Facts about Amethyst
Amethyst is found in varying colors that are given different names.
Among these locations are Amethyst Mountain, Texas; Yellowstone National Park; Delaware County, Pennsylvania; Haywood County, North Carolina; and Deer Hill and Stow, Maine.
Much of the citrine, cairngorm, or yellow quartz of jewelry is said to be merely "burnt amethyst."
More recently, certain gems (usually of Bolivian origin) that have alternate bands of amethyst purple with citrine orange have been given the name "ametrine."
To protect Amethyst from the animals, Diana turned her into a statue of pure crystalline quartz.
Amethyst was used as a gemstone by the ancient Egyptians and was largely employed in antiquity for intaglio.
Amethyst has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale and is therefore valued for use in jewelry.
Professional gemological associations—such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the American Gemological Society (AGS)—discourage the use of the term "Oriental amethyst" to describe any gem, as it may be misleading.
Ranking members of the Roman Catholic Church traditionally wear rings set with a large amethyst as part of their office.
The ancient Greeks and Romans wore amethyst and made drinking vessels of it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication.
According to one legend, "soap" takes its name from a "Mount Sapo" where ancient Romans sacrificed animals.
Amethyst is a violet or purple variety of quartz often used as an ornamental stone.
Many of the hollow agates of Brazil and Uruguay contain amethyst crystals in their interior.
Much fine amethyst also comes from Russia, especially from near Mursinka in the Ekaterinburg district, where it occurs in cavities in granitic rocks.
Based on the belief that amethyst was a strong antidote against drunkenness, wine goblets were often carved from it.
Along came unsuspecting Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana.
Some have considered amethyst a symbol of heavenly understanding, and as a mark of the pioneer in thought and action on the philosophical, religious, spiritual, and material planes.
Purple corundum, or sapphire of amethystine tint, is sometimes called "Oriental amethyst," but jewelers may use this term in referring to fine examples of ordinary amethystine quartz, even when not derived from eastern sources.
Some mineralogists, following Sir David Brewster, apply the name amethyst to all quartz that exhibits this structure, regardless of color.
Humbled by Amethystos' desire to remain chaste, Dionysus poured wine over the stone, dyeing the crystals purple.
Soak the geode for 15 to 20 minutes to loosen any dirt.For larger geodes, soak an old wash cloth in warm water, and put a half dollar-sized amount of dish detergent in the center of the cloth. Agitate the cloth to work up a lather, then run the cloth over the geode to clean it.