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AMETHYST GEODES & CRYSTALS
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!
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.
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!
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