Amethyst
purple · Quartz family
| Also known as | Quartz (Quartz family) |
|---|---|
| Colour | Purple |
| Mohs hardness | 7 (lower in impure varieties) |
| Lustre | Vitreous/glassy |
| Streak | White |
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
| Transparency | Transparent to translucent |
| Cleavage | None |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Chemical formula | Silica (silicon dioxide, SiO) |
| Specific gravity | 2.65 constant; variable in impure varieties |
What is Amethyst?
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz. Ancient Greeks wore amethyst and carved drinking vessels from it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. Amethyst, a semiprecious stone, is often used in jewelry. It occurs mostly in association with calcite, quartz, smoky quartz, hematite, pyrite, fluorite, goethite, agate, and chalcedony.
How to identify Amethyst
- Lustre: Vitreous/glassy.
- Hardness: Mohs 7 (lower in impure varieties) — hard enough to scratch glass.
- Streak: White.
- Habit: Trigonal crystal system.
Amethyst value
Based on 100 recent eBay sold listings, a raw / cluster Amethyst typically sells for $6–$21 (about $0.03–$0.08 per gram for raw material). After eBay fees a seller nets roughly $11 on a median piece.
| Recently sold | Weight | Sold | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.86LB Natural Amethyst Cluster Quartz Crystal Backbone Mineral Specimen Healing | 1297 g | $19 | 2026-06-22 |
| 154G Natural Amethyst Geode with Calcite Quartz Cluster Crystal Gem Specimen | 154 g | $21 | 2026-06-22 |
| 142G Natural Amethyst Geode with Calcite Quartz Cluster Crystal Gem Specimen | 142 g | $21 | 2026-06-22 |
| 98G Natural Amethyst geode quartz cluster crystal specimen Healing | 98 g | $20 | 2026-06-22 |
| 1.33LB Natural Amethyst Geode with Calcite Quartz Cluster Crystal Gem Specimen | 603 g | $17 | 2026-06-22 |
| 266G Natural Amethyst Geode with Calcite Quartz Cluster Crystal Gem Specimen | 266 g | $11 | 2026-06-22 |
Typical recently-sold prices, 2026-06. Condition, size and quality vary widely, so this is an estimate, not an appraisal. See current sold listings on eBay ↗. Full value guide · how we work this out.
