Everything you need to know about Amethyst Gemstone
Amethystos, which means "not drunk" in ancient Greek, was given the reputation of being able to prevent drunkenness.
Amethyst is currently the most valuable form of quartz, and as a result, it is in demand for designer items and mass-market jewellery. Additionally, the consumer appeal of amethyst is maintained by its range of purple to pastel colours.
Before the large deposits of amethyst were discovered in Brazil in the 19th century, the price of amethyst was comparable to that of emeralds and rubies.
Description
The quartz mineral species has a variant that is purple in colour called amethyst. The shade of purple that can be seen in amethyst can range from a lilac hue to a dark, intense royal purple and from a brownish hue to a vivid one. Even though other gems are purple in colours, such as sapphire and tanzanite, the gemstone is most frequently associated with the colour purple. Its colour can be described as either a bluish-purple or a reddish-purple, commonly referred to as a "raspberry" hue. In addition, amethyst frequently displays a phenomenon known as colour zoning, typically forming angular zones that progress from a darker to a lighter colour.
Facts
| Mineral | Chemistry | Birefringence |
| Quartz | SiO2 | 0.009 |
| Refractive Index | Specific Gravity | Mohs Hardness |
| 1.544 to 1.553 | 2.66 | 7 |
| Birthstone | Absorption Spectrum | Cleavage |
| February | Weak band, 550-520 | None or indistinct |
| Colours | Enhancements | Etymology |
| Pale lilac to deep reddish purple. May have colour zoning | Amethyst can be heat treated to improve its colour or change to citrine. Not common. | From the Ancient Greek Amethystos, meaning "not drunk." It was believed you could drink all night and remain sober if you had an amethyst in your mouth. |
| Inclusions | Occurrence | Fracture |
| Prismatic crystals, negative cavities, thumbprint marks, rippled fractures, and twinning lines. | Generally in pegmatites and veins. Found in geodes in alluvial deposits. | Conchoidal to uneven |
| Crystallography | Dispersion | Fracture Luster |
| Hexagonal (trigonal) | 0.013 | Vitreous |
| Luminescence | Luminescence Type | Pleochroism |
| Inert to soft blue in SW. Inert in LW. | Fluorescent, UV-Short | Weak to moderate, purple and reddish purple. |
| Luminescence Present | Lustre | Polish Luster |
| Yes | Vitreous | Vitreous |
| Optic Sign | Optics | Specific Gravity |
| Uniaxial + | o = 1.544; e = 1.553 (very constant). Uniaxial (+) | 2.651 |
| Transparency | Refractive Index | Typical Treatments |
| Transparent to translucent | 1.544–1.553 | Heat Treatment |
| Wearability | ||
| Very Good |
History
Humans have highly esteemed amethysts for thousands of years. These durable gemstones were carved by the ancient Egyptians into the forms of animals, possibly to wear as protective amulets.
The Ancient Greeks were responsible for creating numerous amethyst carvings and jewellery pieces, in addition to one of the most enduring aspects of amethyst folklore: the gemstone's purported ability to inhibit intoxication.
The month of February's birthstone is amethyst, which is also one of the symbols that represent the twelve apostles. Early Greek tales associated amethyst with Dionysus, the deity of wine and pleasure, because of the gemstone's colour, which resembles that of wine.
Bacchus was the name that the Romans gave to him. Other stories mirrored that amethyst maintained its wearer clear-headed and quick-witted in battle and business dealings. These beliefs were represented in amethyst, keeping its wearer clear-headed and quick-witted.
It was believed that wearing amethyst would keep one from intoxicating because of the stone's historical connection to wine. Since ancient times, fine amethysts have been used to create jewellery for religious purposes and crown jewels for royal families.
Its worth was initially considered comparable to rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. So it should be no surprise that beautiful amethyst is used in the crowning regalia of British royal family members and on the fingers of bishops.
Stone Size
Most quartz can reach large sizes and be faceted into diamonds weighing thousands of carats. There are, however, very few specimens of amethysts that are flawless and weigh 100 carats or more.
Despite the frequency with which it occurs, transparent amethyst only seldom occurs in massive volumes. However, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, District of Columbia, owns some excellent examples of clear amethysts.
Among these is a stone from Brazil weighing 1,362 carats and a stone from North Carolina weighing 202.5 carats.
Stone Care
Amethysts can be set in any jewellery, including rings, and they can also be used for carvings, beads, and other kinds of ornamental products by lapidaries.
On the other hand, Amethysts are easily damaged by high temperatures, but quartz gems are pretty hardy.
In addition, inclusions can make these gems susceptible to breaking when they are cleaned with ultrasonic waves.
So instead of using a mechanical cleaning system, you should clean things with a gentle brush, light detergent, and warm water.