Introduction: What is an Amethyst and How to Recognize One?
Amethysts are semi-precious gemstones that are found in various colors and hues, but they are typically pinkish purple. Some also have a light amethyst color. Other than this, most of the time amethysts have a light yellowish or brownish tint. Amethysts are generally identified by their excellent hardiness and durability as well as their unique patterns. They can be cut into small pieces to create cabochons or be made into beads.
So what makes them so special? The answer is that they don’t have many flaws like other quartz gems, which means that the amethyst is often cut for jewelry or other uses rather than used for industrial purposes. You should not mix up amethysts with other quartz stones like agates and jaspers as these are very different gemstones.
What are the Different Types of Amethysts and Where can Amethyst be Found?
There are several types of amethyst stones which you can use for a wide variety of purposes. The following is a list of those types:
- Smokey Amethyst – This type is defined by the presence of gray, brown, or black veins in the stone.
- Watermelon Amethyst – This type has a pink to purple color with white creating stripes inside of it. While watermelon amethyst gets its name from this distinctive pattern, it is not the only type of amethyst that looks like this. There are many other variations like green or blue varieties which also bear this appearance.
- Green Amethyst – This type is generally the color green, but it can also be blue or purple in some cases. Scientists are not sure if they are actually amethysts that contain copper within them or if they are rocks that resemble the properties of an amethyst.
- Ametrine – As its name implies, ametrine is a mixture of amethyst and citrine. The color usually ranges from purple to yellow, which creates an attractive stone that you can use for purposes like jewelry or decoration.
- White Amethyst – This type of amethyst has a white color but it may also be gray, brownish, or pale lavender in some cases. White amethysts are often carved into cabs or beads.
- Pink Amethyst – Like the white amethyst, the pink type has a pale color that is similar to the watermelon variety. Pink amethyst stones are also quite popular for use in jewelry and other purposes like decoration.
Now that you know what the different types of amethyst stones are, it is time to learn where you can actually find these gemstones. Brazil has the largest deposits of amethyst, but crystals can also be found in Madagascar, Zambia, Nigeria, Uruguay, India, Canada and the U.S., among other places. Amethysts are mined from open-pit mines or underground mines depending on the conditions of the area.
Recognizing an Amethyst Stone
If you want to identify an amethyst stone, it’s helpful to know what physical properties can help you make that determination. The most common traits include:
The hardness of the mineral is not very high as it usually ranks around 7 on the Mohs scale. This means that the stone is more sensitive to scratches and cracks, but it also means that you can use amethyst for many purposes like jewelry or decoration. The amethyst color typically ranges from pale purple to deep purple. It may even display light yellowish or brownish colors in some cases, which are more common for darker stones. Other than these two colors, amethyst stones may also display attractive patterns of gray, black, or white.
Conclusion
Did you learn what the different types of amethysts are? There are many beautiful stones that can be found around the world, but these showy gemstones are much more than just aesthetically-pleasing stones. They have a lot of practical uses as well.
You should now know enough about amethyst to identify them in the field and know where you can find them.
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