AMETHYST
Specimen ame-196

Dims: 3-3/4" x 3-1/2" x 1-1/4"

Wt: 4 oz

Amatitlan, Guerrerro, Mexico

This piece is a fine example of some of the most valuable Amethyst available on the market today! For many years now the mines in Guerrerro, Mexico have been shut down, and no new clusters of long, clear, magnificent phantom crystals have been made available. We've got a piece. It is gorgeous, with over a dozen slender, clear crystals (in 3 or 4 connected clumps), the longest almost 2-1/2 inches, with easily visible phantoming. There is minor damage to several of the points, and some crystals (including what may originally have been the largest) are missing, probably lost in the effort to remove it from the host rock. Still, this piece is definitely a collector's item!

Dims: 13.5" x 8.4" x 5.0" (34.3 x 21.3 x 12.7 cm)

Wt: 19.9 lbs. (9.1 kg)

Minas Gerais, Brazil

One of the largest specimens in our present stock, this behemoth consists of a large geode that formed from an air bubble in a lava flow whose interior was coated with a crust of hundreds of Amethyst crystals. The crystals occur in the hexagonal prismatic form with pyramidal terminations that are the only parts that are exposed and visible. There is a small amount of visible damage to some of them, but the vast majority are in excellent condition, with clean faces and edges. When the geode was harvested, a hole was drilled through the skin so that its contents could be determined before money and time were invested in sawing it up. This hole has been plugged up, and the job was done pretty well, in comparison to similar geodes that I have seen. The plug is visible from the geode's exterior, where one can see a difference in the lava skin's texture. The crystals on the interior reach maximum dimensions of a bit over 1" (2.5 cm) long by 1" (2.5 cm) in diameter. They all have a vitreous luster, and are transparent, with a moderately pale violet color at their tips. However, they cloud up and their color fades towards the bases of their terminations. Some of the crystals contain inclusions that are black to brown in color, and sometimes have a silky luster. These inclusions are made up of cacoxenite, an iron aluminum phosphate hydroxide that is often found trapped in Brazilian Amethyst crystals. Among the Amethysts are a large cluster of prismatic calcite crystals and some smaller, more massive deposits. All are white and have a pearly luster- a few Amethyst crystals are coated with a sparkly crust of calcite. There is a very thin layer (2-3 mm thick) of pale gray agate between the Amethyst druse and the green lava skin. One end of the geode has been cut flat and bolstered with concrete to form a base so that it can stand upright, and there are cork feet on this base to protect whatever surface on which it is placed. It is a truly splendid piece! Wt: 19.9 lbs. (9.1 kg)

Dims: 3.6" x 3.3" x 2.6" (9.1 x 8.4 x 6.6 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 3.2 oz. (543 g)

Maraba, Mexico

Specimens like this one are called Maraba points, as they consist of a single Amethyst crystal or "point", and come from Maraba, which I am pretty sure is in Mexico. They tend to have a very rough hexagonal prismatic form and pyramidal termination, and are often completely coated with a layer of milky quartz that covers the Amethyst core. Thus, they are sent to Brazil, where the crystal's termination is ground down to the purple color, then smoothed and polished. The rough prism faces are usually left untouched, and a flat base is cut into its bottom so that it will stand upright. This particular example is in excellent condition with only a few tiny chips visible in its termination edges. Its color is a moderately pale violet and it is transparent, though many internal fractures and cloudy inclusions spoil its clarity. I have placed some round felt pads on the base to protect surfaces on which it may be placed.

