What is Amethyst
Amethyst is a variety of the mineral called quartz, the purple or bluish-violet colour of which is due to manganese. In recent times some say that the purple colour is attributed to the closeness in the ground to uranium. Evidently the radiation causes electrons to quit the impure aluminum atoms creating a deep purple centre.
It gets its name from a Roman maiden called Amethyst who the Roman god of wine - 'Bacchus' -turned into a rock crystal. Horrified at what he had done he threw down his goblet of wine which turned the rock crystal into the purple colour that we know today.
It is transparent and quite brittle. It can be cut into faceted gems as well as en cabochon.
Significant quantities are found in many African countries, Thailand, Indonesia and Brazil.