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Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz.The name comes from the Koine Greek αμέθυστος amethystos from α - a-, "not" and μεθύσκω (Ancient Greek) methysko / μεθώ metho (Modern Greek), "intoxicate", a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. [1]
An amethyst stone from South Africa. Amethyste or Amethystos (Ancient Greek: Ἀμέθυστη, romanized: Améthustē, lit. 'non-drunk') is supposedly a nymph in Greek mythology who was turned into a precious stone by the goddess Diana/Artemis in order to avoid a worse fate at the hands of the god Dionysus, thus explaining the origin of the semi-precious stone amethyst.
Heat can either improve or spoil gemstone color or clarity. The heating process has been well known to gem miners and cutters for centuries, and in many stone types heating is a common practice. Most citrine is made by heating amethyst, and partial heating with a strong gradient results in "ametrine" – a stone partly amethyst and partly citrine.
Amazonite, also known as amazonstone, [4] is a green tectosilicate mineral, a variety of the potassium feldspar called microcline. [4] [5] [6] Its chemical formula is KAlSi 3 O 8, [1] [7] which is polymorphic to orthoclase.
An example is amethyst, which is a purple variety of quartz. [18] Two common classifications, Dana and Strunz, are used for minerals; both rely on composition, specifically with regards to important chemical groups, and structure.
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The five cardinal gems. Clockwise from top: sapphire, ruby, emerald, amethyst, diamond. Cardinal gems are gemstones which have traditionally been considered precious above all others. The classification of the cardinal gems dates back to antiquity, and was largely determined by ceremonial or religious use as well as rarity. [1]
Cats have been brought on ships for various purposes throughout history, the most common one being to catch mice and rats. One such heroic cat was Simon, who famously guarded his soldiers aboard ...