 Its color is as exceptional as it is alluring, although in truth this precious stone of all gemstones is believed to save its holder from temptation. The amethyst is uniqueness in violet. For a long time, the most prominent member of the quartz group has been a gem desired by princes both clerical and material. Moses characterized it as a sign of the Spirit of God in the ceremonial dress of the High Priest of the Jews, and the Russian Empress Catherine the Great dispatched lots of pitmen into the Urals to search for it. In well-liked conviction, the amethyst presents defense against drunkenness - because the Greek word 'amethystos' denotes 'not intoxicated' in rendition. A more fitting mineral for the month of February, mostly if there is to be great number going on in the way of festival celebrations, could thus hardly be desired.
Amethyst is the magenta type of quartz.
In the 20th century, the color of amethyst was recognized as the occurrence of manganese. On the other hand, as it is able of being to a great extent changed and even discolored by heat, the color was considered by some experts to be from an organic substance. Ferric thiocyanate was proposed, and sulfur was believed to have been distinguished in the stone.
More modern work has revealed that amethyst's coloring is due to ferric iron inclusions. Additional research has displayed a compound interaction of iron and aluminum is in charge of the color.
On subjecting to heat, amethyst in general becomes yellow, and much of the citrine, cairngorm, or yellow quartz of jewels is regarded to be purely "burnt amethyst." Streaks of amethystine quartz are capable to become colorless on the exposed basset. It has what is said as a vitriform or "glassy" luster.
Amethyst is created of an asymmetrical stratification of alternating lamellae of right-handed and left-handed quartz. It has been displayed that this configuration may be due to mechanic pressures. Because of this complex structure, amethyst is capable to fracture with a grooved crack or to display "thumb markings," and the combining of two sets of crooked swells may create on the cracked surface an outline something like that of "engine turning." Some mineralogists, supporters of Sir David Brewster, employ the name of amethyst to all quartz which demonstrates this formation, despite of color.
| 
