Georgia State Gemstones
Amethyst Status Official DESCRIPTION Amethyst is the most precious variety of quartz. Composed of silicon dioxide, amethyst is colored light pinkish violet to deep purple by iron and aluminum impurities. STATE SYMBOL In 1976, Georgia designated two forms of quartz as its state gems: amethyst and clear quartz. Quartz is common in Georgia and comes in many colors. The official designation from the Georgia State Assembly cites "the importance of Georgia’s minerals to the industrial growth and heritage of this State." South Carolina designated amethyst its official gemstone in 1969. NAME ORIGIN The name for this stone comes from the Greek á- (not) andmethustos (intoxicated), a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. FORMATION AND OCCURRENCE Amethyst occurs in crystalline or massive forms. This stone can occur as six-sided crystals or as drusy, which are crystalline crusts covering the host rock. It is found in alluvial deposits and inside geodes all over the world. Fine specimens are found in Maine and Rhode Island as well as in Georgia and Maryland, the two states which have designated amethyst as a state stone. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Mexico: Piedras Parado and Las Vigas de Ramirez, Veracruz; and Amatitlan, Guerrero Brazil: Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Maraba Uruguay: Artigas Bolivia: Anahi Mine, Santa Cruz Russia: Ural Mountains and Siberia South Korea India Zambia Namibia: Goboboseb Mountains, near Brandberg, in the Erongo Mountains South Africa: Magaliesberg Mountains in Pretoria and Boekenhoutshoek area in the Mkobola district Canada: Thunder Bay, Ontario and Digby, Nova Scotia United States: Four Peaks (Mazatzal Mountains), Gila and Maricopa counties, Arizona; Pohndorf Mine, Jefferson County, Montana; Pennoyer Mine at Redfeather Lakes, Larimer County, Colorado; Amethyst Mountain, Texas; Yellowstone National Park; Diamond Hill in Ashaway, Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island; Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina; the Reel Mine, Iron Station, Lincoln County, North Carolina; Haywood County, North Carolina; Abbeville County, South Carolina; Wilkes County, Georgia; Paterson and Prospect Park, Passaic County, New Jersey; Delaware County, Pennsylvania; Deer Hill and Stow, Maine USES Historical Uses A favorite of Egyptian and British royalty, amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels. The gem was also called "the stone of bishops," as it was prized in the high ranks of the Catholic Church. Since ancient Greeks and Romans believed amethyst would prevent intoxication, they wore amethyst and made wine goblets from the stone. Ancient Egyptians used amethyst in engraved intaglios. Modern Uses Formerly considered a precious gem, amethyst lost much of its status and value once large deposits were discovered. However, it remains prized for its beautiful color. Because amethyst is very common, it is an inexpensive and widely used stone. Most amethyst is faceted into gemstones, and is sometimes cut into cabochons. The best gems are transparent and free of visible inclusions. Large, massive chunks of amethyst banded with quartz are sometimes carved into ornaments. Collectors look for geodes, tumbled stones, and rare prismatic crystals. The rarest stones, called Deep Russian, are very valuable. Heating can enhance amethyst’s purple color or turn it yellow-brown to dark brownish. Much of the citrine, a yellow to brown variety of quartz, and smoky quartz sold in jewelry today are artificially formed by heat-treating amethyst. Legend/Healing In Greek mythology, Dionysus, the god of wine, ritual madness, and ecstasy, was pursuing a maiden named Amethystos. She refused his advances and prayed to the god Artemis to keep her chaste. Artemis answered her by turning her into a white stone. Dionysus then poured wine over Amethystos, turning the crystals purple. Another variation says that the goddess Rhea, "the mother of gods," gave Dionysus the amethyst stone to preserve the wine-drinker’s sanity. Amethyst is said to be of help for headaches, the pancreas, hearing disorders, insomnia, and backache. Because of its connection to wine and sobriety, it is said to be helpful in overcoming addiction. BIRTHSTONE Amethyst is the traditional birthstone for February and the stone for the zodiac sign of Pisces. This gem is the planetary stone of Neptune. Amethyst is suggested as a gem to give on the fourth, sixth, and 17th wedding anniversaries. SUBSTITUTES / SYNTHETICS Synthetic amethyst has chemical and physical properties so similar to genuine amethyst that without expensive gemological testing, they cannot be differentiated.	Purple Amethyst Crystals Polished Amethyst Stones Finished Cut Amethyst Gemstone AMETHYST FACTS Group: Quartz Chemical Formula: SiO₂ Crystal Structure: Trigonal Hardness (Mohs): 7, lower in impure varieties Color: Purple to white Transparency: Transparent Luster: Vitreous Birefringence: +0.009 (B-G interval) Pleochroism: None Refractive Index: 1.544-1.553 - Dr +0.009 (B-G interval) Density: 2.65 constant; variable in impure varieties Streak: White Cleavage: None Fracture: Conchoidal
Some data courtesy of the Mineralogical Society of America. Author: World Trade Press