Dims: 5.3" x 2.7" x 1.9" (13.5 x 6.9 x 4.8 cm)

Wt: 10.8 oz. (306 g)

Vera Cruz, Mexico

Several small, pale violet Amethyst crystals rest on the grainy brown host rock of this specimen. They range from a few millimeters to 0.6" (1.5 cm) in length and show no visible damage. Their hexagonal prismatic form is excellent, as their edges are straight and well-defined, and their faces are clean and smooth. All have a vitreous luster and are transparent and very clear at their terminations, though they tend to cloud a bit and fade in color near their bases. A few show visible but indefinite tendencies towards sceptering. I am having difficulties identifying the host rock, as it appears to be weathered and heavily rust-stained, but it is likely basaltic in composition. Resting on it among the Amethysts are many small crystals of what I am pretty sure is laumontite. It is a very pretty specimen.

Dims: 4.5" x 3.4" x 3.0" (11.4 x 8.6 x 7.6 cm)

Wt: 2lbs., 4.3 oz. (1.028 kg)

Maraba, Mexico

This large hexagonal prismatic crystal is one of what are called "Maraba points", large individual crystals from the Maraba locality in Mexico. Its pyramidal termination has been polished so that one can see easily into the crystal, but its prism faces are rough and have a complex geometric texture on the milky layer that coats the moderately pale violet material. Though showing some transparence, this crystal has many veil-like inclusions and internal fractures that interfere with and spoil its clarity. The crystal's base has been cut flat so that it will stand upright. There is a small conchoidal chip at the tip of the termination, but no other human-induced damage. Large points like this tend to look good on window sills, where the bright sun can hit them and make them glow.

Dims: Approx. 24" x 18" x 15" (61 x 46 x 38 cm)

Wt: Approx. 250 lbs. (115 kg)

Uruguay

Presently the largest specimen in our stock, this monster consists of part of a large Amethyst vug that was cut out of the basaltic host rock. It is lined with a druse of thousands of hexagonal pyramidal crystals that do not exceed 0.8" (2 cm) in either length or diameter. All are relatively uniform in size and are well-formed. They show very little damage, which is mostly confined to the areas along the druse's edges. All have a deep purple color and a vitreous luster. Most of the crystals are dimly transparent and have internal fractures that mar their clarity, though over time I have found a few that are gem-quality. There are a few intergrown white calcite crystals in one lower corner of the hollow- these are milky and have a dull luster and fair crystal form. As this specimen is so large, one should have ample help in moving it to avoid injury. It is inspiring, and would make an incredible centerpiece in a large foyer or anteroom, or maybe even in a garden.

Dims: 6.5" x 3.9" x 2.5" (16.5 x 9.9 x 6.4 cm)

Wt: 9.99 oz. (283.5 g)

Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

This specimen of "Rose Amethyst" consists of a cluster of long thin hexagonal prismatic crystals that are heavily intergrown and show evidence of substantial water-wear. It is in very good condition, showing only small amounts of damage scattered in a few places. The crystals are quite malformed and their intergrowth makes it difficult to determine their size, but they tend to range in color from totally colorless to pale violet and their luster is generally pearly but rises to vitreous in some isolated spots. The crystals are transparent and mostly clear, enabling one to see the greenish coloration of a decayed lava skin on the specimen's underside. Doris and I both have a weakness for such pieces- the subtlety of their color and softness of their luster is quite soothing.

Dims: 3.1 x 2.2 x 1.3" (7.9 x 5.6 x 3.3 cm)

Wt: 3.49 oz. (99.2 g)

Vera Cruz, Mexico

This small hand specimen consists of about 8 hexagonal prismatic Amethyst crystals that rest on a basalt base. These crystals reach dimensions of 1.0 x 0.4 x 0.4" (2.5 x 1.0 x 1.0 cm) and are generally in very good condition- two of them are damaged and incomplete, but the rest are intact. All have excellent form, with well-defined edges and clean, smooth faces that possess the standard vitreous luster. Their color is a pale violet at their terminations but fades to colorlessness near their bases. Likewise, they are transparent and show good clarity at their terminations, but cloud up with veil-like inclusions near their bases. All show evidence of inclusions near their terminations, however; most of these consist of oddly-shaped air- or water-filled inclusions that are trapped at the bases of their terminations. The largest of these crystals contains a two-phase inclusion, as an air bubble is visible inside the inclusion. There is a thin crust made up of intersecting clusters of tiny, white crystals at the bases of some of the Amethysts- I do not know what they are made of. The basalt base has a greenish-gray color and contains many irregularly-shaped hollows, most of which are filled with a dull, rust- or cream-colored material that I also cannot identify.

