Amethyst – Gemology and Buying Guide
(c)Copyright 2009, CaratExchange.com
Gemology and Color: Purple amethyst is the most precious stone within the quartz group. The color agent of amethyst is iron. The colors range from purple, violet to pale red-violet. Unlike most other gems, the value per carat of amethyst doesn’t rise exponentially with weight, as it is readily available in large sizes. The value of purple amethyst depends almost entirely on color
Sources: Siberian mines once produced the world’s finest stones with particularly rich purple color that glowed with reddish and/or bluish highlights. The most important deposits today are in Brazil, namely the “Palmeira” amethysts of Rio Grande do Sul and the “Maraba” amethysts of Para. Other deposits are found in Bolivia, Canada, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Russia, Sri Lanka, United States (Arizona), Uruguay and Zambia.
Treatments and Care: Purple amethyst is commonly heat treated to produce yellow, red-brown, green or colorless varieties. At a hardness of 7 on the Moh’s scale, and with no particular warnings on care necessary, amethyst makes a fine jewelry gem for all purposes. Clean with mild dish soap: use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect.
Buying Guide: Amethysts from Africa tend to be darker and smaller than South American amethysts, and the richer color intensity tends to make them more valuable. Since amethyst is so plentiful, you can expect to find affordable stones of excellent quality That Are ‘eye clean’ – with no flaws visible to the naked eye.
Color is the major deciding factor in the value of amethyst with the deeper shades claiming the most value. The most valuable amethysts are medium to dark tones, transparent and pure violet with no shading toward red or blue. Amethysts from Africa tend to be darker and smaller than South American amethysts, and the richer color intensity tends to make them more valuable. Since amethyst is so plentiful, you can expect to find affordable stones of excellent quality that are ‘eye clean’ – with no flaws visible to the naked eye.
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6 CT.FLAWLESS NATURAL OVAL SWEET PURPLE ZAMBIA AMETHYST NR FREE COMBINE GEM $1.50 |
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CLOSED LOCATION___LARGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster Zambia / Africa $50.00 |
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CLOSED LOCATION___LARGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster Zambia / Africa $120.00 |
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CLOSED LOCATION___Large Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster Zambia / Africa $27.00 |
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CLOSED LOCATION___HUGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster Zambia / Africa $150.00 |
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CLOSED LOCATION___HUGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster Zambia / Africa $150.00 |
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CLOSED LOCATION___LARGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster Zambia / Africa $80.00 |
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CLOSED LOCATION___HUGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster Zambia / Africa $470.00 |
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3.32 CT.FLAWLESS NATURAL OVAL RICH PINK PURPLE ZAMBIA AMETHYST NR FREE COMBINE $1.25 |
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34.10ct or 6.80g Zambia Natural Rough Raw Uncut CLEAN Amethyst Crystal Specimen $13.95 |
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CLOSED LOCATION___HUGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster Zambia / Africa $450.00 |
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Genuine Raw Amethyst Zambia 500 Carats Uncleaned Ready to Tumble Polish $9.99 |
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3.91 CT.EYE CLEAN NATUARL OVAL SWEET PURPLE ZAMBIA AMETHYST NR FREE COMBINE GEM $0.99 |
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38.10ct or 7.60g Zambia Natural Rough Raw Uncut CLEAN Amethyst Crystal Specimen $14.95 |
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7.43 CT.NATURAL OVAL RICH PURPLE ZAMBIA AMETHYST NR FREE COMBINE LOOSE GEMSTONE $0.99 |
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4.17 CT.NATURAL OVAL SWEET PURPLE ZAMBIA AMETHYST NR FREE COMBINE LOOSE GEM $0.99 |
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51.70ct or 10.30g Zambia Natural Rough Raw Uncut CLEAN Amethyst Crystal Specimen $15.95 |
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4.5 CT.EYE CLEAN NATURAL OVAL RICH PURPLE ZAMBIA AMETHYST NR FREE COMBINE GEM $0.99 |
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25.10ct or 5.00g Zambia Natural Rough Raw Uncut CLEAN Amethyst Crystal Specimen $29.95 |
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Amethyst crystal gemmy clean Zambia bigger pieces 200 carat lots lots $26.99 |
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2.64 CT.NATURAL OVAL RICH PURPLE ZAMBIA AMETHYST NR FREE COMBINE LOOSE GEMSTONE $0.99 |
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31.50ct or 6.30g Zambia Natural Rough Raw Uncut CLEAN Amethyst Crystal Specimen $34.95 |
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African (Zambia) Natural Amethyst Rough Facet/Cab/Tumble 30grams/150ct.-$14.00 $14.00 |
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22.80ct or 4.55g Zambia Natural Rough Raw Uncut CLEAN Amethyst Crystal Specimen $26.95 |
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6.35 CT.VVS 1 NATURAL OVAL RICH SWEET PURPLE ZAMBIA AMETHYST LOOSE GEMSTONE $57.72 |
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10.78 CT.VVS 1 BIG NATURAL OVAL RICH SWEET PURPLE ZAMBIA AMETHYST LOOSE GEMSTONE $39.99 |
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HUGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster / Zambia , Africa $196.00 |
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HUGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster / Zambia , Africa $240.00 |
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HUGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster Zambia / Africa__CLOSED LOCATION $1,200.00 |
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HUGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster Zambia / Africa $156.00 |
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HUGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster Zambia / Africa $219.00 |
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CLOSED LOCATION___HUGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster Zambia / Africa $63.00 |
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CLOSED LOCATION___HUGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster Zambia / Africa $200.00 |
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HUGE Amethyst Quartz Crystal Cluster Zambia / Africa __OLD STOCK $164.50 |
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35.50ct or 7.10g Zambia Natural Rough Raw Uncut CLEAN Amethyst Crystal Specimen $13.95 |
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48.80ct or 9.75g Zambia Natural Rough Raw Uncut CLEAN Amethyst Crystal Specimen $15.95 |
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32.00ct or 6.40g Zambia Natural Rough Raw Uncut CLEAN Amethyst Crystal Specimen $13.95 |
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42.10ct or 8.40g Zambia Natural Rough Raw Uncut CLEAN Amethyst Crystal Specimen $14.95 |