The first step in amethyst receiving its purple color begins during crystal growth. That is when trace amounts of iron are incorporated into a growing quartz crystal. After crystallization, gamma rays, emitted by radioactive materials within the host rock, irradiate the iron to produce the purple color. The intensity of amethyst’s purple color can vary…

Amethyst is an extremely popular gem because of its attractive purple color. Like the word “turquoise,” the word “amethyst” is now the name of a color as well as the name of a gem material. While the word “amethyst” makes most people think of a dark purple gem, amethyst actually occurs in many purple colors.…

Amethyst is the world’s most popular purple gem. It is the purple color variety of quartz that has been used in personal adornment for over 2000 years. Amethyst is the birthstone of February and an important New Age gem. It is used to produce faceted stones, cabochons, beads, tumbled stones, and many other items for jewelry and ornamental use. Amethyst has a Mohs…