Dims: 2.9 x 2.5 x 1.4" (7.4 x 6.4 x 3.6 cm)

Wt: 2.68 oz. (76.0 g)

Vera Cruz, Mexico

This hand specimen consists of a crust that is made up of dozens of small and very pale Amethyst crystals that extend upwards out of a weathered, cream-colored base. These crystals generally do not exceed 0.5" (1.3 cm), but the largest reaches 1.0" (2.5 cm) in length. All are in excellent condition, as there is but a small amount of visible damage. All of the Amethysts have excellent hexagonal prismatic form, with well-defined edges and clean faces that possess the standard vitreous luster. The largest almost has a "scepter" form, and has a partly split termination, so that two small, partly-intergrown terminations are growing from its body instead of one large one. The largest crystal also is the most deeply colored, with a moderate violet coloration at its termination that fades down to near colorlessness at its base. The smaller crystals show only very subtle color at their terminations, and many appear to be colorless. There is a substantial amount of an olive-green-colored material that forms a crust over the base rock. It appears to be made up of scores of tiny crystals, but I do not know what they are made of.

Dims: 9.3 x 7.4 x 3.6" (23.6 x 18.8 x 9.1 cm)

Wt: 8.8 lbs. (4.0 kg)

Diamond Willow Mine, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

This large cabinet specimen is well suited for a decoration in a home or office, especially if it can be placed in an area where it can be viewed from all sides. It consists of a large chunk of pale brown, siliceous host rock whose surface area is over 50% covered with a druse of small Amethyst crystals. These crystals do not exceed 0.5" (1.3 cm) in either length or diameter, and like crystals in most druses, have little or no visible prism lengths. They are generally in very good condition, though much damage was done to the piece in the process of freeing it from its place of origin. The crystals have excellent hexagonal prismatic form, with well-defined edges and clean faces that possess a vitreous luster. All have a moderately pale violet coloration, but close examination will reveal that many have a definite reddish tint. Examination of these crystals under magnification will show that this coloration is caused by spotty inclusions of hematite. Such inclusions are one of the characteristics of Amethyst from this locality. The crystals are generally translucent to dimly transparent, containing many veil-like inclusions. There are many blades of some type of pink-brown feldspar scattered on one part of the druse- I do not know exactly to which feldspar species they belong. Most are heavily broken, and intense intergrowth has given them very warped forms.

Dims: 7.8 x 4.9 x 3.1" (19.8 x 12.4 x 7.9 cm)

Wt: 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg)

Uraguay

Part of a basalt vug that is lined with an Amethyst druse makes up this small cabinet specimen. It is in moderately good condition, as many of the more exposed crystals are damaged or broken. These crystals range in length from 0.2" (5 mm) to more than 0.6" (1.5 cm) and have very good hexagonal prismatic form; though most of their prism lengths are obscured due to intergrowth, their hexagonal pyramidal terminations are very well-formed, with well-defined edges and clean faces that possess the standard vitreous luster. Their violet color is paler than average for Uraguayan Amethyst and is uneven, and tends to vary in depth from crystal to crystal. All are transparent to a degree, though clarity also varies individually.

