Stone 101
The purple quartz Ontario picked as its official mineral.
Amethyst is quartz in every shade of purple, from soft lilac to deep grape. Here you'll find points, clusters, towers, bracelets, charms and a few showstopper cathedrals.
The basics
Amethyst is quartz, the same mineral as clear quartz, with a purple twist. Traces of iron sit inside the crystal, and natural radiation underground slowly turns them purple.
Most of it grows inside hollow pockets in volcanic rock, which is why you see geodes lined with points. Brazil and Uruguay are the big sources.
Rituals, not rules
These are traditions people enjoy, not promises. Pick the one you keep coming back to.
Care
Straight talk
Most amethyst is natural. Lab-grown amethyst exists, mostly in faceted jewellery, and purple glass turns up at markets. Real amethyst usually has uneven colour zones. If anything we sell is lab-grown or treated, the title says so.
Keep going
Good questions
It's traditionally linked with calm and clear thinking. People keep it as a reminder to slow down. The name comes from the Greek for 'not drunk'.
Yes. Amethyst is the traditional and modern birthstone for February, which makes it a go-to birthday gift for anyone born that month.
Yes. The Thunder Bay area is famous for its amethyst mines, and amethyst has been Ontario's official mineral since 1975. Some mines there let visitors dig for their own pieces in summer.
Natural amethyst usually has patchy colour and tiny flaws inside. Glass often has round bubbles and looks too perfect. Not sure? Bring it in and ask us.
