The Colour Of Amethyst & Its Varieties

Purple Amethyst 

The violet variety of quartz, amethyst, has long been admired for its rich colour and symbolic associations with calmness and spirituality. 

While it is commonly thought of as a uniformly purple gemstone, amethyst actually displays a range of colour variations. These differences arise from the presence of iron impurities within the quartz crystal, combined with natural gamma radiation from the geological conditions during formation. 

The most valued amethyst colour is a medium to deep purple or a reddish purple, especially when the colour is evenly distributed throughout the stone. High-quality specimens display strong saturation without becoming overly dark, allowing light to pass through and enhance the gem’s brilliance. 

At the lighter end of the spectrum lies pale amethyst. These colours are characterized by soft lavender or lilac hues. Its gentle colouring gives it a romantic appeal, making it a favorite for delicate, feminine jewelry designs. Although it is generally less valuable than deeper-coloured stones, its clarity and subtle beauty can be highly attractive. 

Darker amethyst varieties exhibit rich, intense purple shades that can approach a nearly black appearance under low light. These stones often contain strong blue or red undertones, depending on their origin. While deep colour can increase value, excessively dark stones may appear opaque and lose some of their visual appeal. 

Amethyst can also display zoning, where different areas of the crystal show varying intensities or shades of purple. This natural phenomenon occurs during crystal growth as environmental conditions fluctuate. In some cases, zoning creates striking patterns, with bands or patches of darker and lighter colour. Skilled gem cutters often orient the stone to highlight or balance these variations, enhancing the overall appearance. 

Siberian Amethyst 

One of the most distinctive & valued colour varieties is “Siberian” amethyst, a trade term used to describe stones with exceptional richness and a specific blend of purple with red and blue flashes. While these top quality amethyst stones once came from Siberia, the term these days, refers to a stone from any location but with the same standard of colour. 

Rose De France Amethyst

This variety is often hotly debated regarding its exact colour classification but the exact shade is somewhere between a soft pink to (more strongly so) a pastel purple colour. It is neither definitively purple or pink. 

Green Amethyst 

A particularly interesting variation is green amethyst, also known as prasiolite. Although there are natural deposits, it is not abundantly found. Some refer to it as vermarine or green quartz. 

This colour can be created when amethyst is heat-treated, by altering the impurities within the crystal. The result is a soft green hue that differs markedly from the traditional purple. 

While prasiolite is technically distinct from natural amethyst in its final form, it originates from the same mineral and is often grouped with amethyst varieties in the jewelry trade.

Pink Amethyst

Pink amethyst is a rare variety of amethyst & was discovered in the El Choique mine in Patagonia, Argentina fairly recently. It is different from rose quartz which is not a variety of amethyst. Pink amethyst gets its colour from hematite inclusions in the stone as well as traces of iron. Unlike rose quartz that gets its colour from titanium, iron or manganese.  

Ametrine 

Another notable type is ametrine, a naturally occurring combination of amethyst and citrine within the same crystal. This variety displays zones of purple alongside golden-yellow or orange hues. The colour division is typically sharp, resulting in a gemstone that appears almost bi-coloured. Ametrine is most famously found in Bolivia from the Anahi mine and is celebrated for its uniqueness and visual contrast. Half & half colour distribution is highly sought after. 

Fading Amethyst? 

Intense light exposure can also influence amethyst’s colour. Prolonged exposure to strong sunlight may cause fading, creating lighter stones. 

Equally, heat treatment of amethyst can alter the colour, usually producing paler tones or transforming the stone into citrine. 

Amethyst Origins

The geographical origin of amethyst can play a role in its colour characteristics as well. Brazil is the world's leading source of amethyst. Stones from Brazil often produce more lighter purple stones than deeply saturated stones, while the average stone mined in Uruguay exhibits deeper, more saturated tones. 

African sources, from Zambia, produce amethyst with a rich raspberry or sometimes a blueberry purple colour with prices often being significantly more than what is found in South America. 

Ultimately, the colour varieties of amethyst reflect the complexity of its formation and the influence of natural processes over millions of years. From pale lilac to intense violet, and even into green and bi-coloured forms, amethyst offers a remarkable diversity that continues to captivate gem enthusiasts.