Amethyst Cluster

Amethyst buds are 3 crystal block stages that grow from budding amethyst.

Amethyst clusters are the final stage of amethyst buds.

Breaking
Amethyst clusters must be mined with an iron pickaxe or higher, dropping 4 amethyst shards, otherwise it drops nothing. When mined with Silk Touch, an amethyst cluster drops itself instead. Amethyst buds cannot be obtained and do not drop amethyst shards; however, they are supposed to be collected at any stage.

Natural generation
Amethyst buds and clusters are naturally generated as part of amethyst geodes.