Amethyst on matrix – Sardinia, Italy

This Amethyst specimen is from Capurru Quarry in Sardinia, Italy.
Locality: Capurru Quarry, Osilo, Sassari Province, Sardinia, Italy
Dimensions: 98*87*85mm

Sardinian amethyst typically forms on the surface of the host rock or within shallow cavities, with large crystals being relatively uncommon. The crystals range in color from pale lavender to soft violet, displaying high transparency. They are often attached to white or pale yellow host rock coated with calcite, creating a striking visual contrast.

Specimens exhibiting skeletal textures or windowed structures—commonly referred to in the market as “skeletal crystals”—are among the most distinctive and recognizable characteristics of Sardinian amethyst.

【About the Sardinian Mining District】

Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily, and all mining activities on the island have now ceased; no commercial or industrial extraction is currently ongoing. The island’s long mining history can be traced back to around 6000 BC.

The San Giovanni Mine in Iglesias was historically an important source of Pb-Zn-Ba, with most of the mineralization believed to originate from Cambrian sedimentary carbonate limestones. In 1952, during shaft excavation, a large oval-shaped cavern was discovered and later named the Santa Barbara Cave. Its walls are entirely composed of barite, aragonite, and calcite, and today it stands as one of Sardinia’s most remarkable mineralogical attractions.

The San Giovanni mining area is now part of the Sardinian Geological, Mining, Historical, and Environmental Park and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, underscoring both its geological significance and cultural importance.