Amethyst
Image: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/14730981@N08">James Petts</a> from London, England (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Mineral NameAmethyst
Chemical FormulaSiO2
Mohs Hardness7
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagenone
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.65
Colorspurple, violet
Transparencytransparent to translucent
Type LocalityBrazil, Uruguay
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, collector's item, ornamental
Associated Mineralsquartz, calcite, goethite
Raritycommon
Description
The image displays a cluster of vibrant purple amethyst crystals, exhibiting well-formed hexagonal prisms with pyramidal terminations, characteristic of a druzy quartz formation.
Geological Context
Amethyst typically forms in hydrothermal veins or within the cavities of igneous rocks, such as basaltic lava flows, where silica-rich fluids deposit the mineral over time, often creating geodes.
