Amethyst is a mineral introduced in Minecraft's Caves & Cliffs update (1.17). As of Minecraft 1.21.8 (September 2025), you can find large clusters of Amethyst geodes underground between Y levels -64 and 30 in the Overworld. These can sometimes spawn partially above the surface, often on beaches or underwater.
While Amethyst isn't rare, extracting it efficiently requires some knowledge. Here's how to grow Amethyst Shards in Minecraft efficiently, updated for 2025.
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How to grow Amethyst Shards in Minecraft
Budding Amethyst blocks cannot be mined or moved, even with Silk Touch—they drop nothing and break if pushed by pistons. Amethyst geodes contain budding Amethyst blocks (with cracks) that grow buds, surrounded by regular Amethyst blocks, calcite, and smooth basalt.
There are two main ways to get Amethyst Shards: mining them from geodes and allowing them to regrow on budding blocks.
1. Mine Amethyst clusters from geodes
Geodes produce pleasant sounds when walked on or mined. Use any pickaxe to mine mature Amethyst clusters (the largest growth stage) on the walls. A Fortune-enchanted pickaxe increases drops—up to 16 shards per cluster with Fortune III.
Regular Amethyst blocks can be mined with Silk Touch to obtain the block itself. Avoid mining budding Amethyst blocks, as they cannot be collected and are essential for growth.
Budding Amethyst has a 20% chance per game tick to grow a bud on an exposed side, but only if there's air or water adjacent.
2. Grow Amethyst Shards from clusters
Amethyst grows only on budding Amethyst blocks, which cannot be crafted or farmed artificially. Find geodes in caves and harvest shards, leaving the budding blocks intact for regrowth.
Growth occurs in stages on budding blocks: small bud (light level 1), medium bud (light level 2), large bud (light level 4), and finally cluster (light level 5). Clusters drop shards when mined.
After harvesting a cluster, the budding block will restart the cycle. Return later to harvest again.
What is the easiest way to find Amethyst in Minecraft?
As of 1.21.8, Amethyst geodes generate between Y -64 and 30, making them common but requiring exploration below sea level. Avoid digging straight down—instead, use these methods:
- Build a mine: Dig to Y -58 or lower for Amethyst, Diamonds, and more. Use minecarts for efficiency.
- Explore caves and ravines: Geodes often appear in large cave systems.
- Visit oceans or beaches: Geodes can be partially exposed underwater—use respiration tools or potions.
Inside the geode, mine only mature clusters. Mark geode locations for farming. Fortune III maximizes yields. Pistons break clusters for 2 shards each but aren't efficient for manual farming.
Amethyst shards also appear in ancient city chests (since 1.19) and trial chambers (since 1.21).
Amethyst Shard Minecraft uses
Amethyst shards are versatile for decoration, lighting, crafting, and more, with new uses added in updates up to 1.21.
1. Decoration
Amethyst blocks have a magical purple texture and chime when walked on, hit, or placed—perfect for paths or builds.
2. Lighting
Buds and clusters emit light based on size: small (1), medium (2), large (4), cluster (5). Use for spooky or aesthetic lighting in bases.
3. Crafting material
Shards craft several items:
- Block of Amethyst: 4 shards in a 2x2 grid. Chimes when interacted with; place note blocks on top for "chime" sounds.
- Spyglass: 1 shard + 2 copper ingots vertically. Zooms in for scouting.
- Tinted Glass: 4 shards around 1 glass (yields 2). Blocks light but semi-transparent—great for mob farms.
- Calibrated Sculk Sensor (since 1.20): 3 shards in a row with a sculk sensor below the middle. Filters vibrations by frequency for advanced redstone.
- Allay Duplication (since 1.19): Give a shard to a dancing allay near a jukebox to duplicate it (5-minute cooldown).
- Armor Trim (since 1.20): Use as material in smithing table for purple-trimmed armor.
Amethyst tips and tricks
- Automatic farming: Clear non-budding blocks in a geode, then use pistons to push mature clusters into hoppers. Power with redstone clocks for hands-off shard collection (yields 2 shards per break).
- Sound design: Place note blocks on Amethyst blocks for chime sounds or on clusters for shimmer effects in music contraptions.
- Redstone integration: Combine with sculk sensors for wireless signals; tinted glass hides farms while allowing observation.
- Efficient hunting: Geodes have a ~1/53 chance per chunk. Use night vision potions in caves or explore deepslate layers.
How to grow Amethyst Shards in Minecraft: FAQs
1. How long does it take Amethyst Shards to grow?
Buds have a 20% chance per game tick (every 0.05 seconds) to grow if space allows. Full cycle to cluster takes ~1.5 Minecraft days on average but is random.
2. Can you eat Amethyst in Minecraft?
No, Amethyst shards are not edible and provide no benefits if consumed.
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