Gemstones - Precious Gems
Amethyst
Amethyst as the royal color of is one of the more popular colored gemstones.
Amethyst is the most commonly used gemstone of the quartz group. The Greeks thought it had the power to bring luck, prevent drunkenness and homesickness.
Amethyst is often found in geodes in aluvial deposits. Most good material will be found in Brazil, Uraguay and Malagasay Republic.
South American amethyst tends to be available in larger sizes but African amethyst is reputated for having better saturation and color. The best will be deeply saturated and have rose-colored flashes
Amethyst is commonly available in calibrated sizes.
Caution : Synthetic aka lab created purple quartz is also widely available.
Properties of Amethyst
- Crystal System - Hexagonal
- Hardness - 7
- Specific Gravity - 2.63 - 2.65
- Refraction - Double
- Refractive Index - 1.54 to 1.55
- Dispersion - .013
- Birefringence - .009
- Wearability - Very Good
- Special Care - None