Georgia State Gemstones

Amethyst

Status

Official

DESCRIPTION

Amethyst is the most precious variety of quartz. Composed of silicon dioxide, amethyst is colored light pinkish violet to deep purple by iron and aluminum impurities.

STATE SYMBOL

In 1976, Georgia designated two forms of quartz as its state gems: amethyst and clear quartz. Quartz is common in Georgia and comes in many colors. The official designation from the Georgia State Assembly cites "the importance of Georgia’s minerals to the industrial growth and heritage of this State."

South Carolina designated amethyst its official gemstone in 1969.

NAME ORIGIN

The name for this stone comes from the Greek á- (not) andmethustos (intoxicated), a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness.

FORMATION AND OCCURRENCE

Amethyst occurs in crystalline or massive forms. This stone can occur as six-sided crystals or as drusy, which are crystalline crusts covering the host rock. It is found in alluvial deposits and inside geodes all over the world. Fine specimens are found in Maine and Rhode Island as well as in Georgia and Maryland, the two states which have designated amethyst as a state stone.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

Mexico: Piedras Parado and Las Vigas de Ramirez, Veracruz; and Amatitlan, Guerrero
Brazil: Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Maraba
Uruguay: Artigas
Bolivia: Anahi Mine, Santa Cruz
Russia: Ural Mountains and Siberia
South Korea
India
Zambia
Namibia: Goboboseb Mountains, near Brandberg, in the Erongo Mountains
South Africa: Magaliesberg Mountains in Pretoria and Boekenhoutshoek area in the Mkobola district
Canada: Thunder Bay, Ontario and Digby, Nova Scotia
United States: Four Peaks (Mazatzal Mountains), Gila and Maricopa counties, Arizona; Pohndorf Mine, Jefferson County, Montana; Pennoyer Mine at Redfeather Lakes, Larimer County, Colorado; Amethyst Mountain, Texas; Yellowstone National Park; Diamond Hill in Ashaway, Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island; Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina; the Reel Mine, Iron Station, Lincoln County, North Carolina; Haywood County, North Carolina; Abbeville County, South Carolina; Wilkes County, Georgia; Paterson and Prospect Park, Passaic County, New Jersey; Delaware County, Pennsylvania; Deer Hill and Stow, Maine

USES

Historical Uses

A favorite of Egyptian and British royalty, amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels. The gem was also called "the stone of bishops," as it was prized in the high ranks of the Catholic Church. Since ancient Greeks and Romans believed amethyst would prevent intoxication, they wore amethyst and made wine goblets from the stone. Ancient Egyptians used amethyst in engraved intaglios.

