create more amethyst pieces. I plan to do that for next month. Stay tuned!

Join the Newsletter if you haven't already and then go shopping in the menu above.