Amethyst Tip — Rolado

Amethyst is a variety of quartz (SiO₂) whose purple to violet color results from the presence of traces of iron (Fe⁴⁺) in specific defects in the crystalline lattice, combined with exposure to natural radiation from the surrounding rocks. It forms predominantly in cavities and druses of basalt rocks, hydrothermal veins and pegmatites, where solutions rich in silica and iron slowly crystallize, filling geodes and fractures. The intensity of the purple color is directly proportional to the iron concentration and the degree of irradiation received during and after crystalline growth. The mechanical rolling process progressively rounds the ends and corners of the pieces, resulting in a smoothed external profile that preserves the internal crystalline structure. Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Density: 2.65 g/cm³. Crystalline system: trigonal. Available variations, approximate data: Size: 3 to 8 cm Unit weight: 10 to 25 g (approx.) Average: 40 pieces per kg (approx