Modern Uses

Formerly considered a precious gem, amethyst lost much of its status and value once large deposits were discovered. However, it remains prized for its beautiful color. Because amethyst is very common, it is an inexpensive and widely used stone. Most amethyst is faceted into gemstones, and is sometimes cut into cabochons. The best gems are transparent and free of visible inclusions. Large, massive chunks of amethyst banded with quartz are sometimes carved into ornaments. Collectors look for geodes, tumbled stones, and rare prismatic crystals. The rarest stones, called Deep Russian, are very valuable.

Heating can enhance amethyst’s purple color or turn it yellow-brown to dark brownish. Much of the citrine, a yellow to brown variety of quartz, and smoky quartz sold in jewelry today are artificially formed by heat-treating amethyst.

Legend/Healing

In Greek mythology, Dionysus, the god of wine, ritual madness, and ecstasy, was pursuing a maiden named Amethystos. She refused his advances and prayed to the god Artemis to keep her chaste. Artemis answered her by turning her into a white stone. Dionysus then poured wine over Amethystos, turning the crystals purple. Another variation says that the goddess Rhea, "the mother of gods," gave Dionysus the amethyst stone to preserve the wine-drinker’s sanity.

Amethyst is said to be of help for headaches, the pancreas, hearing disorders, insomnia, and backache. Because of its connection to wine and sobriety, it is said to be helpful in overcoming addiction.

BIRTHSTONE

Amethyst is the traditional birthstone for February and the stone for the zodiac sign of Pisces. This gem is the planetary stone of Neptune. Amethyst is suggested as a gem to give on the fourth, sixth, and 17th wedding anniversaries.

SUBSTITUTES / SYNTHETICS

Synthetic amethyst has chemical and physical properties so similar to genuine amethyst that without expensive gemological testing, they cannot be differentiated.

Purple Amethyst Crystals

Polished Amethyst Stones

Finished Cut Amethyst Gemstone

AMETHYST FACTS

Group: Quartz

Chemical Formula: SiO₂

Crystal Structure: Trigonal

Hardness (Mohs): 7, lower in impure varieties

Color: Purple to white

Transparency: Transparent

Luster: Vitreous

Birefringence: +0.009 (B-G interval)

Pleochroism: None

Refractive Index: 1.544-1.553 - Dr +0.009 (B-G interval)

Density: 2.65 constant; variable in impure varieties

Streak: White

Cleavage: None

Fracture: Conchoidal

Some data courtesy of the Mineralogical Society of America.

