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Quartz

Amethyst

MNHN N°193.68

visu_116 infos

FROM : Las Vigas, Vera Cruz, Mexico
SIZE : 8.5 x 5.5 x 6 cm

general description

This amethyst is made up of overlapping very transparent prismatic quartz crystals (amethyst variety) measuring to 8.5 cm in length.

This sample was extracted from a geode formed in the Las Vigas area in Mexico. This specimen could be acquired thanks to support from Total. It is kept in the storage rooms of the collections of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.
3D view: A. Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire, © MNHN.

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The Species page

Identity card

SPECIE : Quartz
VARIETY :Amethyst

HISTORY : Name inspired by "quarz", old german word "querch" meaning dwarf

Species known since Prehistory

Type-locality: undefined because species already known by the Ancients

CHEMICAL FORMULA : SiO 2
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Rhomboedric
COLOR : Colourless, white, pink, violett, black, yellow
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to opaque
LUSTER : Vitreux to greasy
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Prismatic crystals, massive, forming aggregates
HARDNESS : 7
DENSITY : 2,66

CHEMICAL CLASS : IV - Oxides and hydroxide
GROUP : Quartz
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 4/D.01-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 4.DA.05

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