Dims: 3.9 x 3.1 x 1.8" (9.9 x 7.9 x 4.6 cm)

Wt: 9.01 oz. (255.6 g)

Simeone Quarry, Wrentham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Though many quartz crystals rest on one face of the host rock of this specimen, only one exceeds 0.2" (5 mm) in length and has a sufficiently deep violet color to be considered Amethyst. This single crystal has a length of 0.9" (2.3 cm) and a diameter of 0.4" (1.0 cm), and is in good condition, as there is a small chip on the tip of one of its terminations. It is thus double-terminated, and has excellent hexagonal prismatic form, with well-defined edges and clean faces that possess a vitreous luster. Both terminations show an uneven, pale violet coloration that fades to near colorlessness towards the center of the crystal. Again, the terminations are dimly transparent, but cloud to translucence towards the center. The crystal rests on a metamorphic base rock that is made up of several different minerals, including quartz and some type of feldspar.

Dims: 3.8 x 2.8 x 2.0" (9.7 x cm)

Wt: 4.54 oz. (128.8 g)

Kedon, Yakutia, Russia

At least 5 Amethyst crystals rest in the host rock of this hand specimen. These crystals are generally in good condition, though most are slightly damaged, and one is badly broken and mostly incomplete. The largest of these has dimensions of 1.1 x 0.8 x 0.6" (2.8 x 2.0 x 1.5 cm) and like all of the others, has good hexagonal prismatic form with well-defined edges, clean faces, and a well-formed pyramidal termination. All are colored a pale violet and are transparent and dimly clear due to internal fractures, and have the standard vitreous luster. They rest upon a small druse of more tiny Amethysts that partly coats what appears to be a metamorphic base rock.

Dims: 12.1 x 8.2 x 4.6" (10.3 x 20.8 x 11.7 cm)

Wt: 13.2 lbs. (6.0 kg)

Minas Gerais, Brazil

This cut and partly polished section of a geode is lined with hundreds of Amethyst crystals. These crystals are in excellent condition due to the protective nature of their environment and reach lengths and diameters of over 1" (2.5 cm). All have excellent hexagonal prismatic form, with well-defined edges and generally clean faces. Most of these crystals are intergrown just beneath their terminations, but a few have visible prism lengths. All have a pale violet coloration and the standard vitreous luster, and are cloudy and translucent to dimly transparent. Some of the crystals that line the bottom of the interior are also coated with thin layers of colorless calcite. A few trigonal calcite "dogteeth" rest among the crusts. Almost no agate separates the Amethyst druse from the dark green lava "skin" that coats the outer surface of the geode.

Dims: 6.8 x 3.3 x 1.1" (17.3 x 8.4 x 2.8 cm)

Wt: 13.5 oz. (383 g)

Chihuahua, Mexico

This specimen consists of part of a cluster of heavily-intergrown Amethyst crystals that has been cut flat. Though none of the crystals are intact due to the cutting, one can easily see evidence of their hexagonal prismatic form. All have a violet color that ranges widely in depth from crystal to crystal and some of the larger crystals show faint but visible phantoming. The miner referred to it as Honeycomb Amethyst, and had a selection of unusual cabochons made from it.

Dims: 2.1 x 1.2 x 0.7" (5.3 x 3.0 x 1.8 cm)

Wt: 20.8 g

Amatitlan, Guerrero, Mexico

This small hand specimen consists of a cluster of Amethyst prisms that are in excellent condition and reach lengths of 1.9" (4.9 cm). All have excellent hexagonal prismatic form, with well-defined edges and clean faces that possess the standard vitreous luster. Their pale violet color occurs in phantom layers and ends just beneath the base of each termination. All are transparent and generally clear, though most contain a few cloudy inclusions and one or two small internal fractures. The base from which they extend is a crust made up of many much smaller quartz crystals.

Dims: 4.3 x 3.6 x 2.4" (10.9 x 9.1 x 6.1 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 5.9 oz. (622 g)

Diamond Willow Mine, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

This large hand specimen consists of a druse of very small Amethyst crystals that partly covers a base of quartz and feldspar. They do not exceed 0.3" (8 mm) in length or diameter but are in generally good condition. Though only their terminations are exposed, they have excellent hexagonal prismatic form. Their color is a moderately pale violet that is accented with splashes of brick-red due to iron oxide inclusions and all have a slightly dull vitreous luster. The iron-oxide inclusions are opaque, and crystals are generally dimly transparent at best.

