GRAPE AGATE

Originally discovered in a remote mining village within Sulawesi Island in Indonesia, the trade-named “Grape Agate” first hit the international market in 2015. Grape Agate are interesting, purple aggregates of tiny quartz crystals with botryoidal, or spherical, habit. The term botryoidal derives from Latin and loosely translates to “reminiscent of grapes”, which is an allusion to the new-found mineral’s noticeable likeness to the common fruit. Grape Agate, or more properly, Grape Amethyst, can often be found with colorations of bright or muted purples, as well as beautiful hues of blues and greens. The best specimen examples are often vibrant and multicolored with microscopic crystallizations of terminated quartz, which are evenly distributed across the surface of the specimen, giving it a glistening effect sometimes referred to as “druzy”. Grape Agate is believed to have formed roughly 20 million years ago during the Miocene period, when lava from a volcano slowly decayed, leaving voids of space for precipitated mineralization. It is typically found within small pockets of clay, within what is called andesite pillow lava, which had formed when the lava once flowed into cold seawater.

GRAPE AGATE, AN AMETHYST VARIATION

Mineralogically speaking, Grape Agate is not considered an agate at all, and is actually a unique variant of botryoidal purple quartz. An agate would denote that the mineral was a culmination of precipitation and mineralization events that ultimately lead to concentrically banded formations of chalcedony, with many agate variations displaying definitive zones and intricate bands of color combinations. Whereas, the specimens discovered in Indonesia have well-defined crystalline structure, forming from a singular microscopic point and radiating outward and evenly in all directions, creating the botryoidal habit, or spheroid. Having a well-defined crystal structure, these interesting formations are more appropriately considered a purple variant of crystallized quartz, hence its association with the abundant and popular gem, called Amethyst. The world’s best specimens are typically found in Indonesia, but additional reddish-orange variations have also been found west of the Green River in Utah, USA.

GRAPE AGATE METAPHYSICS

Metaphysically, Grape Agate is considered a comforting stone that can aid its user in promoting stability, composure, and confidence. Along with the metaphysical benefits of traditional Amethyst, Grape Agate is considered a powerful stone that links the Crown and Third Eye Chakras. It is said to aid the mind with intuition and forward-thinking provocation, ease of meditative cognition, and facilitation of peace within stressful situations. Additionally, it is considered a terrific stone for those who tend to over-work, adding clarity of mind and sensibility to work-life balance. Physically, Grape Agate is said to aid the body with muscle tension, migraines, and headaches. It is also said to assist with long term memory recall, and can be a helpful aid for those struggling with afflictions of mental degradation and memory loss.

AMETHYST

Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz, with a Mohs hardness of 6-7, and the chemical formula SiO2. It crystallizes in the Trigonal crystal system. Shades of the popular mineral vary from pale lilac to dark violet, but it can also turn brown, yellow, or green when exposed to intense heat; whereas, the green variations of amethyst are sometimes called prasiolite, the heat treated yellow - orange varieties are often sold as an unnatural citrine. Amethyst owes its beautiful color combinations to cycles of natural irradiation, impurities of iron, and the presence of other trace elements. These combinations result in complex crystal lattice substitutions, giving it the capabilities to form in a wide range of purple hues. Crystals of amethyst often form within geodes; which are rock cavities and voids left behind by volcanic gases that are found within the Earth’s crust. Scientific research suggests that quartz crystals started their formation within the crust over 2 billion years ago!

HISTORY OF AMETHYST

Its name comes from the Greek “améthystos”, meaning “not drunken”. Since classical times, amethyst has been believed to moderate unruly behavior and to encourage clarity of mind, which is why many crystals were often mined to be crafted as wine goblets. In the poem titled "Les Amours de Bacchus et d'Amethyste", translated as” The love of Bacchus and Amethyste”, the French poet Rémy Belleau (1528–1577) told a tale in which Bacchus, the god of intoxication, of wine, and of grapes was pursuing a beautiful maiden named Amethyste, who refused his sentiment. Amethyste prayed to the gods to help her maintain her innocence, a prayer which was heard by the goddess of fertility, Diana. The goddess showed favor to Amethyste, and as an act of protection transformed her into a beautiful white stone. Bacchus was humbled by Diana’s favor and grew in respect of the young maiden’s honor, and he poured wine over the stone as an offering, forever dyeing the crystal a beautiful purple.

Amethyst was also used as amulet of good fortune and protection by the ancient Egyptians, and was largely found throughout Roman antiquity, serving purpose as intaglio engraved gemstones. Other examples of early amethyst mining have been found throughout India, dating back over 3,000 years; although, it is no longer considered a global distribution resource from these areas, archeological evidence suggests its early widespread distribution. Later, during the Middle Ages, amethyst was considered a symbol of royalty and was often used to decorate English regalia.

AMETHYST MINING, EXPORT, AND USES

Today, a number of localities in Brazil and Uruguay, as well as a handful of mines near Ontario, Canada, are considered primary exporters: As a matter of fact, a large majority of all amethyst on the market has been distributed from these three regions; however, well-formed crystals from the US, South Africa, Russia, Mexico, and Australia are highly sought after. A recently discovered Uruguayan amethyst geode is considered the largest amethyst geode in the world. It weighs in at over 44,000 pounds and measures an astounding 18 feet wide by 11 feet tall! It has been dubbed the "Enchanted Cave", and was reportedly discovered by a farmer in Artigas, Uruguay. It is currently located at the Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens in Byron Bay, Australia. While other amethyst geodes have been found to reach heights in excess of 20 feet tall, the Enchanted Cave is the only amethyst geode large enough to fit a group of people within its cavity. Aside from its primary uses as home décor and jewelry, amethyst is also exported for scientific research; specifically, for applications involving geochronology and isotope geochemistry. Because amethyst contains trace amounts of various isotopes, it can be applied as a tool when studying the age of rocks and other geological materials.

AMETHYST METAPHYSICS

A stone of the Crown Chakra, amethyst is used to achieve peace and Zen state of mind, allowing the user to decompress the weight of heavy thoughts and anxieties, while amplifying energies consistent with harmony and balance: Expanding upon that notion, amethyst has long been used as a stone of sobriety, discouraging the user from self-defeating thoughts of inebriation and intoxication. Furthermore, it has also been used as a helpful stone of transition, specifically by creating energies of support and comfort in death, but also, as an aid for those who need assistance in coming to terms with loss. Amethyst is not only treasured for its religious and spiritual benefits, but also for its physical healing properties, such as reducing tension and headaches, and promoting restful sleep when placed by the bedside. It is said to aid the physical body with immune system response, cellular disorders, insomnia, and dream recall.