Declaration of amethyst as the national stone
Amethyst was officially declared the National Stone of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay through Law No. 20.343 on September 19, 2024. Additionally, the International Union of Geological Sciences of UNESCO recently declared the Amethyst deposit in the Los Catalanes area, located in Catalán, Artigas department, as a "World Geological Heritage Site."
This important mineral heritage is unique in the world and widely recognized by the countries to which it is exported, primarily European countries, but also the United States, Brazil, and China. In 2024, Uruguay earned 60,000,000 dollars from amethyst exports. The aforementioned Declaration represents an acknowledgment of the beauty of this national geological treasure, as well as the communities in the north of the country dedicated to its extraction. This progress is complemented by recent changes in national regulations aimed at promoting and facilitating exports in the mining sector, as well as the existing tax benefits.
Our amethysts are found and extracted from mines located in Artigas, and it is estimated that the crystals are between 130 and 150 million years old. The formation of Amethyst results from the interaction between aquifers and volcanic activity, leading to the unique and vibrant tones that make Uruguayan Amethyst of the highest quality and in high demand. Its extraction process is environmentally friendly, causing minimal environmental impact, while also being mining industrial operations that improve skilled labor, both in the extraction process and in subsequent industrialization.
The declaration of Uruguay's Amethysts as the national stone, together with their globally recognized quality, not only adds commercial, industrial, and tourist value, but also turns them into a national symbol, giving them a sense of belonging to the country.