Provenite

Piedra Parada (Tatatila)

AreaUnknownDraft data

19.7000° N, 97.1167° W · ± 10 km

Amethyst from Veracruz, Mexico, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

Amethyst

Amethyst at Piedra Parada (Tatatila)

Mindat attributes the amethyst traditionally sold as Las Vigas to the mines around Piedra Parada

Amethyst crystals lying across a rounded matrix, many with both ends developed, from Piedra Parada, Veracruz, Mexico.
Amethyst crystals lying across a rounded matrix, many with both ends developed, from Piedra Parada, Veracruz, Mexico.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Large amethyst cluster with strongly coloured crystals on matrix, about 13 cm wide, from Piedra Parada, Veracruz, Mexico.
Large amethyst cluster with strongly coloured crystals on matrix, about 13 cm wide, from Piedra Parada, Veracruz, Mexico.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Cluster of lustrous amethyst crystals with zoned terminations, largest crystal 3.4 cm, from Piedra Parada, Veracruz, Mexico.
Cluster of lustrous amethyst crystals with zoned terminations, largest crystal 3.4 cm, from Piedra Parada, Veracruz, Mexico.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
SiO₂
Morphology
Isolated gemmy crystals and clusters on matrix, many with both ends developed
Typical size
Crystals mostly to about 1.5 cm; single crystals up to about 5.5 cm on larger pieces
Color / luster
Strongly saturated purple with glassy luster (dealer descriptions)
History
Specimens in collections and on the market are often labelled Las Vigas although the mines are at Piedra Parada

Sources: SRC-419 SRC-420 SRC-428

About Amethyst →

Geology of the locality

Region
Veracruz
Country
Mexico

Coordinates are those of the municipality of Tatatila (Wikipedia); Piedra Parada village and its amethyst mines lie within the municipality but are not located more precisely. Mindat states that amethyst traded as Las Vigas comes from the mines around Piedra Parada.

Sources: SRC-419 SRC-420

Sources

  1. SRC-419 · Database
    Las Vigas de Ramirez Municipality, Veracruz, MexicoMindat.org contributors · Mindat.org
  2. SRC-420 · Website
    TatatilaWikipedia contributors · Wikipedia
  3. SRC-428 · Website
    Wikimedia Commons file pages: Quartz-117884.jpg, Quartz-118547.jpg, Quartz-118795.jpg, Quartz-119081.jpg, Quartz-119705.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky (photographer; text by dealer) · Wikimedia Commons

Draft data from the Provenite workbook. Check entries against the cited sources before relying on them. Photos are open-licence images from Wikimedia Commons; the author and licence are given with each photo.