Properties
Chemistry: SiO2
Color: Violet, Redviolet
Crystal system: Trigonal
Mohs Scale hardness: 7
Refractive index: 1,544-1,553
Birefringence: +0,009
Specific gravity: 2,63-2,65
Information
Can be confused with
Beryl, Flourite, Kunzite, spinel, topaz, tourmaline and colored glass. There is also an abundance of synthetic quartz on the gemstone market, nowadays.
Treatments
Heat treatment in 470-775 degrees celsius renders light yellow, red-brown, green or colorless varieties. Some amethysts can lose colour in daylight. Original color can be restored with X-ray. The trace element that gives the amethyst its colour is Iron (Fe).
Instruments for identification
Microscope / loupe to observe colour changes and inclusions. Synthetic material is often free from inclusions and more evenly coloured.
Polariscopes and conoscopes are particularly useful for all types clear quartz. With these instruments it's possible to do a kind of diagnostic test of quartz.
Refractometre, measuring the refractive index and double refraction are importent.
Known deposits
May be found in geodes of alluvial origin. The most significant deposits can be found in Brasil, Madagascar, Zambia, Uruguay, Russia amongst others.
Miscellaneous:
Amethyst is one of the most popular variants of quartz. In Sweden it´s history go back to the vikings.
Read/learn more about Amethyst
Amethyst in healing (Source: ChatGPT)
Amethyst is a popular crystal in healing and spiritual practices, known for its calming and protective properties. Here are some of the properties that amethyst is often said to have in healing:
1. Calming and Stress-reducing
- Amethyst is known to create calmness and reduce stress and anxiety. It is often used to calm the mind and bring inner peace, making it popular in meditation and mindfulness.
- It can help reduce headaches and tension, which in turn is said to contribute to better sleep and ease sleep difficulties.
2. Support in Emotional Healing
- Amethyst is associated with promoting emotional balance and releasing negative thoughts and feelings, which can help with grieving processes or when working to release old patterns and fears.
- Many people use amethyst to strengthen their intuition and understanding of themselves and others, which can be helpful in personal development.
3. Strengthens Spiritual Intuition
- Amethyst is connected to the third eye and crown chakra, which are related to spiritual intuition and insight. It is often used to deepen meditation and connection to higher consciousness or inner guidance.
- Some believe that amethyst can act as a channel for communication with spirit guides and for understanding deeper life issues.
4. Protective and Cleansing
- Amethyst is said to protect against negative energies and help clear the aura, which is why many people wear it as a talisman or place it in their homes for protection.
- Its cleansing energy is also believed to help break negative behavioral patterns, such as excessive stress or addictions.
5. Promotes Physical Healing Power
- In holistic healing, amethyst is considered to be able to support physical healing processes by balancing the body's energy field.
- It is sometimes used to support the healing of skin problems, hormone imbalances and the nervous system.
How amethyst is used:
Amethyst can be worn as jewelry, held close during meditation, placed under the pillow for better sleep, or placed in rooms to create a calming environment.
