Heat treating amethyst

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi everyone

I have some amethyst labeled locality as just Brazil. The color
is very pale purple and I am thinking of heat treating it. Does
anyone have any for heat treating rough gemstone?

Thanks in advance

Surbhi

2

Surbhi,

You might check with Liccini. He is on the Orchid list and is an
expert on many aspects of gem enhancements. I do believe,
however, that amethyst (and smoky quartz for that matter) gets
lighter and becomes citrine after heat treatment. I do not think
you can make it darker that way.

TOM (OWL1)
http://owlnest.ptd.net/gems.htm

3

I have some amethyst labeled locality as just Brazil. The color
is very pale purple and I am thinking of heat treating it. Does
anyone have any for heat treating rough gemstone?

If you could identify your Amethyst more specificly as to
location,the acutual mine it comes from in Brazil,and the
coloration it is now.I could instruct you by E-mail how to treat
it and what to expect.But as a general rule all Brazilian
Amethyst turns to Citrine at 450C.The actual instructions are up
at my site under the cover page link"treating tips".From the two
most common locations of Amethyst production;Maramba & Brezeina a
brown zone indicates a piece that will burn to a dark Citrine.And
their are other tips depending on location.Because an Amethyst is
pale,does not mean it will be pale citrine.The progression in
heating them is Amethyst to white then into Citrine.Many a heat
treater has opened the furnace to discover all white and assumed
he overheated.Not so.The important indicator is the brown
color,but even that is no rule.Rio Grade do sul material turns to
the darkest Citrine and shows no brown.If you could chemicaly
identify it,it is the amount of iron in it’s content. I have yet
to move into testing Brazilian mines,but I have developed a
process using irradiation to darken light Amethyst and remove
discolored zones.

                                         Mark Liccini
     LICCINI

Gemstone Rough Dealers since 1970 U.S.MAIL
E-Mail: @Mark_Liccini1 107 C.Columbus Dr.#1A
http://www.LICCINI.com Jersey City,N.J.07302
Voice Mail/Fax: 201-333-6332

4

Some Smokey Quartz (rare) will heat treat to a Yellow/green
Citrine.Here is a list of some Amethyst I am sure of.

Maramba,Brazil Dark Red/Orange to light Yellow
Brezeina,Brazil Dark Browinsh/Orange to light Yellow(straw)
Rio Grande do Sul Dark Red/Orange to light yellow
Aria,Brazil Light yellow
Uruguay Light yellow to some mines Brown/red
Porroacca,Brazil light yellow
Jacobina,Brazil Won’t heat treat to Citrine
Pal D’arco,Brazil Won’t heat treat to Citrine
Bolivian Won’t heat treat to Citrine
Goias,Brazil Won’t heat treat to Citrine
Zambian,Africa Limited tests would not make Citrine
Namibian,Africa Limited tests would not make Citrine
Brundi,Africa Limited tests produced light yellow
Paraguay/Mato Grosso
do Sul,Brazil border Won’t heat to Citrine.

Many more I have not yet tested,to include 4 Peaks,Arizona,USA I
suspect will treat Korean(rare),Russian,Madagasgar.Canadian.

                                    Mark Liccini                   
     LICCINI

Gemstone Rough Dealers since 1970 U.S.MAIL
E-Mail: @Mark_Liccini1 107 C.Columbus Dr.#1A
http://www.LICCINI.com Jersey City,N.J.07302
Voice Mail/Fax: 201-333-6332