Amethyst
Amethyst comprises the purple and violet varieties of the large family of quartz minerals. Although Amethyst is always violet in hue, the range of colour is very wide and can vary from nearly colourless with a faint mauve tint to a glorious deep purple.
View all Amethyst jewellery at Astley Clarke
| Gemstone Name | Gemstone Family | Mohs Hardness | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amethyst | Quartz | 7.0 | Range from nearly colourless with a faint mauve tint to a glorious deep purple |
You may be also interested to know...
- Amethyst is the birthstone for February
- Amethyst is the Zodiac stone for Pisces
- Amethyst jewellery is often given as a 6th Wedding Anniversary gift
- The name is said to derive from the Greek word 'amethystos,' which loosely translates as 'not drunken'. It was believed that wearing Amethyst would prevent you from suffering the adverse effects of excessive alcohol consumption - so, in order to prevent intoxication, drinks were often drunk from Amethyst-encrusted goblets.
HEMATITE AND LODESTONE - GEMSTONE COUSINS
Similarities
Both of these black or very dark gray minerals look quite similar. They are shiny, similar in color and both made of iron oxide - magnetite.
Hematite
Hematite is silvery black in color and is made of iron oxide. It is also found in opaque red or red brown colors. It is normally found in a smooth stone, but when faceted is known as a "black diamond." It will streak red when rubbed on a harder stone. Unlike lodestone, it is not magnetic.
Lodestone
Lodestone is also made from iron oxide and it does have magnetic qualities in its natural state. It is black in color, usually without the silvery tint. It is commonly found throughout the world and is 6.0 on the Moh's scale of hardness.
Use of Hematite and Lodestone in Jewellery
The height of hematite's popularity in jewelry was in Europe during the Victorian era. It has also seen a strong resurgence in North America, especially in the western United States. Due to it delicate nature, the mineral is found only in precious jewelry.
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