what type of rock is amethyst

Amethyst is not a rock at all, but a mineral : it’s the purple variety of the mineral quartz, which is made of silicon dioxide (SiO₂).

Quick Scoop

• Amethyst is a mineral (a type of quartz), not a standalone rock.

• It commonly forms inside igneous and metamorphic rocks, especially in volcanic cavities and geodes.

• Geology teachers often describe it as a quartz crystal that grows in rocks like basalt and granite, rather than labeling it “igneous” or “metamorphic” rock itself.

So if someone asks “what type of rock is amethyst?”

A clear, simple way to answer is:

Amethyst is a purple quartz mineral that usually forms in igneous and metamorphic rocks, especially in volcanic geodes and hydrothermal veins.

If you want to sound extra precise in a class or forum discussion, say “amethyst is a mineral (purple quartz) found in igneous and metamorphic rocks,” rather than calling it a rock on its own.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.