Amethyst - Brazilian and Uruguyan Geodes
Aug 4, 2023 20:26:21 GMT -5
amygdule, jasoninsd, and 3 more like this
Post by 1dave on Aug 4, 2023 20:26:21 GMT -5
I spent several months of 1957 in Artigas, Uruguay, was gifted an Amethyst "Door stop."
Around one hundred million years ago South America violently separated from Africa with huge waves of basalt lava flowing from Brazil into Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.
The land was a huge sand desert containing a water aquifer. The heat converted the water into steam that bubbled up into the basalt layers, creating rounded voids. When the basalt solidified, the steam shrank 2000% back into water, creating vacuums.
Over time groundwater carried silica gel into the voids and crystalized into agate and quartz crystals.
As the crystals formed they incorporated some iron, converting the tips to citrine. radioactivity changed the citrine into amethyst. Heating the crystals in an oven to around 450 degrees F will change them back into citrine.
Now Uruguay Minerals, led by Marcos Lorenzelli, is digging out those voids and polishing them up into works of art.
Years ago I was impressed with up to 9' tall Cathedral Geodes from nearby Brazil . . .
But the lavas slowed down and bubbles got much larger in Uruguay, up to 22' tall.
mymodernmet.com/large-amethyst-geodes/
Around one hundred million years ago South America violently separated from Africa with huge waves of basalt lava flowing from Brazil into Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.
The land was a huge sand desert containing a water aquifer. The heat converted the water into steam that bubbled up into the basalt layers, creating rounded voids. When the basalt solidified, the steam shrank 2000% back into water, creating vacuums.
Over time groundwater carried silica gel into the voids and crystalized into agate and quartz crystals.
As the crystals formed they incorporated some iron, converting the tips to citrine. radioactivity changed the citrine into amethyst. Heating the crystals in an oven to around 450 degrees F will change them back into citrine.
Now Uruguay Minerals, led by Marcos Lorenzelli, is digging out those voids and polishing them up into works of art.
They are great to purchase from at low prices, but have a $400.00 minimum.
Years ago I was impressed with up to 9' tall Cathedral Geodes from nearby Brazil . . .
But the lavas slowed down and bubbles got much larger in Uruguay, up to 22' tall.
mymodernmet.com/large-amethyst-geodes/
Gigantic Amethyst Geodes
Excavated in Uruguay Stand
22 Feet Tall
Excavated in Uruguay Stand
22 Feet Tall
he dazzling beauty of amethyst geodes is undeniable. The enchanting crystals sparkle at any size, but when the geodes are larger than life, they suddenly seem like something out of a fairytale. Mineral purveyor Nowar Minerals, Inc., shares photos of massive amethyst geodes that are almost too incredible to be true. (But they are.) Some of the rocks weigh more than 10,000 pounds, and one gigantic piece clocked in at a staggering 26,000 pounds and 22 feet tall.
These ultra-large geodes are naturally occurring wonders that are found from time to time in the Artigas region in Uruguay. This area is famous for producing these massive amethysts thanks to favorable environmental factors that include 120-million-year-old basalt—a volcanic rock—flows and mineral-rich groundwater. And while Nowar Minerals has shared many geodes with a staggering height and weight, they're not the largest known amethyst geode on record. That honor, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, goes to an amethyst weighing 28,660 pounds.
Regardless of dimensions, you can't go wrong with an amethyst. If you’d like to have some in your home, Nowar Minerals sells the quartz and other minerals on Etsy and through Instagram.
These large amethyst geodes are massive—some weigh over 10,000 pounds—and they're spectacular.
Extra Large Geode Extra Large Geode Extra Large Geode Extra Large Geode Extra Large Amethyst Geode Extra Large Geode Extra Large Amethyst Geode Extra Large Amethyst Geode Extra Large Amethyst Geode Extra Large Geode
Nowar Minerals, Inc.: Instagram | Facebook | Etsy
These ultra-large geodes are naturally occurring wonders that are found from time to time in the Artigas region in Uruguay. This area is famous for producing these massive amethysts thanks to favorable environmental factors that include 120-million-year-old basalt—a volcanic rock—flows and mineral-rich groundwater. And while Nowar Minerals has shared many geodes with a staggering height and weight, they're not the largest known amethyst geode on record. That honor, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, goes to an amethyst weighing 28,660 pounds.
Regardless of dimensions, you can't go wrong with an amethyst. If you’d like to have some in your home, Nowar Minerals sells the quartz and other minerals on Etsy and through Instagram.
These large amethyst geodes are massive—some weigh over 10,000 pounds—and they're spectacular.
Extra Large Geode Extra Large Geode Extra Large Geode Extra Large Geode Extra Large Amethyst Geode Extra Large Geode Extra Large Amethyst Geode Extra Large Amethyst Geode Extra Large Amethyst Geode Extra Large Geode
Nowar Minerals, Inc.: Instagram | Facebook | Etsy