Amethyst: meaning, properties and lore

The mineral

It is described as the most prized member of the quartz family and as the most valued variety of quartz. Its chemical composition is silicon dioxide, SiO2, and it belongs to the trigonal crystal system.^12345678910

The Mohs hardness of amethyst is not given in the claims as a Mohs value; the Cooley table gives a relative hardness of 11 for occidental amethyst, and it ranks amethyst among the ornamental stones below the diamond, ruby and sapphire. Cooley's Cyclopaedia also describes amethyst as a beautiful sub-species of quartz or rock crystal, of a violet-blue colour of varying intensity.^11481213102

The purple colour of amethystine quartz is attributed to various inclusions in the crystal. Experts believe the violet colour arises from its iron content, and other theories attribute it to manganese or hydrocarbons. Amethyst contains more iron oxide than any other variety of quartz.¹¹⁴

Amethyst shows colours from light purple to royal purple and occurs in all intensities of purple. Its finest colour is strong reddish purple to purple with no visible colour zoning, and brownish or bronze tints lower its value. Its colour can be cool and bluish or a reddish purple sometimes called raspberry.^3481295

Heating removes the colour from amethyst or changes it to the yellow of citrine, and most commercial citrine is made by heating amethyst. Heat treatment is the most common technique for improving its colour, and some specimens from certain localities slowly fade upon prolonged exposure to light. Synthetic amethyst has the same chemical and physical properties as natural amethyst.^1413101

Amethyst is found in Brazil, Uruguay, Ontario and North Carolina, and it occurs in Siberia, Zambia and Brazil. Russia was the major source until the 19th century, when large deposits were found in Brazil. Today the most important sources are in Africa and South America, including Zambia's Kariba mine.¹⁴¹²¹³

In gem localities like Brazil, amethyst sometimes forms in hollow, crystal-lined geodes, and it occurs in agate pebbles and amygdules where cavities are sealed as silica builds up. Large single crystals can be huge, and a doubly terminated crystal at the GIA Museum weighed 164 pounds.⁸¹

History and lore

The name amethyst is derived from the Greek amethystos, meaning not drunk, and expresses the ancient folk belief that the stone protects its owner against drunkenness. Pliny the Elder writes that the name was explained by the stone's colour, which closely approaches wine but stops short of absorbing it. He records that the Magi falsely claimed amethyst prevents drunkenness and that this property gave the stone its name.^141310816

Pliny the Elder records the Magi's claim that amethysts inscribed with the names of the sun and moon and worn from the neck protect against spells. He also records their claim that amethysts help people approaching a king as suppliants and keep off hail and locusts with a prescribed incantation. Pliny describes the flashing purple of amethyst among the colours of beryl-like stones from India.¹⁶¹⁷

He records that the stone called hyacinthus differs from amethyst by a tint diluted with the hyacinth flower. He writes that the Indian amethyst's second kind deviates towards sapphire and is called socos by the Indians.¹⁶

The Second Prose Lapidary records that amethyst has a purple colour, reaches back toward the colour of blood, and is found in India. It also records that amethyst strengthens body and soul and that wild beasts come to the one who carries it. The Third Prose Lapidary says amethyst is good for hunting and keeps a man or woman from becoming drunk when carried on them.¹⁸

Greeks and Persians held that an amethyst bound on the navel would counteract the effects of wine, and that wine drunk from an amethystine vessel would not intoxicate. Amethyst was known and prized in the earliest ages of antiquity, and the ancients made cups and vases out of it. Amethyst was as expensive as ruby and emerald until the 19th century, when Brazil's large deposits were discovered.¹¹⁸

Amethyst jewellery has been found and dated as early as 2000 BC. Funeral scarabs in Egypt were often made of amethyst, and amethyst was among the precious stone materials of the earliest Egyptian amulets, up to the XII dynasty. Amethyst has been used for carved intaglios since ancient times. Amethyst is mentioned in the Bible (Exodus 28:19; 39:12) as one of the 12 stones adorning the breastplate of the high priests of Yahweh.¹⁹¹⁵¹⁴

Leonardo is recorded as holding that amethyst could control evil thoughts, quicken the intelligence and make men shrewd in business. The Delhi Sapphire, an amethyst stolen from a temple in India in 1855, is said to be cursed and is now in a museum in London.¹⁵⁸³

Birthstone and zodiac links

Amethyst is the birthstone for February, and the GIA states that it is the gemstone of choice for those born in that month. The Gemological Institute of America and the Encyclopaedia Britannica both record the February link. Amethyst is also the gem traditionally given for the sixth wedding anniversary, and the gem for the 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries.^720145138

Amethyst is one of the emblems of the twelve apostles, and it was favoured by royalty or by the clergy as a symbol for the deity of Christ. Amethyst was assigned to the tribe of Dan among the breastplate gems. Amethyst is the gem most commonly associated with the colour purple.^21191515

What crystal practitioners say

Crystal practitioners associate amethyst with the mind and the eyes of understanding. They say it has long been linked to the thinking process, ensuring clarity of vision. Believers hold that amethyst helps clear mental blockages, increase focus and enhance cognitive abilities. Amethyst is said to sharpen the mind and vision.⁴²²³

Practitioners associate amethyst with protection and personal strength. Amethyst is said to keep away bad thoughts and protect whoever wears it from sorcery. Crystal practitioners say amethyst inspires creativity, courage and valour. Wearing amethyst is said to symbolise personal empowerment.³⁴²

Crystal practitioners link amethyst to meditation and intuition, saying it is aligned with the Third Eye Chakra and deepens meditation and psychic abilities. Crystal practitioner Hibiscus Moon says amethyst opens and activates the Third Eye and Crown chakras, although practitioners note that the chakra link is modern, since the Third Eye reading was given by modern crystal writers.²²²⁰

Crystal practitioners say that placing other crystals inside or on an amethyst druse cleanses them of absorbed information, usually taking about a day.^22232101

What testing has found

Ernst states that a scientific proof of any positive effect of crystal healing beyond a placebo effect does not exist. He argues that crystal healing is generally regarded as harmless.²⁴

A 2001 study by Christopher French challenged 80 volunteers to tell real from fake crystals after holding them and meditating. Six people felt nothing, while the rest reported some energy, such as tingling. Participants with fake and real crystals reported similar impressions, and the study concluded that the power of suggestion, not the crystals, helped people. The results have not been replicated in larger studies.²⁴²⁵

Some researchers say crystals likely do not directly act on physical and psychological problems, but may have indirect benefits explained by the placebo effect. Ted Kaptchuk, a Harvard Medical School professor, argued that placebo outcomes from unconventional medicine should not be discarded. Believers in crystal healing say the biological mechanisms are not well understood.²⁵