Dims: 5.0 x 3.3 x 2.1" (12.7 x 8.4 x 5.3 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 6.4 oz. (635 g)

Queen Mine, Colorado, U.S.A.

Two Amethyst druses partly coat the brown sandstone host rock of this specimen. Each of these druses is made up of hundreds of tiny crystals that do not exceed 0.1" (3 mm) in length or diameter but are generally in very good condition. All have excellent hexagonal prismatic form, though their prism faces are generally not developed. Their color is a very pale violet and their luster is the standard vitreous of crystalline quartz. All are at least dimly transparent. These druses rest on green fluorite crusts, each of which are made up of countless, heavily-intergrown octahedrons.

Dims: 5.2 x 3.3 x 1.8" (13.3 x 8.4 x 4.7 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 2.0 oz. (511 g)

Colorado, U.S.A.

A druse of small Amethyst crystals rests on the calcite base of this large hand specimen. These crystals do not exceed 0.4" (1 cm) in length or 0.3" (8 mm) in diameter and are generally in good condition (a few of the more exposed crystals are broken). Their hexagonal prismatic form is very good, and some are definitely doubly-terminated. Their color is rather interesting- all visible prism lengths are milky-white in color, and violet coloration begins at the base of each termination. All are translucent and have a dull pearly-to-waxy luster. The calcite base is semicrystalline, showing a small amount of actual form.

Dims: 10.7 x 7.1 x 4.4" (27.2 x 18.0 x 11.1 cm)

Wt: 14.3 lbs. (6.5 kg)

Brazil

At least 10 large Amethyst crystals are clustered together to make up this large display specimen. These crystals are large, having dimensions of up to 3.8 x 3.2 x 2.8" (9.7 x 8.1 x 7.0 cm). Though most are incomplete, only few are damaged, and most of said damage is light. Their hexagonal prismatic form is excellent and all show a rather dull, pearly luster. All have a pale-violet color that fades to a milky colorlessness about halfway down their lengths. They are only dimly transparent- internal fractures and cloudy inclusions, along with their dull, almost frosted surfaces, make study of their interiors difficult. All of their exposed faces are at least partly covered by a thin crust of white calcite. There is no host rock present.

Dims: 9.9 x 7.3 x 4.7" (25.1 x 18.5 x 11.9 cm)

Wt: 12.6 lbs. (5.7 kg)

Minas Gerais, Brazil

This display piece consists of two geodes that have grown together. The larger one makes up nearly the entire dimensions of the piece and has been cut open to reveal the pale violet druse within. The cut faces have been polished to show the details of the agate that surrounds the druse. The smaller geode faces away from the open face of the larger geode and is very similar in arrangement, with several layers of agate surrounding a thin druse of tiny, pale violet crystals. It is a rather unusual piece, as most Amethyst geodes from Brazil have a green outer skin (the skin of this one is brown), and do not contain nearly as much agate.

Dims: 1.9 x 1.8 x 1.5" (4.8 x 4.6 x 1.8 cm)

Wt: 1.16 oz. (33.1 g)

Vera Cruz, Mexico

This small hand specimen consists of a few Amethyst crystals that rest on what appears to be a thin drusy agate base. The largest crystal measures about 1.6" (4.0 cm) in length and is much larger than the others. They are generally in excellent condition, though there is a visible "stump" where a crystal broke off near its base. All have excellent hexagonal prismatic form, with well-defined edges and clean faces that show a vitreous luster- the largest crystal is sceptered. All have a very pale violet color and are transparent and only moderately clear due to internal fractures and a few inclusions. Again, the largest crystal is distinct because it contains a moving air bubble, denoting a two-phase inclusion. One can see this inclusion by closely examining the left side of the largest termination face and tilting the crystal upside-down.

