How Miners Find, Cut, And Transport The Most Expensive Amethysts In The World | So Expensive

Amethyst is one of the most abundant crystals in the world. But the most prized pieces can cost almost a million dollars. Some of the world’s largest amethyst geodes come out of Artigas, Uruguay. The earth beneath this region is uniquely suited to producing amethyst. But other than size, what qualities do miners look for in a valuable amethyst? And how are the crystals prepared once they’re out of the ground? We explored why amethyst geodes are so expensive. Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:40 Uruguay’s massive amethyst geodes 1:31 Excavating Amethyst 3:10 Why amethyst is purple 4:15 Mining in the tunnels 6:18 Washing and polishing amethyst 8:07 Selling giant geodes 10:36 Growing demand for near-gemstones MORE SO EXPENSIVE VIDEOS: Why Huitlacoche (Corn Smut) is So Expensive How Farmers In One Indian Village Crafted The Most Expensive Nutmeg and Mace 10 Of The Most Expensive Items Made In India ------------------------------------------------------ Business Insider tells you all you need to know about business, finance, tech, retail, and more. Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: Insider Business on Facebook: Insider Business on Instagram: Insider Business on Twitter: Insider Business on Snapchat: Insider Business on TikTok: @businessinsider How Miners Find, Cut, And Transport The Most Expensive Amethysts In The World