Learning Center What is a mineral?The most common minerals on earth Information for Educators Mindat Articles The Elements The Rock H. Currier Digital Library Geologic Time

Minerals by Properties Minerals by Chemistry Advanced Locality Search Random Mineral Random Locality Search by minID Localities Near Me Search Articles Search Glossary More Search Options

The Mindat Manual Add a New Photo Rate Photos Locality Edit Report Coordinate Completion Report Add Glossary Item

Mining Companies Statistics Users Mineral Museums Clubs & Organizations Mineral Shows & Events The Mindat Directory Device Settings The Mineral Quiz

Photo Search Photo Galleries Search by Color New Photos Today New Photos Yesterday Members' Photo Galleries Past Photo of the Day Gallery Photography

Discussions

💬 Home 🔎 Search 📅 Latest

╳Discussions

💬 Home 🔎 Search 📅 Latest

Groups

Recent Images in Discussions

Identity HelpLocality ID needed for amethyst

7th Jun 2015 02:05 UTCDan Costian

A few years ago the Internet was full of such amethyst clusters claimed to be form China (or Tibet).

They look different from the well-known amethyst crystals coming from Brazil, Uruguay, Morocco and even the few uploaded on mindat.org from China.

I wonder if you can suggest a locality of origin for these three examples.

They have sparse goethite inclusions and one of them also chevron striations.

http://www.mindat.org/photo-688728.html

http://www.mindat.org/photo-688724.html

7th Jun 2015 04:42 UTCsteven garza

Dear Dan;

In order to tell most amethysts from each other, there's got to be something atypical (for the most part) about them or Brazilian Rio de Sul pieces would be sold as Canadian & no one would be the wiser. goethite inclusions are in 80% of the amethysts from anywhere & the chevron striations are merely a growth feature, found wherever a xl plate/cluster grew against other xls of nearly any sort, which broke or dissolved away from that particular xl. My guess, from the deposition & patchy coloring & xl habit. it likely came from an Fe-Pb-Ag type orebody; many people don't know that amethyst was a common companion in the CO Ag - Pb mines, as well as CT, MA, & NH. Other than that, there's nothing there to help point a finger at any locality.

Your friend, Steve

7th Jun 2015 07:44 UTCRon Austin Rushman

That also looks like amethyst from South Carolina. Amethyst from the Carolina's often are pastel colours and have the purple on the terminations, and colourless in the middle. They also tend to form DT s. The key is from whom did you get these from? If someone with fewer teeth than a jackolantern and a southern accent than I would say Carolina. Due West or the Reel Mine both produce xtls that look like this. Also as crazy Steve correctly pointed out CT, MA and NH also have crystals like this. It is typical of the Carolina Amethyst Belt that runs from Georgia up to Rhode Island.

7th Jun 2015 13:02 UTCDan Costian

Dear Steve and Ron, thanks both of you to put me on some trail. I am going to look at the amethysts from these US states.

Much obliged,

Dan

7th Jun 2015 13:55 UTCDan Costian

I've got them from a Chinese dealer (of course :-) ).

7th Jun 2015 15:05 UTCsteven garza

Dear Dan;

So you know, Korea (N & S) has quite a bit of amethyst, just like yours; since N Korea is allied/doing business with China, that COULD be where it came from. I can't remember the name of the location where the quartz, epidote, & hematite xl clusters come from, but, I'd make a bet it's from somewhere near there.

Your friend, Steve

PS I have a VERY nice DT amethyst with epidote, from there, that has goethite inclusions.

7th Jun 2015 15:22 UTCDan Costian

Dear Steve,

You and Ron have been very helpful to indicate possible localities for these amethyst crystals. I compared mine with those uploaded to mindat.org and believe that they come from the Carolinas. It's the best I could do, so I edited the uploads accordingly and am looking forward to the the decision of the respective managers.

Best regards,

Your friend,

Dan

7th Jun 2015 15:29 UTCKelly Nash 🌟 Expert

A couple of years ago I posted a query here about a roughly similar amethyst specimen that was acquired in Vietnam:
Amethyst-Vietnam?

I never resolved the provenance, but I think an Asian location is more likely than U.S..

7th Jun 2015 15:44 UTCAmir C. Akhavan Expert

Dan, this won't do.

I can't see anything on the specimens that would justify placing them at any locality, in particular not at specific mines.

They could be from a lot of places, even "China".

7th Jun 2015 17:37 UTCHarold (Hal) Prior Expert

It definitely looks like it could be South Carolina - I have several that look VERY much like it. However, I would not put a locale on it unless I could find a clear link to some locale. I never buy a mineral without locale information (that I believe) - unless I can clearly identify it as to locale or plan to use it for decorator purposes only. It should remain locale unknown at this time. .....Hal P

8th Jun 2015 00:07 UTCDan Costian

Amir, you are right. Case closed.

Thanks again to everybody.

8th Jun 2015 01:29 UTCAdam Kelly

I am an amethyst collector.

