12.5" Deep Purple Amethyst Crystal Cluster - Congo

This is a gorgeous amethyst crystal cluster with deep purple coloration and large crystals, collected from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This huge cluster measures in at a whopping 12.5 x 8.7" and weighs just under 36 lbs. These crystals have undergone no color treatment or polishing.

Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz (SiO2) that owes its violet color to natural gamma irradiation, iron impurities, and the presence of trace elements, which result in complex crystal lattice substitutions. It is considered a semi-precious gemstone, and just two centuries ago was considered to have a value on par with diamonds, sapphires, and rubies. The largest and best known amethyst deposits occur in southern Brazil and Uruguay, where they are found in hydrothermally-formed geodes, but many localities around the world produce an amazing variety of amethyst crystals and formations. They are almost always formed in medium- to high-temperature geological settings.

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DETAILS
SPECIES
Quartz var. Amethyst
LOCATION
Congo
SIZE
12.5 x 8.7", just under 36 lbs
ITEM
#174229