Amethyst
General Information
History
Amethyst is one of the most best loved crystals and has a rich history dating all the way back to 2000 BC.
In Greek mythology Amethyst was a beautiful young maiden who was on her way to Diana’s temple we became the object of wrath of the God Dionysus. When Amethyst called out for help from the Goddess Diana. To protect the young maid Diana transformed her into a clear, shimmering stone (quartz for all intents and purposes). When the God realised what had happened he was overcome with remorse and his tears fell into his goblet of red wine. The goblet overflowed and the red wine mixed with his tears spilled over the rock saturating it until it became the beautiful purple quartz that we know as Amethyst.
For many years amethyst was held in such high esteem that it was the gem of choice among royalty and could only be afforded by the wealthiest of society. It wasn’t until more plentiful sources were discovered that it became more accessible to the masses and cemented its place as one of the most popular stones today.
Geography
Amethyst is found in locations all around the world with major deposits located in South America (most famously Brazil), Uruguay, South Korea, Russia, United States, South India and Zambia to name but a few.
Geology
A firm favourite here at Eramun, Amethyst is a form of quartz. As with all quartz stones it is formed in lava when gas bubbles become trapped thus allowing crystals to form in the cavities created by the bubbles. These rocks then become the very vessels for creating crystals by way of minerals and water combining over time. Amethyst forms inside the rocks of the basalt, in order for Amethyst to form both Silica and Ferric Iron must be present. The third magic ingredient to create this beautiful crystal is time. Naturally formed Amethyst geodes are formed over thousands of years meaning that some of these amazing stones will have been forming since prehistoric times. Exactly how long it takes to form all depends on the size of the geode.
Physical Properties
Appearance
Amethyst is the purple form of quartz and can be found in varying shades of purple from the palest lilac to deep violet and everything in between, it can also be found in dark blue-violet, with shades or red and sometimes grey or translucent facets. The colour is often distributed unevenly across the stone, some varieties such as chevron amethyst even feature distinct bands.
Moh's Scale
Amethyst is a hardy stone with a Mohs hardness of 7, making it durable enough to be used in jewellery
Cleaning & Care
Amethyst should be cleaned with a soft cloth and warm, soapy water. Although it is a durable stone it is important to note the colour of amethyst is delicate and if exposed to sunlight will fade over time. For this reason amethyst should not be charged in sunlight or fire as noted by the Ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus [c.370-285BC] noted in his treatise Theophrastus on stones:
Spiritual Care
Essential Uses
Amethyst is often used to aid with cleansing, healing and protection. Known as somewhat of an “all purpose” stone it will make a great addition to any crystal collection. Amethyst is a powerful stone with a high vibration and is particularly useful in aiding mental stress and providing protection against negative energies.
Our Family Uses
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