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 .
Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz (SiO 2 ) and owes its violet color to irradiation , impurities of iron and in some cases other transition metals , and the presence of other trace elements, which result in complex crystal lattice substitutions. The hardness of the mineral is the same as quartz, thus making it suitable for use in jewelry.
Amethyst occurs in primary hues from a light pinkish violet color to a deep purple color. Amethyst may exhibit one or both secondary hues, red and blue. High quality amethyst can be found in Siberia , Sri Lanka , Brazil , Uruguay , and the far East. The ideal grade is called "Deep Siberian" and has a primary purple hue of around 75–80%, with 15–20% blue and (depending on the light source) red secondary hues. ‘Rose de France’ is defined by its markedly light shade of the purple , reminiscent of a lavender / lilac shade. These pale colors were once considered undesirable but have recently become popular due to intensive marketing.
