BRILLIANT - VIOLET - CHANGEABLE Amethyst from the heart of the Ore Mountains
New special exhibition from 22 February at the Museum für Naturkunde
From next Thursday, 22 February 2018, the Museum für Naturkunde Chemnitz invites you on a fascinating journey into the underground passage system of the Central Erzgebirge. There are around 300 sparkling amethysts to discover and marvel at. The exhibition is on display until 25 November.
So BRILLANT. The purple amethyst has always been a popular jewellery stone. The Saxon Elector Augustus the Strong sent gemstone inspectors to furnish his majesties and palaces with the most beautiful and splendid pieces from the Ore Mountains.
So VIOLET. Amethyst is the violet variety of the mineral quartz. The light pink to dark purple colour centres are created by iron atoms that take the place of silicon ions in the crystal lattice by means of radioactive radiation.
So CHANGEABLE. Nature and man can change amethyst. Exposed to intense sunlight, amethyst loses its colour. The same happens when our amethyst from the Ore Mountains is heated to over 510°C.
From the heart of the Ore Mountains, amethyst is found all over the world - from Brazil, Uruguay, Madagascar and Russia to Sri Lanka. However, one deposit that is world-famous among collectors is located right on our doorstep - the Ore Mountains. The Erzgebirge towns of Wiesenbad, Wolkenstein, Warmbad, Drebach, Falkenbach, Herold, Ehrenfriedersdorf and Geyer have been known as places where amethyst, rock crystal and marble have been found since the 16th century. The purple crystals are mainly found in cavities in hydrothermal veins and volcanic rocks.
An extensive educational programme as well as public guided tours and themed lectures complement the exciting journey into the earth's interior.
Opening hours: The Museum of Natural History is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and at weekends from 10 am to 6 pm. It is closed on Wednesdays.