Author: World Trade Press


Quartz Status Official DESCRIPTION Quartz is the most common mineral found on Earth’s surface, and the second most abundant mineral in the Earth’s continental crust after feldspar. Quartz composes an estimated 12 percent of the continental crust to as much as 50 percent of the oceanic crust. It occurs in basically all mineral environments and is a component of many rocks and the inner layer of many geodes. Rock crystal, the most common gem variety of quartz crystal, is pure quartz, and like all quartz, is formed from the two most abundant elements in the earth’s crust, silicon and oxygen. Quartz is found in an impressive range of varieties and colors, including purple, rose, black, yellow, brown, green, and orange, and can also be colorless or multicolored. The main varieties of this stone are chalcedony, agate, amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, rock crystal, smoky quartz, milky quartz, rutilated quartz, onyx, tiger’s eye, and aventurine. These varieties are classified as either macrocrystalline, meaning crystals are large and visible to the naked eye, or cryptocrystalline, meaning they have microscopic crystals. STATE SYMBOL In 1976, Georgia designated two forms of quartz as its state gems: amethyst and clear quartz. Quartz is common in Georgia and comes in many colors. The official designation from the Georgia State Assembly cites "the importance of Georgia’s minerals to the industrial growth and heritage of this State." Rose quartz was designated the official South Dakota state mineral in 1966. New Hampshire designated smoky quartz its official state gem in 1985. NAME ORIGIN The word quartz comes from the German quarz, which is of Slavic origin (Czech miners called it křemen) and means "hard." FORMATION AND OCCURRENCE Quartz commonly occurs with igneous rocks such as granite, sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and shale, and metamorphic rocks like schist, gneiss, and quartzite. Its resistance to weathering makes it also common in stream sediments and residual soils. Quartz occurs in hydrothermal veins along with ore minerals. Large crystals of quartz are found in pegmatites. Giant quartz crystals, along with large specimens of dolomite, talc, and other minerals, occur at Farm Natas/Verloren in the Hakos Mountains, Central Namibia. What is thought to be the largest quartz specimen on display was mined on the Otjua farm in Namibia; it can be visited in the Kristallgalerie in Swakopmund, Namibia. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Quartz is extraordinarily common and is found all over the world. The following is a list of some of the more important localities. Alps of Switzerland and Austria Italy: Carrara, Tuscany France: Bourg d'Oisans, Isère, Rhône-Alpes Russia, Mursinka, Ural Mountains, in the Dodo mine, about 100 km west-northwest of Saranpaul, Subpolar Ural Mountains, and elsewhere Myanmar: Sakangyi, Katha district Japan: Yamanashi Prefecture and many other places Madagascar: Tamboholehehibe and elsewhere Brazil: many localities in Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais,Goiás, and Bahia Uruguay: around Artigas Canada: Thunder Bay, Lake Superior, Ontario United States: Mt. Ida to Hot Springs, Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas; Middleville, Herkimer County, New York; Alexander and Lincoln counties, North Carolina; Pala and Mesa Grande districts, San Diego County, California; El Capitan Mountains, Lincoln County, New Mexico; Crystal Park area, Beaverhead County, and Little Pipestone Creek, Jefferson County, Montana; and Pikes Peak area, El Paso County, Colorado Mexico: Veracruz and Guerrero USES Historical Uses Early civilizations believed that these pinhead-size to nearly a meter in diameter rock crystals were permanently frozen ice. Quartz’s high thermo-conductivity, which makes it feel cool to the touch, may have added to this belief. Regardless of what early people may have believed, historical records show the use of rock crystal for decoration and jewelry for at least 4,000 years. Tools and weapons were made from rock crystal long before it was used for decoration and jewelry. For centuries in Europe and the Middle East, the various varieties of quartz were the most common semi-precious stones used in jewelry and carving. Valuable objects including engraved gems, cameos, and extravagant vases and vessels were carved from the stone. Nicolas Steno, who is considered the father of geology, paved the way for modern crystallography with his studies of quartz in the 17th century. Steno discovered that no matter how distorted a quartz crystal, the long prism faces always make a perfect 60-degree angle. Modern Uses Sand is composed of tiny quartz pebbles, and is the primary ingredient in manufacturing glass. Transparent rock crystal is used in the study of optics. Quartz is also used as an abrasive for sandblasting, grinding glass, and cutting soft stones. Quartz is essential in the computer industry, since silicon semiconductors are made from the mineral. Quartz crystals are piezoelectric, which means they develop an electric charge with mechanical stress. This property was employed in phonograph pickups using quartz crystals, and for decades quartz has been used as a crystal oscillator in quartz clocks, watches, radios, and pressure gauges. In addition, quartz is important in the production of soaps and ceramics. In the gem industry, many varieties of quartz are cut as faceted stones. One of the most popular gems, quartz is often cut as a brilliant round to maximize the color. Colorless stones can be heat-treated, irradiated, or dyed to enhance the color. Amethyst is the most popular quartz gem, and citrine is the most valuable. Rose quartz, smoky quartz, rock crystal, and aventurine are also cut into gems. The black and white combination of rock crystal and onyx was popular in art deco jewelry design. Quartz specimens are very popular with mineral collectors. Some collectors specialize their entire collections on different types of quartz. Quartz varieties are usually quite harmless unless broken or powdered. Broken crystals may have razor-sharp edges that can easily cut skin. Long-term exposure to finely ground amethyst powder may lead to the lung disease silicosis. Legend/Healing Quartz has long been thought to have mystical and magical properties. Rock crystal and smoky quartz were once used for crystal balls by fortunetellers and witches. But since large, flawless specimens of rock crystal are rare, crystal balls are now made of glass. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, metaphysical uses and applications of rock crystal resulted in an increase in its production and processing. The metaphysical market used raw crystal in jewelry, personal power devices, and healing devices. Spheres, skulls, pyramids, and other metaphysical objects were made from rock crystal. The metaphysical market has declined from its peak and now appears to have stabilized. Some believe that a clear quartz crystal pendant will bring the wearer good luck. SUBSTITUTES / SYNTHETICS One of the first gems to be synthetically grown on a large scale was quartz. This industry was primarily developed during World War II to supply crystals for radios. Today synthetic quartz is used extensively in the electronics industry.	Quartz Crystals Specimen of Yellow Quartz Clear Quartz Carved Quartz Vase QUARTZ FACTS Group: Quartz Chemical Formula: SiO₂ Crystal Structure: Trigonal Hardness (Mohs): 7, lower in impure varieties Color: Clear (in pure form) Transparency: Transparent Luster: Vitreous Birefringence: +0.009 (B-G interval) Pleochroism: None Refractive Index: 1.544-1.553 - Dr +0.009 (B-G interval) Density: 2.65 constant; variable in impure varieties Streak: White Cleavage: None Fracture: Conchoidal
Some data courtesy of the Mineralogical Society of America Author: World Trade Press

