Amethyst

AmethystOne of the most widely recognized and unmistakable minerals, Amethyst has been sought after since ancient times as a gemstone and decorative object. Amethyst is a form of Quartz which gets its beautiful purple tint from the substitution of silicone for iron due to irradiation. It is found in a wide range of shades from deep purple to pale violet and even pink, with color intensity usually deepest at the termination or tip of each crystal.

Amethyst has been sought after since ancient times as a gemstone and decorative object

where early very productive copper mines supplied much of the ancient world with the material

The “Benz” part of the name comes from the tip of some calcite crystals which have a clearly defined three-pointed star of pyrite

One of the most widely recognized and unmistakable minerals

These specimens of natural uncut aquamarine occur within a unique matrix of thick mica with a strong yellowish tint

copper has been used by humans as ornamentation

Approx 420 million years old

From the Upper Ordovician Period - Ashgill Stage - Ktaoua Formation

It has a very dramatic "head shield" which is often interpreted as a mechanism to help it stay on top of a soft ocean floor

silky and lustrous texture of these fibrous Malachite specimens combined with the incredibly rich color make them deservedly popular among collectors

Malachite has been mined for both use in copper tools and for ornamentation and jewelry

where some truly impressive specimens like this very rarely emerge from the mines