Reviews
AMETHYST GEODES & CRYSTALS FOR SALE
About Amethyst
Amethyst is a purple variety of the mineral quartz. It forms in a hexagonal crystal structure, has a glassy luster, and comes in shades ranging from pale violet to deep purple. The purple coloration is caused by natural irradiation of iron impurities within the crystals. The more radiation the crystals were exposed to within the Earth, the deeper the purple color. Typically darker colored crystals are rarer and considered to be more valuable. It should be noted the crystals themselves are not radioactive!
An amethyst crystal cluster from the Democratic Republic of the Congo with particularly large crystals and deep coloration.
Amethyst is considered to be a semi-precious gemstone that has been revered throughout history, but can also be found in large, crystal-filled geodes. It is very popular as a gemstone in jewelry, and larger crystals and geodes are in high demand as impressive display pieces.
What Is The Largest Amethyst Geode?
The 120 million-year-old basalt flows near Artigas, Uruguay has produced some truly monstrous geodes that formed in gas bubbles trapped within molten lava as it cooled. Amethyst geodes over 1 meter wide are routinely excavated, and can fetch a substantial amount of money being sold as show-stopping display pieces.
According to Guinness World Records, the world's largest amethyst geode is a 28,660-lb (13,090-kilogram) behemoth currently located at the Shandong Tianyu Museum Of Natural History in China. It measures 9 feet 10 inches (3 meters) long, 5 feet 10 inches (1.8 meters) wide, and is 7 feet 2 inches (2.2 meters) high. But that record is dated and there are potentially several that have been found eclipsing that size!
A more recently discovered amethyst geode currently located at the Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens in Australia weighs in at over 44,000 lbs (20,000 kilograms). It measures an astounding 18 feet (5.5m) wide! Dubbed the "Enchanted Cave" it was reportedly found by a farmer in Artigas, Uruguay and is pictured below. If you are in the market for a massive amethyst geode such as this, contact us and we can work with our partners in Uruguay to source something truly impressive for you!
The largest known amethyst geode from Uruguay, known as the Empress of Uruguay, weighing over 44,000 pounds and measuring 18 feet wide.
Another massive specimen, an amethyst cathedral measuring a staggering 21 feet high!
How Does Amethyst Form?
Amethyst forms when iron impurities make their way into silicon-rich solutions during the formation of quartz, which can occur through hydrothermal processes or the precipitation of mineral rich waters. Often, these iron impurities are modified by natural irradiation from the surrounding rocks or host rock, giving the amethyst (quartz) its purple color. Though to truly understand this, we have to first understand how quartz forms.
Quartz is primarily made up of two elemental components, silicon (Si) and Oxygen (O), both of which are in high abundance on our plant. This combination typically occurs when water with a silicon content (often gained through the break down of the surrounding rock) seeps through cracks in rocks and ends up exposed to oxygen within cavities. In this environment, the silicon atoms will bond to oxygen and begin building layers that, over time, create cavities lined with thousands of crystals. These cavities most often occur by means of tectonic activity, hollow tubes formed by lava, dissolution (break down of rock resulting in cavities), or even as solidified bubbles of gas within the Earth (geodes).
Amethyst formation within a vug/cavity - Silicon and iron-rich fluids will deposit themselves along the walls of rock cavities. Long crystals, also known as spears, can form in these cavities when the solution drips more from one location of the rock than the other, explaining why vugs often form a wide variety of crystals sizes in close proximity. The crystals will continue to grow as long as they're provided with the environment necessary for formation. In some instances, a surplus of these minerals will result in a solid vein of quartz or amethyst, where individual crystals can no longer be identified.
Amethyst formation within a geode - While there is yet to be a conclusion as to how geodes form, it's widely accepted that they form when gas bubbles (vesicles) solidify within basaltic lava during igneous rock formation, or in round cavities within sedimentary rock. The necessary minerals for amethyst formation precipitate into these cavities, depositing crystals (most often in an even layer) along the geode's inner walls.
Where Is Amethyst Found?
Amethyst is found worldwide in nearly any location where iron is present during quartz formation prior to some amount of natural gamma radiation. Because quartz is in such high abundance in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock, it can be assumed that amethyst is quite widespread as well.
The volcanic deposits in southern Brazil and Uruguay are famous for producing spectacular purple crystal filled geodes, sometimes up to gigantic sizes. Several companies mine these geodes from the hard basalt in the region. Uruguay tends to produce darker colored material that is more valuable than much of the Brazilian material, which is available in larger quantities. Elongated geodes from this area are often referred to as amethyst cathedrals.
