Quartz (var. Amethyst)

This single amethyst crystal point comes from a recent 2018 discovery at a historic, long-closed lead mine near Placentia Bay in eastern Newfoundland. The crystal exhibits a deep purple colour concentrated near the termination, gradually fading to a more colourless zone toward the base. This matrix-free point has a glassy lustre and sharp form, making it a striking and elegant example of Canadian amethyst. It has just the tiniest ding on the tip, but hardly noticeable at all. The bruising on La Manche specimens is actually almost expected due to how the vein system underwent a post-formation collapse. So this one makes for an excellent miniature.

The locality, originally discovered in 1855 during the Telegraph Land Company's survey for a trans-Atlantic cable route, began mining operations in 1857 and continued until 1887. A new shaft was later developed in the 1920s, reaching a depth of 122 meters, but a dam break in 1929 led to flooding of the workings. Combined with the economic downturn of the Great Depression, the mine was permanently closed. While the site was historically known for lead and silver, recent discoveries—particularly this 2018 find—have revealed a previously unknown potential for gem-quality amethyst.

The amethyst from this Placentia Bay locality is geochemically distinct, with elevated fluorine and low iron content, contributing to its soft, pastel violet hue. As noted in a 2024 Gems & Gemology article by the GIA, these crystals are among the most unique and visually refined Canadian amethysts ever documented. This specimen is not only an aesthetic piece but also represents a mineralogical rarity from a historically significant and geologically distinctive source.

Read a full report here: https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/fall-2024-canadian-amethyst