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Amethyst

Amethyst
  • Translations : Amatista, Amethist, Améthyste, Ametista, Ametistas, Ametisti, Ametists, Ametiszt, Ametüst, Ametyst, Аметист, 紫水晶, アメシスト, เขี้ยวหนุมาน, Αμέθυστος, אחלמה, ამეთვისტო
  • Etymology : The word originates from the latin "amethystos", with a possible Greek origin, the negative prefix « a » associated methustes « drunk », because water poured into a violet coloured glass appears to be wine, which when consumed obviously does not cause drunkenness. Because of this, amethyst was considered as a talisman that protected against drunkenness.
  • Comment : The color of the amethyst remains stable up to 250 °C ; above that, the majority of the amethysts lose its color.

At the temperature of 500 °C, amethyst turns lemon yellow, but again loses its color if the temperature reaches 600 °C, following which the quartz becomes milky due to the formation of infra-microscopic water.

The vast majority of the citrines in the gem market is amethyst with heat treatment.

To know more about the mineralogy of the amethyst, visit mindat.org

See the amethysts for sale

See the amethyst "rose de France" for sale

Gemological data

  • Chemical formula : SiO2
  • Hardness (Mohs) : 7
  • Density : 2.63 - 2.65
  • Birefingence : 0.009
  • Crystal system : Trigonal
  • Group : Quartz
  • Mineralogical Class : Silicates

The jewels and the jewellers

The amethyst exists on jewels since the antiquity.

 

 

The gallery

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