5.65" Deep Purple Amethyst Cluster - Congo

This is a stunning, 5.65" wide amethyst crystal cluster with beautiful purple coloration and exceptional luster, collected from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These crystals have undergone no color treatment or polishing. The orange-red color across some of the crystals can be attributed to iron oxidation.

Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz (SiO2) that owes its violet color to natural gamma irradiation, iron impurities, and the presence of trace elements, which result in complex crystal lattice substitutions. It is considered a semi-precious gemstone, and just two centuries ago was considered to have a value on par with diamonds, sapphires, and rubies. The largest and best known amethyst deposits occur in southern Brazil and Uruguay, where they are found in hydrothermally-formed geodes, but many localities around the world produce an amazing variety of amethyst crystals and formations. They are almost always formed in medium- to high-temperature geological settings.

FOR SALE
$295
DETAILS
SPECIES
Quartz var. Amethyst
LOCATION
Democratic Republic of the Congo
SIZE
5.65 x 5.1"
ITEM
#294254