For semi-precious, it is Amethyst that is most iconic. For thousands of years amethyst has been a jewel revered by many. At Azeera, we only manufacture top quality amethyst. Our rich yet encapsulating purple will capture your heart.
Distinguished by its varying shades of soft violet and deep purple, the semiprecious gemstone amethyst has been sought after for centuries for its natural beauty and allure. As a more translucent, coarse-grained variety of the silica mineral quartz, the amethyst gemstone has been in high demand as a symbol of wealth and power throughout history, often found in Egyptian royalty garments, British crowns, and other similar items. European soldiers from medieval times believed they had the power to help maintain focus and heal wounds, thus providing a strong source of protection while in battle.
As with many gemstone names, the term “amethyst” originates from a Greek word – in this case: amethystos, which means “not intoxicated.” It is an ancient folk belief that those who possessed these precious stones were somehow able to prevent themselves from becoming drunk, which is why many wine goblets were carved from it.
A common myth about the stone dates back to the mid-1500s and involves a god named Bacchus, the god of intoxication, who was denied affection by a maiden named Amethyste. After Amethyste prayed to the gods to remain pure, the chaste goddess Diana transformed her into a white stone. Rather than be upset with the situation, Bacchus chose to admire Amethyste's desire to remain unsullied and drenched the stone with wine as an offering to her, which stained the crystals a deep purple color.
Formation and Physical Properties
Amethyst rough. Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
Amethyst is created in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, in addition to hydrothermal veins, metasomatic rocks and deposits of volcanic hot springs.
Although amethyst does have physical properties found in quartz, it also possesses more iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ) and manganese compounds than any other in the quartz family, which is believed to attribute to its unique color. Its crystal system is hexagonal and commonly forms as clusters of large, pyramid-like projections on a matrix base. The gem is generally found in small, short crystal pyramids, although some have been collected as long, more prismatic crystals. Amethyst can also generate in the inner lining of geodes, which can form in 10-feet clusters and weigh up to a few tons.
Localities
Today, amethyst is recognized as February’s official birthstone, and is widely recommended by designers for its regal color, wide range of style cuts, affordability and varying hues from light to dark purple. It is a very abundant gem found in many regions across the globe, but a large number of stones have been collected from Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Africa, Russia, South Korea, Canada and North Carolina.
As abundant as it may be throughout the world, amethyst characteristics do vary between localities. Some examples of amethyst attributes from different locations include:
Vera Cruz, Mexico – soft violet and more pale in overall color; pure, prismatic crystals; often possesses a clear quartz interior accompanied by a true amethyst exterior
Bahaia, Brazil – light to medium colored, only at the tops of the crystals; often called geodes and grow in volcanic rock pockets; mostly formed with gray, white and blue agate
Thunder Bay, Canada – features a red hematite inclusion beneath the stone’s surface; forms in druzy crusts that mark crevices in ancient volcanic rocks
Africa (many regions throughout) – distinguished by a clear interior color; often grown in large clusters
North Carolina, U.S.A. – bluish-violet in color; forms in druzy clusters
Ural Mountains, Russia – clear, but dark and deep in color
