The process of amethyst production is incredibly intricate and magical. Indeed, geologists have a deeper understanding of this formation now, which helps us comprehend the origins of amethyst crystals.
The formation of a hexagonal crystal arrangement in both large and tiny cavities the smaller cavities being referred to as geodes gives amethyst its royal purple color. Amethyst is a valuable gemstone used in everything from the creation of jewelry to its therapeutic properties in the spiritual world.
Amethyst is renowned for its almost sensuous elegance, and it never fails to finish a seductive ensemble. Even though many people love this stone, relatively few are aware of its formation.
First Let’s Discuss… What Amethyst Is?
In short, amethyst is one of the world's most sought-after semi-precious gemstones. This jewel comes in a range of colors from violet to dark reddish-purple, depending on how much iron and aluminum are present in its chemical structure. Even while every kind is stunning, the most prized amethysts nowadays are those with a deep purple color.
Being a member of the quartz family, this gem's price is comparatively reasonable due to its widespread availability. Furthermore, this stone exhibits remarkable durability, scoring a 7 on the Mohs mineral hardness scale and displaying no gemstone cleavage. This implies that even if amethyst is not damage-proof, it may still be exhibited through a variety of jewelry pieces and worn frequently.
Let’s Jump To The Main Question…How Amethyst Is Formed?
As previously mentioned, this gemstone is composed of silicon dioxide and is a type of quartz. It is present in the inside walls of geodes, sometimes referred to as hollowed-out rocks.
As the temperature fluctuates during a volcanic eruption, a number of gas bubbles emerge deep within the liquid lava and gradually ascend to the surface. When the lava cools down and forms vesicles or cavities inside the rock, these gas bubbles become trapped. These holes fill with a silica-rich liquid that has iron and aluminum traces in it over time. Eventually, the liquid crystallizes and gives rise to amethyst.
Where Is This Gem Located?
At the moment, the amethysts come from a number of different nations. Brazil, Mexico, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Canada, and the United States of America are a few of these. The type and color of amethyst varies widely depending on where it is mined, as is the case with other stones. The best amethysts in the world right now are thought to come from Uruguay and Brazil.
Are They Heat-Treated?
Indeed, they are!
These gemstones are mostly heat-treated to enhance their color and clarity. Most amethysts on the market today have been artificially altered to deepen the stone's color. The main reason for doing this is to satisfy the rising demand for deeply purple amethysts. The stone is regularly exposed to varying temperatures between 400 and 500 degrees Celsius during this procedure until they attain the rich shade that they desire.
If the gem is handled carefully, heat treatment is said to be stable and produces results that often last for a very long time.
Important Thing To Keep In Mind
Even though the majority of amethysts are eye-clean, there are rare instances where these crystals may need to have procedures called fracture-fillings in order to repair surface-reaching fractures and enhance overall clarity.
Ultimately, the amethyst is certainly mysterious in some way. The facts regarding its formation stated above just serves to heighten the mystery.