Another locality famous for its beautiful amethyst crystals is the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Amethyst that comes out of this region is often referred to as Veracruz amethyst or Las Vigas amethyst. Multiple mines in this mountainous area produce different qualities of amethyst and other minerals. Elongated crystals with deep purple color are considered to be of the highest quality. Some of these crystals have even been known to measure over 4.5" long, but amethyst crystals of this length are relatively uncommon from Veracruz. Much of the mining in these mountains is done by the locals, acting as a main source of income.
Southern South Africa produces a unique formation of amethyst where aggregations of small quartz and/or amethyst crystals formed over stubby and elongated amethyst or quartz crystals. This phenomenal crystal formation is known by many as "cactus quartz", for it resembles a spiny cactus, though it was originally (and still to this day) referred to as "spirit quartz". Most of these crystals are found in beautiful clusters, some of which contain only a little purple and sometimes none, while other clusters display a vibrant purple color. Cactus amethyst that displays the most prominent color comes from Magelisburg, South Africa. Some claim that the purple coloration is artificial, which in some rare cases could be legitimate, but based on the even distribution of color and remnants of iron oxidation on many of these crystals, most of these claims are false.
Grape Agate: A Botryoidal Form Of Amethyst
In 2015, specimens of what would become known as “grape agate” began appearing on the commercial market. Discovered in Indonesia, these specimens were composed of an aggregate of small, translucent purple spheres, typically several millimeters wide. Due to the purple coloration and grape-like appearance, the trade name “grape agate” was quickly coined, and the material became extremely popular among mineral and crystal enthusiasts.
Grape agate, a botryoidal form of amethyst.
Under close examination, the small purple spheres composing grape agate are actually tiny, druzy crystals! Agate is a variety of chalcedony defined as having a microcrystalline structure, meaning it does not form visible crystals. Since grape agate is formed from visible crystals, it does not technically fit the definition of agate or chalcedony. It is actually a botryoidal form of amethyst! While the grape agate trade name is not technically correct, it is still used by pretty much everyone including oursevles to describe the material.
Cultural Significance And History Of Amethyst
According to both modern and historical zodiac charts, Amethyst is the official birthstone of those born in the month of February. Some texts suggest that Saint Valentine wore an amethyst ring that featured a Cupid intaglio. This may seem to be a bit strange, considering amethyst’s notoriety as a stone said to enhance critical thought, a notion rather contradictory to the passion and romanticism typically associated with Valentine’s Day and the month of February. It's important to note that in the time of Saint Valentine, there was a direct correlation with calming clarity, chastity, and the idea of true love. Conceptually, these practices have evolved, but nonetheless amethyst has persisted as the birthstone for the month of love.
The earliest examples of amethyst jewelry are observed throughout ancient civilizations. One specimen, an engraved necklace, dates back to 2000 BCE. As with most other classic gems, the ancient Egyptians provide significant evidence of the use of amethyst in jewelry and decoration. The best example is a giant amethyst quarry that operated from the time of the Middle Kingdom until Roman occupation, roughly 3,900 - 1,300 years ago. The quarry, called Wadi el-Hudi, was an absolutely massive complex designed to efficiently harvest and process amethyst. It was so large that it is estimated to have housed and utilized 1,500 laborers in addition to numerous soldiers, support workers, and administrative officials. Archaeologists believe that most of the amethyst used throughout the ancient Mediterranean world was most likely extracted from the mines of Wadi el-Hudi.
Placement of amethyst jewelry at a specific time is often determined by the intricacy of the piece. The earliest Egyptian adornments were simple and relatively practical in nature, but increased in complexity and sophistication as time progressed and the civilization grew. Tracking the growth of an ancient civilization by the complexity of their stone carved jewelry is an excellent example of the intersectionality between the fields of archaeology and geology, and may not have been possible if people weren’t always enamored by the beauty of amethyst.
This mineral was also believed to prevent drunkenness by Greeks and Romans alike. The name amethyst literally translates to “not intoxicated” in ancient Greek! Archeologists have exhumed many a cup carved from or studded with amethyst in both Greek and Roman cultures. Another common practice for the Romans was that those participating in long nights of drunken debauchery would drink with amethyst in their mouth, or somewhere on their person, to stay sober and drink more. One must wonder how many wildly intoxicated individuals choked to death on amethyst in an attempt to maintain sobriety! Regardless, today an amethyst pendant makes for a poor defense in DUI cases.
The primary myth surrounding the origins of the stone were supposedly founded in Greek and Roman mythology, but we now know the “myth” to be a fabrication of the French Renaissance poet Remy Belleau. He was responsible for a variety of appreciation poems celebrating many classic gemstones, but for amethyst he decided to go the extra mile by weaving a tale that Ovid would surely be proud of. His version of the story goes as such: Dionysus, the god of wine, took a liking to a fair maiden named Amethyste. She was not impressed by the god of revels’ advances and fled from him. Dionysus, drunk as ever, pursued the girl. As the god closed in on Amethyste, the goddess Artemis saved the girl from Dionysus’s wrath by turning her into a clear stone. In a saddened state, Dionysus poured out a decanter of wine onto the crystalline Amethyste forever staining her a deep purple. Thus, Amethyste’s rejection of Dionysus led to the belief that the stone effectively prevented intoxication.
