Northern Uruguay produces some of the world’s finest deep-purple amethyst, grown in gas cavities in ancient basalt, and the geodes from Artigas, some big enough to stand inside, are the standard by which amethyst is judged along with neighbouring Brazil’s. Small family mines work the flows. Buy at Artigas or through the mineral trade; whole geodes are a specialty.
Amethyst, agate
See it on the map
Other places on the map within a couple of hours.