---
title: "Hydrothermal growth: meaning in gemology"
description: "Hydrothermal growth makes synthetic crystals in a hot water solution under high pressure."
url: https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/hydrothermal-growth
image: https://digitalgemology.com/img/og-digital-gemology.png?v=d224fb01
---

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[Glossary](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary) · Treatments and origin

# Hydrothermal growth

Also called hydrothermal synthetic

Hydrothermal growth makes synthetic crystals in a hot water solution under high pressure.

## In more detail

It is the only successful method for growing synthetic quartz, including synthetic amethyst. Hydrothermal synthetic emerald for jewelry appeared in 1960. These emeralds often show zigzag, chevron-like growth lines.

## On a grading report

Labs report the stone as laboratory-grown (synthetic).

## Related terms

- [Synthetic gemstone](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/synthetic-gemstone): A synthetic gemstone is made in a laboratory and has essentially the same chemistry and properties as the natural gem. A synthetic ruby is ruby, made by people.
- [Flux growth](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/flux-growth): Flux growth is a way to grow synthetic crystals from a chemical solvent (flux). Crystals form as the hot solution slowly cools.
- [Quartz](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/quartz): Quartz is the mineral species of amethyst and citrine. It is silicon dioxide in a trigonal crystal.
- [Emerald](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/emerald): Emerald is the green to bluish green variety of the mineral beryl. Chromium, vanadium or both cause its color.
- [Amethyst](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary/amethyst): Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz. Iron in the crystal, together with natural radiation, causes its color.

[All 328 terms](https://digitalgemology.com/learn/glossary)