As time passed since the Hellenisitic period and the fall of the Roman empire, the practice of using amethyst as an alcohol inhibitor fell by the wayside, though this sentiment held some weight for the religious leaders within the Catholic church. The institution has adopted amethyst as a symbol of clarity and chastity with many declaring that the stone allows for clear connection with one’s thoughts and even the spiritual world. Since high-ranking members of the clergy adopted it for signet rings, the highest grade an amethyst can attain is Bishop grade. The deep purple hues of amethyst also became commonplace in the regalia of European royalty. Because of this, amethyst was a symbol of class and society for many years until significant deposits were discovered in the 1800s and the increased availability sharply dropped prices. It’s rather perplexing to think that at one point amethysts were regarded in the same class as diamonds and rubies!
Today, amethyst is popular as a home display piece and as fine jewelry. While bishops and even the pope are known to adorn their hands with amethyst rings, it is the common man that is the primary consumer of purple quartz. Amethyst is popular within the realm of mysticism and the metaphysical. Some claim the crystals, when used in conjunction with tarot cards and seance, will increase clarity and alleviate anxiety or negative feelings. The crystals are primarily enjoyed by geology enthusiasts and those who appreciate striking purple crystals.
What Causes The Purple Color Of Amethyst?
Amethyst gets its color from trace amounts of iron within the quartz that gets exposed low levels of natural radiation with the Earth. The more radiation it's been exposed to, the darker the color will be. This is not a rapid process: it takes exposure to low levels of radiation over millions of years to produce such colors.
How Does Amethyst Acquire Phantoms (Zoning)?
Some crystals display concentric zoning, which can also be referred to as phantoms. This can give a single crystal the appearance of having layers of amethyst within. This occurrence is caused by varied chemical composition during the growth process of the quartz crystal.
Where Does The Name "Amethyst" Come From?
The name "amethyst"refers to its alleged ability to counteract the effects of alcohol consumption. "Methy" is the greek expression for being drunk and "a-methy-stos" would translate to "one that does not get drunk". The idea that amethyst might protect from drunkenness may have something to do with its color's similarity to some red wines. Recently an archeological discovery of a gold and purple amethyst ring at a Byzantine-era winery has made it into the news. It is speculated this ring was worn by someone affluent such as the winery owner to ward off intoxication.
Will Amethyst Fade In Sunlight?
Yes, over time amethyst will fade in direct exposure to UV rays (sunlight), and is a permanent effect. How rapidly this happens depends on the individual crystals. This is not a rapid process, and often takes years of direct exposure. So, taking a crystal out in the sun occasionally won't have any effect, but keeping it exposed to sunlight will cause its color to gradually fade.
Is Amethyst Radioactive?
Some people falsely believe that because the color of amethyst was produced by radiation that it is itself radioactive. The irradiation does not make the crystals themselves radioactive. The surrounding rocks may be very mildly radioactive, but the levels of radiations are less than the background radiation in a typical city, so amethyst poses no health risk.
Is Amethyst Treated Or Artificially Colored?
The color of most amethyst is natural. Gemstones will rarely be artificially irradiated to darken their colors. Brazilian amethyst is often heat-treated to change it to an orangish-brown color and marketed as "citrine". Real citrine is very rare, only found in small crystals, and has a yellowish color. We are not aware of any real citrine coming from Brazil.
A piece of Brazilian amethyst. One side has been heat-treated to create "citrine".
Why Buy Amethyst From Fossil Era?
We carry a huge selection of amethyst for sale, ranging from huge geodes to individual crystals to polished stones. We deal directly with exporters in countries like Uruguay and Brazil to hand-select top quality material before other dealers, who often heavily mark up the lowest grade amethyst (pale color, chipped crystals, etc). We also source collector specimens from many other locations around the world in addition to the larger, more commercially available South American material. We strive to accurately photograph the pieces we have for sale while many other sellers will alter the color on photos to make their pieces appear much more colorful or higher quality than they really are.
In our first eight years in business we have shipped over 120,000 orders to customers with an aggregate 4.9 out of 5 star customer satisfaction rating. We are able to ship quickly out of our Monroe, Washington warehouse and always offer a no questions asked, 30-day return policy. Be sure to contact our customer support staff if you have any questions before or after making your amethyst purchase!
Featured Photos