Right now i have about 275 different locals.

One of which is from China and look similar to your's.

The locality is Daye Co. Huangshi Pre.

Unfortunately I also have similar ones from Madagascar, Due West SC, etc...

I would rule out Korea, and New England though

8th Jun 2015 10:40 UTCsteven garza

Dear Kelly;

I'm NOT an amethyst collector, specifically, but I have several multiples of specimens from several multiples of localities - sometimes with multiple specimens from a single locality; more importantly, the Mindat photo database has even MORE, in the same situation. The photo gallery is great, but, never shows the "uglies" - the ones deemed "too poor/not representative enough"; this eliminates seeing some important prospecting signs & makes it harder to study a locality, vicariously. That's why, my multiples from a single locality DOES include the "uglies"; for me, they are WAY too important, for study & teaching purposes. I've noticed your ads for amethysts from different locales, &, having 275 IS impressive, but, I have 8, from different locales in China, &, the one I referred to comes from Sichuan (mis.) district/Co. (I believe Prefectures are in Japan, not China). Do you have any specimens from Hopkinton, RI; South Grafton, MA; Wrentham, MA (with over 17 overgrowth cycles showing, because of selective face growth); Nashua, NH; Deer Hill, Stowe, ME(the "poorer" specimens have green chlorite phantoms); - heck, the data base has only 20 locales listed & I have samples from 30 more.

Dear Dan;

You've made the right decision; rule NO area out, as a possibility. Even China. Just don't ever expect a definite answer as to where.

Your friend, Steve

8th Jun 2015 13:21 UTCAmir C. Akhavan Expert

Just as a general remark about cases like this:

If in doubt about the provenance of a specimen, do not just put it at the "most likely" locality.

Photos of such specimen are welcome in the database, but not as "Mineral Photos" because these are always linked to a locality.

Upload such photos as "Other Photos".

8th Jun 2015 13:28 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

I would like to just support what Amir said above. The photo database is getting polluted with photos of specimens whose origin was just guessed, by comparison with similar photos already uploaded to the database. Mindat managers have an obligation to attempt to ruthlessly weed the database of such entries.

Locality errors are a much greater danger to the reliability of Mindat than species identification errors. Specimens can always be reanalyzed and ID errors corrected; it's not so simple with locality errors. PLEASE, everyone, if you have a specimen that you're not sure where it comes from, and it has no very distinctive features or associations, don't even ask here for comments about where it comes from - Give it away to a little kid, or use it as a garden decoration.

8th Jun 2015 15:13 UTCDan Costian

It's done. It appears as "Mineral without valid locality" under "Other Photos."

16th Jan 2019 02:07 UTCDebra Alison

I know this is a very old post, but I thought perhaps someone who is an expert in Amethyst could help me. I bought a very large Amethyst cluster many years ago on Ebay, and I was told it was from China. However, I am not certain. The cluster is almost 10 LBS and the points are huge, I have attached photos. If anyone knows if this variety is indeed from China, and where in China, or knows this variety is not from China, and can please provide the locale, I would greatly appreciate it. I have several more photos if you need them, I could only attach three to this message. Thank you!

16th Jan 2019 02:59 UTCKevin Conroy Manager

To me, this looks like it's from Bolivia. See: https://www.mindat.org/gallery.php?loc=11804&min=198

16th Jan 2019 03:03 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

I agree with Kevin. And other mines in the same mining district would also be possible, like https://www.mindat.org/loc-11801.html

16th Jan 2019 19:49 UTCScott Rider

I've purchased a couple large clusters very much like yours Debra, and the Chinese dealer I got them from said they were from Bolivia. They really, really look like your specimens Debra, large fat crystals with purple terminations, more milky in the middle. For these, I've simply put Bolivia as "possible" locality in my database. My label on the specimen itself says "Bolivia?" with the ? in bold.

17th Jan 2019 15:34 UTCV. Stingl

A few years ago I purchased a big specimen of very similar amethysts from Daye in China. As I bought it personally from a Chinese friend, who is a dealer, I trust in the origin. I have seen 2 m large plates of amethyst from there at the mineral fair in Changsha in 2013.

17th Jan 2019 15:38 UTCV. Stingl

I tried to find my picture from Changsha 2013. The amethyst is not 2m, but nearly 1,5 m across (sorry, it was nearly 6 years ago).

17th Jan 2019 17:02 UTCDonald B Peck Expert

WOW!!! (It won't quite fit under my microscope ;<} )

2nd Jun 2019 15:00 UTCDebra Alison

Thank you to everyone that responded to my post! If you can believe it, this is the first time I am looking at your replies and it is June. I was not notified that there were any responses until today. I really appreciate your comments, and that there is a potential this cluster is from China. And, wow, I have never seen an Amethyst as large as in the photo above, amazing! Thank you again! Debra

Mindat.org is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 25, 2024 06:11:36

Go to top of page