Quartz

Status

Official

DESCRIPTION

Quartz is the most common mineral found on Earth’s surface, and the second most abundant mineral in the Earth’s continental crust after feldspar. Quartz composes an estimated 12 percent of the continental crust to as much as 50 percent of the oceanic crust. It occurs in basically all mineral environments and is a component of many rocks and the inner layer of many geodes. Rock crystal, the most common gem variety of quartz crystal, is pure quartz, and like all quartz, is formed from the two most abundant elements in the earth’s crust, silicon and oxygen.

Quartz is found in an impressive range of varieties and colors, including purple, rose, black, yellow, brown, green, and orange, and can also be colorless or multicolored. The main varieties of this stone are chalcedony, agate, amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, rock crystal, smoky quartz, milky quartz, rutilated quartz, onyx, tiger’s eye, and aventurine. These varieties are classified as either macrocrystalline, meaning crystals are large and visible to the naked eye, or cryptocrystalline, meaning they have microscopic crystals.

STATE SYMBOL

Rose quartz was designated the official South Dakota state mineral in 1966. New Hampshire designated smoky quartz its official state gem in 1985.

NAME ORIGIN

The word quartz comes from the German quarz, which is of Slavic origin (Czech miners called it křemen) and means "hard."

FORMATION AND OCCURRENCE

Quartz commonly occurs with igneous rocks such as granite, sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and shale, and metamorphic rocks like schist, gneiss, and quartzite. Its resistance to weathering makes it also common in stream sediments and residual soils. Quartz occurs in hydrothermal veins along with ore minerals. Large crystals of quartz are found in pegmatites.

Giant quartz crystals, along with large specimens of dolomite, talc, and other minerals, occur at Farm Natas/Verloren in the Hakos Mountains, Central Namibia. What is thought to be the largest quartz specimen on display was mined on the Otjua farm in Namibia; it can be visited in the Kristallgalerie in Swakopmund, Namibia.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

Quartz is extraordinarily common and is found all over the world. The following is a list of some of the more important localities.

