6.9" Thunder Bay Amethyst Cluster - Ontario

Thunder Bay Amethyst Cluster - Ontario #103825

This is a large, 6.9" wide cluster of amethyst crystals that are associated with a small amount of bladed barite, collected from the Boulder Creek Amethyst Mines near Thunder Bay, Ontario. Similar to other amethyst specimens from the Thunder Bay area, these amethyst crystals have red hematite inclusions, however they're not as pronounced as other specimens from this location.

The base has been cut flat, allowing for aesthetic presentation of the specimen without the need for a display stand. When viewing the cut base, there are spots of grey metallic luster which can be attributed to the formation of galena.

In the 1950s, amethyst deposits were discovered about 30 miles northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario while building a road. It has been mined in the area since the 1960s. This material can range from light, delicate purple to almost black in color. One very distinctive characteristic of many Thunder Bay amethyst crystals is the inclusion of red hematite as microscopic disks or spherules within the crystals. These inclusions can cause crystals to have red highlights, zones, or even appear completely red in color.

Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz (SiO2) that owes its violet color to natural irradiation, iron impurities, and the presence of trace elements, resulting 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 volcanic formations in southern Brazil and Uruguay, but many localities around the world produce an amazing variety of amethyst crystals and formations.

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