Dims: 2.1 x 1.9 x 1.4" (5.3 x 4.8 x 3.6 cm)

Wt: 2.50 oz. (70.0 g)

Osilo, Sardinia, Italy

This small hand specimen consists of a cluster and a few loose crystals of Amethyst that rest on a basalt base. These crystals do not exceed dimensions of 1.0 x 0.2 x 0.2" (2.5 x 0.4 x 0.4 cm) and are in excellent condition. Though they are heavily intergrown, their hexagonal prismatic form is still quite good. All have a very pale violet color and a vitreous luster, and are transparent and moderately clear, as a few cloudy inclusions are present. They are separated from the basalt base by a crust of tiny white calcite crystals.

Dims: 3.5 x 3.0 x 2.4" (8.9 x 7.6 x 6.1 cm)

Wt: 15.2 oz. (431 g)

Cata Mine, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico

This large hand specimen consists of part of a crust of heavily-intergrown Amethysts. These crystals are generally in good condition and reach lengths of 2.2" (5.6 cm) or more. However, all but 0.5-1.0" (1.3-2.5 cm) of their lengths are intergrown. Each crystal is layered, also with a section of dark purple Amethyst that is covered by a much paler violet layer. This pale layer shows the exposed terminations, which are partly covered by crustas of crystalline calcite that are all aligned in one direction.

Dims:3.7x3.1x2.1" (9.4x7.9x5.3 cm)

Wt: 5.3oz. (151g)

Guerrero, Mexico

This is an incredible specimen of the famous Guerrero "phantom" amethyst. It is called phantom amethyst because the purple color does not extend all the way into the termination of the crystal, but instead forms amethyst phantoms inside a clear crystal. This is one of the best clusters of phantom amethyst I have seen. There are a few minor chips, and one crystal is broken, but this is still an awesome piece.

Dims: 4.18x3.76x3.13" (10.62x9.56x7.94cm)

Wt: 33.07oz (936g)

Maraba, Brazil

This is a "Maraba point", a single large amethyst crystal whose top has been polished to expose the pretty purple color of the amethyst within. Maraba crystal have rough, white exteriors (still visible on some of the sides), and the polishing is needed to expose the beauty within. The crystal is transparent but most of the interior is cloudy. This crystal looks very nice when illuminated from below (on a lighted stand) or in a window.

Dims: 4.36x5.81x1.53" (11.09x14.76x3.88cm)

Wt: 29.89oz (846g)

Minas Gerais, Brazil

At first glance, this is just a good but small section of an amethyst geode, cut and polished to create a cathedral shape. Its color is a pale but pretty purple against a crystalline quartz background lining a gray agate skin. The outer skin has been painted green, possibly to disguise cracks or to make the amethyst appear darker. In any event, close inspection reveals the usual cacoxinite inclusions, but these are unusually large, clean, and well-defined. A loupe reveals excellent radial cacoxinite crystals, in browns and yellows. The tips of many of these crystals extend slightly beyond the amethyst.

Dims: 27.0"x15.2"x7.9" (68.6x38.6x20.1cm)

Wt: 116 lbs (53kg)

Minas Gerais, Brazil

This large amethyst cathedral is over two feet tall, and is relatively shallow and wide. The crystals are average sized for a geode, and have a medium purple color. There is a nice gypsum crystal towards the bottom. It is transparent with a slightly pearly luster, is long and slender, and has a diamond shaped cross section at one end which tapers towards a rotated diamond at the other (the corners at one end become the faces at the other).

Dims: 3.33x2.59x1.89" (8.46x6.57x4.79cm)

Wt: 10.74oz (304g)

Minas Gerais, Brazil

This is a layer of amethyst crystals on a base of colorless quartz crystals. I suspect that the location label may be wrong, because there is no green crust or agate layer, plus the amethyst does not have the cacoxinite inclusions so common in amethyst geodes from this location. On the other hand, Minas Gerais is a huge region, and I am certain that there are multiple amethyst producing areas. These amethyst crystals are relatively stubby, and are organized in parallel clusters with the larger crystals appearing to have multiple faces. Also, fairly strong color zoning is apparent, with the overall color being rather delicate.

