Amethyst
mines in Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Uruguay, Africa, Europe and the US and
descriptions of the gemstones mined from each source.
This
Geology and Geography section will help you find the locations of mines
and sources of Quartz and other minerals, gemstones, semi-precious
stones, metals and other natural resources. From the Brazilian Mining
phenomenon to other locations of World mining locations for Global
Resources for mineral deposits, mineral mines and Gold mines.
Amethyst,
the most prized form of quartz, is found globally and for this reason is
readily available and can be found very affordably. Although it's
availability contributes to it's affordability, the quality of amethyst
differs by it's locality and can be unique according to region and
source. Amethyst from the Americas can be found in large sizes as
opposed to African amethyst which is small but carries a higher
saturation in color. Dark, highly saturated, amethyst is also found in
Australia. Huge finds of amethyst have also been found in Brazil and a
large range of shapes, cuts and hues can be found world-wide. Below are
some of the most notably mined areas for amethyst.
Mexican
Amethyst
Two main sources of amethyst
from Mexico include mines located in Vera Cruz and Guerrero Mexico.
Amethyst from Vera Cruz has a tendency to be of lighter shades and
typically clear. The produced crystals are very commonly triagonally
terminated on both ends. The stone in which they are found are also of
light hue for their type. The crystals are usually "phantomed"
having a transparent interior and a color saturated exterior. The
amethyst which comes from Guerrero is typically deep and highly
saturated dark purple. The crystal has a single, visible termination
with a color saturated interior and transparent exterior. Highly
saturated crystal of this type of transparency are among the most
elegant.
Brazilian
Amethyst
The most notable sources of
amethyst in Brazil come from Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Bahia and
Maraba. Brazilian amethyst are typically found in vugs, or small
cavities in rocks lined with crystals. Among the rock containing
amethyst crystal in Brazil are large pockets formed by volcanic
material. Some vugs were formed from lava and magmatic flow over
trees or gas bubbles created by heat convection. The crystals that are
produced in these areas vary in color saturation from pale to medium
lilac but never quite reach a deep true dark purple of high saturation.
The color in the crystals of these vugs is highly concentrated in the
tips of the visible termination of each crystal.
Canadian
Amethyst
Thunder Bay (Canada) is one of
the major Canadian hosts of amethyst mines. The crystal druses, or the
cluster of small crystals on a rock's surface, is hosted by archaic
metamorphic rock. The color unique to Canadian mines includes a reddish
inclusion slightly under the surface of each crystal. Amethyst has also
come to be known as the gemstone of Ontario.
Uruguayan
Amethyst
Amethyst of this region vary in
saturation from a medium saturated to a deep highly saturated purple.
Like in Brazil, crystals here are also found in volcanic vugs. The
vugs of Uruguay are host rocks with a gray or brownish exterior
and the larger vugs contain stalactites and other formations on which
amethyst druses form. The entire crystal of each amethyst contains the
coloration typical of this region.
African
Amethyst
Among the African countries that
contain amethyst deposits are Zambia and Namibia. African. The amethyst
druses of Africa contain small crystals of saturated color and
outstanding clarity. As they occur naturally, the unrefined amethyst
crystals are indistinct on the exterior and are commonly polished and
carved.
Amethyst
in the United States of America
The U.S.A has a great diversity
of amethyst deposits from Maine, Pennsylvania and North Carolina to
Montana and Colorado. The color range of American Amethyst is generally
from medium to high in saturation and may include smoky or translucent
versions of crystal. Amethyst of Maine and the Carolinas is
usually dark with North Carolina amethyst having a bluish tint unique to
that area. Amethyst has been named the state gemstone for South
Carolina. Amethyst clusters in Pennsylvania have been formed within
large breaks in metamorphic rock. Colorado is known for having clusters
of amethyst that have formed in cavities within sandstone. Among the
amethyst found in Colorado are smoky druses found in the Rockies. Other
states amethyst can also be found in include Georgia, Arizona, Rhode
Island and Virginia.
Amethyst
and Europe
Two of Europe's most notable
sites for amethyst are found in Italy and Germany. Italy's deposits
contain amethyst crystals of evenly distributed coloration. Crystals of
pale hue and prismatic character are often large in size and can occur
parallel in formation. German amethyst is often pale in color and is
found with coupled with other forms of crystal such as agates.
Other
Notable Occurrences
Amethyst deposits can also be
found in other countries around the world such as: Bolivia, Argentina,
Madagascar, India and Sri Lanka.
Amethyst
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