![]() Color centers are atomic defects within the stone’s crystal structure that filter light a little differently. One such special feature is called a color center. Virtually all gems and crystals have what some refer to as characteristics or fingerprints. The natural purple color of amethyst is defined as a wavelength (545 nm), which is the predominant one of many wavelengths in amethyst’s color band. Sunlight and UV work in a similar way to heat when changing the color of amethyst. ![]() Why Does Sunlight (UV) Change the Color of Amethyst? Table and image comparing heat treatment temperature to resulting color. The higher the temperatures and longer the exposure to heat, the more electrons that are swapped, resulting in more dramatic color shifts. They discovered that the iron and the oxygen atoms within the crystal swap electrons and this is what changes the amethyst’s color. So, why do high temperatures cause amethyst to change color? In 2020, Renping Cheng & Ying Guo tested the idea that these color changes weren’t actually because of a true chemical reaction. Heat treatments are done intentionally to change the color of the amethyst for aesthetic purposes. Amethyst will turn from purple to yellow, orange, brown, white, and sometimes even a pale green. Amethyst can be exposed to high temperatures for several hours, known as a heat treatment. Some people may choose to heat their amethyst with the intention of altering its color hue. Why do Heat Treatments Change the Color of Amethyst? Read with me a bit further to explore why this happens and learn how to protect your amethyst from these culprits. ![]() “But I love my amethyst, the color is just perfect the way it is!”. Stop your amethyst from changing color or fading by avoiding heat treatments, limit time spent in sun or UV light, and never clean amethyst with hard tap water. There are three reasons that amethyst changes color or fades: heat treatments, sunlight (UV), and water containing certain minerals. Now I am the wife of a geologist and will explain when and why amethyst changes color and how to prevent it! It was in my early collecting days that I noticed my amethyst beginning to change color and fade. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |