Amethyst (quartz variety)
mineral · common
Quick facts
- Formula
- SiO2
- Hardness
- 7
- Luster
- vitreous
- Colors
- Purple to violet, often color-zoned with pale or colorless areas
Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, colored mainly by trace iron and natural irradiation. It forms in geodes, veins, and pegmatites worldwide and is one of the most widely available shop crystals.
Look for hexagonal prismatic crystals with pyramidal tips, faint horizontal striations on prism faces, white streak, no cleavage, and hardness 7; purple color is commonly zoned.
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