Amethyst

[Wwoofa]

Hi,
This month's "Gem of the Month" is .... Amethyst.

Feel free to add more info & pics. If anyone has any questions about Amethyst then this is a good place to post them.

You might like to change your "Gem of the Month" votes now that this one has been covered.

General Information:

Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz. The colour is caused by iron impurities. If heated, Amethyst turns yellow and then resembles the Quartz variety Citrine.

Here are a few useful links that should cover all of the main information.

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amethyst
Mindat - http://www.mindat.org/min-198.html
Minerals.Net - http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/Amethyst.aspx

Fossicking Locations:

Amethyst can be found in many places in Australia.  Here are some of the main locations.

QLD - Kuridala (near Cloncurry)

Kuridala is located about 65km south of Cloncurry in North West Queensland. This is probably the most well known location for fossickers.

There's lots of good info & pics in Fullerton's album ...
http://aussiesapphire.com.au/forum/index.php?action=media;sa=album;in=18

and here ...
http://www.mindat.org/loc-4583.html

QLD - Castle Mount/Amethyst Castle (near Cloncurry)

Castle Mount is about 100km south of Cloncurry in North West Queensland. Amethystine quartz is found at this area.

There are good pics in Fullerton's album and some here ...
http://minerals.snakegully.net/amethyst/amethyst.html

WA - Wyloo Station

The "Great Australian Amethyst Mine" is located on Wyloo Station in WA. I believe that permission from the owners is required before visiting this location.

Here's some info & a few pics ...
http://www.mindat.org/loc-216973.html

NT - Harts Range

Excellent Amethyst crystals and sceptres can be found in the Hart's Range. I don't know where though

Here's a map of the general area and some info ...
http://www.nt.gov.au/d/Minerals_Energy/index.cfm?header=Central Harts Range

There are some excellent pics in PatrickG's album ...
http://aussiesapphire.com.au/forum/index.php?action=media;sa=album;in=130

NT - Victoria River Downs Station

Excellent Amethyst has come from the Victoria River Downs Station (also known as Camfield Station). This is private property and as far as I know fossicking isn't permitted. All of the material may actually be gone by now? I saw a large number of magnificent specimens being sold by a commercial operator at the Bathurst Gemboree last year. The largest cluster was at least 30cm and the color was a lovely deep purple.

Here's a pic of a piece that I bought at the Gemboree ...

[smg id=2152 type=preview align=centre width=400 caption="Victoria River Downs Station Amethyst"]

NSW - Corona Station (near Broken Hill)

Very nice Amethyst has come from the Corona Station near Broken Hill.

Here's some info & a few pics ...
http://www.mindat.org/loc-53522.html

Here's a pic of a piece that I also bought at the Gemboree ...

[smg id=2154 type=preview align=centre width=400 caption="Corona Station Amethyst"]

VIC - Eldorado

A relatively small quantity of Amethyst has come from Eldorado in Victoria (near Wangaratta).

Here's some info & a few pics ...
http://www.crystal-world.com/html/mining/australian/eldorado.htm

[toppster]

Here is a picture of Amethyst castle individual crystal-left ,and Kuridala plate- right

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[snowman3195]

Here is another Kuridala Amethyst that Marg and I found on 10th June 2012.







cheers  Wayne.

[Hunter V]

Beautiful examples.

I have some pretty rough samples at home, so how easy it is to cab amethyst? does it matter from which side or angle you do it at if you want to cab one?

[mehoose]

Easy enough, just put the heavier concentration of purple across the bottom of the cab (or level with the 'girdle')if you want to try for an all over purple.

[toppster]

Some more from wave hill

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[toppster]

Some of the different patterns you can find at amethyst castle,they vary from area to area even if its only meters from each spot

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[mehoose]

Ooo, bottom left is a ripper. 

[chookie2]

MMM yum Love those patterns. My Wyloo amethysts are just clear purple or shaded no patterning that I found at all.

[tina]

What amazing stones.  Very beautiful

[Jamo]

Wow toppster, really nice! Will have to go way north one day... May have to wait til I'm a grey nomad though ... too many other things to do when you've got kids and parents to keep in line!

[toppster]

Chookie have you found any facet quality ay whyloo looks like some nice crystals to be had from there.

[chookie2]

Yes Toppster I found a lot of good sized and good quality cutters at Wyloo.

[Wwoofa]

Here's another great website .... some amazing pics

http://www.quartzpage.de/amethyst.html

[Wwoofa]

The NSW Minsoc Newletter Oct 2012 (recently posted) has some very interesting info about Amethyst collecting.