Drilling amethyst

[Esther204]

I bought a pound of amethyst at a festival. The only problem is that there are no holes in them. I was wondering if drilling amethyst is the same as agate or if there is a different method.

Thanks
Esther

[Russ Nobbs]

Agate and Amethyst are all forms of quartz and therefore very hard. You'll need to drill with a diamond drill, with water coolant on the amethyst, just like on your agate and jasper stones. Check out some of the earlier threads about drilling stones and glass.

Commercially most hard stones are drilled with ultrasonic drills (not the sort of drill most of have sitting around the house or workshop.)   Some lapidaries are now using lasers to drill.