The Four Peaks mine in Arizona is from one of the smaller amethyst mines.  

After mining the crystals are cleaned and separated from the host matrix and then sorted.  Faceted grade crystals are sent overseas to be cut.  

Only 30% of the crystals are considered to be free enough of inclusions to be of facet-grade.  Due to variation in color within the crystal the yield is only 0.5% of the original crystal.

Two miners work the site. They  live a rather Spartan existence.  They sleep in a tent and live of a massive pile of cereal, canned food and mountain dew.

Last fall they were surprised to find a host of bats had taken up residence in the mine.  They bats had moved in to feast on the flies that had moved in to the warm mine to avoid the cool evenings.   At times the miners claimed the buzzing was so loud it sounded like they were in a bee hive.  

The hot and then cold again fall weather had also encouraged the local tarantula population to seek out, eat and store as much food as possible before the cold settled in for good.  The 3 to 4 inch long tarantulas were especially aggressive when surprised or taunted.  Their typical behavior was to charge the offender in quick burst of energy.