Mining Amethyst

BY MAXINE & DYLAN

Mining

Amethyst is mined in drift mines most of the time (a drift mine is a shaft dug down to the gemstone rock). Then the gemstone is dug out by hand!!!!!!!!!!!). Then is taken to a washing plant that is close to the mine.

Where Amethyst Is Found

Minas Gerais in Brazil (large geodes in volcanic rocks)

South Korera

Maissau, Lower Australia (largest vein know in the world)

Russia (especially near Mursinka) (really fine Amethyst)

South Africa (1000 tonnes a year) (biggest producers)

United States (lots of places)

AMEHYST

Purple and pink are the normal colors

Polishes nicely

Cheap compared to some other minerals

Open Pit

the definition of open-pit is when cuts are put in the earth for extracting ore.

Closed-Pit

Closed-pit means that it’s a mine shaft

Minerals

Mineral means “a soild inorganic substance of natural occurrence”

“

”  The caves are filled with water and dissolved minerals permeated through the rock.  With time these minerals will crystallize in the caves, and line the cave with a silica layer (amethyst).  The geodes continue developing as long as there is moisture present.

HOW ITS FORMED

“Permeated” means “spread throughout”

Fun Fact

The Greek word “amethystos” is translated as ”not drunken”. Amethyst was thought to be a strong antidote against drunkeness, which is why wine goblets were often caved from it.

Mining Amethysts

http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/students/amethyst-geology/project.htm

amethystinfo.weebly.com/how-is-amethyst-extracted-and-processed.htm

Conclusion

In conclusion, amethyst is a astonishingly amazing gorgeous mineral that is mined in a lot of places. It is purple and pink and cheap. It is used in jewelry.