Mineral Minute - Episode 2: Amazonite

Watch our latest episode of Mineral Minute for a quick look at Amazonite, that bluish-green to rich green variety of the feldspar family (most famously found around the Pikes Peak, Colorado area)

Today's mineral: Amazonite.

Amazonite is a pale greenish-blue to deep blue-green variety of microcline Feldspar. Amazonite has a hardness of 6-6.5, cleavage is perfect in one direction and good in a another, a white streak, and a glassy luster. The origin of this mineral's color is debated, but it has been attributed to lead and water in the crystal lattice.

It is probably named after the Amazon River, even though large deposits have never been found near there. Amazonite is commonly found as large crystals with white streaks and is often associated with smoky quartz, especially in the U.S.

There are large deposits in Russia, Burma, India, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Brazil, and the United States. Here in the U.S., Amazonite can be collected at the: Morefield and Rutherford mines in Amelia county, Virginia. Along Gold Camp Road, near Colorado Springs, Colorado. At Crystal Park, near Manitou Springs, Colorado. Along Barr Trail, on Pikes Peak, Colorado. And in Devils Head, south of Denver, Colorado.

Here is a paper which seeks to confirm that it is LEAD that is responsible for the bluish-green hue of Amazonite: http://www.minsocam.org/ammin/AM70/AM...

Mineral Minute - Episode 1: Amethyst

Watch this short video as we spend 60-seconds exploring everyone's favorite purple variety of quartz: Amethyst, right here on Mineral Minute:

Today’s Mineral: Amethyst

Amethyst is a colorful variety of the quartz family, often noted for its pale to deep shades of purple. Amethyst has a hardness of 7, no cleavage, a white streak, and a glassy luster. The famous hue of this mineral is caused by trace amounts of iron that are trapped inside the quartz lattice.

This iron is then further modified through different levels of radiation deep within the earth, producing a wide range of colors from reds to deep purple.

Amethyst is often found as large crystals, or in clusters, or within geodes at many famous deposits in Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Russia, Canada, and South Africa. Here in the United States, Amethyst can be collected at the: Emerald Hollow Mine in Hiddenite, North Carolina Diamond Hill Mine near Abbeville, South Carolina Amethyst Queen Mine near Nancy Hanks Gulch, Colorado Amos Cunningham Farm near Due West, South Carolina. and Jackson’s Crossroads Amethyst Mine near Jackson Crossroads, Georgia.

Note: All of these locations require permission and most require a fee for collecting.