Quartz var Amethyst

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Known as the source of the first 'great' crystallized Amethyst specimens, the historic copper mining town of Banská Štiavnica (Schemnitz) produced these nearly two centuries ago, long before the South American specimens flooded the market. Typically forming beds of smaller crystals with white bases rising upwards to darker purple tips, this Slovakian material came from metalliferous hydrothermal mineral veins rather than vesicles within igneous rocks. This superb historic Amethyst specimen from Banská Štiavnica shows everything one would expect of this classic, but more besides, with stunning internal zonation when viewed down through the crystals. Smaller cabinet in size, it does show some minor damage to the tips of the crystals, but is still a very showy piece for display. Ex Martin Bohaty Collection.