Amethyst is the purple variety of the mineral Quartz, and is its most famous and valuable gem variety. Quartz also contains other gemstones such as Citrine, Rose Quartz, and Smoky Quartz. The color of Amethyst is most often caused by iron impurities, though it can also be colored by natural radiation exposure.

Understanding the Context

Amethyst is sometimes heat treated to deepen the color, or to transform it into ... Amethyst is a well known mineral and gemstone. It is the purple variety of the mineral Quartz, and its most valuable and prized variety. Its name derives from the Greek "amethystos", which means "not drunken", as Amethyst in antiquity was thought to ward off drunkenness.

Key Insights

The color of some Amethyst specimens from certain localities slowly fade upon prolonged exposure to light. When used as a ... Amethyst Quartz - The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom Mixture of Amethyst and Milky Quartz (or clear Quartz). It is purple on top and white or clear on the bottom. It may also be banded purple and white.

Final Thoughts

Amethyst Quartz is usually tumbled or polished into beads. Amethyst from Rhode Island from Diamond Hill, Ashaway, south of Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island Green Amethyst - The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom Light green gem form of Quartz that is artificially colored by heat-treating certain types of Amethyst. Also known as "Prasiolite". Citrine is the yellow to brownish-red variety of the mineral Quartz. It is a widely used as a gemstone, and after Amethyst it is the most popular Quartz gem. Most Citrine is formed by heat treating purple Amethyst.

Citrine may also be produced by heat-treating Smoky Quartz from certain localities. In some Amethyst deposits, the Amethyst has been partially or fully changed over to yellow ... Much Amethyst is also heat treated to intensify color, and a green transparent form known as "Green Amethyst" or "Prasiolite" is formed by heat treating certain types of Amethyst. There is also a transparent sky blue form of Quartz crystals, as well as a wildly iridescent type that are synthetically colored by irradiation of gold.