Amethyst is a member of the Quartz family being a silicon dioxide mineral. It occurs in many hues of purple, from light lilac to deep purple and violet, with secondary hues of red and blue. Its color comes from trace amounts of manganese and iron. Heating of Amethyst turns it yellow and this is how much of the commercial Citrine on the market is made today.

Brazil is the largest producer of Amethyst where it is often found within volcanic rocks in beautiful geode clusters, sometimes reaching sizes as large as a full grown person. Localities in Brazil include Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Mato Grosso, Espiritu Santo and Bahia.

Artigas state in Uruguay has fine geode specimens with a rich purple color. Zambia is another large exporter of rich purple gem rough Amethyst, and Russian Siberian Amethyst is possibly the most expensive.

Certain Amethyst crystals from Vera Cruz, Mexico, and Brandenburg in Namibia have become quite prized for their high metaphysical qualities. Until the 18th century Amethyst was regarded as a precious gemstone equal to diamond, sapphire, ruby and emerald. It was a stone much associated with royalty and is among the finest jewels in the British crown.

Amethysts have been embraced by many cultures and have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to around 3,000 B.C. Many of the ancient attributes given to Amethyst are still recognized today in metaphysics. It is believed to be a stone of spiritual and physical protection, aiding in the purification of the body and aura and enhancing one’s devotion and connection to the Divine.

The name Amethyst comes from the Greek amethustos, meaning ‘not drunken’. In Greek mythology it is the goddess Diana who saved the beautiful maiden Amethyst from cruel death at the hands of the wine god Dionysius’ tigers by transforming her into a large clear crystal. Dionysius, upon realizing his cruelty and becoming remorseful, accidentally spilt wine over the crystal, upon which it changed its color to purple. It was believed in Roman times that wearing an Amethyst would prevent one from becoming drunk and Amethyst crystals and gemstones are often worn for protection today.

Catherine the Great had a great love for Amethyst and sent thousands of workers to find the best specimens in the Urals, and Cleopatra had a beautiful Amethyst ring accredited with the power to lure the attentions of Julius Caesar and Marcus Aurelius.

Throughout history Amethysts have always been greatly prized by the powerful and wealthy, however, with the large deposits found in Brazil making its availability quite common, the price of this fabulous crystal has become much more affordable in modern times.