Alps of Switzerland and Austria
Italy: Carrara, Tuscany
France: Bourg d'Oisans, Isère, Rhône-Alpes
Russia, Mursinka, Ural Mountains, in the Dodo mine, about 100 km west-northwest of Saranpaul, Subpolar Ural Mountains, and elsewhere
Myanmar: Sakangyi, Katha district
Japan: Yamanashi Prefecture and many other places
Madagascar: Tamboholehehibe and elsewhere
Brazil: many localities in Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais,Goiás, and Bahia
Uruguay: around Artigas
Canada: Thunder Bay, Lake Superior, Ontario
United States: Mt. Ida to Hot Springs, Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas; Middleville, Herkimer County, New York; Alexander and Lincoln counties, North Carolina; Pala and Mesa Grande districts, San Diego County, California; El Capitan Mountains, Lincoln County, New Mexico; Crystal Park area, Beaverhead County, and Little Pipestone Creek, Jefferson County, Montana; and Pikes Peak area, El Paso County, Colorado
Mexico: Veracruz and Guerrero

USES

Historical Uses

Early civilizations believed that these pinhead-size to nearly a meter in diameter rock crystals were permanently frozen ice. Quartz’s high thermo-conductivity, which makes it feel cool to the touch, may have added to this belief. Regardless of what early people may have believed, historical records show the use of rock crystal for decoration and jewelry for at least 4,000 years. Tools and weapons were made from rock crystal long before it was used for decoration and jewelry.

For centuries in Europe and the Middle East, the various varieties of quartz were the most common semi-precious stones used in jewelry and carving. Valuable objects including engraved gems, cameos, and extravagant vases and vessels were carved from the stone.

Nicolas Steno, who is considered the father of geology, paved the way for modern crystallography with his studies of quartz in the 17th century. Steno discovered that no matter how distorted a quartz crystal, the long prism faces always make a perfect 60-degree angle.

Modern Uses

Sand is composed of tiny quartz pebbles, and is the primary ingredient in manufacturing glass. Transparent rock crystal is used in the study of optics. Quartz is also used as an abrasive for sandblasting, grinding glass, and cutting soft stones. Quartz is essential in the computer industry, since silicon semiconductors are made from the mineral.

Quartz crystals are piezoelectric, which means they develop an electric charge with mechanical stress. This property was employed in phonograph pickups using quartz crystals, and for decades quartz has been used as a crystal oscillator in quartz clocks, watches, radios, and pressure gauges. In addition, quartz is important in the production of soaps and ceramics.

In the gem industry, many varieties of quartz are cut as faceted stones. One of the most popular gems, quartz is often cut as a brilliant round to maximize the color. Colorless stones can be heat-treated, irradiated, or dyed to enhance the color. Amethyst is the most popular quartz gem, and citrine is the most valuable. Rose quartz, smoky quartz, rock crystal, and aventurine are also cut into gems. The black and white combination of rock crystal and onyx was popular in art deco jewelry design.

Quartz specimens are very popular with mineral collectors. Some collectors specialize their entire collections on different types of quartz.

Quartz varieties are usually quite harmless unless broken or powdered. Broken crystals may have razor-sharp edges that can easily cut skin. Long-term exposure to finely ground amethyst powder may lead to the lung disease silicosis.

Legend/Healing

Quartz has long been thought to have mystical and magical properties. Rock crystal and smoky quartz were once used for crystal balls by fortunetellers and witches. But since large, flawless specimens of rock crystal are rare, crystal balls are now made of glass. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, metaphysical uses and applications of rock crystal resulted in an increase in its production and processing. The metaphysical market used raw crystal in jewelry, personal power devices, and healing devices. Spheres, skulls, pyramids, and other metaphysical objects were made from rock crystal. The metaphysical market has declined from its peak and now appears to have stabilized.

Some believe that a clear quartz crystal pendant will bring the wearer good luck.

SUBSTITUTES / SYNTHETICS

One of the first gems to be synthetically grown on a large scale was quartz. This industry was primarily developed during World War II to supply crystals for radios. Today synthetic quartz is used extensively in the electronics industry.

Quartz Crystals

Specimen of Yellow Quartz

Clear Quartz

Carved Quartz Vase

QUARTZ FACTS