Why is My Amethyst Turning Black? Problems and Fixes

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your amethyst, scratching your head and wondering “Why the heck is it turning black?” – stick with us as we uncover the various factors behind the changing of amethyst’s color from intoxicating shades of purple to a boring black color.

Moving forward, we’ll dig into amethyst mysteries, covering both scientific and spiritual aspects of color changes in the crystal. So let’s get right into the details!

Table of Contents

Is Amethyst Supposed To Be Black?

No, amethyst is not supposed to be black. The color of an amethyst stone varies from light purple to a strong reddish or deep purple shade. While it is true that the best amethyst color is a dark reddish purple hue, it still never attains a completely black shade naturally.

Darker colored amethysts can look black in low light conditions; however, they still retain their underlying purple or violet hues when viewed in normal lighting.

If your amethyst is turning green, you might want to check out the my article on the reasons of amethyst turning green.

Why Is My Amethyst Turning Black: 5 Possible Reasons

While the amethyst never attains a black color naturally, it can turn black due to external factors, treatments, or the presence of impurities.

Exposure To Heat

Prolonged exposure to heat and sunlight can cause the amethyst to lose its original color and become darker.

High temperatures can alter the state of impurities in the crystal structure, and eventually lead to a shift in the color of the stone. This means if your amethyst stone has been overexposed to high temperatures, it can be a potential cause of the stone turning black.

Dye Treatment Wearing Off

Low quality gemstones are often artificially colored through dyeing or other treatment methods. These treatments are done to enhance the color of the stone and improve their market appeal. However, these dyes can wear off over time.

If you notice your amethyst is turning black gradually, it is likely because the original color of the stone is getting exposed as the dye fades away due to exposure to external factors.

Physical Damage

While physical damage, such as scratches or fractures do not cause a change in the stone’s color instantly, they become a site where dirt and dust accumulate gradually.

The scratches or fractures on the surface of the stone trap dirt and debris, which eventually gives a darker appearance to the amethyst and can even make it look black at times.

Energy Shift

Many crystals, including amethysts, are known to have healing properties. Amethyst, in particular, is known for its calming properties and the ability to enhance intuition and emotional balance.

Since many people, belonging to different spiritual and metaphysical belief systems, are of the view that amethyst can absorb, store, and emit energy, they attribute the changing of the color to the crystal’s interaction with negative energies.

This suggests that the amethyst turns black when it absorbs negative energies and cleanses the emotional aura of a person.

However, there’s limited scientific evidence to support these claims. The healing experience, in most cases, is merely a placebo effect.

Wrong Cleaning Techniques

Earthbound crystals, like amethysts, do not require intensive cleaning sessions. If you use cleaning agents, such as rubbing alcohol to clean the amethyst, it will lose its color or turn black.

Therefore, you must not use cleaning solutions on your gemstones or crystals as they can be too harsh and impact the appearance of the stone.

To wipe off dust or dirt from your amethyst, you just need to use a clean, lint-free cloth instead.

How To Restore the Color Of Amethyst?

If your amethyst has undergone extreme color changes, it can be challenging to restore its color. Color shifts usually happen as a result of the changes in the chemical composition or crystalline structure of the amethyst, which means reversing these changes may not always be feasible, especially at home.

If you’re unsure about the condition of your amethyst, consider reaching out to an expert gemologist or a professional jeweler to learn about the possibilities of restoring the color of your amethyst.

Other than this, recharging in moonlight, saltwater soaking, and crystal charging via a crystal charging plate, are other common methods to cleanse your amethyst and restore its color, in case it faded as a consequence of negative energy absorption.

Does Real Amethyst Change Color?

Amethyst is recognised by its characteristic purple to violet hues, which are generally stable and do not change into a different color over time.

However, color shifts can occur if your amethyst is subjected to harsh external factors as discussed earlier.

Some people also believe that real amethyst changes color and can turn dark when it absorbs negative energies around. However, such interpretations stem from personal beliefs and are not backed by scientific evidence.

Conclusion

All in all, your amethyst might be turning black due to various reasons, including exposure to harsh external factors, chemical treatments, or energy shifts after absorbing negative energies.

Your interpretation regarding the true cause of these color changes can take different paths, depending on whether you’re a science enthusiast seeking logical answers, or a spiritual seeker, drawn to the metaphysical aspects that surround gemstones and crystals.