Known for its royal purple hue, the amethyst has been revered throughout history. It made its mark as the birthstone for February and is now considered one of the most sought-after colored gemstones in the world. While the amethyst might be famous, its formation and characteristics are what truly make it unique.
Where Do Amethysts Come From?
Amethyst is a popular variety of quartz and is formed in hollow rocks known as geodes. This semi-precious stone can be found all over the world in one prismatic cluster above the geode base. In most cases, the amethyst appears in the form of a six-sided crystal with a crystalline crust.
How Does Amethyst Get Its Color?
The purple color of this gem is caused due to the presence of aluminum and iron impurities. Its shade can range from a rich purple to a lilac hue depending on the concentration of the impurities.
Can Amethyst Lose Its Color?
Yes, an amethyst can lose its color.
Almost all amethysts present in the market today have been artificially treated. This is done to effectively enhance their color and to improve the overall clarity. To do this, the amethyst is usually exposed to extreme heat in a controlled environment. In most cases, it is treated at a temperature of 400-500 degrees Celsius.
That said, when placed in direct and extreme light, the stone could fade and lose its color over a period of time. This mainly happens due to particle physics. Essentially when a photon from a secondary source like sunlight, for example, hits an atom, one of two things can happen:
- If the atom is color-neutral, the photon either gets absorbed as heat or get reflected. This reflection can’t be seen by the human eye as the photon is colorless.
- If the atom is color-charged, on the other hand, the photon will enter the atom and push out the color-charged particles (also known as a quark). When this process is experienced repeatedly, the atom eventually starts to run out of quarks which leads to the fading of the substance as a whole.
In this particular case, the amethyst contains color-charged atoms which is why it will fade when exposed to extreme light. The fading of the amethyst stone is considered normal and will happen if it is repeatedly exposed to sunlight. A good way to prevent the fading process is to keep the amethyst in a box or a dark room when not in use.
Important Tips
- In addition to direct sunlight exposure, the amethyst must also be protected from high temperature as that too can lead to discoloration or deterioration of this gemstone’s color.
- Steam cleaning is not suitable for the amethyst as sudden temperature change can cause fractures in the stone.
- Always store your amethyst jewelry in a fabric lined box or wrap it in a soft cloth.
The color of an amethyst is its most attractive feature. You can ensure it continues to glow for years to come by keeping the above tips in mind.
Also Read – Does the Amethyst Undergo Treatment?
The tip about storing amethyst out of direct sunlight to prevent fading is a great one. I never would have guessed that light could affect the stone’s color!
This blog post on amethyst color fading was very interesting! It surprised me to learn that most amethysts on the market are treated to enhance their color.