Quartz vs. Amethyst — What's the Difference?

Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silica (silicon dioxide). The atoms are linked in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon-oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical formula of SiO2.

Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz. The name comes from the Koine Greek αμέθυστος amethystos from α- a-, "not" and μεθύσκω (Ancient Greek) methysko / μεθώ metho (Modern Greek), "intoxicate", a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness.

A very hard mineral composed of silica, SiO2, found worldwide in many different types of rocks, including sandstone and granite. Varieties of quartz include agate, chalcedony, chert, flint, opal, and rock crystal.

A precious stone consisting of a violet or purple variety of quartz

(mineral) The most abundant mineral on the earth's surface, of chemical composition silicon dioxide, SiO₂. It occurs in a variety of forms, both crystalline and amorphous. Found in every environment.

A purple or violet form of transparent quartz used as a gemstone.

Crystal meth: methamphetamine hydrochloride.

A purple variety of corundum used as a gemstone.

A form of silica, or silicon dioxide (SiO2), occurring in hexagonal crystals, which are commonly colorless and transparent, but sometimes also yellow, brown, purple, green, and of other colors; also in cryptocrystalline massive forms varying in color and degree of transparency, being sometimes opaque.

A moderate purple to grayish reddish purple.

Colorless glass made of almost pure silica

A transparent purple variety of quartz, used as a gemstone.

A hard glossy mineral consisting of silicon dioxide in crystal form; present in most rocks (especially sandstone and granite); yellow sand is quartz with iron oxide impurities

(uncountable) A purple colour.

(tincture) The tincture purpure, when emblazoning the arms of the English nobility.

Having a colour similar to that of the gemstone

A variety of crystallized quartz, of a purple or bluish violet color, of different shades. It is much used as a jeweler's stone.

A purple color in a nobleman's escutcheon, or coat of arms.

A transparent purple variety of quartz; used as a gemstone

Of a moderate purple color