Dims: 20.5"x11.3"x13.0" (51.1x28.7x33.0cm)

Wt: 134lbs (61kg)

Minas Gerais, Brazil

This large amethyst cathedral is rather deep - the cavity lined with amethyst crystals is 11 inches in depth. Also, these crystals are relatively large and deeply colored. They are surrounded by a thick layer of ordinary quartz whose crystals are also rather large.

Dims: 3.54x1.80x1.65" (9.00x4.57x4.20cm)

Wt: 7.09oz (200.6g)

Minas Gerais, Brazil

A calcite crust hides the termination of this single amethyst crystal. Its sides are partially coated with more calcite, and the remaining surfaces appear to be contact impressions from adjacent crystals. I am certain that picking or disolving away the calcite would reveal a pristine termination with no damage. The amethyst is relatively pale, and appears more translucent than transparent.

Dims: 17.3"x10.6"x5.2" (43.9x26.9x13.2cm)

Wt: 23lbs (10.4kg)

Minas Gerais, Brazil

For an amethyst geode nearly a foot and a half tall, this one appears rather delicate. That is because its crystals are small and a medium purple in color, the geode is relatively thin (hence its low cost relative to its size), and there are multiple veins of pale amethyst criss-crossing the geode, which gives it a rather appealing appearance

Dims: 1.11x0.97x0.81" (2.81x2.46x2.07cm)

Wt: 0.65oz (18.3g)

Uraguay

This cluster of amethyst crystals from Uraguay has that locale's characteristic deep purple color and relatively small crystals. The color appears more uniform than many amethyst specimens - I can detect only a hint of color zoning. There are internal fractures, some of which result in veil-like milky areas which appear lighter than the transparent areas. Many of the points and edges of the crystals show minor damage.

Dims: 16.4"x9.0"x6.2" (41.6x22.9x15.7cm)

Wt: 20lbs (9.1kg)

Minas Gerais, Brazil

This amethyst cathedral has an outer layer about ½ inch thick of agate, then another ½ inch of colorless quartz, and the interior surface is medium colored amethyst crystals. They are relatively small, as expected in a geode with this thin of a shell. Three is a bonus of a large calcite cluster. The calcite crystals are rounded and blocky, looking more like a "blob" than a crystal cluster, and there is a fine druze of tiny crystals lending sparkle to the calcite.

Dims: 3.76x1.79x1.24" (9.56x4.55x3.16cm)

Wt: 6.16oz (174.6g)

Uraguay

This is an amethyst stalactite. I can imagine that the original stalactite formed above the water level in a cave system in what is now Uraguay, and later came to be filled with a saturated solution of quartz in water from which these crystals grew. While I am unsure of the original material, it appears that the bulk of the stalactite is a dark green-black agate, surrounded with a layer of colorless crystalline quartz, topped with the layer of purple amethyst. The color is moderately light for Uraguay amethyst. There is a moderate amount of damage, especially to one side that seems a bit flattened - it may have been in contact with another stalactite which limited its growth.

Dims: 12¼x9½x6"

Wt: 16.2 lbs

Mineas Gerais, Brazil

This lovely amethyst cathedral has relatively small crystals with a better color than average and a single excellent but small calcite on the bottom. It has some delicate bands of lighter color running diagonally across the back that are slightly elevated and may be an overgrowth of quartz. This specimen is very appealing up close, as the color is very good and the lighter bands add character.

Dims: 6.16x5.74x1.65" (`5,65x14.59x4.20cm)

Wt: 51.85oz (1470g)

Minas Gerais, Brazil

This is a beautiful small ring cut as a horizontal slice from an amethyst geode. Both sides have been polished, and it comes with a custom wooden stand. It is very nice, even if the color is a bit pale, as I do not see any of the brown cacoxinite inclusions that are common in Brazillian amethyst, and the specimen is nearly free of damage. It has the usual green skin over the outer layer of translucent gray agate, and some of the crystals are colorless enough to be called quartz. The pictures don't do it justice - the specimen is quite light in color (it looked correct on the camera, but when transferred to the web site the images appear far too dark).

