Declaration of Amethyst as the National Stone of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay
An important milestone has been achieved for the mining sector in the Oriental Republic of Uruguay with the recent declaration of amethyst as the national stone (Law No. 20,343, dated 19/09/2024).
This decision honors not only the beauty of this geological treasure from our land but also the work of the communities dedicated to its extraction, value-adding processes, and trade. This entails the creation of more jobs (approximately 2,000 direct jobs in Artigas) and all the associated benefits for the community. Notably, many of these enterprises are led by women heads of households.
Uruguayan amethyst is internationally recognized for its purity and the vibrant tone of its purple color. In our country, some of the most prized specimens of this mineral in the world have emerged due to the size of their geodes. The stones range from small pieces to formations weighing up to ten tons.
Recently, the International Union of Geological Sciences of UNESCO declared the amethyst deposits in the Los Catalanes area (Department of Artigas) as one of the 100 sites of World Geological Heritage.
In terms of foreign trade, our amethyst reaches demanding markets such as China, the United States, and Europe, standing out for its unparalleled quality.
In 2020, exports amounted to 22 million dollars, and by August of this year, 60 million dollars had already been exported, with an expectation of closing the year with 100 million dollars.
Soon, amethyst will receive the designation of origin certification: Amatistas del Uruguay. This measure aims to further enhance the international positioning of our beautiful national stone.