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Due to its popularity as a gemstone,
several descriptive terms have been coined in the gem trade to describe
the varying colors of amethyst. "Rose de France" is usually a pale pinkish
lavender or lilac shade (usually the least-sought color). The most prized
color is an intense violet with red flashes and is called "Siberian,"
although gems of this color may occur from several locations other than
Siberia, notably Uruguay and Zambia. In more recent times, certain gems
(usually of Bolivian origin) that have shown alternate bands of amethyst
purple with citrine orange have been given the name ametrine. Purple
corundum, or sapphire of amethystine tint, is called Oriental amethyst,
but this expression is often applied by jewelers to fine examples of the
ordinary amethystine quartz, even when not derived from eastern sources.
Professional gemological associations, such as the Gemological Institute
of America (GIA) or the American Gemological Society (AGS), discourage the
use of the term "Oriental amethyst" to describe any gem, as it may be
misleading.
 Amethyst occurs
at many localities in the United States, but these specimens are rarely
fine enough for use in jewelry. Among these may be mentioned
Amethyst Mountain, Texas; Yellowstone National Park; Delaware County,
Pennsylvania; Haywood County, North Carolina; Deer Hill and Stow, Maine.
It is found also in the Lake Superior region. Amethyst is relatively
common in Northwestern Ontario, and in various locations throughout Nova
Scotia, but uncommon elsewhere in Canada. Amethyst is produced in
abundance from the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil where it occurs in
large geodes within volcanic rocks. It is also found and mined in South
Korea. The largest opencast amethyst vein in the world is in Maissau,
Lower Austria.
Traditionally included in the cardinal, or
most valuable, gemstones (along with diamond, sapphire, ruby, and
emerald), amethyst has lost much of its value due to the discovery of
extensive deposits in locations such as Brazil. The highest grade Amethyst
(called "Deep Russian") is exceptionally rare and therefore its value is
dependent on the demand of collectors when one is found. It is however
still orders of magnitude lower than the highest grade sapphires or rubies
(Padparadscha Sapphire or "Pigeon Blood" Ruby) which can go for as much as
$50,000 or more per carat.
Amethyst such as the "Russian" quality (bluish purple key color) and such
as material recently found in Georgia since 2005 (with some of the stones
showing both blue hue and red flashes) and of which its top material is
considered of the best quality presently available still command prices of
not more than $50 per carat.
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