Dims: 2.06x1.76x0.84" (5.24x4.46x2.13cm)

Wt: 1.41oz (39.9g)

Magaliesberg Mountains, Kwa Ndebele, South Africa

THis is a specimen of "Cactus Amethyst", sometimes referred to as "Spirit Quartz". It is very pretty. A single large prismatic crystal of amethyst has been covered with a druze of small amethyst crystals. I suspect that the large quartz crystal is actually a milky quartz, but the termination is topped with a layer of amethyst, so that is what it looks like. It is very nice, and presents well, resting on a flat base of milky quartz (topped with more amethyst druze).

Dims: 9.8x7.5x5.7in (25.0x19.0x14.5cm)

Wt: 16.25lb (7.3kg)

Minias Gerais, Brazil

This is an odly shaped portion of a vug, with the front and top faces polished. The color is good. There is a patch near the center which at first glance looks damaged, but close examination reveals that this is an area where an intergrown calcite crystal has been disolved away.

Dims mm=730x300x220

Wt g=38000

Minas Gerais, Brazil

This large amethyst cathedral makes a fine decorator specimen, as it is well shaped and has an appealing pale violet-purple color. There are several inclusions which add to its appeal. At least 3 calcite crystals are intergrown with the amethyst, although most (or all) of their surfaces are covered with a druze of amethyst, quartz, and a black mineral, yielding a sparkling gray island against the background of amethyst. Also, the face of the specimen reveals two pink crystals of an unknown composition. The common cacoxinite inclusions inside the amethyst crystals take the form of black fan blades, unfortunately too small to examine without a loupe. The amethyst crystals cover a thin layer of white quartz which forms a relatively thin wall for the geode.

Dims mm=425x210x140

Wt g=11000

Minas Gerais, Brazil

This cathedral has nearly zero white or colorless quartz - it is almost all amethyst crystals. They have a very nice purple color, and show a large variation in size. The largest crystal is nearly 4cm wide and juts about that far into the cavity. The largest crystal here is a nearly 10cm calcite, which is beautifully perched near the center of the cavity. Its white color contrasts beautifully with the violet-purple background of the amethyst.

Dims mm=380x220x115

Wt g=8750

Minas Gerais, Brazil

While this amethyst cathedral has relatively thin crystals with a pale color, it is still an excellent value for its size. It has dozens of clusters of brown cacoxinite crystals perched (unusually) on the outside of the amethyst crystals.

Dims mm=145x135x70

Wt g=1910

Minas Gerais, Brazil

This is a matched pair, as a single geode was cut in half yielding this pair of small amethyst geodes. While the weight referes to the total, the dimensions are of one of the set - the other is very similar in size.

dims mm=37.57x23.75x16.74

wt g=20.8

Magaliesberg Mountains, Kwa Ndebele, South Africa

This little amethyst specimen is not quite prismatic enough to qualify as "cactus amethyst" in my opinion, but it does have a very pretty color and it takes a high power loupe to reveal any imperfections in the crystal.

Dims mm=177.5x160x60

Wt g=1500

Minas Gerais, Brazil

This section of an amethyst geode has a very nice color, actually in several shades from nearly white to a medium dark violet-purple. Actually, the colorless crystals don't really look like quartz, and may be something else entirely. There is part of one edge missing; otherwise, this specimen has a thick layer of gray translucent agate beneath the relatively thin layer of small amethyst crystals.

Dims mm=900x250x240

Wt g=53000

Minas Gerais, Brazil

This large amethyst cathedral has excellent color. It makes an impressive decoration piece in a foyer or living room.