JewelStruck Blog

Continuing with Gemstone Each Month Series (GEMS) for February, we would be discussing about types of Amethyst and places where its mined. Just to remind you, we would keep on including pics of Jewelry made using Amethyst in each of our posts. So if you would like your Jewelry to be featured do mail us at info@jewelstruck.com.

Steampunk Amethyst Necklace

Amethyst generally are categorized by the source they come from, so lets discuss about both the types and mines of Amethyst together below.

• Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul, Bahaia – Brazil : Bulk of Amethyst is produced from the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil where it occurs in large geodes within volcanic rocks. Also in Brazil is the famous Rio Grande do Sul, where the enormous crystal-lined Amethyst geodes are found, especially in Ametista do Sul. Crystals found here are are generally having fading color to interior, with darker top.
• Uruguay : Many of the hollow agates Uruguay contain a contain a crop of amethyst crystals in the interior. These are generally darker in color throughout and don’t fade in interior unlike Brazilian variety.
• Piedras Parado and Las Vigas de Ramirez, Veracruz – Mexico : Tall, prismatic crystals from Vera Cruz, Mexico. These generally have clear quartz interior and an amethyst exterior.
• Amatitlan, Guerro – Mexico : Another variety from Mexico, generally has a purple interior with a clear or white quartz exterior these are valued high since collectors pay well for these rarities.
• Russia : Much fine amethyst comes from Russia, especially from near Mursinka in the Ekaterinburg district, where it occurs in drusy cavities in granitic rocks. This variety, coming from the Ural Mountains and Siberia in Russia is generally very dark and clear.
• Austria : The largest opencast amethyst vein in the world is in Maissau, Lower Austria.
• Namibia and South Africa : These are often refereed as African Amethyst. Most famous occurrence is the Goboboseb Mountains, near Brandberg in the Erongo Mountains of Namibia. Large deposits are found in the Magaliesberg Mountains in Pretoria and in the Boekenhoutshoek area in the Mkobola district of South Africa. One of the largest global amethyst producers is Zambia with an annual production of about 1,000 t.
• Thunder Bay and Digby, Canada : Thunder Bay, Ontario has Amethyst with an internal coating of red Hematite. Naturally rounded, water-worn Amethyst pebbles are found on the beaches along the Bay of Fundy, in the area of Digby – Nova Scotia.
• USA : Amethyst occurs at many localities in the United States. Among these may be mentioned: the Mazatzal Mountain region in Gila and Maricopa Counties, Arizona; Amethyst Mountain, Texas; Yellowstone National Park; Delaware County, Pennsylvania; Haywood County, North Carolina; Deer Hill and Stow, Maine and in the Lake Superior region.

So that’s all we could collect on Amethyst occurrences and types. We would be posting more about Amethyst in coming days, stay in touch!

Image Credit :- danielproulx