Purple Amethyst from Uruguay, Oval Cabochon

About Amethyst

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, a silicon-dioxide mineral. Its colour ranges from very pale lilac to vivid violet, often with uneven zoning or bands. Trace iron, modified by natural irradiation, is chiefly responsible for the colour. Transparent crystals can show attractive internal reflections, while cloudy material may contain liquid inclusions, fractures or mineral needles. Amethyst has a Mohs hardness of 7, so…