AMETHYST NATURAL GEMSTONE (THE SEMI-PRECIOUS INTOXICANT)

Greg C.
May 11, 2018
1 min read

Amethyst bracelet with a unique "faceted" cut.

Amethyst is the most valued stone in the Quartz group. The name means "not drunken" (Greek), as Amethyst was worn as an amulet against drunkenness. Crystals are always grown onto a base. Prisms are usually not well developed, therefore are often found as crystal points (pointy Amethyst) with the deepest color. These parts are broken on the base for further treatment.

Heat treatment between 878 and 1382 degrees F (470-750 degrees C) produces light yellow, red-brown, green, and colorless varieties. These are some Amethysts that loose some color in daylight. The original color can be restored by X-ray radiation. The coloring agent is iron. In artificial light, Amethyst amethyst does not display as desirable qualities.

Found in geodes in alluvial deposits. The most important deposits are in Brazil ("Palmeira" amethyst of Rio Grande do Sul, "Maraba" amethyst of Para), Madagascar, Zambia, Uruguay, as well as i burma (Myanmar), India, Canada, Mexico, Namimbia, Russia, Shri Lanka, and the United States (Arizona). The best stones are faceted; others are tumbled or worked into ornaments, or beautiful jewelry pieces, like earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets.

Faceted Amethyst earrings on 18k Gold covered Sterling Silver

Formerly amethyst was a favorite gemstone of high officials of the Christian church.Can be confused with precious beryl, fluorite, kunzite, spinel, topaz, tourmaline, and tinted glass. Synthetic amethyst is abandoned in the free market.