Birth of amethyst

Amethyst is formed in low-temperature hydrothermal conditions. Up to XVIII century the main supplier of this gem was Ceylon Island (at present Sri Lanka Island), where amethyst was excavated from placers. Ceylon amethyst has a light violet color, while Brazilian amethyst has a bloody and purple color. These varieties change their brilliance depending on lighting. Exposed to artificial lighting they often seem unattractive.
In the first half of XVIII century abundant deposits of amethyst were found in Germany. Later, in 1768 the deposits of amethyst were found in Russia. The most famous and abundant deposits of this precious stone are situated in South Brazil. In the middle of the XIX century there was an intensive development of Brazilian amethysts. In 1900, the geologists found a colossal geode, a cave 10 meters long and 5 meters wide with the walls densely covered with large magnificent crystals of amethyst.
Similar, but a little big darker amethyst was found in Uruguay and Madagascar. Ural amethysts are widely known for their purple shade. Beautiful druses and crystals of amethyst are found in Birkenfeld, Cillertale, ZiebenBurgen, Hemnitz, on Ceylon Island, near the Bay of Saint Mary, in North America and especially, in tremendous quantities in Brazil. Unique deposit named "Mys Korabl" ("Ship Cape") on Cole Peninsula in Russia is famous for amethyst brushes with even dark violet coloring.
In jeweler's arts the most valuable raw stock has pinky-purple and crimson-violet colors. Amethyst is used not only as jewelry, but also as a collection mineral. It decorates modern interiors in a form of druses and geodes.
In Brazil amethyst geodes reach the height of 2 meters.